Cover illustrations by Arthur Ker

I sit beside the waters edge,

I listen as it flows,

I wonder at how nature moves,

Beneath the wind and snow.

My heart beats here,

In peace and calm,

Upon this poetry seat,

Scotland's air I dare to breathe,

My toes sunk in the peat.

***

Travelled 300 miles to see this

place,

A quiet haven,

Far from the crowds,

Gentle sound of tumbling water,

We are not poets but feel inspired

and awed by this serene location.

***

Two otters spotted!

Poetry enough!

My favourite tree—p 108

The Oak

Live thy life,

Young and old,

Like yon oak,

Bright in spring,

Living gold.

Summer-rich,

Then; and then,

Autumn changed,

Soberer-hued,

Gold again.

All his leaves,

Fall’n at length,

Look, he stands,

Trunk and bough,

Naked strength.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

For trees, as men on beasts are

heaven things,

The day of the dragonfly, the eon of

the oak,

The light of the rainshine, the glow

of the sunwarm,

The eye of the artsight, the joy of

the youth lens,

Water that turns and joins and

heals,

Stone that endures and tells and

tumbles,

Words that seek and reach and

pass.

Pit back the trees that med the

birkenshaw.

***

“ The cure for anything is salt

water: sweat, tears or the sea”

Isak Dinesen

“I think that I shall never see a poem

lovelier than a tree” from a song my

mother sang.

***

Thank you for everything. You shall not

be forgotten.

I love you all!

***

I am grateful to be spirit full!

***

Here I sit with my wife,

I am so happy with my life!

Thank you for this seat.

***

Beautiful place and great idea, thank

you.

Visiting again! Lost count of the

times

A favourite spot to sit and reflect…

Calming and replenishing the soul.

***

Couldn’t think of any poetry as the

peace and tranquillity of the place

dissolved all thoughts and the

words wrote here were a beautiful

perfect way to capture the

emotion. Thank you Poet’s Seat.

Thank you…….magical…..wordless!

***

Found this seat by accident from the sea

on plastic boats. A gentle place, thanks.

This has been a day to remember as I need

assistance to walk. The weather is

wonderful, the scenery captivating and my

family could not make this day more

perfect.

Today I found some dragonflies,

we built a dam and we saw an otter

on the way here!

***

Here we are again,

Happy as can be.

Me and Mac in this lovely spot,

It is a gorgeous autumnal day, and

almost hot!

***

Hope to return again and again,

But we’re leaving for pastures new,

At the end of the year supposedly,

So, if we don’t we’ll always remem-

ber magical Taynish Mill and sitting

on this seat like Alice.

***

I pee’d over there—no-one saw

me!

***

So you thought!

Where waters meet,

The stream and loch,

So man can find that peace,

That for long eluded him,

The rushing sound of the stream’s flow,

Does quickly go—as it meets the gentle

lapping of the loch.

So here man comes and let’s his cares go,

And allows the peace, only God can know

flow,

Here we find creation at its best—not made

by man,

Here peace and quiet and joy.

Here on a seat where we meet,

Visitors near and far—in a book—in a box

saying ”Lift Me”

We have been lifted.

A beautiful, peaceful, very special

location, filled with lots of warm,

wonderful memories for us and our

family, here today with our friends

who are discovering this wonderful

place for the first time. Magical!

***

What a beautiful peaceful place. We

just saw a hooded crow. We watched

our dog Toby placing and fetching

stones from the loch shore. We wait-

ed a while but saw no otters.

***

Scot’s and Kiwi’s two by two

Looked and admired the fabulous

view!

It’s a windy day,

Scraping back the hair,

Rushing water,

Carrying sounds to the horizon.

***

This is Sorcha, I am having a lovely

time I thot it was a nighs time

spending with my sister and dad

***

I am Ava, Sorchas sister. This was a

lovely day out and all the views

are very pretty

***

I am cold, it’s raining, its really

windy and there's no Wi-Fi… but

its still very nice. I like watching

the waves they’re calming, but my

puppy doesn't like them.

I am freezing!

