A White-tailed Eagle Tale from the Isle of Lewis

One of our most far-flung members, indeed a Director of SIH, David Roberts from Galson Farm Hostel on the Isle of Lewis has been observing some unusual behaviour from a White-tailed Eagle (often referred to as Sea Eagles).  I would thoroughly recommend visiting David's website and reading the news/gossip tab which lays out in delightful detail the seasonal happenings on his farm.

Recently we have been hearing a huge clamour from the ever increasing flocks of Greylag Geese. Rushing outside, it became clear the mayhem had spread miles along the coast, with several packs rising in abject panic. This was not a one-off since this recurred over several days.The cause of the pandemonium was a juvenile White-tailed Eagle. Having witnessed Golden Eagles overflying geese without reaction for many years, it would seem logical to suggest that the Sea Eagles are predating on the Greylags. Whilst l am aware they do take smaller geese on the lower Isles, these are a sight heftier a challenge, and l have yet to witness an actual kill..Is it possible that they have been taking young goslings and juveniles to date,hence the reaction? Will it transpire that as they acquire a taste,will harsher winter conditions force them into taking on fully grown adults? This would be  beneficial in controlling an ever increasing out of control Greylag Geese population with no existing predator,and maybe deflect damage away from lambs in spring, especially if this were to lag behind slightly,with hatching.

At the Hostel Door

When all five lums in and around the hostel here are gently reeking with woodsmoke we feel the wind of seasonal change from Autumn to Winter is just about on us.  We lost our Soay ram this week as he simply could not make the transition from grass feeding to a diet of hay, sheep mix and the last of the vegetation.   Today, after the big winds we are inching our way around in the white stuff and keeping an eye on road conditions for tonight's party, oldie hill walkers returning for at least their fifth visit.

 
That inauspicious start to the festive season apart we are happy to look back on a bumper summer and autumn which have brought to us so many different discerning visitors.  A number of North Americans we learn like to spend time both in Ireland and then Scotland or the other way round.  This Celtic pilgrimage is echoed also by Bretons and Basques whose shores share in our rich seaboard heritage.  Add then to this our Welsh and Cornish cousins for whom, as with the Scots of old, it was the seaways more than land routes which saw them trading and of course fighting to protect or conquer and we can begin to understand the bonds which bring those North American descendants to explore our treasured Scotland.

Solo Travellers in Hostels: Peter Wright of Inveraray Hostel

Are Hostels geared to catering for the Solo Traveller?

 

Solo travellers get a poor deal from accommodation in general. In hotels and guest houses they pay much more, often twice as much, as anyone else. Thank goodness for  Hostels, where solo travellers are charged no more than others!

So are hostels geared to catering for solos?

Beach Therapy on the Isle of Coll

Guest Blogger: George McConnachie, Coll Bunkhouse
Ten people on a beach might not sound like a lot but on the Isle of Coll it would definitely be considered ‘mobbed’. Why ten, you might ask? Well, with 23 beautiful beaches to a population of around 220 residents, that works out as….actually, you don’t need me to answer that one!

The truth is, when you leave the village of Arinagour you can pick virtually any spot along the coast of Coll and more than likely you’ll have it all to yourself. From sheltered coves to broad sweeping sands, this little Hebridean island has a multitude of beauty spots, belying it’s low profile.

Today's story from Bunkhouse at the Roundhouse

I was washing up at the kitchen window when I glimpsed him running slick as a biker. I pulled the drawer hiding the binos (Swarowski 42mm optic lens, mag x 8.5) kept for such sightings, and caught him up. Big boy, dark bodied with a grizzled face,head high balancing a full twelve points parallel with his spine so that his head is raised in the way that we call proud, nostrils high to catch the scent of females or rivals, He ran looking to fight, only stopping to piss his presence on an obstacle: or rather to 'fxxx' I corrected myself, and then wondered if he knew the impulses separately, summoned by the madness drumming in his blood. He arrived at a fence and turned toward a herd of highland cows grazing the bog grass on my side of the river, trotted forward head high before lifting over the fence and passed into the birches. I returned to the neglected dishes; a yellow cow watched from the river bank long after he'd gone.. ;

