Tracks

We set off in bright sunshine this morning to walk the length of the village, from Ormsaigbeg in the west through Ormsaigmor to Kilchoan, and then along Pier Road to the CalMac pier. During the night the village had had wintry flurries but by 8am much of the lying snow was beginning to melt - which is just as well as John MacFaddyen, who had been out yesterday clearing the roads, reported sheets of black ice on the road around Camas Fearna.

What remained of the snow and sleet formed a perfect surface on which to study the tracks that covered the road. The most prolific tracks up the Ormsaigbeg end were those of rabbits, but between the campsite above Bogha Caol Ard and the shop we followed two sets of widely spaced, single prints - shown in the photo crossing those of a rabbit - almost certainly a pine marten. One has been seen recently in the shop, and, judging from the tracks, it's the same beast which has been eating food from our bird table.

As we approached the pier the steady westerly brought another sleet shower, blotting out Ben Hiant but outlining Mingary castle. All the indications are that this weather is to continue into tomorrow, something which will worry the staff who care for our older citizens, some of whom couldn't be reached this morning because of the state of the roads.

We might be in for something we haven't seen in years - a white Christmas.

JH