What amazing weather we are having just now.
Beautiful sunshine, showing of our coastline waters to their utmost.
Our gorgeous beaches and coastline looking stunning. Hubby even managed to get his fishing rod out for a wee cast and though there was (he says) a nibble it was a non fishy supper Saturday night.           

Perfect rocks for fishing off, and breathtaking views should the fish be elsewhere.

Life at StoerBay was definatly more laid back this weekend, with very little being done other than some change overs and meeting new guests and wishing those leaving a safe journey home.
Plenty of relaxing coffees and  lunch had at one of our several picnic tables in the chalet grounds, listening to the ducks, geese and new born lambs.
Spring is most definatly in the air and Assynt is soaking up the Easter holiday vibe with all her best colours on show for everyone.

With beaches like Clachtoll just around the corner, what more do you need?
I’m so looking forward to a couple of days later on in the week, just me my walking boots and my bike, to chill out, relax and recharge my battreys with. It’s such a shame all the men in my life (hubby and sons , before any rumours start) are all working and I have to make this sacrifice alone. My line is I have to go take lots of new photos for facebook, instagram and this blog. Haahaa, I’m not fooling anyone. Will keep you posted on my latest short adventure break on the wonderful Assynt coastline.

Soaking up the sunshine.
From Left to right Tarka , Mijbil & Edal

Upgrades @ Stoer in the north west highlands. A very busy winter, with lots of upgrades being done at Stoer Bay Chalets. we have some before and after pictures of what we have been up to. Luckily for us the weather has been very kind of this past winter, allowing us to get so much done. We were very fortunate. The final push this last weekend was in glorious sunshine so although our energy levels were dropping the sun definatly gave us an energy boost.

   The lower photo showing our new beautiful Siberian Larch cladding to Mijbil & Edal.

 

The new roofing replacing the somewhat weathered old roofs

Tarka’s lovely new patio door’s

Meanwhile, Tarka decided to develop a rather large unrepairable leak in her Patio doors and now proudly dispays her new upgraded wind and watertight new sliding patio doors, also making life easier if you wish to go out on the deck when there is a wind, no change of a door getting pulled out of your hands unlike the old patio doors.

We did a little work inside too and though all the chalets were all redecorated last winter. Tarka’s twin room had been neglected due to time issues so we are delightes with her new look. She also aquired a beautiful dining table & chairs.

Mijbil had been kindly storing all our lovely cladding in her sitting room all winter, so we treated her to a much needed new carpet, curtains and also a lovely big cosy sofa

Looking very cosy & comfy now Mijbil

Edal not to left out decided she would quite like a new oven. It shouldn’t take quite so long to cook your tea now that she has a shiny new oven that heats properly as well as a couple of tub chairs to relax in, in her lounge.

So as you can see its been busy busy and all done just in time for our first guests of the new summer season arriving next week. So now we are hoping to relax a little and enjoy meeting and greeting all our 2019 guests and maybe even get in a little bit of walking and enjoying the scenery, maybe even a dip into the Minch….later on in the summer.

Suddenly things are becoming a little hectic in Stoer. Though Mijbil is completely reclad and all the little snags done. Edal still needs round some of her  windows finished off but is otherwise all ready. This will need to be put on hold for a weekend.

For 2 reasons
One being Tarka’s new patio doors arrived. These needed fitted as soon as possible for guests arriving shortly. There may be a  very  faint smell of paint but will be done.

Two. An Olympic high jumping sheep that seems capable of jumping 5 foot fences. Unfortunatly, some rotten posts did not withhold this abuse. So what was going to be a job for this summer  has now hastily had to be brought forward and also needed started last week…. to finish this weekend. Ensuring secure fencing once again around the chalets.

So a bit of a list for this weekend then all hands on deck to get Edal finished.

lovely new cladding

It has been a very busy winter. We have for what we needed to get done been so lucky weather wise. Edal and Mijbil  have had  all  their rotten wood cladding and broken roofing gone and replaced with lovely new roofs. Thick Siberian larch cladding  making them snug and cosy once more.

The old roof and walls in desperate need of replacement

On with the new

A new carpet and Sofa in Mijbil’s lounge will  finish her off. Tarka has a new dining table and chairs and lovely watertight and draught free sliding patio doors ( also much handier in high winds).
We are looking forward to a  brief rest before our first guests arrive!

We are now (just about ready) to start our second summer season and are once again looking forward to meeting some already familiar faces and new ones….and possibly getting the odd Sunday off.

