Dear Mom,
I spent the long weekend with Catherine, and we continued our long tradition of eating vast quantities of food in scenic spots. She hired a car and we took day trips from her home in Inverness. One of our picnics was on top of a hill overlooking Gruinard Bay.
Gruinard Island has a most interesting recent-history. It was used by the military authorities during the second world war for experiments in chemical/biological weapons including anthrax which killed off all the sheep grazing there. The ground was so contaminated that approaches to it were banned for almost 50 years afterwards! Read more about it here.
I had the bestest time and, as always had beautiful sunny holiday weather.
Yours etc.,
Bronwen
I wonder if Gruinard will ever be safe to visit? And even if it is, would anyone want to? Would be a great retreat for a truly antisocial hermit in search of a property bargain. I’ll see what I have in my money box.
I get the impression that anthrax spores can last for ever; the chances of getting it might be vanishingly small, but I am not sure whether it would ever be worth the risk.
It is very beautiful though. Had a lovely walk along the beach of the bay, and I suppose that that was not completely risk-free either!