Barracks Cottage

Barracks Cottage An original Scottish Butt 'n' Ben built circa 1723 expanded 270 years later to a popular retreat! BBQ & fire pit available

Barracks Cottage. Our final day was accompanied by non stop severe wind and rain… not a single break to complete any of ...
04/07/2025

Barracks Cottage. Our final day was accompanied by non stop severe wind and rain… not a single break to complete any of the many outside BC works, which included siting and ‘post cementing’ the clothes pole in position. Completed (thank goodness) with two utterly saturated custodians looking like drowned pine martens.. (or a similar phrase). Other needed bits & bobs, plus a start to packing the car, finding severe difficulty in doing so with the wind closing any open car door with considerable force … certainly suggesting a ‘health warning’ should have been in operation!

But our tasks were minor compared to the hardy group of locals.. preparing the football area for the revival of ‘Drams in the Field’.. see notice.This storm continued through the assembly of tents, platforms and sound equipment. We salute their involvement and stamina.. and wish Glenelg far better weather over this weekend festival!

However, we must remember that "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain”.

Good luck to Drams in the Field…

Ray & Fe ☔️🎶☔️🎶

Barracks Cottage.  Sadly, our time here is almost at an end…So, various rushing around doing those last minute jobs that...
03/07/2025

Barracks Cottage. Sadly, our time here is almost at an end…

So, various rushing around doing those last minute jobs that always crop up…at the very last minute!!

This includes digging a new hole (done) and siting the new clothes pole which came adrift during some stormy drying of various trousers… causing a wind sock reaction… (see previous post when Guy suggested these were distress flares… ). A gap from torrential rain would help!! Meantime onwards with repairing the large hole in the hall wall, after the latest ‘leak happening’ and ‘plumber’s fixing’..

Unfortunately, our hoped for plasterer failed to materialise yesterday, resulting in an emergency dash to Jewsons in Broadford to pick up the necessities for a self repair.

First ferry of the day was still on moorings with one of its dogs awaiting the arrival…

A quick return from an extremely wet and windy Skye found me first in the ferry queue …able to enjoy watching the nautical negotiations from one side to t’other! This involved magnificent skippering, avoiding wee sailing boats… muckle ugly looking boaty things and a cute seal who refused to move from his stance until the very last minute!

Back home, serious work was started, with more ahead… but some interesting light this evening reminding us of just how lucky we are to have, and to share!

Ray & Fe ❤️❤️

Barracks Cottage. A mixed day of weather.Also a mixed day of happenings from an enjoyable coffee morning in the village ...
03/07/2025

Barracks Cottage. A mixed day of weather.

Also a mixed day of happenings from an enjoyable coffee morning in the village hall… fixing the leak in the wall of BC’s hall… finding our tandem at the back of the shed and enjoying some interesting skies, boats and birds.

You could say a potpourri of a day!

However… this made me think.. what the literal meaning of potpoured actually was…. Wait for it….

‘Putrid Pot’!!

Apparently, it was ‘borrowed’ from the French language, where potpourri translates directly as “putrid pot”. The French word was a translation of the Spanish olla podrida, which likewise means “rotten pot.” We don't know why both the Spanish and the French gave their stews such unappetising names.

Here in Scotland a good old favourite is a slow cooked beef stew and dumplings.. neither putrid nor rotten… just a delicious medley!

That’ll do us!

Ray & Fe ❤️❤️

Barracks Cottage. A mixed day of weather.Also a mixed day of happenings from an enjoyable coffee morning in the village ...
02/07/2025

Barracks Cottage. A mixed day of weather.

Also a mixed day of happenings from an enjoyable coffee morning in the village hall (raising money towards the hoped for community purchase of the local shop)… fixing the leak in the wall of BC’s hall… finding our tandem at the back of the shed and enjoying some interesting skies, boats and birds.

You could say a potpourri of a day!

However… this made me think.. what the literal meaning of potpoured actually was…. Wait for it….