A baby badger out on the prowl

A wild weekend in Assynt.
Well, what a wild and windy weekend we had this past week. Heading up the road to the chalets on Friday night. We stopped to let this wee chap cross the road in front of us. Spent ages watching him snuffling about for ages before wandering off into the dark.
We woke to a beautiful morning. Before to long the sun was out and we ranted briefly about the weather forcast prediction of gale force winds. This information had made us last minute cancel the weekends agenda of fitting Tarkas new patio doors. So  got out the paint brushes instead.
So fooled by mother nature!
Wind and rain commencing before any paint had a chance to even start to dry. Bringing an almost comic set of us running madly to try and find things to protect said items. The rest of the day was spent pottering with small but just as essential jobs. New curtains hung, little bits & bobs fixed indoors.
We also had to rescue a poor toad who had fallen and was trapped in a drain. Broken drain covers now replaced to prevent this rehappening, especially right now. All the toads are very actively in the midst of mating season. For being pretty rare creatures they are certainly in plentiful supply around this area at this time of year.
The gales picked up dramatically over night, the howling and roaring waking us up in the middle of the night sounding like some demented beast as we lay snug and cosy. So thankful that we had new walls and roofs to protecting us.
The morning bringing still more rain though it had eased a little, the wind had almost completly dropped warenting a wander over to the bay to carry out my favourite pasttime – wave watching. Still quite impressive so could only imagine the size they must have been through the night. The beauty of this place never dissapears just changes depending on mother natures mood.
 

Just about all reclad

Stoer Bay Chalets, Self catering, Beaches, Rainbows and beautiful skies.
Its been a very busy winter once again at Stoer Bay chalets.
With both Mijbil & Edal almost completly reclad. Just 1 porch to finish, some facings round doors and windows and a couple of snags and all done…..sounds so easy on paper!

Not to be left out Tarka’s new patio dooors have arrived, so thats the next job already waiting, no rest for the wicked!

It has been a unfeasably mild winterthis year, which, as much as I love the snow, has helped us tremendously in even managing to get all this outside work done. We are just grateful that we didnt do this job last winter. That would have been a whole different story.
We also had some lovely friends up for a visit last weekend. They hadn’t been up since we first bought the chalets 15 months ago. It definatly helped us feel on track seeing their faces at the changes since their last visit.
It was also lovely to sit in the evening and chill with a few wee drinks and relax in a place that is so special to us and share it with such good friends.
The warmer weather has of course brought with it the inevitable rain but this brings its own beauty in the form of rainbows.
But, this is the west coast of Scotland, we are not going to let a wee bit of rain stop things from getting done! Apart from stopping to take photos of course.

A beautiful mornings double rainbow over the Bay

The early morning sun creaping round to the bay.

It is quite astounding the number and variety of talented, skilled craft people living in and around Assynt.
With a great many not even that far from us at Stoer.
Lochinver of course has its well known Pie shop, with pies of every description available and of course the famous Stoneware pottery but look further in the streets and you may find a way to have your own lovely treat. How about a personel massage or pedicure or a visit to the local leasure centre.
Also keep a very close eye out when traveling in the quieter areas all around  for small shops filled with many treasures. Some of these discretly marked with a sign indicating a shop at the house at the side of the road. Craft makers such as glass painters, Potters, Knitters, Candle makers, painters and many more making each shop unique.

Searching for a keepsake

With opportunities abound to find a special reminder of a very special place. (including of course the pretty pebble you picked up on one of our many beaches). We also have many amazing tea rooms selling mouthwatering homebaking and fresh food, perfect for a wet day, some hidden away in secret gardens or placed perfectly at the end of walks. Bookshops can be found, always a favourite on a less drier day to while away the time.
So its well worth it if you can distract yourself from natures astounding beauty all round to seek out all our other treasures too.

Searching for a unique craft from Stoer Bay Chalets

I thought it would be a good opportunity to look back on last year. With plenty work always going on this lovely Autumn afternoon walk was a great few hours gentle stretch of the legs.

Clachtoll to Stoer via their peat tracks.

A beautiful 6 mile circular walk through the old peat cuttings with amazing views at every corner.

Leaving from the chalets I will take you along the road going left through Clachtoll, up the wee steep hill leaving the hamlet until you see the sign for the peat track on your left.
There is a clear cart track with stunning views and looking closely the peat cuttings even though now disused and filled with regrowth of heather are still clear to see. If you are lucky you may spot some red deer on the hills.

