Monthly Archives: August 2012

Grouse counts 2012

Posted on August 31, 2012 by James Hall

We have now completed our red and black grouse counts for 2012. Red grouse numbers were down slightly from last year, but not disastrously so, and all the birds we saw were big and fit. Black grouse broods also continue … Continue reading →

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Frost in August

Posted on August 31, 2012 by James Hall

  We received the picture above this morning from friends in Carrbridge. I don’t think it was quite so cold here but it was white all over at 6.30am and only 1 degree outside our bedroom window at 7.00am. We … Continue reading →

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Cutting wood, Croick style

Posted on August 30, 2012 by James Hall

  Having a wood fired heating system, and open fires most of the year, we get through a few tons of logs every year at Croick. So cutting timber each year is a serious business. Over the last few weeks … Continue reading →

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McMaybe, sometime

Posted on August 30, 2012 by James Hall

One of the great things about spending more time at Croick is that not everything has to be planned. This morning we were planning to go stalking for the day. But we woke to a fresh day after a nights … Continue reading →

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Our youngest salmon fisher

Posted on August 23, 2012 by James Hall

  Our young friends Jamie and Archie arrived this afternoon and immediately demanded to be taken to the river. The river was at a good height and I took them down by the house  and then took some other rods … Continue reading →

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The sale

Posted on August 23, 2012 by James Hall

  So, I am back from my first lamb sale. It went remarkably well and we got a fair price for all our lambs; very reassuring. It was particularly nice that our main batch of ewe lambs, pictured in the … Continue reading →

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Gathering the sheep

Posted on August 22, 2012 by James Hall

  It is a big day for Croick tomorrow with our first lambs going to market. These are the first lambs from the gemmers (maiden ewes) we bought in Autumn 2010. Today we were gathering them in, counting, sorting and … Continue reading →

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Gold Medal Walked-up Grouse

Posted on August 14, 2012 by James Hall

The Olympics were truly ‘absolutely fabulous’ and ‘happy and glorious’. And what better way to maintain the high spirits of the past fortnight than a great day of walked up grouse. I have to confess that I was deeply sceptical … Continue reading →

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Sunshine at last

Posted on August 3, 2012 by James Hall

  Across Scotland it has been a miserable summer for weather, and Croick has been no exception. But today, despite the weather forecast, the sun came out in style. The Tamworths clearly felt the need to cool down and we … Continue reading →

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