Great weather

We are enjoying a spell of especially good weather just now. There's a breeze to keep the midges away, but the sun shines much of the time, and the temperatures are up to about 20C.

I've mentioned previously that I have a contact who owns a building plot in Harlosh (a couple of miles from Roskhill). He has a shipping container on the site, and I have taken on the job of giving it a couple of coats of rust-proofing paint. I have to admit, I am thoroughly enjoying spending the occasional hour or two on the job, and when I glance over my shoulder - this is the view...

Squeaking dog

Cupar is very fond of playing with a tennis ball - when we first tried it, he was clearly very motivated to 'fetch', whether this was a natural instinct, or learned behaviour, we will never know. However, he will now drop the ball at my feet and back off a few yards, then lie down, waiting for the ball to be thrown and retrieved again. He'll keep this up until I get fed up - he seems to be completely tireless.

Cupar also has a talent for finding balls lost by other dogs. The other day, just as we set off for a walk in the Dunvegan woods, he found one which, to his enormous delight, squeaked when he squeezed it. He insisted on carrying it throughout, so our entire walk was accompanied by plaintive little squeaks from the ball, echoing around the silence of the woodland.

Long-term residents

I guess most places in the world have been occupied by humans for thousands of years, and man has left his monuments and burial mounds and so on.

Somehow, though, when you come across such a location on Skye, where some of the remains are just 'there' - for you to touch, and explore - the feeling of history is much more tangible.

I explored one such place the other day. This is Rubha na Dùnain, near Glen Brittle. No-one lives there now, and it is a three mile walk from the nearest road. But there are relics everywhere. This has been a busy place for thousands of years. There's a neolithic cave, which has been excavated, and signs of its use as a stone napping workshop were discovered....

There's a chambered cairn, also excavated and left open, so the entrance passageway and burial chamber are exposed.  It was built at least 5000 years ago! (Sorry, I didn't get a good photo of that one)....

 There's an iron-age Dun... 

 Then there's a canal, providing access from a small  loch to the sea. The canal may be over 1000 years old.

And there's quite a substantial house, also possibly 1000 years old, but with a chimney added in the 16th century. And ruins of so many other houses...

Plus - of course - some great views...

 
(Click any picture to see it full size)

It's looking good on the allotment

I know - you really want pictures of lochs and mountains... after all, we do live on Skye...

Sorry! We are in full 'work mode' here right now, with turn-rounds, washing and ironing (interspersed with frequent dog-walks) taking priority over jolly hikes on the hills.

Mind you - I am yearning to get my boots on, and have just bought a new camera... so keep watching this space...

But for today, the best I can offer is a couple of today's pictures (old camera) of the Roskhill allotment. It's looking pretty good, considering the shaky start following the cold and windy spring.

Here's the broccoli (nearest, left) sprouts (with the taller sticks) and dwarf  runner beans. 

Lots of other stuff in the other beds....

Broccoli and sprouts again, and potatoes nearer the shed...

and strawberries...!!! Sue will be making jam soon!