Fingers crossed for a good harvest Maggie Sinclair old Scottish apple variety fruiting nicely in the Appletree Cottage garden. We're hoping for a bumper year for apples here at Shandon Farm and Appletree Cottage. The last two years late frosts put paid to spectacular blossom leaving it a dirty brown colour. Very little fruit pollination and setting survived the frosts. This year however things are looking more positive  Healthy looking specimens enjoy the sunshine We started planting one hundred trees in 2014. Since then we have grafted the scions (cuttings) from the trees onto root stock bringing the total number of trees up to 400.  This year we trimmed trees to height to facilitate picking Some apples grow in clusters of more than two or three. These clusters require thinning to bunches of about two or three. Thinning is also required on thin branches which have too many apples and are in danger of breaking. Thinning can be done chemically or by hand. We do it by hand - which takes a bit of time but is a very satisfying day in the orchard.  A bunch of four fruitlets which will be thinned to two or three. So hopefully things are looking up and we'll get a good crop this year. We press what we grow into apple juice which we pasteurise so it last longer and also use the apple pulp for making jellies, marmalade and our popular black butter.  Things are looking up An Unexpected SurpriseWell, surprises are unexpected generally. A friend of ours has just moved to the village of West Wymess in Fife. Just east of Kirkcaldy this former ancient mining village is right on the shore of the Firth of Forth with fantastic views across to Edinburgh. We'd never been to this area before. After a wander around the village we found our way by accident to Wymess Castle which has a fantastic walled garden open to the public. More can be found out about the gardens here: www.wemysscastlegardens.com  Open ornate gate in the garden Open during the summer months the walled garden is on the large Wymess Castle estate. It takes a little bit of finding but there were a couple of helpful groundsmen who showed us the way. We discovered after we left that the estate prefer you to book - see link above  Water feature The walled garden dates from the mid 18th Century. Designed by Walter Nicol it had vented walls with the idea of providing stone fruit. There is there remains of a Neo classical orangery along with many other features. The gardens had lain derelict with just a few trees and a number of geese for many years until Charlotte and Michael Wymess started to put things in order in 1993. The results of their efforts over the years are quite stunning and well worth a visit.
The walled garden is just above the coastline and slightly to the east of West Wymess village.  One of the Wymess family?
After a wander round the gardens we headed back to the village and took a stroll down by the harbour and along the Main Street where an impressive talbooth tower is awaiting some refurbishment.
The village - a former coal mining village - has been derelict in places over the years. Slowly however buildings are coming back to life. It is very peaceful and well worth a visit if you're over that way. Its about an hour and a half drive from Appletree Cottage.
West Highland Line ExcursionEarlier this year we took a fantastic trip up the West Highland Line to Mallaig. Our starting point was Helensburgh Upper. The station, about half an hour's drive from Appletree Cottage, is at the top of Sinclair Street, the A818 as you drive into Helensburgh. This is not to be confused with Helensburgh Central down closer to the shore.
We asked the guard who had alighted the train which coaches we should be boarding for Mallaig. He told us the rear two coaches were going there. Climbing aboard we were pleased to find table seats were available and sat down to enjoy the journey. It was quite a good day to be doing this journey - overcast and damp! The trees beside the track had nearly a full compliment of leaves but the views were still good. We effortlessly passed through Garelochhead,and it was not long before we were winding our way along the shores of Loch Long
At Crianlarich junction the train split. The front portion left first (conveniently!) and headed west onto the former Calendar and Oban line to Oban. This line was truncated by a landfall in the sixties, causing closure of the section between Crianlarich and Callander one month prematurely - before the Beeching Axe was to fall. From Crianlarich the Fort William section starts to climb the northern slopes of Strath Fillan. Far below on the other side of the glen we can see the railway line to Oban threading its way through the trees beside the river. After a brief stop at Tyndrum Upper (the tiny village of Tyndrum has two stations. Often mispronounced Tindrum it actually derives from the Gaelic Tigh an Druim (house on the ridge). And soon we are over the ridge, the march summit and heading towards the famous Horshoe Curve  Looking at the viaduct at the centre of Horseshoe Curve. The thin line of trees on the hillside mark the route of the railway. Horseshoe Curve between Tyndrum Upper and Bridge of Orchy is a three mile meander for the railway on an almost constant gradient of 1:50. The railway hugs the hillside to maintain gradient crossing a nine span viaduct over the Alt Kinglass burn After our next station, Bridge of Orchy we start the long climb up to Rannoch Moor. Since last visiting this area in the late 1990s there has been much forestation and for several miles we travel through planted pine forest. Eventually, not long before reaching Rannoch Staion the pines give way to the natural moorland.
