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Gullane House Build

The story, in photos, of our house build in Gullane, starting in 2019 with the purchase of the plot and continuing to handover in 2022 and beyond. It's split into sections, roughly mirroring phases of the build.

We bought a plot of land in Gullane and decided to build a "Murphy". The plot had been part of the garden of the large house next door and came with hard-won permission to build a conventional house of their architect's design. Richard was having none of that though, so he drew us a Murphy and two years later building was finally able to begin. While the lengthy planning, costing and building warrant processes took place we watched the plot transition through the seasons a number of times.

The small, single-storey house takes on the form of a "long house" with all the rooms in a line, off a central corridor. Langskail is Norse for "long house" and is also the name of the house in which Kim was brought up so was a fitting name for us to use. Read Richard's blurb here: richardmurphyarchitects.com/House-at-Gullane.

The East Lothian planners appreciated the quality of the design, stating in their summing up, "its contemporary architectural design would enrich the diverse architectural character of Broadgait and the wider area".
14th June 2023, 14 albums

Gigha Club Daytrip

The planned Gigha long weekend club trip had to be turned into a day trip for lunch due to the weather forecast. Nice flights over and back, but all very hazy and a bit overcast so not a day for aerial photos. Here we are on Gigha though - it was still great to be back.
19th May 2023, 11 photos

Chilly Night on the Beach

An impromptu night under the stars - well, under the tent under the stars after the first warm sunshine of the year.
4th April 2023, 7 photos

Les Arcs 2023

Skiing again in the Alps. After a very mild early winter snow was scarce in places but there was plenty up high at Les Arcs and La Plagne.
15th January 2023, 11 photos

The Aberlady Subs

Wandering over to watch the receeding tide reveal the Aberlady submarines.
2nd January 2023, 4 photos

The Royal Mile Procession

Taking advantage of still being in Edinburgh, we were witness to a piece of history and soaked up the friendly but respectful atmosphere on the Royal Mile for the Queen's coffin's procession from Holyrood to St Giles' Cathedral.
12th September 2022, 9 photos

Liberton Brae Architecture

A very cool conversion of an old agricultural building near the foot of Liberton Brae. Three new houses with great views west to the Braids and Blackford Hill. We pass by on one of our many walks from Clackmae.
14th July 2022, 3 photos

Brittany and Normandy

A great cycling holiday to Brittany and Normandy with a bit of walking about thrown in between the bike rides. Superb weather, roads and galettes all the way. We can’t wait to do it again. Overnights, in chronological order, in The English Channel (1), Dinon (1), Audierne (1), Carnac (2), Vannes (2) and Bayeux (2).
15th June 2022, 57 photos

Edinburgh 7 Summits Walk

Perfect weather for walking the seven hills of Edinburgh today, starting and ending in Liberton. Blackford Hill, Arthur's Seat, Calton Hill, Castle Rock, Corstorphine Hill, Craiglockhart East, Braid Hills. With Julie and Douglas.
24th May 2022, 10 photos

Curling Ponds of South Edinburgh

A walking tour of the sites of the old curling ponds of southern Edinburgh. Only one had any proper visible physical evidence of its existence.
18th May 2022, 17 photos

Completing The Mamores

Or "Boots, Boobs and Brose" as Kim wanted to call it. I had the two eastern-most Mamores, Sgurr Eilde Mor and Binnein Beag, still to bag in order to complete this set, so we decided to try an evening walk in and high camp, setting up the hillwalk for the following morning. It was all a bit of an experiment in carrying heavy packs as we'd never wild camped before - always camping fairly close to the car or the microlight in the past which of course isn't really wild camping at all. Anyway, we had chilly air and a stiff wind on top but offset by great under foot conditions and visibility, giving us a super outing in the hills. The photos are all just mobile snaps because I'd decided to save weight by not taking a proper camera. That was a mistake, in hindsight. A wee, experimental video of the trip: youtu.be/Ba4HrQjf66g
20th April 2022, 27 photos

Tandeming and Ticks

Ironically, as we're in the middle of the architectural project of our lives, we toured with bases at Fort William and Aviemore. Both have so much in common - horrible architecture, big mountains, skiing, mountain biking, rail network connection and even a steam train each, and yet Aviemore just works and is a cool place to be, but Fort William is still so grim. Anyway, they set us up well for more tandeming and Munro bagging as we chased the weather, with reasonable success, once again. Three tandem rides, two camps, two swims, three Munro ticks, one actual tick, one wasp sting and a million midge bites - all the ingredients of another fine Scottish holiday.
15th September 2021, 15 photos

To Mull And Back

Back on Mull again for the first time in three years for a superb bar meal at Glenforsa as usual. Home the next day via Bute for a wander and lunch.
18th June 2021, 14 photos

An Socach

Final, unbagged Munro in the Glenshee area. That's that section complete now, 30-odd years on.
1st June 2021, 5 photos

Snowy St Germains Lockdown

Yet another lockdown week, but a more interesting one thanks to a decent dump snow lasting six days and stretching right down to the sea.
14th February 2021, 19 photos

Lakes for Lunch

A sunny Autumn jolly to a very warm welcome at the Troutbeck strip near Blencathra in the Lake District for lunch.
29th September 2020, 14 photos

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