As our new guest house nears completion, work has now started in earnest on the Lodge at the bottom of our drive. Our local builders Colin Thomson and Son are doing this work.

The Earl of Fife put up the Lodge in around 1820 when he bought the Pluscarden Estate. His builders didn't bother much with foundations, and in recent years the action of water has excavated a great hole underneath the front of the house. Those walls were in a dangerous state, so have had to come down. They will be replaced exactly as before, stone by stone, once a proper foundation has been inserted.

Meanwhile, discreetly concealed behind our wood chip store, South-facing solar panels have been set up. By them also are two very large plastic water tanks. These have been specified by the Fire Service, to be on hand should a fire ever take hold in the new guest house.