Castle Hill

As we were finally getting the house in order we could get away once in a while and explore our surroundings. We climbed over the fence in our back yard and through the purple heather to the top of Castle Hill which rose right behind our house (thus the name of our cottage). Behind our hill was another higher one with a radio mast on it's summit. On top of our hill was a huge square rock that looked like a castle and provided a comfortable roost from which to view the glorious vista of sea and mountains. We could see the villages of Polbain and Achiltibuie and as far as Ullapool anchorage to the east. To the west were the islands of Lewis and Harris, with the tip of Skye to the south. In front lay the Summer Isles with Loch Broom and the distant Dundonell Mountains. When the wind was high the clouds raced over the landscape making it an ever-changing kaleidoscope. The wild geese were flying overhead, crying to each other - heading south from summer breeding grounds.

Lower down through the village was the path called The Peat Road which led up into the hills and provided beautiful views of the mountains. It led to an area where crofters had traditionally gone to cut peat for winter fires. There were still people in the village who cut, stacked and burned peat - but it was hard work and most had switched to coal to burn in fireplaces that were still the main source of heat in most homes - including Castlehill.

How could the heart not rejoice in such rich surroundings.