We were delighted that after 3 years we were able to greet April guests. It seems like such a long time in the coming. Even the sun was shining  its best spring sunshine welcoming everyone in.

With 2 years of holiday dates being moved and/ or cancelled, sometimes several times it is such a good feeling seeing happy faces looking forward to a bit of rest time.

With tea, coffee and hot chocolate along with milk and sugar not forgetting some wee sweet treats of shortbread and tablet with cupcakes for the children already waiting inside for you.  You can get straight into relaxation mode the moment you arrive. Sit with your cuppa and soak in the amazing view from your chalet…no matter what the weather.

With everything going on in the world holidays may seem like a luxury many cannot afford. Yet a break away from normal can often bring a much needed respite. This is one of several reasons why even 4 years ago when we bought the chalets we decided to take direct bookings only. No 3rd party commissions, the price you see on our website is the only price. Our guests pay the same price for their holiday let. You can only book direct through our website we are not on any 3rd party booking system. Many of our guests are already regulars and book well in advance for the following year this is our biggest compliment. We love that we can do a little to help make happy memories for our guests.

Though wishing a Happy new year seems a bit off at the moment. We can only hope there is light at the end of this covid tunnel. So here is to hope health and happiness to all.

Is there is anything I have learnt business wise in the last year?  How grateful we were that we made the desision to take #bookdirect bookings only when we started up. It was not without its worries as obviously when using a big third party company your reach to potential customers is so much greater.
We decided to take the risk and in 3 years we have built an increasing number of guests who have continued to return….yes even in 2020!

The last year though being able to talk directly to our guests has been such a blessing with all the uncertainties that 2020 brought. We have been so happy to talk directly to our guests with any concerns and worries. To beable to work out cancelations and postponments one to one.
Our lovely guests have all happily followed new guidelines within our chalets including our new covid policies and procedures and for this we cannot thank you all enough. We have everything crossed that 2021 brings as much holiday fun as is possible.

A wee bit of background into our chalets names.

When we came on our many visits to view these beautiful chalets before finally purchasing them in November 2017 we discovered that the loch was a regular stopping spot for a local dog otter on his travels homeward from an evening/early morning fishing trip in the sea.
I am, as those of you that know me, am a little Otter daft so an Otter theme seemed of course obligatory.

The Stoer Bay Otter

Tarka
The Otter who began my life long Otter obsession from the age of 5 years old. Though back then very few people even knew what an Otter was!
Tarka the Otter –A film written from the animal’s point of view.
You follow Tarkas life from birth, adventuring through the wild, coming into contact with other creatures and situations.
Set in the days when Otter hunting was legal, Tarka finally meets his untimely death in the jaws of his old enemy an Otter hound who also perishes in this final fight.
I can still remember watching this film with tears pouring down my face. To this day I have never made it through the novel that the film was based on, written by Henry Williamson in 1927.

Mijbil
Gavin Maxwell a Scottish naturalist and author, best known for his non-fiction writing and his work with otters. He wrote the book Ring of Bright waters about how he brought an otter back from Iraq and raised it in Scotland.
Maxwell’s otter odyssey began in 1956, when he set off on a journey to explore the marshes of southern Iraq with the explorer Wilfred Thesiger. There he adopted his first otter, a tiny cub he called Chahalla. Maxwell lavished this baby animal with all his affection and was desolate when it died just a few days later. To console him, Thesiger found him another otter to take home, a squirming velvet ball “the colour of milk chocolate”, which Maxwell christened Mijbil.
After an eventful flight, Gavin arrived in England with his new pet and they began the year of happy adventures together in London and Scotland that form the heart of his book. “Into this bright, watery landscape Mij moved and took possession with a delight that communicated itself as clearly as any articulate speech could have done,” he wrote on his move out of London to Sandaig, a wild and isolated spot overlooking the Sound of Sleat to Skye. “The waterfall, the burn, the white beaches and the islands; his form became the familiar foreground to them all.”
I have visited this place myself and it is indeed exactly as described, such a beautiful spot – though I saw no Otters.