A few days taken out of a busy life

that got a little bit too stressful. Time

needed to reset and I’ve found it

here. A cold breeze, a babbling brook

and openness. Precious time with my

family and my little boy playing on

the beach. Memories locked and

saved forever. Thank you for the

book—a moment to think about

what’s precious.

***

Life is like a garden,

With flowers of friendship spread,

Showers of good luck

To brighten it up

And fortune’s sun overhead.

***

Trust few

And always paddle your own canoe

***

Windy but beautiful day sun shining

across the water and the sound of

the bubbling brook. Perfect!

On 9th June 2007 the sun shone on

Taynish Mill as family and friends gath-

ered to scatter my Dad’s ashes—in a

place that he loved so much.

We shed some tears and laughed at

great memories and stories. We drank

a dram or a glass of fix and we cele-

brated his life.

This place is simply magical. RIP Dad.

***

A quiet torch lit slow pedal,

Start just emerging,

And a snow shower imposing

Bliss. Thank you.

I could visit any city in the world!

But for nature I rebel,

Taynish to live for ever.

And love to Andy the Bar Man and his

family.

A great man @ Tayvallich Inn

Much love to the people of Tayvallich.

Love, peace and respect.

***

To spend even one minute,

Staring, studying,

The bark of birch:

It’s the first art;

The story of life.

***

We feel so happy to have found this wee

spot, we nearly never took a left.

Its windy but oh so beautify

We’ll be back!

Civilisation/conservation

Too much development!

Too much control!

Wind down, respect the untidiness of

nature’s beauty.

***

Where is the life we lost in living,

Where is the wisdom we lost in

knowledge,

Where is the knowledge we lost in

information?

TS Elliot

***

This place is amazing,

The views are just spectacular.

***

Simply stunning

***

Came to find otters,

Found peace instead.

Long live Taynish

For souls who are over many years

Have here let slip dull cares, tense

fears,

And brought me many many times,

To see the beauty of this place.

When young we’d bound across the

bog,

The moss with tips of red,

The birch trees, silver, windblown,

Bog myrtle, moss and heather a bed.

As younger adults we returned

to see the beauty and smell the air,

That feeling of home, and strong still

peace,

Served a tonic to the soul.

Now middle aged I’m back again,

Unable to stay forever away,

The sum on the water, the tang in the

air,

In my heart as ever will always stay.

***

Huge skies,

Dragonflies,

The water, the waves, relentless

Beauty and tranquillity,

A tonic for the restless.

October

And there I could,

But the weather turned round…

It was my thirtieth year to Heaven

Woke to my hearing,

From mussel pooled

And heron priested shore.

Dylan Thomas

***

After many visits to this beautiful place,

I sit here and think… how lucky I am to

remember this view, the silver water,

the sound of the stream. My friend

Linda came this morning… This

afternoon she cant remember it…

Alzheimer’s

But I will have made memories for

myself and my grandchildren in the

past… memories to take into our own

future. And Linda… I will remember

being here with her.

A note from a 19 year old.

Nice beautiful area long live Taynish

and its stunning enchantment. Every

time I go it fills me with determination.

Every move and every step. I’m gob-

smacked at this view. I will return.

***

I love Iain MacLeod

I shouldn't but I do.

Its time to give up,

Yet I find myself thinking of you here

You’d love it Iain xxx

First time “roamin in the gloaming” for

me and my daughter with our expert

guides, my partner and step son. Ab-

solutely magnificent place, very spe-

cial.

Two years ago my father died. I grew up

in a house in Sydney, Australia called

Taynish by the second owners, who were

Scots. MY father loved the house, as did

our whole family, and we loved the

name. We too are of Scottish descent.

Dad always said he’d never leave the

house unless he was carried out feet first.

He got his wish and died peacefully at

Taynish with his family by his side. We

came to Taynish as part of a pilgrimage to

remember our father’s—my husband’s

Dad died a year before mine and his

Mum three weeks after. Dad took us on

many walks in the Australian Alps which

are slightly like Taynish and he loved

swimming—he would have swum in Loch

Sween. He always said “ Come in the

water’s beautiful! Champagne water!”

