Your invitation |
 |
 | The
intimately small, snug and colourful, larch clad bunkhouse hostel has
been carefully prepared for you.. You settle in with your gear and take
a steaming mug or a glass of the amber stuff into the covered garden
where you nestle in a sprawling basket chair close to the open fire
with the red squirrel and crested tit haven beyond in the sapling birch
wood. |
You may be travelling
through or traversing the plateau of the wild Cairngorm Mountains of
Scotland solo or with a partner. You may be the first of your group of
friends to arrive here at The Lazy Duck Hostel where you have chosen to
spend a few days in a Highland homestead renewing old friendships. |
 |
 | Either
way, when you reach the end of the mysterious track to us which winds
from the village boundary through the wood and you open the gate to the
forest clearing on the edge of the 100 acre heather moor, likely you
will recognise immediately the resinous scent from the two hundred year
old Caledonian pines surrounding the ancient travellers' camping ground
just inside the entrance. |
Maybe there is a trace
of wood smoke or burning peat even from the house, cottage or hostel or
from one of the outdoor chimeneas that give comfort, pleasure and
warmth to us and our guests. |  |
 |
In the morning you can
throw open the top section of the stable door to the pond below - |
- where whistlers,
widgeon, pintails, mandarins, carolinas and aylesburies, the true 'lazy
ducks', are already cavorting on the compact sheet of water, mirror
still or blown into spews by a breeze. |
 |
 |
Up and beyond the wild
flower grassland in front of the hostel, a riot of yellow hawkweed
laced with native orchids for much of the summer, is the heather and
juniper moor leading through the Abernethy forest to the Tulloch Hills
and Cairngorm |
In
winter it could be just one of those lowering dark days when ten
minutes of true daylight is a rare gift. Maybe then you should stack
the wood-stove, pull up a chair and enjoy your book in the company of
some imaginatively chosen music from the CD player. |
 |
 | On
the other hand you might be better getting into that bad weather gear
and taking a low level route by river or forest track or setting off up
Sgor Gaoithe, the 628 metre Corbett just up the strath on the General
Wade road to the Lecht ski area and Deeside. |
If it's a sparkler of a
day it's a different matter altogether. You have arrived in the dryest
and, in winter, the coldest district of Scotland. The snow here can be
crisp, exhilarating and fun. On the tops of the Cairngorm Mountains
though, it will be challenging even for experienced mountaineers and
skiers. |  |
 | In
Spring, at the entrance to the hostel garden you will be stilled by the
trilling call of the nesting curlew sweeping low over the moor. |
In August the nectar
from the heather reaching to the door of the hostel itself will rival
any sensory glory you have experienced. Deep yellow broom, honeysuckle,
clematis, iris and alpine lupins make regular appearance in the garden
throughout the summer. Birch, rowan, aspen, juniper, pine, larch and
willow are everywhere. |  |
|
On winter evenings
geese wing nobly to and from Loch Garten nearby and in the gloamings of
late summer the lone woodcock flies croaking, low and direct to inspect
his territory and have us shut up shop for the day. |
For children helping to
feed the ducks or collect hens eggs there is the added surprise of
seeing the grown ups with the bow-saw preparing timber for tonight's
barbeque where, they know, there will be toasted marsh mallows for
'afters' . | 
|
 | Meanwhile,
there's the adventure swing, not to mention the hammock hidden in the
heather and reached only by the bold and the brave via a secret path
dedicated to little people |
When they travel with
you on their own or on locally hired bikes the forest tracks are easily
covered and many new discoveries made. On nearby waters too, grown ups
and children kayak and sail or just get plain wet in the fun area of
the nearby forest theme park or giant new-look swimming pool. |
 |
 |
Then there is always the Lazy Duck for you and your party to return to in the late afternoons to prepare for the evening's feast you will enjoy making together. Its the kind of place you thought didn't exist anymore . . . . .
|
And a couple more pictures...
| The 2 Fionas and their 3 sturdy trail horses stop by on their way from the Moray coast to Glen Clova in the Angus Glens |  |
 | its not just ducks you'll find on our pond! |
| this pair of Bahamian Pintails have been entertaining us throughout the Spring |  |
*****
Meanwhile, here's a few folks' recent contributions to the Visitors' Book
“ Duck Paradise! Glory and Peace for the Place and many thanx for them who made it like this.” Jules and friends, Hungary
“ Wonderful to have this splendid place all to myself for a night. David & Valery are most cordial hosts and I enjoyed the surrounding wildlife. Please, next time I come can I take the armchair away with me? Iain Munro, Edinburgh
“ Great and peaceful place; where can I get one? Heath & Joan, Pender Island, British Columbia
“ I loved the swing and bunk bed. Bed
was dead cosy. I would love to come again. Hope you liked the cake!
Emma, Glasgow
“ Wonderful, beautiful, peaceful place!
Love the “extras”: bed curtains, lights & places for
belongings.”
Nancy & Zach, Massachusetts, USA
“
Fab!! A hidden Highland gem. Planned our return before we left.”
Eunice, Nigel, Nina, Stevie, Wullie, Davi & Elaine, Strathaven
“All
hostels should be like this one; charming, comfortable, ecological. We
were very impressed and hope to return.”
Karl Stewart
& Harriet Brown, Birmingham
"“Haste ye Back” indeed! Exquisite
accommodation.”
Chas Tanner, past president, New Zealand
Alpine Club & Katrina McKenzie, Dunedin, NZ
So
that's what they are saying - what about you?
Haste ye back
Yours ever,
L.DUCK