Edal
Edal was another of Gavin Maxwells Otters ‘Whatever joy she gave to you, give back to Nature.’ Gavin Maxwell said about Edal. These sentiments may not be what a little more famous  English naturalist, television presenter and author Terry Nutkins may have thought. As Edals most famous claim to fame was when he tore at Nutkins boots, then attacked his right hand as he reached down to stop him, severing the end of his middle finger. As he attempted to control the otter with his other hand, Edal bit his other middle finger, severing the end of the other finger. Edal was Gavin Maxwells final Otter and Gavin only outlived him by 1 year.

So we are now getting into the new routines and policies that we have in place as regards Covid-19. Though obviously this entails more work it also helps people  coming to our chalets to know that we have done everything possible to make their stay not only as comfortable as possible but as safe as possiblefor them too. Our guests so far have all been so kind and fully understanding and appreciating of all the measures put in place. With everyones participation and thoughfulness to each other it all helps make these times so much less stressful.
Our new kitchens are going down a treat too, sadly we have no proffesional photos as yet…this was going to be done in March just as lock down happened but here are some photos I took myself to give you a wee preview.

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The north Coast is very busy this year, obviously with foreign holidaying being so uncertain but it is possible to still escape from the busy areas for complete isolation and just listen to mother nature. The great thing about self catering is having that safe base to come back to each day whether you are spending it away on a day trip or just exploring locally. Having this area of your own safe space with our chalets having such an amazing view straight onto the loch its hard to beat.

Looking back over towards Stoer Bay from along the Stoer coastline.
A little quiet oasis watching the seals play.

Hurrah, at last we were allowed to go to our chalets. Packed to the gunnels with all kinds of necessities needed for this new strange normal we are now entering into we ventured up the road, near crying when we come over that wee hill. So delighted to be back even the length of the grass and the fresh rabbit holes didn’t faze us.
7hrs with 3 people to turn the hay field back into lawn. Grass cuttings piled high; really we should have just borrowed a baler from someone.  We did leave a couple of areas of beautiful wildflowers all sorts of colours from purple orchids to amazingly scented white clover.   Delighted with our wildflower meadow and the bees certainly seemed happy too.

Conners Oak tree was also in full leaf. This oak tree was planted as an acorn 17yrs ago by our eldest son when he was 3years old. It had long outgrown our garden so we decided to plant it at Stoer. Transported it up but ran out of time and it was chucking it down with rain so we left it to plant the following weekend…. guess what happened, yup, lockdown. A huge thank you to Billy & Caroline MacPhail (Clachtoll holidays) for rescuing, planting and nipping over from Clachtoll to water it regularly over lockdown… and sacrificing your belt to tether it! It’s the proudest looking wee oak tree in Assynt, hopefully the winter will not be too harsh on it.
We would also like to say a huge thank you to Marianne Simpson (Flossie’s Beach shop) for popping by the chalets whilst doing her food delivery services in the area to check everything was ok  and rescuing the caravan cover when it became entangled in the tv ariel on top of the shed. Don’t worry chalets TV signals all intact this one was for our caravan.

Another thank you has to go to Helen & Steven (ripplescraftyarn) for posting wee photos on instagram of the bay and the loch , occasionally a chalet would pop up to these photos kept keep us going , they also kept a wee eye whilst passing on their morning walks. You all did so much to help ease our minds.
It’s also so heart-warming to know we already have such good friends in the area willing to go that extra bit to help out others.
We are opening a little later than guidelines but want to ensure everything is in place before we reopen on the 18th of July. So looking forward to meeting our guests old and new.

This must be so far one of the most difficult blogs I have had to write. Who would have thought how fast our world could come crashing to a stand still. This certainly wasn’t the start to the 2020 holiday season that I had envisioned. Even in January when the news of such awful events far away in China were unfolding could I have ever imagined the world wide devistation that was being unleashed.
From a practical point of view we at Stoer Bay, like many other businesses  had to instigate talks with insurance and utility companies. Some of which were more supportive than others but as is often the way. Utility companies helpful in allowing the reduction of direct debits, essential in reducing outgoings with no income coming in.