Dearest Dad, I came here in loving

memory of you and how much you loved

us and our Taynish in Australia.

***

There was a young family from Fife,

Who came here to watch wildlife,

They watched all the birds,

Then ran out of words…...

Blessed are the curious,

For they have adventures!

***

The sea is covered in glittering sun-

light,

And the soft sound of the water fall-

ing down the stream!

The wind whispering to me, like I am

its friend.

However the animals play all around

me, flying, hopping and skipping.

And the hot sun burning me softly,

and the wonderful trees everywhere

watching me as I walk.

Crunchy golden leaves falling down the at-

mosphere it is as shiny as a crown.

***

Sitting in the magnificent setting on the

friends wedding anniversary—a truly won-

derful celebration.

***

Sun shining,

Water gurgling,

Peace—if only all the world were like this

***

Came down on my mobility scooter!

Not a poet and I know it!

***

Clear dry and sunny,

Autumn at Taynish

Almost perfect,

But no sculptures!

The white horses charge across the

bracken braes,

The wind twirls my trousers,

Gurgling burn and lapping waves, na-

ture sound amazing.

***

Damp squalls across the loch do birrell,

Currents, eddys, waves and splashes,

Lonely rocks and wafting Lichen

Faint smell of wood smoke on the wind

doth calm my inner quarrels.

Today I celebrate another year as I site

here remembering with my wife so

dear. The sun breaks through the wa-

ter so tranquil all my dreams they are

fulfilled.

“Marley the dog whent swimeng, we

froow sticks. We saw a seal.”

Here by the loch,

And among the trees,

My husband to be

Got down on one knee!

***

Congratulations Jude and husband to

be. Inspired proposal site—hope the

wedding venue is as beautiful.

***

Oban High School visited today—we

had fun—hip hip hooray!

I am here with my love,

So here is my house,

For my home is she,

Wherever we roam.

***

Jane’s birthday and our 25th

(silver) wedding anniversary. What

a brilliant place to spend it!

***

Bubbling brook, caresses the

stillness of time.

Let natures joy fill you with wonder

and a sense of place.

Oh Ali is lovely,

Ali is pretty,

Life without Ali

Sure would be Sh***y

***

Advice from a tree:

Stand tall

Don’t forget your roots

Grow strong

Branch out

Last night’s full moon brought all the deer

into the field, silhouetted and stilled. And

today’s rain has brought the smell of

winter. We sheltered in the old mill amides

the memories and when we reached this

point, the sun appeared and bathed us in its

warmth.

There was a young lady called Jane,

Whose face was really plain,

Until she came on this walk

And her face change to a great smile,

When she found this wonderful place.

I love the sound of the swishy river

And the lovely sunshine,

***

The sun was out,, the sky was blue,

Winter was on the horizon.

The loch was still, unlike our pup,

Who seemed to enjoy the water.

May the rest of winter be as pleasant

as today.

Exploring with HTM—

Hamlet—the park finds

Tubs—the enforcer

Magines—the curious

Three dachshunds on an adventure.

***

Molly the half collie met three scary

dugs!

One named Hamlet, one named

Magines and one names Tubs!

***

Feel blessed to live within walking dis-

tance of such a special place. It soothes

my soul.

***

On the shore I sat as the river bubbled,

On the shore I lay as the sun shone

bright.

On the shore I played with my little

dog, midge,

On the shore I ran from the rain-

storm’s might.

The breeze drifts across the water,

Bringing with it memories of

childhood,

Holidays spent here many years ago,

Always remembered,

Always cherished,

Always longed for.

So here I am now,

Making new memories for the future,

The sound of the stream

The colours of autumn

The peace and solitude

Mine to hold and take away with me

Forever.

***

Such a beautiful spot on this planet,

Feel blessed to be sitting in the sun.

***

Windy woodland winter walk!

Gurgling,, babbling, tumbling down the

hill,

Water feeding the gorgeous loch so still,

Reflections of land and clouds and trees,

With nothing here to bother me but a

seagull on the breeze.

