Five Things to Do in the Snow

A snowy day at Logie Steading

With dramatic weather warnings and deliveries not arriving because, ‘oh, but you’re in the North of Scotland’, it seems a good time to abandon ‘real life’ along with other parts of the country and Go Outside and Make the Most of It.

After waving the Big One off to school (not that she looks too miserable to be going), the boys and I were ready for our morning of fun in the snow.

snowy school runSo, here’s our Five Things to do in The Snow, based on a potter around Logie Steading. Yes, they might be obvious, but isn’t it nice to have a day where you get out and actually do these things..

1. Sledging/Tobogganing

1a. Sledding, Sledging, Sleigh-ing or Toboganning?

A bit of a side note (even this early in the post), there seems to be some debate as to what constitutes a sledge or a toboggan or even a sleigh but whatever you call it, there can’t be many things more fun for young or old than zooming down a hill on a thin piece of plastic. Or a beautiful wooden toboggan. According to a quick Google, a sled is a wooden thing up on rails, a toboggan something (usually plastic) that sits right on the ground and a sleigh is pulled by animals (as per Jingle Bells). Or if you grew up in Cornwall where it snows once in a lifetime and no-one makes such a heavy commitment as actually buying a sledge – or apparently even knows what one is – a plastic feed sack does just fine too. Anyway, I’m sticking with sledging, feels right. But I digress.

1b. Sledging in Logie House Garden

I did start with the disclaimer that there aren’t going to be many great revolutionary ideas here, so surely sledging has got to be the original and best and it turns out that we aren’t the only ones to think so. The steep bank that flattens out onto the big lawn in Logie House Garden is covered in tracks from enthusiastic sledgers.

sledging tracks in Logie House Garden

It’s a great, safe spot with a good level starting off point and just the right amount of steep hill before the wide expanse of lawn to finish. The children find it hilarious that the larger amongst us zoom the fastest and have started piling up small people on a sledge to try and outdo the adults. Although they could do with a lesson in team work as each tries to lean in a different direction until someone tumbles off in a great snowy heap. And don’t worry, you don’t have to have children to give it a go. In fact it would cheer up our day no end to peek out of the office window and see a bunch of the more mature garden visitors racing down the slope. I hope we get some pictorial evidence.

In the meantime, I forgot to get one of the boys sledging (far too busy doing it), so here’s a gratuitous one of the 3 of them doing it the other day – don’t they look like they’re having fun?!

Juno, Max & Gus - children sledging

2. Snowball Fighting

The middle child, age 3, seems not to have fully grasped the concept of the good old-fashioned snowball fight; ‘mum, I can’t do it, please can you make me a snowball so I can throw it at you’ isn’t quite the spirit. Also, this attitude did not enable me to take any useable pictures so – nothing to see here. Snowball fighting does have reduced appeal after one or two have made their way down your neck (so much more fun to get one down an adult’s neck too) but the toddler was saved from that fate by one of the fantastic fleece neck warmers Jude sells in the Hellygog shop. I can rave about these things for hours as there are no long ends to get caught and garrotte yourself on and they are easy to put on/take off and wash and I buy them for all the children in my life (excuse the hard sell, I got carried away, I promise I’m not on commission!), which meant that – excellent – we could carry on for longer while more snowballs were aimed at me..

3. A Walk through this Winter Wonderland

Again, not a brand-new idea, but one of my absolute favourite things about a jaunt to Logie Steading is a walk along the river paths. It can be pretty icy at the moment, so you do have to watch your step in places but the wintery scene of the river is well worth at least a potter down to see. I don’t have a pic, but it’s worth having a look at the Findhorn Fishing Facebook page where Ewen posts shots of the river in all seasons. We love hunting for icicles on the banks and trees and a walk’s something you can do any day of the week, even in January when the Steading is open only Friday-Sunday.

a sunny snowy walk at Logie Steading

4. Get Your Camera Out!

Whether you’re a proper photographer or a complete amateur like me it’s great fun to try and capture these moments. If you ever look back to winter pictures in July, or conversely, to leafy green ones at this time of year, it seems almost impossible to imagine the alternate version of the world you see. Some of our best images from around Logie were just excellent moments captured on a phone – lucky strikes. And if you want to develop your skills, the wonderful Gary Murison sometimes leads photography walks from the steading, along the river paths to help you get the best out of your camera and to really ‘see’ the shots.

