Neolithic carvings

While gardening around the main house at Ederline I came across some undiscovered cup and ring marks. The Kilmartin Museum which is only a few miles from the cottages have now registered them and guests staying on the estate are more than welcome to come into the garden and have a look.

These curious carvings were created and used by early farming communities in the Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, between around 6000 and 4000 years ago. Argyll and Bute has one of the highest density of findings which many can be found and explained in Kilmartin Museum and Glen. Although the carvings are widespread, we know very little about their original purpose, and they remain one of the most intriguing aspects of our past.

https://www.rockart.scot/about-rock-art/rock-art-of-scotland/

http://www.kilmartin.org/

The weather in Argyllshire at the moment is stunning and set for the foreseeable future! We have cottages available for immediate use. A warm crackling fire and welcome awaits!

We are half way though gathering the hills for the lamb sales. We have 3000 breeding black face ewes so alot of tired sheep dogs this week!

We are bringing down the Carron flock next week which is a 6 mile trip down the old drovers road to Finchairn Farm. Alot of guests have joined the team to help bring them down. Many thanks to those who have been involved in the past!

We are just hoping for better prices this week as last week we averaged £26 a lamb…when you think what you pay in the supermarket!?

Nettle has now settled back into the Argyllshire wildness. We saw him last week while out walking with holiday cottage guests staying in Finchairn Farmhouse beside Loch Awe, he looked like he had wintered well. He has settled up in the woods behind Finchairn Cottage near to the Forestry Commission. This was taken last summer having his very last digestive biscuit before leaving him in his new enviroment.

A guest staying in The School House came for a weeks fishing in our 22 hill lochs. We keep the fishing only for guests staying in the cottages or in Ederline House. They caught over 50 between three of them on wednesday. The picture is one of the biggest they caught in the week. A stunning part of the estate to get away from all EU chaos!.

We have had alot of busy squirrels enjoying the sunny afternoons. Sadly only had my mobile not my SLR camera!

We are delighted to a new property- The School House. This is at the edge of Ford village and sleeps 4 in two elegantly decorated twin/superking rooms. One bathroom with large walk in shower and bath. Large kitchen with everything you would need and a large sitting room with log burner. A perfect cosy holiday home! More pictures to follow.

In June this year we had to make a difficult decision to take on a young deer. While out on my usual walks around the estate taking pictures of the Ospreys I was followed by a new born roe deer kid. I managed to increase my speed and loose it but still in site to see it settle down by a tree stump. It is so important not to touch them if you are ever in the same situation as once the human scent can be picked up on the youngster the mother will not return! The last time we had to take on a Roe was about 30 years ago so it is very rare that they need help! When returning to the tree stump the next morning he was still there lying flat, empty and listless. I can only imagine it may have been a weak twin or one of a set of triplets abandoned as it was very small. Now five months on it is nearly fully grown and is running wild again round the estate. If he spots us from the woods going on a walk he loves to come as well and has been enjoyed at close hand by many guests staying on the estate. I hope now over the winter he will travel further a field and will be consumed into his natural world!