***

What a wonderfully peaceful spot.

In-between Xmas and New Year I decide

to have a sit here,

The day is sunny but the air is crisp

And the stone is cold on my rear.

***

This place is perfect apart from one

thing—miss you Mum

Watching the sun go down on a crisp

sunny winters day. Heaven.

Canoeing and camping for 5 days on

Loch Sween over New Year. High

storm, strong winds, the power and

the beauty of nature.

***

And so let’s hope the beauty and

marvel of here leads us to

contemplate how we can act.

There….

In those places which need to

retrieve the principles of nature.

***

We fell in love here a year ago

Our last first kiss

As time goes by,

You’ll always be,

Here on this seat,

Right next to me.

I love you more today,

Than I did yesterday,

But not as much as I will tomorrow.

***

Such a beautiful place, a quiet haven,

today I’m 35 and having a wonderful

day out with my family.

***

Happiness in a flash,

As a radiant bubble,

Floating in serenity,

On the turbulence of a puddle,

Comes with the glistening rainbow,

Sparkling after rain,

Then with the sun’s hot clamour,

Bursts and dies again.

***

Two days playing,

The sound of a stream,

A dull cold winter’s day

But oh my the blues have gone away

Singing water,

Gentle sun,

Signs of spring,

The world at one.

No otters here,

So we went for a beer!

***

Oh little otter,

You spotted us,

And away ye went

A wee sea snotter!

***

You jumped then froze,

But a spotted ye

Ha!

Silly frog!

Tethered in the shifting tides,

Swinging with the ebb and flow,

Sail to bright horizons

Free to go and go,

Across uncharted waters.

Anchored in the silt of duty,

Mind in selfless care,

The wanderlust insatiated,

To hope, to fly, to dare,

To take a different tack.

This place of moss saw sacks of duty,

Milled with needless care,

A future seed is harvested,

Now gone to root elsewhere

Beyond the rolling line.

***

I was here with my mum. I looked at the

shores and it was cool!

I’d sit upon the seat but my bum would get

wet,

Here with my love from Finland

This place we’ll never forget.

***

We put our feet in the stone of Dalriada,

Couldnae find the pig,

But that disnae matter.

***

Molly and me sitting by the sea. Crisp

afternoon February sun warming our faces.

Babbling burn soundtrack for the soul.

As you can tell I'm not a poet!

***

I like seeing the boats passing by!

***

The wind flitters down the sea,

Light reflects off the trees,

The burn glitters with glee.

A magical place—

And made even more special when

we found the poet’s seat. Beautiful

idea.

***

The sun is shining right on us,

The water is running right by us,

This is a peaceful place with so much

grace.

The daily stresses of life fade away

and I could just sit here all day,

(right now Mr F is playing photogra-

pher, while Master F and I eat Hula

Hoops—peace out)

Mum and Janey hop from rock

to rock and the stream bubbles

in Gaelic

(a wee high coo!)

***

This is our secret place far from

any troubles. It’s sunny now,

brighter, the forest is about to

burst of life. Last time it was

grey and somehow sad, proba-

bly sighing after the departed

summer. The music of the

burn embracing the sea asks for

us to return. We will return—

dear place!

***

Into the forest I go as a guest

First weekend of spring and a glorious sunny

day. We travelled from Glasgow for some

fresh coastal air and were met with sunburnt

skies and silvered water. The leaves are

slowly budding on the trees and the brook

babbles with new life.

***

I am alive,

In fact—

In Bud

***

We sat here in the sun

Enjoying life and having fun.

***

A hazy lazy spring day—and so much hap-

pening with new leaves in the woods. The

first sorrel flowers are out too. Thank you for

the invitation to pause a little while.

***

I am a kid under 10 and this was one of the

best days of my life. I got a new friend called

Blair which is a boy and the place is so peace-

ful—I loved it.

On this spot we lost a dog—he is

made of plastic—he’s black black as

coal and smaller than your thumb.

(if you find him please call the SNH

office 0131 316 2683)

***

I pick the pale primrose,

So tender and sweet,

Which peeps from the leafy fern,

Under my feet.