‘Putrid Pot’!!

Apparently, it was ‘borrowed’ from the French language, where potpourri translates directly as “putrid pot”. The French word was a translation of the Spanish olla podrida, which likewise means “rotten pot.” We don't know why both the Spanish and the French gave their stews such unappetising names.

Here in Scotland a good old favourite is a slow cooked beef stew and dumplings.. neither putrid nor rotten… just a delicious medley!

That’ll do us!

Ray & Fe ❤️❤️

BARRACKS COTTAGE.  ‘TIS 1ST JULY!A capital commute to Corran! Missing ‘Sheena’s tea hut’ but spotting the transformation...
01/07/2025

BARRACKS COTTAGE. ‘TIS 1ST JULY!

A capital commute to Corran!

Missing ‘Sheena’s tea hut’ but spotting the transformation as it transmutes to the ‘Trekkers Hut’!!

A lovely sunny.. breezy day. Arnisdale amazing as always. Corran captivating and a compulsive visit for us.. as we cross the bridge.. detect the resident ducks and foray forward to the herring path.. for a bit!!

Twas a braw, bricht, moonlicht nicht the nicht at BC!

Fe & Ray ❤️❤️

30/06/2025

Barracks Cottage. The weather continues to be bleak.

But we are safe, warm and happy in our amazing billet.

A lovely evening shared with lovely acquaintances from the village.

All is well.

Really.

Ray & Fe ❤️❤️

Barracks Cottage. From today.. a few years ago!A day of mixed weather, however very heavy showers didn’t deter a healthy...
29/06/2025

Barracks Cottage. From today.. a few years ago!

A day of mixed weather, however very heavy showers didn’t deter a healthy gathering of locals and visitors alike, for the Coffee Morning to help raise money for the village hall.. twas great catching up with many well known faces and being introduced to many others .. whilst enjoying lovely coffee.. and home made nibbles. A great wee raffle was enjoyed by all.. with ourselves now possessing an interesting bottle of wine!

A wee wander and some ‘rock’ pooling fun thereafter. That’s village life.

Ray & Fe ❤️❤️

Barracks Cottage… just a couple of years ago today!Update… eventually, the French insurance company honoured their oblig...
28/06/2025

Barracks Cottage… just a couple of years ago today!

Update… eventually, the French insurance company honoured their obligation and all our repairs were covered! (Un spectacle malheureux!!)

Q. What’s the hardest part of sailing on the Glenelg Ferry when riding a motorbike?

Ans. Our car!

Perhaps, like his bike… this lovely burly French motorcyclist was ‘two tyred ’ but he certainly lost his balance when boarding and fell over… trapping himself and his over sized bike.. with a massive thump against the side of our car, requiring the ‘ever-ready‘ (that should be Duracell) ferry crew and a couple of the other 15 or so French motards to help lift his very heavy bike…not to mention his heavily leather clad self, to free him from my Mondeo’s clutches!

All was well however… with only a slight dent to his pride. (But a bigger one to my car…)

Insurances swapped in the cold rain before the comfort and warmth of the Shore Cafe (who welcomed us for shelter & internet access, despite just closing!). A very bedraggled th*****me.. assisted therein with our school-boy/girl French!

After at least 30 mins of form completion, this gentil gars left to catch up with his 15 other amis/amies, who had abandoned him to complete the NC 500… and were probably, by now, exactly that many miles away ‘Mon Dieu!’

Nothing would surprise us if a lonely wet, bewildered & lost gars francais had turned up at our door at midnight.. looking for sanctuary (his real name was Christian)..

The seal was rightly bemused.

Ray & Fe ❤️ ❤️

Barracks Cottage….  Looking back at today in 2019 I found this interesting photo and comment re ‘a runaway’s return’ and...
27/06/2025

Barracks Cottage…. Looking back at today in 2019 I found this interesting photo and comment re ‘a runaway’s return’ and realised twas our beloved tortoise.. Jamie T.. who had headed off to happy pastures new… and is still there… all being well!!
*. *. *. *. *
The comments on this day stated:

“Early morning sun, total peace and quiet.. Just requires the return of a certain runaway...to complete ...what could be, total bliss!”