Other practicalities of course once in lock down was the inability to  physically check the chalets routinely. Thankfully we have made some lovely friends and wonderful neighbours at Stoer and we had offers of help at hand.

The wonderful Marieanne of Flossies Beach shop regularly pops in on her way past as she does her online food delivery services in the area. So far a caravan cover needing unwrapped from around a TV ariel and arranging collection of an unlucky sheep who presumably lost footing on the cliff side above the chalets amongst the list of chores.

The equally as wonderful  Billy of Clachtoll holidays for rescuing our sons Oak tree. Grown from an acorn when he was 3yrs old. This tree had long outgrown our garden and we  had transported it up the road the week before lockdown. The plans to replant it the following week thwarted of course by occuring events . The tree is now planted in the chalet grounds and getting well watered. Hopefully it will recover its traumatic transition and grow into a great Oak.

Last but in no way at all least  our lovely neighbour Helen of Ripple crafts for keeping an eye on the chalets when out on her daily walk. It is definatly at times like this that you count your blessings and we are so thankful for the peace of mind these wonderful people bring us.

The hardest task we faced in regards to the chalets has most definatly been contacting all our guests, which so far we have done till the end of June. Mostly all have been so lovely and have moved their holiday till later in the year or next year. This is we feel what will keep us going and see us through this time and hopefully help our guests too. Knowing a lovely holiday is awaiting next year. Travel insurance companies have been tricky with our guests as has our own business insurance , as even yet not willing to confirm whether they will cover for business interuption or cancelled holidays.

It is not going to be an easy time for many many businesses for the next few years but hopefully eventually this will pass and businesses can be rebuilt to be as strong as they once were.
The best way to do this  and protect each other is to stay at home and wait until we are adviced otherwise. Please keep following goverment guidelines. As a keyworker caring for the children of level 1 keyworkers I see the pain and wear, the worry that this virus could be brought home with them on each face. Everyone of us needs to do our bit to protect our families, friends, work mates, neighbours & those we don’t even know.  The world is out there healing in its own way waiting for us to return and visit all its wonderful places again.

Please everybody until this time comes  keep yourself safe & well.

I’m afraid this blog maybe a bit of a ramble as my thoughts spill out.  I’m sure I am not the best at blogging but I find there are at times things that help if written down.

Sunset over Stoer Bay

As we all across the world are wondering what on earth is going on, feeling afraid, uncertain?

We were so looking forward to greeting this years guests, a photographer was arranged to up date our website photos and show off our lovely new kitchens. So many plans, a new window , a new gate still sitting unfitted. They are not going anywhere these jobs will still be done, we just dont know when.

Has anyone else noticed how nature seems so much more vivid, colourful and vibrant at the moment. Mother natures way of telling us this can all come again, we can live in harmony, just follow the rules?

All our beautiful scenery is still there ,plants growing, baby animals being born ,  waters across the world becoming clearer, pollution levels dropping,  the natural world is healing and blossoming. Things will be different there is no doubt. This time at home is if nothing else giving many of us a time to reflect on our lives and realise that things we thought we needed were in actual fact not really essential to our well being.

Our needs are simple, health, family, friends, hugs, laughter the things we are so missing the most at the moment. These things will come again, each day is a day towards the end of this time.
Modern technology despite having faults, is also bringing friends , family and communities together like never before. Sharing moments of hope & laughter, checking, granny, mum, dad brother sister, neighbour and friend are all doing okay. This support will get us through, give us strength and hopefully help rebuild our communities after the worst is over.

                    
In my other life I am a childminder and though open for level 1 keyworkers , I am closed to my regular kiddies who do become a  part of your family and they are very much missed. One thing that is warming my heart is all the lovely posts of these children spending so much time with their parents playing and having fun, they are thinking this is wonderful and blossoming in this extra time spent together. This is what they will remember of these times  and hopefully parents though anxious with many things on their minds will also cherish this as a special time together.

Till we can all roam our lands again, please everyone keep safe and well.
We are here waiting to welcome you all once again when times are safer.
Keep strong from all of us here at Stoer Bay Chalets x