From Rannoch to Corrour there are some good views across Rannoch Moor. A wild and lonely place. There are the remains of Corrour Old Lodge on the distant eastern slopes. Popular since Victorian times with shooting parties it burnt down in 1946. All that remains now are the desolate ruins.  Rannoch Moor - a wild and lonely place
TuAfter Corrour station we start our descent to the shores of Loch Treig then through the villages of Tulloch, Roy Bridge and Spean Bridge to Fort William. The stations on this section are well maintained and preserved. After a brief stop at Fort William the train reverses to Mallaig. This journey like the section before it is stunning, with views of wild moorland, sandy bays and magnificent hills. The rain had started to come down quite heavily so pictures from the train are not brilliant but the rain in no way spoilt our views of beautiful surroundings.  On our arrival at Mallaig Station we were greeted by a magnificent steam train on the other platform. This train forms part of the "Jacobite" service. A steam hauled excursion from Fort William to Mallaig running twice a day in the summer months.  Mallaig Harbour bustling with boats The rain had stopped so we had a wander round Mallaig village. The harbour was busy with fishing vessels as well as private boats and of course the ferry to Skye.
We had just a couple of hours to explore Mallaig before it was time to board the train back home.. The journey was four and a half hours each way from Helensburgh Upper to Mallaig but the time flew. What a great thing to do on a rainy day! One of the oldest Agricultural Shows in Scotland has made a stunning return this year. Established in 1816 the Drymen Show has been an annual event usually on the last Saturday in May. The last two years's Covid problems caused cancellation but this year 2022 it is back in style - and by all accounts with a record turn-out. The show is always scheduled for the last Saturday in May. Only major downpours have interrupted events. On this year's return after two years.attendees were not disappointed with the huge array of entertainments, competitions and sunshine on offer.  Entrance to the show - cash or card Entry by cash or card was speedy and a vast free parking area is provided. Souvenir programmes offered the chance to win prizes in the draw later in the afternoon.  Many stalls on offer at Drymen Show A great array of craft tents, stalls selling local gin and whiskies, cakes, food outlets and many other wares align the entrance way to the event. Cattle and Sheep
The judging of cattle and sheep takes place next to the main ring and commences not long after the show opens in the morning. There is a huge variety of sheep and some very fine highland cattle on show. Sheep shearing demonstration start later in the afternoon.. Heavy Horses
Teams of heavy horses were spectacular, drawing their drays around the main ring. It is so seldom one sees these magnificent animals at work. Main RingThe main ring was fully operational by lunchtime with displays of horsemanship, tractor pulling competitions, races, vintage car and tractor rallies, tug of war, fancy dress parades and prize givings.
 Start of Tractor Pulling Competition Other attractions are many. A stage with many musical performances is close to the main ring. A series of musicians performed in successions
For the young and energetic brigade there is a good funfair at one end or the site behind a good array of agricultural equipment supplier stalls. . Occasional screams of excitement and terror drift across the informative commentary of the main ring.  Fun fair at Drymen Show with Agricultural Machinery outlets foreground Other tents include the local schools art tent, pet tent and of course the beer tent, The days proceedings were rounded off with a tug of war and an Orcadian Strip the Willow.  Looking west on walk home with Campsie Hills in the distance. On the return walk back from the show we took the public footpath from the south side of Drymen Bridge back to Appletree Cottage. (we'd gone down the railway path and through Croftamie Village on the way there) On the way we snapped this fantastic view of the distant Campsie hills with Dumgoyne' peak evident in centre frame.
All in all a great day out. |
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