Ulva in the rain

Ulva is always somewhere I look forward to returning to from Mull every year.  It’s softly wooded with lovely walks and the arrival jetty looks towards Mull and Loch Na Keal with views of Ben More, it’s a lovely secret inland harbour.   The Ulva Boathouse is a wonderful cafe with the best views but it was lunch indoors today because of the rain.  However we had wonderful langoustines and excellent lentil soup.  We decided not to do the walk we usually do because of the weather so kept to the gardens of the old house and the woodlands.  This stand of trees must have been underplanted with these campanula many years ago and they  have hung on and looked ethereally lovely in the eldritch light. 

Arrived back at the cafe for tea and clementine cake which was delicious and as the rain had gone sat outside and even the top of Ben More cleared.  Stopped at Lip na Cloiche on the way home, admired the garden as ever and sat on the seat I remember sitting on with my father.  Bought a couple of plants, one nice and spiky that I hope deer don’t eat.  

Picked up Charlotte and went to Croft 3 where they have a new French cook guest cheffing.  The food was lovely - leek vinaigrette with crab, followed by venison sausages and lentils and chocolate mousse.  Very pleasing.  

Saw a lot of red deer on the way home.