Avielochan Farm – where it all began…
James Grant (Ronald’s father) came to Avielochan around 1905 with his family (he would have been 5 years old). They lived in The Croft Cottage. Reference is made to the cottage in the book James wrote in the 1970s, ‘The Piggy Back & Other Tales of Strathspey’.
Ronald has worked on the farm since leaving school. Up until about 1978, the farm was mainly dairying with a herd of cows, bottling milk and delivering to houses, shops and hotels in Aviemore and Boat of Garten. The farm today has a herd of beef cattle and a small flock of sheep.
Ronald enjoys working with wood and is happy making furniture and other items. Lochside Cottage was completely renovated and rebuilt by him with help from local tradesmen.
I have been on the farm since leaving school and was the last dairy maid at Avielochan! I like to run and over the years have taken part in the Aviemore Half Marathon and Loch Ness, Stirling and Mhor Marathons. The running keeps me fit and able to chase after sheep and cows.
We both enjoy holidays (not this year of course) – usually a city-type break or the Western Isles in June and sunshine in November. Whale-spotting in Iceland, in 2019, was a real highlight.
Other adventures include cycling the Great Glen Way which turned out to be ‘take your bike for a walk’ as it was so steep in parts. We have also canoed the River Spey – all the way to Spey Bay – with support from Craggan Outdoors. For our wedding anniversary treat this month we want to do the Zip Wire at Night at Alvie Estate.
As well as sheep and cows, we have Bess the Collie, Tom the Duck and George the Cockerel.