I spy speckled eggs,

In a soft mossy nest,

These signs of Spring,

Are the ones I love best.

***

Feel quite lucky to be new to this part

of the country. Discovering little

gems like this every other day is really

quite special.

***

A violet by a mossy stone,

Half hidden from the eye,

Fair as a star when only one,

Is shining in the sky

It’s really windy here today!

My name is Callum Miller but my nick-

name is Wee Windy—so the right

weather for me!

***

I come from the haunt of coot and heron,

And make a sudden sally,

And sparkle out among the fern

To bicker down the valley.

A thousand times I’ve seen this scene,

It gives me inner peace, always so re-

mote, serene,

Nature can never cease,

To give us something pure and right,

Coloured in any shade,

Of green and brown and even white,

Each is perfection made.

Untouched by smoke or grime apart,

At each mood I gaze anew,

Knowing that here one finds the heart of

nature,

Gentle, kind and true.

Sun will follow icy blasts

Spring its colours gold and gay,

Reminding us that nothing lasts,

Tomorrow is another day.

***

Fabulous walk, beautiful setting.

***

Being a McGregor I thought Argyll would

be fraught with danger, alas all we found

was beauty.

Absolutely awesome,

Thank you for sharing nature with us

all.

***

A sentimental journey back in time 45

years. Remembering our childhood—

but enjoying retirement more.

***

Beautiful day for an adventure!

***

A lovely place to visit and listen to

Nature.

***

The gurgling burn,

The gurgling burn,

I love to sit and listen to the gurgling

burn.

Argyll will always have a place in our

hearts. Keeping it interesting with 4

seasons in one day.

***

Life would be much poorer,

If I had not laid my eyes on Jura,

Instead my face is smiley,

As I look southwards down on Islay.

***

Live to love—love to live!

***

What a great walk and day it has been

today. Love coming here for a picnic

and to take lovely photos. An enjoy-

ment to sit here and to hear all these

beautiful noises. The waterfall has to

be one of my favourites. Even to come

here and play hide and seek. The maze

is a great thing to do. Playing in the wa-

ter was a great thing as well. The view is

mind blowing you can see for like miles.

This place is so beautiful!

Dieser On ist wunderschon!

I am so glad I came here. I will take

something of this tranquillity with me

when I leave.

Reading this book it strikes me now the

nature brings out the best in us.

***

What a lovely surprise to find a poet’s

seat in such a beautiful location. Today

is our wedding anniversary and finding

this was made my day. Our names are

Hilda and Jim we live on the Wirral but

enjoying a week up here in your beauti-

ful part of Scotland, We will be back.

***

Adults, children, dogs alike, we never tire

of being here.

***

At Taynish I like to smell the air with my

family. I like to look at the water. The

waves, the way it splashes.

It is a sort of a sunny day but it is still

quite cold. We had a look at the Mill

and I thought that it was awesome.

We have enjoyed the walk and we

have had a look at the pond to try and

find some beavers but sadly we have

not seen any. The view is beautiful

and the loch is slightly shimmery be-

cause the sunlight is shining on it.

When we were at the Mill we went on

the stepping stones and I thought that

they were fantastic and the waterfall

was wonderful and it was very pretty

as it smashed against the rocks. My

dad loved reading the poem book and

spotted a poem about my second

name, named after a tree and my

mums surname. Writing it by the way

was Lady Nairn. Also at the Mill we

played hide and seek but my dad

cheated by hiding miles away from the

Mill where we were counting so there-

fore we could not find him until my

mum suddenly spotted a foot poking

out behind a little hut.

***

The sun is shining—it’s peaceful and

very serene—a beautiful part of the

world.

What an amazing location—no traffic,

no others around, just us and nature—

amazing.

Babbling brook

Peaceful sea loch,

A little breeze,

Bur no rain,

And the sun peeping through the

clouds.

Peaceful and tranquil,

Forgotten haven,

Keep the faith.

***

Everywhere we look the views get

better. Absolutely fantastic—can’t

wait to return.

