Max Temp: 11°C (52°F), Min Temp: 8°C (46°F), Wind Direction: SW, Wind Speed: 20mph, Visibility: moderate, Pressure: 1003mb, Humidity: 92%, UV risk: low, Pollution: low, Sunrise: 07:27GMT, Sunset: 17:37GMT

Max Temp: 10°C (50°F), Min Temp: 6°C (43°F), Wind Direction: SW, Wind Speed: 17mph, Visibility: moderate, Pressure: 1014mb, Humidity: 95%, UV risk: low, Pollution: moderate, Sunrise: 07:24GMT, Sunset: 17:39GMT

Max Temp: 7°C (45°F), Min Temp: 6°C (43°F), Wind Direction: W, Wind Speed: 23mph, Visibility: very good, Pressure: 1023mb, Humidity: 72%, UV risk: low, Pollution: low, Sunrise: 07:22GMT, Sunset: 17:41GMT

21 February 2012

Paul Murton, presenter of the BBC 1 series ‘Grand Tours of Scotland’ will revisit his childhood town to give a talk  of how the programme was made. Paul spent his early days in Cowal and was a pupil at Dunoon Grammar School before studying at the National Film and TV school in London. Paul is now a permanent resident in the National Park and runs Timeline Films based in the Trossachs.

His talk ‘The Making of Grand Tours’ will be held on 31^st March in the Burgh Hall, Dunoon with all the proceeds going towards helping the  community led Argyll Mausoleum restoration fund.

Paul found the inspiration for the programme when he rediscovered an old family book ‘Black’s Picturesque Guide to Scotland’. The guide was written for early visitors, describing places which at the time were largely unknown. The book followed the wave of tourists coming to explore Scotland after Sir Walter Scott and Queen Victoria made the land which had once seemed forbidding and unwelcoming the place to visit. The BBC series was devised and presented by Paul where he explored various aspects of Scottish tourism.

Tickets for the event are available from Bookpoint in Dunoon and cost £4.

Argyll Mausoleum information

The Mausoleum is located in Kilmun

It is often described as one of the least known but most significant historic buildings in Argyll, possibly even in Scotland.

It has occupied the site since 1790, and remained in use until 1949

The site is the burial place of the Earls and Dukes of Argyll from 1455 or earlier until 1949 

Prior to its construction, the Dukes were buried under the floor of the adjacent church floor, and it is probable that they were re-interred there, as it replaced the Dukes' earlier private chapel, which had been built there in 1600

The Mausoleum was last renovated in 1890 by the then Marquis of Lorne, subsequently the 9^th Duke, when the amazing cast iron dome was installed. Since then, the condition of the building has deteriorated and there is now a substantial risk to both the building and the unique artefacts it contains unless major renovation work are urgently carried out.

The Mausoleum is currently inaccessible to the public. The renovation plans include not only the restoration of the building and artefacts, but also the creation of visitor facilities opening up of the Mausoleum to visits by the community, schools and tourists. The project also involves archaeological and historical research on the site, which may well date back to the 6^th century and have links to both the early Celtic church and to the Viking period.

Argyll Mausoleum Ltd is a company limited by guarantee which has been set up by the Benmore & Kilmun Community Development Trust, with involvement of the Church of Scotland, Argyll & Bute Council, Argyll Estates and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.  For more information visit http://www.argyllmausoleum.org

 

 

15 February 2012

National Park Rangers with the help of Mike Steward, a retired Forestry Commission Ranger, have been working together for the last four years to help increase barn owl numbers across Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and their efforts are starting to pay off.

Once abundant in the UK, barn owl populations have started to decline due to a number of factors including changes in agricultural practices and more common use of pesticides.

Keen to help increase numbers, Mike Steward approached Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park with a proposal to build and site a total of 40 barn owl boxes across the Park.

The National Park’s Natural Heritage Grant Scheme funded the project and with the help from park rangers and volunteers, Mike placed the boxes in suitable locations on trees, in outbuildings and barns. The first twenty boxes were installed in 2009 and  additional funding was awarded from the Grant Scheme which went towards another twenty boxes.

National Park Ranger Steven Kenney spoke about the results: “ The National Park was keen to support this project to help increase numbers of barn owls. Despite a very cold winter and prolonged snow cover experienced in 2010, barn owls managed to breed producing on average 3.3 owlets per breeding pair and 12 out of 40 boxes were used for breeding with many others used for roosting.

In 2010, field vole numbers were also at a peak and resulted in a phenomenon that Mike and I had never come across before. I was helping Mike ring the owlets with my colleague Adam Samson and found that the owls were using some of the boxes as larders to store field voles. Some of the boxes had up to 15 dead voles stored!

Last year we had a further 16 barn owls hatch and we managed to ring 13 of them. Over the winter many of the boxes have become roosting sites for barn owls and some have even become temporary winter havens for other species including squirrels, pine martens, crows and wood pigeon.

We have already started inspecting owl boxes and removing any pellets the owls have left in them.  From early May, working with Mike we will inspect the boxes for signs of eggs and chicks. Number s are steadily increasing each year and we hope 2012 will bring even more positive results.”

Barn owl facts

The sound of a distant blood curdling screech or the sight of a ghostly white form as it silently passes overhead are often peoples first encounters of a Barn owl (Tyto alba.) It is little wonder then that in so many cultures and in folklore they are regarded as harbingers of death.

Literary scholars such as William Wordsworth referred to the “Owl of doom” in his poetry. In reality the Barn owl merits none of this negativity. Even American first nation peoples told stories of how people who were wicked in life would be reincarnated as Barn owls when they died.  

A largely nocturnal and elusive species with a wingspan of 85-93cm, they can be seen systematically quartering rough grassland at dawn and dusk. On occasion they can also be seen hunting during daylight hours during winter and whilst feeding their young. Field voles and other rodents make up much of the staple diet of the Barn owl however they have been known to occasionally prey on small birds and even bats.  

As the name would suggest Barn owls often nest in farm buildings. They have also been known to nest in cavities in old broadleaf trees and even holes in walls and rock faces. Sadly the availability of suitable nesting sites near good quality hunting habitat is becoming less common.

 

As a result of the recent storms National Park staff have identified 114 trees on Inchcailloch that present a hazard to people walking on the paths.

To make the island safe for people to enjoy, tree surgeons will start work to remove the dangerous limbs and branches. Due to the nature of this work, public access will be restricted to the island from 15 February to 11 March 2012. 

We apologise for any inconvenience and hope you return to enjoy the island soon.

If you would like further information on this temporary closure please contact the National Park Maintenance Manager, Jim Williamson, on 01389 722008.