WALKING IN A WINTER SUTHERLAND!

Happy new year folks and welcome back to my latest column of tales from a very snowy Sutherland here in the Scottish highlands.

Brrrrrrrr!! Where to begin? As I write this, it is currently minus five degrees celsius outside with about 10 inches of snow.

January had to come but because we had it so good for so long with it being mild (and close to t-shirt weather some days in December!) this is a complete shock to the system. Ach it gives me something to moan about!

We got the snow on New Year’s Day so every day I have been out with the snow plough. It just keeps piling up!

Hopefully it’s the last of the snow falling for a while at least and here’s hoping it thaws and disappears in some kind of strategic order otherwise in my next column I will be moaning about the water levels and flooding haha.

Thinking back to before we stopped for the Christmas break, we were on another hill fence for a local estate. We still are, in fact, with about 15 days left I reckon although that being said I’m wondering when we will see the fence again as the snow drifts will be mega deep up there.

At least the tracked dumpers and tools are all in the same place. Hopefully we will get back to the fence line soon to try and keep up with the busy schedule ahead, most of this year is booked up with a mixture of good spec fencing from deer and stock to a few garden fencing jobs thrown in. So 2026 … lets be avin yer!

Over on the croft side of things, the tups are off the ewes and have been for a good few weeks now. We have been feeding the ewes and stock hoggs and tups with ad-lib hay and sheep nuts while this snow is here as there is nothing else for them with the ground being completely covered in a white blanket of deep snow!

We will be getting the ewe’s pregnancy scanned beginning of February too so it’s worth being good to them in the hope they are carrying a lamb or two. Fingers crossed for a good scanning percentage and tremendous weather for the spring.

It won’t be long in coming round, that’s for sure. I’m even noticing the nights are stretching already. Can’t wait for the lighter nights to come. Bring it on!

Thanks for reading folks and until the next time, take care.

Best regards,
Mark