***

“Lift me“ says the box, like Alice in

Wonderland. I lift the box and read

the wonderful memories of past

walkers and smile in the sunshine

with wind gently waving my hair.

Friends together smiling, echoes of

laughter along the loch. Feet turning

to ice in the bubbling brook. Fresh,

fresh air. Close my eyes and keep the

memory.

Splish splash splosh,

My feet need a wash.

Trip trap trop,

I better check the clock.

Time to go,

I better not be slow.

The end! Woo!

***

The sea glistens like the sun,

We have had a lot of fun!

***

I sought and found peace,

In Crinan and surrounding,

Lochs, shores, seats.

Silence has birds, brooks and winds

Thank you.

A trip around from the Piggery,

The path its quite jiggery

A heilan coo, didn't hear it moo.

Meander down to the Mill

Eventually it was downhill.

The mosaic fish are no more,

So off we went to the loch shore.

***

Sat here in the sun a little wind.

What a fantastic place, will visit

again.

***

Remembered my first ever poem,

written age 11.

There was an old man from Tut

Who got stuck in some mud,

His foot from pulling and tugging he

found,

That he could not keep his ground.

He fell with one almighty splut,

And that was the end of the old man

of Tut.

We walked, we viewed

And were viewed.

The seal, catching in the wind.

A boat woken,

Fish escape to bigger things.

arney & Bo jumping to and fro.

Exploring all around as we go.

Through dappled light and delightful

woods,

This lovely surround lighten our

moods.

***

With our friends from the Nether-

lands we visited your special place.

Daytime stars

Sun glints on waters surface

A thousand lights flash

Communicating

Telling stories

Of pines and oaks

Of fish beneath

And birds above

And fresh warm smells

Each pebble

On lochs edge

Whispers

And speaks

to that spring morning

When no one was there

To hear the breeze

Visiting for a solitary break in na-

ture before we christen my cousin

Ethan tomorrow in Dalavich church.

What a beautiful surprise this book

is, and what skill of impromptu

wordsmithing past visitors have.

My hope and prayer is that all who

find peace here carry it back out

into the world that needs it so

badly.

***

Our third (or fourth) visit to this

place and this seat. I am so happy

to find the poetry anthology still

here and have sat for an hour al-

ready reading and then looking at

the water and the woods. Thank

you.

***

A bit of my soul is at home in the

highlands,

Away from the bustle of life on the

go,

Amid sounds of the wind and

stream,

Amid flowers and rocks I love and

calling, I know.

Our 10th visit to the Taynish Trail

and this area is our own “little bit of

heaven” The bluebells are

magnificent.

***

My “happy place”

***

We came, we saw, we conked out!

***

A special serene place, so pleased to

be here with our wonderful family.

So grateful.

Here we sit with the wind in our

face,

Taking life slowly at a sensible pace!

Clouds passing by—not a care in the

world,

Listening and seeing—watching

nature unfold.

As we sit admiring the beautiful

setting, we are joined by a buzzard

mewing overhead. A sandpiper pipes

constantly—making us aware of its

presence. Eyes peeled on the ebbing

tide for the elusive otter. Sparkles

dance on the loch surface in the wel-

coming May sunshine. Tranquil, is

this spot, tucked away from every-

day. We in a world, a world away.

***

Lovely walk,

Lovely Weather,

Lovely art installations!

***

I sat here one day,

Sitting on hay,

Drinking some wine,

God, that’s divine!

***

Seated where poet’s sit to see the sea

loch flow past blue to the sea.

Shade of barley, shade of blue, Reach into me oh Loch Sween hue.

Reach to my inner, Reach to my heart,

Let me continue, now I have had my start. The walk is now afoot,

The stream is seems fast, Let this visit to Poet’s seat, not be my last.

I want to slow it down,

Watch the fine detail emerge, Snatch the point

Of a micro-moment, bit-by-bit, Change.

Moving over trees and fields By stealth,

See it oust monochrome And dispatch With winter.

Feel light as cells Breathe & synthesise

To unlatch spring

Redundancy made me insane(ish)

So I took all my cares down to

Taynish,

They floated away,

On a warm, summer’s day,

Light breeze, fluffy clouds

And no rain(ish)

***

Wonderful and sunny, a bit of

paradise.

