February (just!) 2013

28.02.13

At last we have planning permission to convert one of the steading buildings at McMurdoston. One day soon this lovely old building will take on a new shape as two self-contained holiday cottages, sleeping four a-piece and will give our guests amazing views across the valley. Following bat and owl surveys, structural surveys and weeks of  interviewing local tradespeople we have selected a team who we feel will do us proud. Keep an eye on our blog and we’ll do our best to keep you up-dated. With luck anyone interested will be able to book later this year.

The bed and breakfast business has gone really well and we’ve even been busy through a lot of the winter. We’re lucky enough to be just a mile and a half off a main artery (the A 76) and yet the house retains a tranquility which our guests clearly value enormously.

Important news re wildlife is that we have seen two red squirrels simultaneously in the garden – at opposite ends of the house but near enough to each other that we feel they may perhaps be part of a potential family. The tree sparrows are now fighting over the boxes Steve has installed in the trees and the odd bat is to be seen flying around looking to leave its roost.We seem to be a battle-ground for blackbirds too, competing for who gets the best spots. Spring has definitely sprung and the daffodils are vying with the snowdrops. We’ve even heard a barn owl screeching again.