News and Special Offers
We are currently closed for the winter, but our online booking system is available to take 2012 bookings. If you have any queries we are also available via email click here: contact us, or phone us on 01770 600419.
Short Breaks in 2012
Short breaks in one of our comfortable lodges may be available during the Spring and Autumn.
Starting from £140 for 2 nights for up to 4 people
Please note that during our busier periods we may not be able to offer bookings of less than a full week.
For availability, information or price for a particular date, please email click here: contact us, or phone us on 01770 600419.
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Arran's 2012 Events
The Arran Mountain Festival - 18th to 21st May 2010
If you enjoy getting out into the hills, or onto the water check out this link: www.arranmountainfestival.co.uk
Arran Wildlife
Visit the Arran Natural History Society's wildlife website - lots of information and photos; plus details of lots of wildlife events such as guided walks run by ANHS and other organisations such as National Trust for Scotland, Forestry Commision Scotland, and C.O.A.S.T. throughout the year. Follow this link to check out what is happening: www.arranwildlife.co.uk or www.arranwildwalks.co.uk for a direct link to mountain guide Lucy Wallace's website for year round guided walks.
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Music Events
There is a wide variety of music events on Arran throughout the year including folk and jazz and rock! Follow this link to find out a what is currently scheduled: www.arranevents.com or alternatively to check out ceilidhs and other ensembles headed up by local musician Lucy Cartledge - such as her jazz group Cordon Bleu - follow this link: www.arranmusic.co.uk.
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Dyemill Nature Notes for 2011
Birds
A wide range of birds visited the site and the surrounding area in 2011, including our usual suspects Tree Creepers, Wrens, Goldcrests, Buzzards, Barn Owls, Hen Harriers, Herons, Woodcock, Pheasants, Song Thrushes, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Blackbirds, Robins and others throughout the year. Swallows returned to our garage (which was the original Dyemill) this year, but although a pair were checking it out, the woodshed remained Swallow free. The garage pair's first brood were killed just before fledging. The whole nest (plus other old ones) was knocked to the floor, and we found the sad result - a nest full of dead baby swallows. They tried again, and this time managed to fledge 4 youngsters. Although the woodshed wasn't used by Swallows this year, and enterprising pair of Wrens converted an old Swallow nest for themselves. Obviously pleased with the success of their home, they converted another for a second brood!
We had our Barn Owl box checked, cleaned and re-roped this spring. It was clearly being used as a roost, and we think used for breeding again this year. We didn't manage to catch site of any babies, but hopefully there was a successful fledging. There were also nesting Coal Tits, Song Thrushes, Pheasants, Robins, and Blackbirds in and around the site with plenty of sightings of adults collecting food as well as fledglings . For those of you interested in finding out more about the birdlife on Arran, follow this link: www.arranbirding.co.uk .
Bats
The attic of our house is a maternity roost for Long Eared Brown Bats which are often around at dusk along with the slightly smaller Pipistrelles which sometimes roost under the roof slates. We had two grounded Pipistrelles this summer - we found them sitting on the bottom of an upturned Kayak. Sadly one of them proved to be dead, but we put the other (photo below) in a bed of tissue paper in an open box on its side for easy escape, with a drink (a ball of cotton wool soaked in water on a jam jar lid does well) and put it high up in the garage. By the next day there was no sign of it, so hopefully after its rest it flew off and was OK.
Squirrels
Red Squirrels were around the site again this year, always popular with our guests. It’s amazing their range of colours – from the classic red, to almost black. Arran is one of the last sure footholds for Red Squirrels as there are no greys here. A local group has been busy putting up Squirrel warning signs on some stretches of road to alert drivers to them. Unfortunately the squirrels often panic when crossing the road when a car comes along, and may turn back into its path; hopefully the signs will slow the cars down enough to give them a better chance.
Otters, Badgers & Other Animals
We were aware of an Otter hunting along the burn during the winter of 2009/10 - it was spotted by a neighbour chasing one of his hens! We didn't see it ourselves, but think one of our hens ended up as an Otter breakfast. This year we didn't have any close encounters with Otters here at Dyemill, but in the early hours of the morning in the summer a friend saw a large Badger heading into our driveway! This is the first time anyone has seen a Badger so close to home. We have been lucky enough to have numerous good Otter sightings around the coast when we've been out and about, as well as seeing lots of Seals, Red Deer and a wide variety of birds. However, our most exciting wildlife close encounter this year was during August when whist out kayaking in Lamlash bay, a porpoise with a baby alongside her surfaced right next to us as they swam by!! Guests also reported numerous sightings of Basking Sharks, and occasionally Dolphins yet again this year.
Other Items of Interest
In September 2008 the Scottish government created the first No Take Zone in Scotland, here in Lamlash Bay resulting from the hard work of C.O.A.S.T. (Community of Arran Seabed Trust). Part of the bay is now fully protected. Follow this link for up to date info on C.O.A.S.T . including some stunning photos, or why not join and sign up for their new letter: www.arrancoast.co.uk
We had our two Midge Eater machines running during midge season once again this year. They do seem to make a big difference. Although of course, Midges are part of summer life in the west of Scotland providing food for lots of birds such as our Swallows, and nothing is going to completely get rid of them - except possibly global warming?!
