Clachaig Blog - Autumn 2007
1st November |  |
| Throughout the week our customers were treated to great music, great food and over 50 Scottish cask ales supported by a thoroughly enjoyable beer tasting on the Tuesday night courtesy of Isle of Skye Brewery. An equally successful whisky masterclass on the Thursday night was delivered exquisitely by Gerry Brown from Gordon & Macphail. The music was first class and featured some of the Clachaig’s favourite crowd pleasers, Pure Malt, Heidrum, Davie Tait and an amazing last night session from Tung ‘n’ Groove which was a real cracker. |  |
Being a real ale festival we are always looking for quality beers to showcase and among the great brews that we have come to expect from Williams bros, An Teallach, Houston, Cairngorm, Sinclair, Hebridean and Glenfinnan breweries the talking point of the week went to Devanha XXX from Isle of Skye. A real blast from the past. Originally made in Aberdeen production ceased in the 1930’s when the brewery was taken over by Ushers of Edinburgh. Although resurrected in the 1980’s for a couple of years, this popular east coast ale seemed condemned to the history books when the brewery closed it’s doors for the last time after the business failed. Truly an ale ahead of it’s time and once again made to the original recipe under the guidance & watchful eye of a retired Devanha brewer the future of this fine ale appears to be in safe hands at the Skye brewery. |  |
| We couldn’t do all this without our loyal & hardworking staff who were in a playful mood on the last night of the festival and treated our customers to a Halloween fashion show of Goths, Ghosties & Ghoulies. Well done to them & thanks for all their hard work. We can only say to those who missed it…. “Where were you?... You missed a real treat’’ See you in February! |  |
21st October 2007 But fear not, we've got plenty more lined up including a few debut brews such as Glen Ample, a framboise/ raspberry beer (4.5%) from Cairngorm Brewery or, if that sounds a little too girly for you, Cuillin Beast ("The brew of the beast" apparently!) from the Isle of Skye at a mere 7% ABV. |  |
19th October 2007 With dry, clear weather and the last couple of days of the local school hols we decided to head east for a couple of days. Heading for Aviemore, we stopped off at the bike trails at Laggan Wolftrax. The new fun park is now fully open, as is the green-graded track ideal for Sam and his stabilizers, and the new section of red that mirrors the black. Big grin factors all round and then into to the cafe for obligatory post-ride coffee and cakes. Only an hour from Glencoe, I'll be back again soon for some more of the trails here. |  |
| And so on to Aviemore and a night in the SYHA. Perfect reindeer feeding weather as we joined the 11am feed of the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd. A 15 minute walk out onto the hillside found the herd - all ready for their breakfast. Great to get right in amongst them and feed them by hand. Just need to avoid their antlers and hope that the rutting season (see below!) is in fact over! I would say catch them at a shopping centre near you this Christmas but having just read their latest web entry it would seem that Blue Tongue disease protection zones might actually mean that it won't be possible this year. If you head to Aviemore - summer or winter, make this part of your trip! |  |
9th October 2007 We keep saying it, but these shoulder month periods are definitely the best times in the glen. With the benefit of some better weather the mornings have been atmospheric with light frosts and heavy dews clinging to the grass whilst the fog drifts through the lowest areas of the glen. In the last few days Little Egrets have been seen locally, roe deer were scampering through the long grass opposite the house, a heron looked like it was going to drop out of the sky on us the cheeky pinemarten keeps leaving unwanted presents on our doorstep. Ah.., the joys of rural life! |  |
| 8th October 2007 Harry's back! Interest in Harry Potter seems as strong as ever so we thought you'd like to know that filming for the 6th story in the series Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince has just taken place here in Glencoe. The hillside just opposite Clachaig was extensively used for the Prisoner of Azkaban when a set including Hagrid's Hut was built. Since then, filming has taken place for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and the Order of the Pheonix, although always on a much smaller scale than before. You'll have to wait until November 2008 to see the film but expect to see some more familiar Glencoe scenes on the big screen. |  |
| 7th October 2007 Speaking of legacies left over from the World Championships, here's another one. The so called "Stolen Bridge" (it was last seen in Glentress in the Borders!) was installed in Leanachan Forest to bridge one of the ravines on the old puggy (Alcan's light railway) line to form part of the new Cross Country course. With autumn colours on the trees, half term hols and blue skies we had a great day out with the kids on the bike trails in Leanachan forest. |  |
| 1st October 2007 Big events come and go but what legacy do they leave behind? For the World Championships at least, there's plenty that's very tangible. The biking forest at Leanachan is now safely accessible by bike from the town due to the construction of the new cycle path that runs parallel to the A82. If you know the back routes through Inverlochy village and old Inverlochy Castle then its a clear run right the way through from the town centre. Great for access and a good trip out for the all the family too. |  |
24th September 2007 Sorry, no pictures, so here's one of a more sedate summer ride over the Devil's Staircase instead! |  |
