Today dawned beautifully calm and sunny, which was perfect weather for our planned visit to the island of Tanera Mor.  Tanera Mor is the island that will host the 2 retreats planned for later this year in September, a joint venture between Tanera Mor and Ripples Crafts.

We had arranged to meet Lizzie and Richard, who look after the island, at the little pier at Badentarbert.  We arrived a little early, having stopped on the way to take photographs of some of the peaks in Assynt, as well as a stag with the most magnificent antlers:





Before long we were on our way on the small rib across to the island.  (Those coming on the retreat will not be travelling on the rib - the Patricia, which is a larger boat, is currently being serviced).



Richard dropped us of at the jetty closest to the two houses that will be used in the retreat - Schoolhouse and Farmhouse.  Lizzie explained that at one time there were enough people living on the island to need a school, which I hadn't realised.



After having a look around the two houses (the views from all the bedrooms are stunning!) we headed inland a bit to have a walk around the island.  Everywhere we looked there were wonderful views - our cameras were working overtime.  Here is the view looking back towards Schoolhouse with the mainland beyond it:



On the west side of the island you get incredible views across the smaller Summer Isles:



Our walk took us past the ancient apple orchard, the graveyard reputed to date back to the 1100's, and the herring factory dating to the 1700's.



All too soon, after a wonderful lunch with Lizzie and Richard (we're not going to starve when we're on the island!) it was time to return to the mainland.





All I can say is the retreats are going to be great fun, a rather big adventure, and very, very peaceful.



On our journey home we were treated to a beautiful rainbow, which was the perfect end to a lovely day.



There are very limited spaces left on the second week of the retreats, and if you'd like further details then please contact Lizzie on the island - you can find all the details here.