The Scottish Highlands
Strathmashie - Christmas 2006

  We usually head for Scotland and have a week at Strathmashie over the New Year period, for a change we went a week earlier and had just about the quietest Christmas we've ever had. We actually managed 3 days without seeing anyone apart from each other. Mark, Pat and family were away cruising in the Mediteranean so we had 3 dogs, 2 cats and assorted fish and hamsters for company.

  We got some beautiful mornings, cold after heavy overnight frosts and with still air and clear skies there was nothing to do except take the dogs for long walks through the forest. Many of the tracks form part of the mountain bike routes used by Laggan Wolftrax / Basecamp MTB, and they make great walking routes although you need to watch out for the bikes occasionally. One day, we'll get around to taking our bikes back and having a ride round.

  Heavy Hetty is mostly St Bernard, crossed with a bit of Pyrennean Mountain Dog. She's big and very friendly, if a little slobbery and prone to running away into the forest if she thinks you're not looking. Merlin is pure Pyrennean and has never overcome his star status after winning a rosette at Crufts in 2004. He's just as slobbery but less enthusiastic about the long walks and tends to hang around looking as though he thinks it might be time to go home.

  We managed to persude Gael the collie to sit still long enough for one group shot with karen. By the time it was Dave's turn to be in the picture, Gael was legging it away up the hill, as usual.

  Bright frosty mornings make for great sunlight and beautiful views in this area, even the trees and frost covered tables look pretty good.

  Merlin's monument in the grounds of Strathmashie.

  The views from the hill tops around here are pretty spectacular. Unfortunately the weather deteriorated as the week went on and it was a bit damp and cloudy for this day on the hills above the Wolftrax. It didn't stop the dogs having a good time, although they were happy enough with the photo stop at the top. The weather continued to get worse with more an more rain, although we didn't see a single flake of snow all week.

New Year 2004/05	New Year 2007/08

Pictures and text are copyright © Dave & Karen Petty- All Rights Reserved, please don't copy anything without our permission. Thanks, D & K.