Strachur is a small, sleepy, sprawling West Highland village spread along the north eastern shore of Loch Fyne - the longest sea loch in Scotland.

This is a very dramatic and beautiful part of Scotland, full of ancient history, magnificent forests and wildlife.

Many thousands of years ago when a glacier carved out Loch Fyne part of it spilled over to form what came to be known as Strath Curra, Valley of the Heron. The two words ran together to become Strachur. Indeed, heron are often seen flying from the Loch to their nests in the tall trees, and there are very many tall trees hereabouts; the magical woodland walk at nearby Ardkinglass is home to the tallest Giant Fir, abies grandis, in Europe.

The area is full of historical fact and folklore. The silvery grey or greenish rocks you see most often here (schists) date from 500 million years ago. Later additions are the Duns - stone defensive sites built by Iron Age Celts between 500BC and 500AD - there are remains of one on the Maclean estate, only minutes walk from Burnside Cottage.

Over the coming months I hope to supply you with information and tales of the area. It is well worth a visit. Those who do visit by chance, or by choice, are taken aback by the beauty of the scenery and fascinated by the stories - tales of "Half-hung Archie", "Magnus Barelegs" and General John Campbell and his return from the American Wars of Independence round about 1785 - to name but a few.

I would also like to introduce you to some of our friends who live round about Burnside Cottage - Charlie, Piper and Jake the Highland Ponies, Shirley the red squirrel, and even my encounter with what I believe to be a black puma.

So watch this space as the story of Strachur unfolds!

Autumn colours.
The view from Burnside Cottage.

Jake

Piper, Jake and Charlie

Yours aye,

Till next time...

Pamela

September 1998