Spring is here - the work is done - ready to welcome you

It's spring, and we've had an exciting winter, with the new extension completed by Gillies Brothers of Taynuilt (free ad in gratitude for excellent quality work). It blends in perfectly and gives us a mud room for coats and wet jackets, good storage and a brand new shower room. The bedroom has more space - no more clambering over each other in the night - and the living area too. The new kitchen works well and the extractor makes a real difference. Now all we have to do is finish the decorating and some improvements to the bunk room and we are ready for a wonderful season. There are Golden Eagles on the hill above Loch Avich - the Osprey are back - both pairs - and I saw a Goshawk with strange red eyes and beautiful markings. As you can see from Michael's pic from last week, the squirrels are back to their early morning tricks. Before we know it the bluebells will be in flower. If you want to spend your holiday this year exploring loch, forest, wildlife and historic Scotland, email orchydalavichcabin@btconnect.com or go to http://www.cottageguide.co.uk/orchyforestcabin/

Best Holiday Ever

Jennifer writes: "We had a fabulous time. We cannot wait to go back. We loved the cabin - my daughter now wants a triple bunk for her bed. It was so well kitted out- we didn't need a third of the stuff we brought. We loved how it looked out onto the forest and how quiet the area was. We loved watching the antics of the birds and waiting for the squirrel to come by and try and steal our bag of peanuts.

We did activities outside everyday. We hiked the Oakwood Forest Trail and to Avich Falls. My daughter mountain biked on real mountains. We biked around the forest cabin complex and Dalavich. My husband fished everyday! We even hired a boat from someone in the town of Dalavich and visited the Innischonnel castle on the island in the lake.

We went out on a day trip to Inverawe and my daughter biked and I hiked the Loch Etive trail while my husband got to fish for trout in the river. Even when it rained, we enjoyed ourselves by playing Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, and putting together a puzzle." On the right is Jennifer's picture of the Falls of Avich.

Update on Bike Hire

Great news on bike hire. The excellent RCS Cycles near Taynuilt have all sorts of bikes for all ages/sizes for hire by the day or by the week. For a fee they will deliver and collect to Dalavich or if you go to collect, Nick might be able to lend you a bike rack to fit your car.

Saturday Outing to Oban

Katie and Barry spent a weekend break at the cabin: "We thoroughly enjoyed the short rest within its wooded environment. Oban was easily found by car for a Saturday afternoon out and the site's shop had all necessities required. Although there were only the two of us, the cabin could easily hold a family and looked well equipped with games, books and films. The open deck out back was ideal for morning coffee and reading. Even though we had beautiful weather the deck appeared well covered for the event of rain and could easily have seated four or five."

Wildlife experiences

Laura and family enjoyed the wildlife: "The cabin was excellent, such a delight we were woken up every morning by a woodpecker eating the nuts, we brought lots for the birds and were very grateful for the use of your binoculars as we forgot ours. We had bird spotting books too and my daughters were ticking them off one by one. My husband was checking the tags on the mattress as he said it was the comfiest bed he has slept in!! And i had to agree. We went fishing just in the loch but didn't catch anything my husband was fly fishing, but not the right rod for a loch and we never spotted your until we were tidying up to come home. Seen 3 owls, and red squirrels' were visiting us all the time got some good video footage of them. Cabin is idyllic we hope we would love to come back, it is worth the drive.

Fun and games in the forest

Matt and friends enjoyed their visit to Dalavich in July: "Had a great time. Glad to say everyone had nothing but positive things to say about the cabin. It was very well provisioned and having the games there was great for the evenings. Really nice location and lots to see and do. Its a shame the shop doesn't do bikes anymore as it was the one thing we really missed doing, but the boat hire made up for it." Yes it is a shame because it's a great place for cycling, with miles of forest tracks. Guess in future people are going to have to take their own bikes.

The new bridge

A wonderful walk on the Oakwood Trail, just a few steps from the cabin. The Forestry have been busy building a nice new wooden bridge. Here's some people playing Pooh Sticks off it.