A Bend in the Road

At first sight, there's nothing particularly special about this slight bend in the Ormsaigbeg road. The post box is there, a facility we use as much as possible as, otherwise, Royal Mail is likely to take it away. Below the road at this point is the rather mysterious remains of Caistel Dudh nan Cliar, the Black Castle of the Minstrel, about which there is a post here, and there's also a very neatly maintained caravan on a lovingly tended plot; and, a few paces beyond it, there are.... those pigs.

The bend becomes special for just a few days each year. It's significance lies in the small burn that runs down the hillside just past the post box. It isn't much of a stream as it only drains some croft land and the lower slopes of Druim na gearr Leacainn, but we've seen an otter in it, and it's one of the burns which keeps running even when we have our occasional drought. The croft land has recently been cleared as a building plot, exposing spectacular moss-covered stone walls, tree stumps and the occasional piece of broken china.

But this is what makes it so important. At the point where the burn plunges under the road, tucked into a dark corner just above the water, is a small primrose plant. Each year, despite the darkness of the spot, despite the dampness from the stream, despite an occasional inundation after heavy rain, this is the first wild primrose to flower. It's done this for as long as we've lived in Ormsaigbeg.