Monday 11 March

A brilliantly sunny day, with only a light east wind. In spite of the low temperatures (6C / 43F) it felt warm enough to sit in the sun (and out of the wind) for about 15 minutes. I went for an amble over to the Iolaire Memorial in the afternoon, which takes about 2 hours (4½ miles). The walk has become a bit easier since a path was cleared from the gate behind Stoneyfield Farm through all the gorse. The new windfarm on the Barvas Hills is horribly visible from Sandwick, and it is a violation in my book. I know the hills that it sits on very well, having walked there in perfect solitude in April 2005; and it is now an industrial site. Yuk.