*. *. *. *. *

A peaceful scene compared with today 2025, with wild seas and extremely strong winds (with a taste of salt..) battering BC’s protective walls, her happy and warm custodians within…

We fortunately brought The Mischievous Magpie back to the garden.. where she now sits safely, eagerly awaiting her next adventure in more settled climes.

Ray & Fe ❤️❤️

From today back in 2018..A somewhat amazing vibrant sky at BC submitted by Darren who describes this as a sunrise....I'm...
26/06/2025

From today back in 2018..

A somewhat amazing vibrant sky at BC submitted by Darren who describes this as a sunrise....I'm thinking this looks more akin to a sunset... and eagerly await to hear from the photographer himself that, as usual.. perhaps I am talking through a hole in ma heid! Meantime, thoughts from others?

The thoughts of others and from the man himself… proved that I did indeed have a hole in ma heid! But perhaps just a wee one!?

Darren Greasley:
It was a stupendous sun rise! Taken on the 03/10/16 at 06:29am. If you switched the lights on the barracks would be on the right hand side.

Barracks Cottage:
I should have known Darren... one of your very early jaunts around the area!! Superb photo!! Ray.

Fiona Blaney:
Where were you when you took the photo, Darren?

Darren Greasley:
Where the river meets the sea at the front of barracks cottage (on the opposite side to barracks) and the tide was in.

Raymond Richardson:
It's the end of the world..............

Shona MacGillivray:
Some colour! Brilliant

Lily Fowkes Stunning!

So … Yesterday we had a wee ferry foray over to Skye!! Down to Ardvasar (just beyond the Armadale Ferry point) to pop in...
25/06/2025

So …

Yesterday we had a wee ferry foray over to Skye!! Down to Ardvasar (just beyond the Armadale Ferry point) to pop into a wee photo exhibition about the area. (We took a brief diversion via Isleornsay.)

Some of you ‘may’ be aware of the recent machinations relating to the intended sale of the historic Armadale Castle & MacDonald estate… …

https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c871z5gvl8do%23:~:text%3DOne%2520of%2520the%2520largest%2520estates,estate%2520because%2520of%2520financial%2520challenges.&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwj9jteyu42OAxXVVUEAHcFpNMEQFnoECC4QBQ&usg=AOvVaw1_HTQH88soxo18E1TdotbX

Isle of Skye clan estate and historic castle put up for sale - BBC News

A fabulous photo exhibition was organised to instigate helpful conversations and support the sharing of ideas amongst the local community! We thoroughly enjoyed a cuppa and some cake .. whilst meeting some of those involved!

Up to Jewsons in Broadford (always a necessary visit) .. before returning over the water to check The Mischievous Magpie!! A chat with locals determined our need to move her to protected waters before anticipated stormy encounters!! (More on that later!)

All is good,

Ray & Fe 🌊⚓️🌊

Barracks Cottage. Day 10June is Foxglove time... and the surrounding fields of Barracks Cottage are no exception.Foxglov...
24/06/2025

Barracks Cottage. Day 10

June is Foxglove time... and the surrounding fields of Barracks Cottage are no exception.
Foxgloves are an important source of pollen for bees. The species has evolved to be especially attractive to long-tongued bees such as the common carder bee. The brightly coloured flowers and dark spotted lip attracts the bee, while the lower lip of the flower allows the insect to land before climbing up the tube. In doing so, the bee will drop pollen from other foxgloves, allowing the plant to reproduce.
Did you know?
As a plant that is poisonous but also has curative properties, it’s said that foxgloves can both ‘raise the dead and kill the living’.
( Ref Woodland Trust )

Well well..

Ray & Fe ❤️❤️

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Kirkton
Glenelg
IV407JR

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