The path splitting the loch in two, approaching Stoer

The track tapers down further on and narrows into a small path. As you swing round to the left you can clearly seen wooden posts direct the way through this pretty boggy part of the route.
The path goes sharply down briefly to some of the small lochs at the back of Stoer before flattening out and  rejoining the Stoer track.
You wander along until you come out behind the small group of houses approximatly half a mile beyond the main hamlet of Stoer.
Once you join the tarred road turn left and enjoy the views until you reach the chalets once again.
The route can of course be done the opposite way too. I was in no hurry, savouring the fresh air and freedom. This walk would make a lovely half day wander. A gentle walk, mainly flat with just one very brief steep point.

A short diversion to catch the view from the highest point

Last week I mentioned we had our first fall of winter snow. I thought I would share some I managed to capture of the Assynt mountains with their cloaks of snow.
The beautiful mountains of Assynt

We had a lovely friend and neighbour up helping us with renovations last week and are delighted that apart from a couple of wee snags Mijbil is now reclad and Edal has one side done.  I am trying very hard to wait till both are complete before showing of the new cladding but here is a peek of both men hard at work.

From this photo you may be able to tell I was up above on the rocks, I (thought I) was surplus to requirements at this point. So decided to wander along to the wee waterfall behind the chalets. Though I seem to have been all around I have never made it over to the waterfall.  It is a lovely wee walk…best done in wellies….at least today anyway, even though some of the ground was hard with frost. These photos show the loch in front of the chalets from another attractive view. I was soon spied taking photos and  shouted back to get on with some graft…….a womans work is never done!
                           

One of the beauties of this area is the diverse landscape and the ability it has to cater for all. There are mountains to climb, seas to swim but inbetween there are a range of walks that cater for all levels. They can be as easy or hard as you want them to be. A gentle stroll or a days adventure. Its up to you.

A belated but heartfelt Happy New Year to everyone.
We hope you had a lovely time celebrating in 2019.  I sadly haven’t been to the chalets for a couple of weeks. David & Ben  though have been up and it sounds like all is going well with Mijbil, her makeover is almost complete. Finishing touches are this weekends job before it’s Edals turn .

There has also been our first significant fall of snow of the winter this week. We always look forward to seeing the mountains in all their beautiful winter glory….nothing can look as stunningl as a snow shrouded mountain. Assynt may not be reknown for many high mountains ( there are only 2 munro’s ) but they still make an extraordinary landscape, with fantastic, individual shapes.

These mountains are loved by walkers all over the world and the following are reviews of just a few of them.

Suilven  The area’s most distinctive mountain which rises abruptly from the beautiful landscape.  The views from its top are  stunning. It is not an easy climb as it is remote from any road, so both the approaches, from near Lochinver to the west and near Elphin to the east, are long and are  boggy in places. Many nowadays will use mountain bikes for the approach. The summit ridge is reasonably easy once you have finished the tough scramble to the saddle in the middle.

Quinag: a majestic mass looming over the sea loch in the north-west. Superb views.

Ben More Assynt & Conival The only Munros in Assynt, these two rocky mountains are connected by a ridge. Together they give a very rough but rewarding ascent  with  amazing views, a good, long walk  from Inchnadamph.

Stac Polliadh This solo sandstone mountain shows how amazing Scotland’s small mountains can be In a mere few hours you get a fun thrill of a walk. The views all around are gorgeous.

Quinag: a majestic mass looming over the sea loch in the north-west. Amazing views.

To find out more information on these and other climbs, following the link on our website’s Activitie’s page to Walkhighlands.

I do hope you have had a wonderful christmas full of love and laughter.
We have had a lovely break and managed a few days of family time which was so good.
Back to work tomorrow and looking forward to a few extra days at Stoer – always feels more like a working holiday when spent at the chalets. We are hoping to  complete the cladding work to Mijbil and make a start on Edal in the new year.
   
Here is a wee sneak peek of some of what we have done so far.
Beautiful Siberian Larch….definatly needed to deal with the climate of the north west coast of Scotland.
The only thing we are doing to it is a couple of coats of oil based clear stain so that the beauty of the wood is still on show just under a coat of weather proof protection.

One of our neighbours took some ariel photos above our chalets on Christmas eve which just show the back walls new coat on Mijbil.  He cleverly edited out the scaffolding and our pile of old cladding that is waiting for us to dispose of this week.
I do love this  photo so much, it shows the chalets and their stunning location of to perfection.

If I don’t make it back on before the end of the month, then I wish you all the best for 2019.
May the new year bring you all good health & happiness.
Enjoy your Hogmany celebrations where ever in the world you are.
(Hogmanay is what we call New Years Eve in Scotland  – 31 December – the big night that marks the arrival of the new year.)
A very happy new year to you all from Stoer Bay Chalets.