 |
 |
| www.ardtornish.co.uk | July
2010 |
 |
| Dear |
|
| THE SUMMER 2010 ARDTORNISH NEWSLETTER | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Hello from Ardtornish |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Please
let me take a moment to introduce myself - the new Visitor Manager
for Ardtornish Estate. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| My
full name is Russell MacIntyre, though I’m always known now
as MacI (Mackie). I’m a shade off 29 years old and grew up
in the Bearsden area of Glasgow. Before moving to Ardtornish I worked
for a charity in Glasgow - co-ordinating support and care for adults
with mental health problems and /or learning difficulties. After
six years steadily progressing in the company, I had no plans to
move into a different sector of employment, never mind a different
area of Scotland... |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| My
partner Clare introduced me to Ardtornish, which she’d been
visiting from a very young age. My first impression was that I’d
been let in on a well kept secret. I visited several more times
for short breaks, and became friends with some of the Estate employees
who spoke of the area fondly and who were obviously happy to work
here and be part of this community. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In
May 2008 Clare and I were offered employment here. We’ve never
looked back, and settled into the Ardtornish life very easily. I
began as assistant to the Visitor Manager, and set myself the task
of learning as much about the holiday business as I possibly could,
with my long term goal to one day become the Visitor Manager. It
came much sooner than expected. I am excited and happy to now have
this position and am fully committed and focused on providing all
of our guests with the best holiday experience we can offer in this
wonderful place. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I
look forward to meeting you soon. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MacI |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Functions,
Feedback and Facebook |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Providing
an outstanding venue for events is something we pride ourselves
with at Ardtornish, and we feel Ardtornish House is one of the best
and most flexible in Scotland - whether for a corporate event, charity
ball, wedding reception, family reunion or engagement party. So
far this year we’ve hosted a number of large events, and we’re
set for many more. The Slow Food Association, John Muir Trust, and
Andrew Raven Trust are among those who’ve recently held events
here. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To
bring more focus to our Functions, Weddings and Events service we’re
launching a new website in the very near future. If you’re
planning a wedding, event or function or know anyone who is, please
contact me for more information. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Guests
staying on the Estate in 2010 will notice there is no longer a paper
feedback form left in the property. We now send these via email
asking our guests to rate different aspects of their experience
during their stay. Each guest who replies is then automatically
entered into a prize draw for a Whitehouse hamper as a thank you
for taking the few minutes to complete the form. The draw for the
hamper will be held in October 2010, and results from the feedback
forms will be reviewed by our team to see where we are meeting expectations
and where there is room for improvement. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We
now have a group page on Facebook where you can catch up with the
latest news, share your pictures and videos, take part in discussions
and leave comments about your visit to the Estate. You can join
this group via the following link: - http://www.facebook.com/
or by searching Facebook for ‘Ardtornish Estate’. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MacI |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We are almost fully booked throughout August, with September booking up fast. Only people who are on our mailing list are given access to our exclusive online availability page, please email us if you would like to join the mailing list at: stay@ardtornish.co.uk |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bookings
are also coming in early for 2011 and I would like to remind all
of our regular guests who return on the same week each year to the
same property to contact me as soon as possible to secure your place
for 2011. You can contact me via email stay@ardtornish.co.uk
or by telephone +44 (0)1967 421 288 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MacI |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ardtornish beef, lamb and venison | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The
West Highlands has been known for generations for the quality of
its native cattle and sheep – Highlander or kyloe cattle,
and blackface or blackface cross sheep. We have both here at Ardtornish,
and we’re delighted this summer to be offering our own beef
and lamb on sale from the visitor centre, in addition to the venison
we’ve been selling for years. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It
really is first rate quality. The Whitehouse Restaurant in Lochaline
uses it as top preference, and in tastings here at Ardtornish –
at Slow Food events, and special occasions – it’s won
many plaudits. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Animal
welfare is important to us, so we’re very lucky that for their
last journey, our animals have just a few miles and a short ferry
crossing to the small and carefully-run Isle of Mull abattoir. After
a low-stress life outside on the pastures of Ardtornish, a few miles
