Seil, Tourism, Uncategorized

The Scarecrows Return

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Seil had its first Scarecrow festival in 2019, it was a great success, with seventy- plus scarecrows sprouting up across the island. The sun even shone (very brightly) on the Highland fair which closed the festival on the final Saturday. It was planned to be an annual event.

Then came Covid

Undaunted the scarecrows returned in 2023, and 2024

Last year they (and the hard working team) took a rest but now for 2026

They’re Coming Back!

So if you’re planning a visit to Seil between 26th and 31st July, be prepared to meet a collection of straw filled characters. And to celebrate National Year of Reading the theme will be ‘Books’

I’ve got my thinking hat on already.

Here are our past efforts

2019 – me in scarecrow form as the world’s worst breakfast waitress, and Bramble stealing the sausages, 2022 – Blodeuwedd, 2023 Ziggy Scarecrow, and 2024 Crow-Ella DeVil

These guys may help

You’ll always find books here at Sheiling

And George has been busy making room for more in the Flora sitting room (check back for the finished version)

Bye for now

Caroline

BTW. Feature image is me as a living scarecrow back in 2019, I really needed that parasol.

Food, Tourism, Uncategorized

Sunset on the season

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OK, so you have to use your imagination a little bit, but there is a hint of a sunset in that image.

Thanks to all our lovely guests this season, specially the ones who had to put up with views a bit like this

We did have some gorgeous weather over the season, particularly in May and June, but even lately we have enjoyed days when the sky and the sea were blue

And there is a certain romanticism to the moody, misty days

Here’s a shot of a couple of our last breakfasts of the season

And a look at the breakfast room ready to go (and muffins)

We’ve already managed to squeeze in a quick trip to Arran – inspired by some of our guests who had been there prior to staying with us.

Left to right that’s, Lamlash and Holy Island, Brodick Castle, and the path to Machrie Moor standing stones.

Thanks to another set of guests who told us about Mara Fish Bar and Deli, where we had a delicious lunch.

It was a great short break, giving us the chance to stop and smell the roses

And eat the ice cream – it wouldn’t be a holiday otherwise.

See you next year,

Caroline xx

Seil, Tourism

Summer

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June has arrived and more lovely sunny weather. Late Spring and early summer are often the nicest times here on Seil. This year  I’ve had more time to look around me and appreciate the flowers and the birdsong.

Here are some of my favourite pictures from my daily walks.  You’ll have to imagine the birdsong

It hasn’t been sunny all the time,

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in fact it was a bit grey the day we crossed the Atlantic.

But whatever the weather there’s always something  to enjoy.

And we’re looking forward to sharing that enjoyment with our guests again.

Stay safe. x

Covid, Tourism

Making plans

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How long is it now? Lockdown? I’ve lost count,  but we should be at least six weeks into our season. It’s not likely that we’ll be open very soon but we are making plans for when we can welcome visitors again.

We’ve always prided ourselves on our high standards of hygiene but we’re going to be extra vigilant.  Because of that we’ve decided on a few changes for the immediate post Covid period.

We’re only going to open one set of rooms at a time*.  So once we know when booking can start I will open up Nancy. We’re also going to leave a day between bookings. Unfortunately  we won’t be able to provide all the usual books and magazines. But we’ll be happy to email you any local information you need and I’ll put more information on here.

You can rest assured that you’ll still find a comfy bed, delicious breakfast and a warm welcome.

Just from slightly further away!

Looking forward to meeting guests again, meanwhile stay home and stay safe.

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Caroline, George and Bramble x

Food, Plastic Waste, Tourism, Uncategorized

Looking forward, looking back

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January,  named for two headed Janus,  who could look forward to the future while reviewing the past.  As we’ve headed into the “twenties” the papers have been full of reviews of the decade and thoughts for the future. It gave me quite a shock to realise that we’ve been in business for half of that time, so what has happened over the past five years?

We opened our doors at the end of July 2015 with just the one room, Nancy.

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“Nancy” as she looked then 

We continued the next summer, still with the one room but with a few cosmetic changes and plans for expansion.

bedroom 3

new lights and blanket for 2016

And then in September packed up the old kitchen ready for its demolition and replacement

Our cooking options shrank somewhat

and we became very familiar with these…

paint

By the end of July 2017 we were ready to reopen with Nancy

spot the new chair
set the alarm, if you really must…
Your comfy bed

new chair and  bedside tables

 

being joined by Flora

pretty mugs by Juniper and Jane

Flora, our suite with private bathroom and sitting room

Over the next couple of years we’ve updated, introducing more Welsh textiles to Nancy; the room is named for my Welsh  mother.

Developed our baking reportoires..

Moved to larger less wasteful toiletries

Lomond Soap

and continued having fun

toast glasses

hosting lots of lovely guests

 

Some things never change, January is still the month for these

Seville oranges

resulting in lots of this

marmalade

2018 vintage

2020 batch

and the 2020 batch

Which I think gets better every year.

So looking ahead over the next couple of months we’ll be digging out those paintbrushes to get everything looking fresh and lovely to begin welcoming you again.

Happy New Year

Caroline, George and Bramble xxx

Looking both ways up and down the Sound

Days out from Sheiling BnB, History, Tourism

Taking time out for fun

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We’ve had a pretty busy start to the 2019 season but it hasn’t been all work and no play. A couple of weeks ago we were lucky to join a trip out to Eileach an Naoimh one of the Garvellachs an archipelago in the firth of Lorne to the south west of Seil.

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The weather has been kind to us this month and we had a glorious day for our trip, just as well as we had to make what is known as a “hard landing” from our Seafari RIB ! Everyone made it onto the island even though there was a bit of scrambling over the rocks before we could walk to the first of the ancient sites on the island.

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I develop walking pole envy in this type of situation

 

Eileach an Naoimh is the site of the oldest monastery buildings in Scotland, built in about  542. There are also very well preserved beehive cells, thought to have been occupied by the monks.

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inside a beehive cell

The island is linked to St Brendon, St Columba and a grave high above the monastery is said to be that of Eithne, mother of Columba.

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Eithne’s grave

 

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looking down at the monastery site from Eithne’s  grave

We climbed to the trig point and up to the light beacon,  I had a paddle in the inlet which the monks used as a harbour, and we enjoyed a picnic looking out over the sea. We tried to walk around the coast to view the natural arches but even the most intrepid of our group (not me) failed to quite reach them.

 

Luckily for us all our skipper took us past them on our return journey

 

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A beautiful day out, if you get the chance to visit you should.

Sorry, can’t guarantee the sunshine. X

Interiors, Uncategorized

Back to business

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I haven’t posted in a while, but we haven’t been idle. Walls which were painted last year have been refreshed, furniture has been moved around and the dining  room has a new colour scheme.

We had a little uncertainty about plans for the summer, but now any building work has been pushed back to the Autumn,  so it’s all systems go for the summer season.

We woke to grey skies and rain,  but this afternoon the sun has returned. Lets hope it’s here for the summer.

blue sky and clouds