 

posted by Roy Tylden-Wright

Bunkhouse at the Roundhouse

www.myhighlandbunkhouse.com/ 

At The Hostel Door

There has been no lack of inspiration for writing this contribution since my last piece in June, simply the shortage of time to do anything other than welcome and provide for guests in what has been a most glorious summer at the hostel.  We are now in our last two months of volunteer summer helpers and are enjoying the mature energies of Doris from Dresden and Louise from Devon whose highly developed skills in gardening and groundsmanship are making a real difference around the place as we start to look at the imminent autumn clear up.

They have taken over the polytunnel, keeping the summer salads we string on the old painted up bike for hostellers, hutters and campers to take in return for a contribution to the coffers of our local mountain rescue team.  Even more impressive perhaps is their knowledgable handling of the compost bins.  We knew a bit before we started them three years ago.  However, this cultured high school teacher/gardener and her colleague,  humanitarian relief truck driver/country property manager/croft worker on Eigg/ great grandmother have taken us to a heightened level of understanding and practice on composting and we are truly grateful.  Their work sets a benchmark for the future.

At The Hostel Door

20th June 2013



Sea King Helicopter Cairngorms

To look down on the wings of an aircraft streaking between the summits often in near silence, is a hill man's unforgettable experience.  When that aircraft is a Sea King  SAR helicopter everything is in slow motion and much, much louder.  Daily and even three times daily in the winter months here at the hostel we had rescue helipcopters and crews flying directly over us to the hill.  It was a heavy toll winter in the Cairngorms and on 8th December the summit wind speed on Cairngorm itself reached 165mph.

Hostelling on the Moray Firth

The one truism about Scottish Independent Hostels is that every member hostel is unique and that they are run by people who are passionate about their particular beautiful part of Scotland.  One of our newest members introduces us to Findhorn and its new Village Hostel

Housebuilding

Spring is coming - it really is. Honest. This bitter easterly will turn to the warm south or the wet west, the ground will warm (eventually); grass, pasture flowers, leaves will force their way through softening ground- and at last my highland cattle will get their heads down to sweet new grass. This matters  on a small farm with limited opportunities for harvesting summer fodder, and  outwintered cattle who suffer whatever the highland climate throws at them. Even the new calves have to endure the rigours of this bitter spring, fighting their way into life at a hard time of the year.

AT THE HOSTEL DOOR

It was more than ironic that on the night we saw the tail lights of our beloved Landy Defender 90 disappear beyond the woodshed for the last time semi serious snow of late March should fall once more in the night with a vengance.  Had we done the right thing in swapping both car and Landy for a single 4x4 car?  We hope so.

AT THE HOSTEL DOOR

There was an expression of deep thankfulness in the man's face.  The traces of anxiety I picked up immediately on opening the door to him vanished and even the transitory look of guarded disbelief lasted only a second or two.  Yes indeed we did have room for him in the hostel.  Just as well really for dusk was on us, snow on the ground, the temperature  already minus three and had we been full and with no bed for him I could see myself needing to put him in the Landy and both of us heading off to a neighbouring hostel with available beds.

What is Hostelling in Scotland?

Lets take a look at the hostel sector in Scotland - do you really know what it offers?

There is a diverse variety of rooms from dormitories with bunks to family rooms with ensuites.  There is a wide variety of buildings from lighthouses and railway sleepers to Georgian Town Houses.  There are different styles of hostel accommodation from backpackers and bothies to bunkhouses and of course, well, hostels.  Sometimes hostels are part of activity centres or university campuses - no wonder people get confused! So what sets hostels apart from other types of low cost accommodation?  Certain factors are the same across all hostels.