in the farm livestock trailer is hugely preferable to the many distressing
hours crammed into a commercial cattle truck faced by so many farm
animals. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We
normally have a very wide range of cuts on offer, from the exceptionally
tasty minced beef to fillet steak, venison burgers, lamb chops,
and venison striploin. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Please
come and see for yourself in the Information Centre when you’re
here, or e-mail for a price list in advance, and we can leave some
in the ‘fridge in your accommodation on the day you arrive. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hugh
Raven |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New eco-housing at Achabeag | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Plans
for a pioneering new housing development in Morvern were given a
major boost in May when Highland Council gave us outline planning
consent for our new eco-settlement on the Sound of Mull. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The
twenty houses will be for local families, newcomers who want to
move to Morvern full-time, and housing for Ardtornish’s own
use - including a minimum of six new affordable homes. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The
site – seen here in an excellent aerial photo taken by Iain
Thornber in April - was first identified for new housing by a community
consultation several years ago. The house sites, on both sides of
the road, are in the areas yellow with flowering gorse. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Detailed
plans are being developed in conjunction with one of the UK’s
leading sustainable building designers, Morvern-based architect
Roderick James. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We
intend it to be a nationally-important example of a sustainable
new community – with low-impact construction, the highest
environmental standards, access to land for food growing and community
use, and the possibility of community energy generation. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As
well as creating a series of wonderful new homes, it should be a
significant boost to the local economy – with valuable building
contracts, and plans to employ both a full-time architect and a
builder on site. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hugh
Raven |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eagles, ‘shanks, flowers and moths | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Our
eagles have done well this year, and a hitherto unknown eagle eyrie
has produced a golden eaglet which was ringed recently by a party
including estate staff. The juvenile was also fitted with a satellite
tracking device as part of ongoing research into the dispersal patterns
of young eagles in Scotland. We hope to keep you posted on his whereabouts! |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The
local raptor study group is particularly interested in this site
because one of the parents is new to the area and hasn’t been
seen before. It’s one of two pairs of golden eagles that have
bred successfully on the estate this year. No doubt the long dry
spring played a big part. It’s heartening news, since only
two years ago, all nineteen pairs across Morvern, Ardgour and Ardnamurchan
failed. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It
has been an excellent year for orchids – purple ones in huge
numbers, and butterfly orchids appearing in at least a couple of
prominent places they haven’t been seen before, including
this one on a roadside verge near the head of Loch Aline. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| There’s
been a good showing of butterflies and moths too. The late spring
saw an abundance of pearl-bordered fritillaries in the woods below
the Inninmore cliffs – and one June evening this startlingly
pink creature was seen feeding intently nearby the orchid above.
It’s an Emperor Hawk Moth – not at all uncommon, but
so arresting in its pink coat with gold bars that we took this snap
to show that not all moths wear equally drab clothes. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alan
Kennedy / Hugh Raven |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| News from the Whitehouse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The
celebrated Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith has listed the
Whitehouse as one of his five favourite restaurants in the world
for our use of local food. We are delighted. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Our opening hours from mid-July are more extensive, and we will
be serving dinner on Tuesday through to Saturday night as well as
lunch, tea and coffee. For those who remember our ex-chef, Andy
Fox, and staying at Ardtornish this summer, you’ll be able
to see him again as he is visiting for a few weeks to work with
Rachel Corrigan in our busiest month. Please do pop in and say hello.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| And
don’t forget, you can buy delicious frozen meals from the
Information Centre, and also order a ready made meal from us (giving
us five days notice, please). |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Jane
Stuart-Smith |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| We're having a wonderful summer, and hope to see you here soon. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sincerely | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
MacI |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
To ensure our email updates are delivered to your inbox, please add stay@ardtornish.co.uk to your email address book
If you do not wish to receive information from Ardtornish Estate via this list, email us and we remove your name immediately.