It's late afternoon when we come upon the cottage there is already a light burning in the kitchen as the days are shortening now.
No longer is there a stack of peats in the lee of the cottage probably this stalker like many others these days gets a coal allowance provided by the estate though if this energy crisis
continues cutting peat may become common place again.
No mains electric here though! power is still provided by a diesel powered Lister generator so no electricity bills like his coal he will get a diesel allowance, his water comes from a hill burn so at least it is free in recent times the estate has fitted a U.V. filter that will kill any bugs though the cottage has had the same supply for many many years and there was never a problem with the water in previous times , the water supply has been known to run dry in summer but it is not a common occurrence this is the Scottish Highlands after all.
Many stalkers were allowed to keep some sheep and graze them on the hill likewise a cow and a follower to provide his milk no evidence of that here, though chickens can be heard going to roost.
Nothing to be seen in the paddock and sticking your head in the stable door reveals no Garron's nor the sweet smell of hay but the smell of petrol and oil and an argocat can be seen sitting in the shadows.
At the back door there is an open fronted porch where the stalker leaves his boots not the Horsehide boots of yesteryear but modern boots such as Meindle and others here also in the past the stalker would hang his glass(telescope) they were never taken indoors as the sudden change in temperature could cause them
to mist up no such problems with decent modern glass I do wonder ,even in a remote place like this how long a telescope would remain there if left hanging in the open.
Changing times indeed (see what I did there)
Take a peek in the window if you dare what do you see the stalker and his ghillie in front of the Raeburn other stoves are optional the stalker has his plus fours unbuckled and the bottoms are down to his ankles he is toasting his feet in front of the open stove door steam is rising from there wet tweeds , they will pay for this in later life but it was always so for
the moment they are young they are enjoying a dram and their laughter echoes around the room.
All is well in their world.
No longer is there a stack of peats in the lee of the cottage probably this stalker like many others these days gets a coal allowance provided by the estate though if this energy crisis
continues cutting peat may become common place again.
No mains electric here though! power is still provided by a diesel powered Lister generator so no electricity bills like his coal he will get a diesel allowance, his water comes from a hill burn so at least it is free in recent times the estate has fitted a U.V. filter that will kill any bugs though the cottage has had the same supply for many many years and there was never a problem with the water in previous times , the water supply has been known to run dry in summer but it is not a common occurrence this is the Scottish Highlands after all.
Many stalkers were allowed to keep some sheep and graze them on the hill likewise a cow and a follower to provide his milk no evidence of that here, though chickens can be heard going to roost.
Nothing to be seen in the paddock and sticking your head in the stable door reveals no Garron's nor the sweet smell of hay but the smell of petrol and oil and an argocat can be seen sitting in the shadows.
At the back door there is an open fronted porch where the stalker leaves his boots not the Horsehide boots of yesteryear but modern boots such as Meindle and others here also in the past the stalker would hang his glass(telescope) they were never taken indoors as the sudden change in temperature could cause them
to mist up no such problems with decent modern glass I do wonder ,even in a remote place like this how long a telescope would remain there if left hanging in the open.
Changing times indeed (see what I did there)
Take a peek in the window if you dare what do you see the stalker and his ghillie in front of the Raeburn other stoves are optional the stalker has his plus fours unbuckled and the bottoms are down to his ankles he is toasting his feet in front of the open stove door steam is rising from there wet tweeds , they will pay for this in later life but it was always so for
the moment they are young they are enjoying a dram and their laughter echoes around the room.
All is well in their world.
