Windy Wednesday

A very wild day so we headed into Ullapool 23 miles away.

We visited the Museum which is in a restored 'Telford' Protestant church. Interesting in itself but there was lots of information on the locality. Ullapool was built for the British Fisheries in the 18th century and again laid out in the grid system in accordance with plans by Thomas Telford and this is still apparent today. The most interesting thing though was about how the Highland clearances. In 1773 the ship Hector sailed from Ullapool to Pictou in Nova Scotia, Canada. Also many men, known as the Coigach Cowboys went to work on ranks in America.

We had lunch at the Ferry Boat Inn on the harbour side. Delicious clam chowder and then headed down Loch Broom to Leckmelm gardens. A woodland garden and therefore affording some shelter from the wind. Beautiful Azaleas, Camellias, Rhodi's plus bluebells and unusual trees in this former grand house garden. This plant intrigued me most, think it is a tree peony but not sure. Love the buds coming into flower.

Back home to light the log burner!