The actual land of Barochreal was not just the mere 27 acres we have now but I believe from historical evidence many hundreds of acres which have since been swallowed up in the Kilninver estate. However, this page I have devoted obviously just to what is here now.
BURNS and WATERFALLS
I have decided to start off with the burns and waterfalls on Barochreal land. This one is of our creation. Water flowed off the barn roof into the field through a pipe which Nigel diverted to this burn, Alt na Gleeson. This is the main burn in the field. Nigel then buried the pipe work and built a bridge over it. It then flows down the waterfall into Alt na Gleeson. When he had the digger he created a bit of a pond at the bottom of the waterfall and a weir for it this side. The main burn just flows into it from the left and out over the weir.
The weir shown more clearly. The hooded figure is me with Lindy lou hoping for food.
January 2010. The weir Nigel rebuilt properly in the Spring of 2009. here it is with the pond totally frozen over.
Updated October 25th. 08. After heavy rain last night. One can clearly see the need for the new burn, as this will help to stop the fields flooding.
Update October 25th. 08. Nigel's weir in danger of being washed away.
When Nigel had the digger he also dug out another burn shown here which goes right up the field to Dingly dell. We needed this as after heavy rain as shown here the field floods and the water was either creating it's own channel or laying and making a bog. We have helped nature and it is working brilliantly, draining the bog and making more good grazing land. Lindy Lou and Loulabelle lamb our constant companions when in the fields.
This is Allt Gleasan, (The Allt part is Gaelic for brook or stream quite often with precipitous banks. The nearest I can find to Gleasan is Glean so stream in a valley, which would make sense.) The stream further up in the fields before it flows into Nigel's pond.
The same view after heavy rain. Note the bracken covered hills now clear hooray!!!!
Again after heavy rain the area where Nigel built his bridge, pond, other burn and weir all to help control the water, channel it and prevent the fields flooding quite so much.
Oct. 23rd. 08 After heavy rain last night. We are wondering if Nigel's weir will be washed away?!
Similar view from the pond to further up the burn. Around the corner to the top right is an Ash tree with a pretty waterfall.
The burn flowing over Nigel's weir out of the pond on it's way to join the River Euchar. This still looks new and raw but over the winter it will settle down and I may plant a few bulbs.
The waterfall under the Ash tree on Allt Gleasan.
Just a different view of the same little waterfall.
Just further up the same burn. So many of the waterfalls are hidden away in gullies it is easier to get good photos of them in winter. I shall try.
Allt a' Mhadaidh (Here Allt a' makes it a 'savage stream, and it can be after rain. I can't find Mhadaidh but a Gaelic speaking neighbour suggested stream of the red fox. The high banks here is certainly right.) Here it is calmly flowing through the garden area. Conservatory up the bank to your left. later in summer the banks are so overgrown you can hardly see it. Nigel has cleared the bracken to the left so this may help.
This same burn a bit further up after heavy rain. The cable has since been diverted. It is about here Nigel has built the bridge over it.
This waterfall is right up in an area we call Dingly Dell, more of that later. Here the waterfall which goes right up to the back top right of the photo is about 60ft. It flows our of the forest and joins our land here, part of Allt Gleasan.
The following grroup of photos is of Heather. Typical of Scotland of course and last year seemed to be an exceptionally good one for it at BAROCHREAL.
HEATHER
The hill to the south of the house was covered.
This craggy outcrop we see from the living room.
This photo was taken from above the 'pipe' waterfall. It looks down the garden fence boundary along the track to the second entrance to Barochreal.
Last year because of the spraying done to the bracken in 06 we had the most marvellous crop of Foxgloves. This is exactly what we had hoped for with the removeal of the bracken. Not only would we see grass and sheep, they used to get lost in it, but it would also give the wild flowers a chance to come back. We were reward this June 08. |I don't think it will be repeated in such profusion, there were thousands.
FOXGLOVES
Here one can see them and the remains of the dead bracken which over time will disintegrate.
Improved with the presence of a lamb.
Near the Ash tree waterfall. Unfortunately there is still evidence of bracken here which Nigel is spraying by hand with a back sack. Only a few weeks of the year when a 'hit' can be effective.
We even had a few white ones among the wild pink.
Looking west towards the road.
Looking east over the burn in the valley to the track up into the forest.
I hate the telegraph poles everywhere across the land. One of the many good things about the Lake District, they don't have then marring the landscape. Two good things about the double ones here, the buzzards love to perch on the cross bars half way down, and Scottish Hydro pays us £10.00 a year for each one on our land so a small bit of revenue.
This photo looking east is from the wall they call the marches. Meaning at one time it was a boundary, we think dividing north and south Barochreal. It more or less divides our land into a third to the north of it and two thirds to the south. Nigel once thought he would like to rebuild it. I think he is having second thoughts.
Black, brown and white sheep.
This picture was taken back in 2005. Ive included it because it shows the wonderful Autumn colours and also the area we call Dingly dell. Dead bracken is best at this time of the year as it gives these rich coppery tones.
January 2007 an even closer view of Dingly dell. I feel the colour up here is far more vivid at all times of the year. It is back to the marvellous light we get.
Obviously an Autumn 2005 shot as we had clearly done nothing to the garden as yet.
This is a 3 way stitch by Nigel hence rather distorted, but we wanted to get the full rainbow starting and finishing on Barochreal land Again Autumn 2005.
A Januaryn. 2007 picture taken from the other side of the burn near the house, looking at our oak wood on the right.
The same area of land, 'The Wild Garden ' looking south in August 2012.
As above, 'Evening light' over the wild garden. Aug.2012
Every Year Nigel walks the boundary of our land checking the fencing. The following are just some of the views one gets from the boundary walk. Taken in 2012
View. 1. Looking NW across the Firth of Lorn to the Island of Mull.
View 2. This is all that remains of the Donkey track that use to run from Barochreal to Scammadale Glen. This was until the forestry planted over it. I don't always approve of what the forestry commission is allowed to get away with.
View 3. One can just see Barochreal house. On our 2012 calendar we called it 'Lone Larch'. Mull in the distance.
View 4. Looking down from the east on Barochreal house and barn. March 2012.