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| www.ardtornish.co.uk | November
2009 |
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| THE AUTUMN 2009 ARDTORNISH NEWSLETTER | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| I’m
writing with news of the estate, and to let you know that we’re
now taking bookings for 2010. An up to date Prices & Availability
Page is available online, please email
us for details. We’ve had the busiest ever season at Ardtornish,
with more visitors and, we think, a better service. |
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| In 2010, as usual, we’ll try to match you with your favourite week in your normal accommodation. John’s away, so MacI (‘Mackie’) and Janet will be taking the bookings. Whether you like to book over the telephone, Internet or by post, we’re hoping to hear from you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The
improvements in the last year include upgrades to the fabric of
several of the properties, and TVs and DVD players in all but the
boathouse (where we’ve found it impossible to get a signal).
If you’d like the TV/DVDs taken out before you arrive, please
let us know. |
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Washing
machines and tumble driers are available in all properties too,
and we’ve completely overhauled the heating and hot water
system in Ardtornish House. |
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| We’re
in process of restoring the drawing room to its pre-war glory. We’ve
decided not to make it and the hall exclusive to the South Wing,
as sometimes people in the Garden Flat need access through the hall
- particularly if disabled people are staying. But if you want to
use the drawing room for a special occasion, please do let us know. |
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| Functions
and special occasions |
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We're
honoured to have hosted several weddings, concerts and birthday
celebrations this year. Ardtornish House accommodates forty people,
and if you include our cottages we can manage ninety. In conjunction
with the Whitehouse restaurant, we can also offer the very best
West Highland food. |
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| We
are flexible in What
our Functions have to Offer
– you tell us what you'd like and we'll do our utmost to make
it happen. We can also offer smaller functions using only The South
Wing, sleeping twelve, or - combined with other apartments - almost
any number up to our ninety limit. |
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| Hydro
update |
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| We
started building the new hydro scheme at Tearnait towards the end
of the season, with the upgrade of the access road. We’re
delighted with how sensitively our contractors, D A MacDonald, from
Lochgilphead, are widening the old track. We anticipate work on
the pipeline starting early next year, and commissioning the new
scheme in early 2011. More news on this in the Spring. |
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| Birds
and beasties |
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| It’s been an amazing autumn for migrant birds, with huge flocks of redwings and fieldfares. A solitary swift was seen over Lochaline on 2nd November - exceptionally late for this summer visitor. Dabchicks have appeared on Loch Aline, and we’ve had large numbers of siskins. |
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In
mid November, for the first time in decades watching birds at Ardtornish,
I heard the unmistakable scolding of a jay. A pair of jays, to be
precise – the latest additions to a small population that
has apparently spread west and south, across Lochs Linnhe and Sunart,
and added a new species to our Morvern residents. We must hope that,
as is the way with corvids, they don’t extinguish some of
the smaller locals. |
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| The
eagles have had a mixed year again, but both species have been much
in evidence in the last few weeks. The greenshank Alan mentioned
in our spring newsletter are still about, and this summer Morvern
had its first known appearance of a scarlet rosefinch. |
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| The
otter is a fascinating creature. You’re always aware they’re
there, but often don’t see one for months at a time –
then see three in a week. I met one a month ago mooching across
the lower lawn of Ardtornish garden, slipping nonchalantly into
the drain beneath the road. A few days later, a pair was playing
around on the slip. Then last week when giving the dog a late-night
run I came upon unmistakeable evidence, if not the creatures themselves.
The dog got a scent and shot off – and being black, was lost
in the dark. It returned surreptitiously a few minutes later, with
a large salmon head in its maw. I’m pretty sure a spawning
fish was caught and largely devoured by an otter. The dog got the
leftovers. |
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| If
you see anything particularly noteworthy when you’re here,
if you’d like to share it, please do let us know. |
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Hugh
Raven |
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| The Whitehouse | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The
Whitehouse team was joined in the spring by the wonderful Carol
Eagles, bringing huge energy and enthusiasm to the restaurant. Carol's
cooking is refreshingly and deceptively simple, and very delicious.
She has embraced our local producers with delight, and all the produce
our garden can sprout at her. |
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It
has sometimes been a challenge to find chefs with the confidence
to let our wonderful ingredients show themselves off - though don't
make the mistake of thinking that it's easy to prepare each plate
of food. |
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| We're
thrilled that Carol is staying, and has been instrumental in our
new venture - WHITEHOUSE HAMPERS. Please click
here for details,
and DO please place an order if you would like a little bit of the
Whitehouse to remind you of those happy times at Ardtornish. |
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| Finally
- and most importantly - we would not be here, and now employing
eight staff (sometimes more), without your support and visits when
you are at Ardtornish. |
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| Thank you | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jane
Stuart-Smith |
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| The Ardtornish Garden, Summer of 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The
Ardtornish Garden was popular with visitors during the summer, with
more than in previous years. They disregarded the heavy showers
that followed our dry early summer, and appreciated the path improvements
with layers of shredded mulch that Ian Lamb had hoarded from his
winter clearing. |
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The
August rain impeded grass cutting, but by dodging the storms and
working late, Ian has left the lawns as tidy as ever. The new spring
planting of lilies and galtonia fit well between the existing stands
of crocosmia, with a fashionable display of orange and scarlet flowers.
This exuberance is now succeeded by the brilliant colours of autumn
leaves, especially Viburnum furgatum and Oxydendrum
arboretum – illustrated here with recent photos by Ian.
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I’ve
recently written a book about the Ardtornish garden, again with
Ian’s help. It gives a short history, a description of a year
in the work of the gardener, and a garden tour. It’s extensively
illustrated, with a map grid reference of some of the rhododendrons
and other tree and shrub plantings. It can be ordered from the Ardtornish
Estate Office for £10, which includes postage and packing. |
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| Success on the river | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John
Williams – Anna’s son, and Faith’s grandson -
had a good week’s fishing in August, in time off from holiday
work with estate joiner Chris Lorimer. On successive late-August
days he caught two large salmon – both of which went back
into the River. |
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The
first, hooked in Lower Georges on a size 10 double red Ally 's Shrimp
fly, he played for about an hour and a quarter. He rang for help,
in the form of our assistant manager Alan Kennedy, and they weighed
it in at 15lbs. |
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Next
day John decided to try a pool above the Bend that he and Simon
Boult, the keeper, had cleared of overhanging branches. He immediately
got the previous day’s triumphant fly caught in a root, from
which it shot out to bury its barbs in his hand. |
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He
cut the line and tied a size 8 Cascade double, shrimp-fly still
protruding from hand. On the second or third cast he hooked a 23
pounder. Playing it for about 50 minutes, he again had time to get
help – this time from Simon and a gaggle of fishing enthusiasts,
with net, camera and scales. |
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| Simon’s
copy of Trout and Salmon included a competition entry form
for the best salmon caught in August 2009. With photograph and signatures
of witnesses, off John sent it – and won a rod of his choice
from Sharpes of Aberdeen. |
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Faith
Raven |
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| We're
planning plenty of improvements in time for your next visit - not
least preparing our own beef and lamb to add to the venison we sell
from the visitor centre. More news on this next time. In the meantime,
we do very much hope to hear from you. |
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| Thanks, as ever, for your interest in this wonderful place. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hugh Raven | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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