Author name: Acfa Editor

The following dates have been arranged for Bute:

Tuesday 4th October

Friday 7th October

Tuesday 18th October

Wednesday 19th October

Saturday 22nd October

Sunday 23rd October

Thanks to everyone who attended the February Bash on Saturday Feb 26. It was another successful event which was attended by not only ‘the usual suspects’, but also a good number of new members. Special thanks to our guest speaker Heather James whose presentation ‘Hunting for medieval settlement in Mid Argyl’ was well received. A summary of her presentation will be included in the next newsletter.

Humour Category – Winner: Dorothy Gormlie

First Woman – Mine’s bigger than yours

Second Woman – but mine’s cuddly with big ears.

 

Archaeology Category (joint winners)

Fred Hay

An Teampull Rona

 

Wendy Raine

Cultivation Terraces

 

Spirit of ACFA – Winner: Fred Hay

 

Committed Concentrated Certificated

 

Overall winner and Quaich Winner: Fred Hay

Fred Hay

The recent visit to Rona and the and beginning of the survey of Dry Harbour, Isle of Rona took place at the end of May in glorious sunshine. About half of Dry Harbour settlement, the main settlement on Rona, was drawn up by a small team. The immediate environs were walked with great difficulty since the vegetation and terrain are very much against us, with heavy scrub, brambles and bracken cover and rough rocky ground.

The accommodation was very comfortable, the food great and the company excellent.

Further discussion on the survey will take place at the AGM in November.

Winter obviously isn’t over yet, but at least the days are noticeably longer, and it’s time to get out and look at some more of Bute’s coastline. The report on last year’s work is now complete and I hope to have printed copies ready soon. This year’s work will be starting at Stravannan Bay (where the last survey finished) and moving on round the south coast of the island, ending up at Kilchattan Bay. If you are interested in taking part, the following dates are now in the calendar: Wednesday 23rd February Tuesday 8th March Wednesday 23rd March Contact via secretary@acfabaseline.info

A reminder to everyone that ACFA holds survey equipment such as boards, radios, GPS, compasses available to ACFA members planning a survey.

First prize and Quaich goes to Bruce Henry for his photo –

“Can I stand on a box please Daddy?”

 

Second equal places go to Sue Hothersall for “Crisp Spring Weather”  

and

Scott Wood for “A Vertical Study” 

Friday 17th April saw the Raasay Volunteers officially disbanded by Scott Wood after a week of hard work and beautiful weather. The island’s survey has now been completed save for a few minor points. John Macdonald and Scott have to be congratulated on many years of diligent work which has given rise to a series of publications on the island.

Contact Sue Hothersall s_hothersall@yahoo.com for up-to-date information about the Bute Landscape Project.