***

No otters—but what the hell!

***

Today is Yvettes birthday. It is un-

believably hot! Feeling full after our

picnic, cannot think of a more per-

fect spot to sit and relax.

What a wonderful spot—the seat.

What a wonderful idea—the book.

So peaceful here in the sun.

***

Lovely peaceful setting,

Wonderful idea to leave a notebook

and pen. We shall certainly return.

***

A lovely peaceful place—saw some

dragonflies. Our spaniel Pip went

paddling. Hope to come back next

year.

***

What a magical place—will we spot

an otter—who knows?

Walked from Tayvallich—two re-

placement knees—will we get back ?

Who knows!

There once was a glorious loch,

Round whose blue waters we walked,

The sun on the trees,

And our hopes on the breeze,

We birds in a two person flock.

***

Loved the midges and the art.

***

Peace and tranquillity—Bliss

We love this place and will return one

day.

***

And the Snapberries have re-

turned….. Blowing the cobwebs away

in this marvellous and inspiring place.

Even the Lemmster’s not whinging.

Clearly not a Donald. LHS 2017—what

larks.

***

Lovely place—peaceful

***

Slapping away wee midges,

Tiny little bitches

But nothing could ruin this spot,

On this earth but a dot,

We need nothing more

Love Peter and Fleur.

We were delighted to read about Calvin

Anderson, our grandson, visiting here in

2016 when he was fast asleep. Today we

have brought him again, aged 21/2 and he

is very much awake enjoying the walk and

all the interesting artworks. He managed

to complete the maze.

***

Thank you to all those who strive to keep

this place so soul restoring.

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

The art work is beautiful,

The Mill is too!

***

What a gorgeous place with a stunning

view!

The view is amazing and it’s a nice place

to sit and relax with the sounds of water

and birds in the background.

***

A truly lovely place made all the more

magical watching an otter fish in the bay

for 15 minutes.

***

Wonderful day—even with the midges.

Art trial is fantastic—love the otter and

Taynish Goddess carving. Very inter-

esting installing re the history of the

Mill.

***

Art fantastic this year, from the ice

puddle, doors to nature, the fun of the

hammock and elegant marble. The

selkie goddess and watchman—every

one beautiful. Shame about the rain!

We returned again on our yearly

walking hols. High tide and golden

sunlight on shimmering blue water.

It was perfect apart from the midges

and Izzy slipping into the loch!

Thanks for the opportunity to read

the tree poems.

***

I’m sorry I have no poems. This is my

father enjoying the view as

substitute.

The Polar Bear is unaware

Of cold that cuts him thro’

Because he has a coat of fur,

I wish I had one too!

***

A lovely place to bring our grand-

daughter!

My love,

My lift

My dog,

Cooper—I love you.

***

This is our church,

This is where we heal our hearts

***

A lovely tranquil place

On a beautiful tranquil day

***

Lovely walk and doors.

MIDGIE ATTACK!

***

Arrived by kayak from the sea—a

tranquil paddle with my wife.

***

We sit beside the peaceful shore

In stupefied awe,

No birds to see around

Not a Sound

I sit upon this bench

And look across the sea,

I look at all this art,

And know I have the key,

The key is passion,

Though and through,

All art has a story,

All Art is true.

***

We are here again, its dull and wet, typical

weather in Scotland. I think our summer

was the start of May.

Its extra fun this time for the wee man

with the art stuff. Better go they’ve left

me—mwah!

***

Mindful clarify on the secret bench

Sunlight makes fresh oak leaves glow.

Each pure branch reaches for the sky,

The sea breeze ruffles birch and rowan,

The moment stays the less I try!

Taynish, Staynish!

Please note we have transcribed the text as exactly as possible from the original handwritten notebook but cannot, in some cases, guarantee the

accuracy of the content.

Scottish Natural Heritage would like to thank Lochgilphead High School pupils who took part in Snapberry 9 during the summer of 2017 for the use of their

images in this book.