The brilliant BBC "Winterwatch" is just about to start its 2019 series based, like The Dulaig, in the magnificent Cairngorms National Park.
More exciting still is that the Springwatch and Autumnwatch series will also be based in this area, enabling us all to follow the wildlife - including red squirrels, capercaillie, red deer, osprey etc - through the dramatic events and seasonal changes here. The programme will also showcase the incredible scenery of the area.
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The Cromdale Hills are just three miles from Grantown and can be seen from our street. Today we decided that, having looked at these hills for ten years, we would climb them at last. What a wonderful walk we had and on such a stunning day.
These hills have a reputation for being very boggy on the plateau but as we have had virtually no rain for three months we figured we would be fine, and we were. The hills were almost empty, the only other walkers a party of school...
Our garden at The Dulaig is so full of flowers and other life that it is hard to show all of it. Instead here is a little snaphot of what is here now.
Thie beautiful deutzia attracts bees and other pollinaters to feed.
Some combinations work really well, like this Acer Dissectum, paeony, Japanese anemone, Japanese granite bowl....and blackbird. It is The Dulaig after all!
Not everything...
As our guests know, at The Dulaig we feed our wild birds all year round, though on snowy mornings like today they really appreciate it......and we appreciate seeing them too.
What a lovely thing to watch more and more pheasants as they seem to appear from nowhere!
We have wild pheasants all year round in our garden. Many are quite tame and will come very close. Right now there are five male pheasants courting eight females. The females are usually regarded as dull-looking compared to the males bright plumage but look at the stunning colours of this beautiful female in the winter sunshine and you may think otherwise. In a few weeks the males will start to fight each other for control of the garden territory (and the females) and the "winner" will...
It has been our absolute pleasure to share our home, garden, love of Scotland and of food, with guests over the past 14 years. The experience of running our B&B exceeded our wildest dreams however we - Carol, Gordon (& The Cake Fairy) - have hung up our aprons for the last time.
Thank you to the wonderful guests from all over the world who have stayed with us. You have given us so many special memories which we will always treasure. Thank you too, everyone else who has supported us: your confidence in us was appreciated more than words can say.
Warmest Wishes to All, Carol, Gordon..and The Cake Fairy x