Logie House in the snow

5. A Steaming Marshmallow-Covered Mug of Hot Chocolate

Or a cup of tea, or a delicious cup of coffee at the Olive Tree Cafe. And perhaps a sweet treat to go alongside. After all, you have been working up an appetite with all that sledging, snowball-fighting, walking and photographing..

deluxe children's hot chocolate at the Olive Tree Cafe at Logie Steading

So there it is, five things to do in the snow. Not revelatory, but perhaps the original and best. Hope you enjoy it while it’s here.

wintery clock tower at Logie Steading

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Five Things to Do in the Snow

Terms & Conditions for fishing on Logie Estate

  1. Fishing on the river is restricted to 2 rods per beat and is to be by fly only. All fishing is from the right bank. By arrangement with the neighbouring estate there is no left bank fishing on the Relugas Middle and Top beats.
  2. The fishing is split into two 2 rod beats, Logie and Relugas, with Relugas sub divided into Middle and Top.  Beats can be taken together or separately. Logie is fished Monday to Saturday, Relugas Middle on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and Relugas Top on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Beats change at midnight.
  3. Fishermen must contact Logie Estate office on 01309 611300 a day or so before arrival to organise being shown onto the river. A map of pools, beats and access routes will be provided.
  4. Bio-security is important to the future of the river and anglers are asked to observe protection measures. The Findhorn District Fishery Board Conservation Code will be strictly observed. To summarise: All fish caught up to 14th May inclusive must be released. From 15th May, all salmon over 9 lbs / 4 kg / 28 inches / 72 cm are to be returned.  Below that measurement at least 70% of salmon and 50% of grilse caught should be released and a maximum of 1 salmon and / or 2 grilse per rod per week may be retained. In September all fish are to be returned. No gaffs or tailers are allowed.
  5. The Findhorn District Fishery Board Bio-security measures will be strictly observed and all fishermen in the party must sign the Bio-security Declaration. (Also available at http://www.fnlft.org.uk/downloads/)
  6. The Estate recommends that barbless hooks are used, fishermen are in possession of a disgorger and that knotless nets are used. All possible care should be taken when returning fish to the river, they should be handled as little, and gently, as possible and should not be removed from the water.
  7. The catch should be reported at the end of each day of fishing to Logie Estate Office on 01309 611300. If the office is closed, please leave a message on the answering machine with the date, weight and pool. Please also report a nil catch day.
  8. Dogs are allowed on the river but must be kept strictly under control at all times. The Estate reserves the right to ask tenants to remove dogs if they are considered to be out of control.
  9. Rod, line and fly size are dependent on prevailing weather and water conditions and personal choice. In general, maximum rod length needed is 13ft with a size 8 or 9 line, usually floating. Fly sizes range from 6 – 8 in the spring down to 12 or less in summer low water.
  10. Safety must be considered at all times. All beats have a variety of pools with some suitable for most heights of water. Little wading is necessary and river paths are good however the fishing is within the Findhorn gorge, access to some of the pools is quite steep and a degree of rock scrambling is often necessary when playing and landing fish. Please be aware that a reasonable level of fitness and mobility is required. A buoyancy aid for each rod is provided and should be collected from Logie Estate Office on arrival, and returned to the Estate Office (or to the outbuilding opposite if office is closed) on departure. Logie Estate strongly recommends that buoyancy aids are worn when fishing and not doing so is entirely at fishermen’s own risk. Please pay attention at all times, avoid slips and falls, wear appropriate footwear, look out for overhead electricity lines, watch the weather and pay attention to livestock. Take extra care if fishing alone.
  11. Anglers need to supply or hire their own equipment (except buoyancy aids, which are provided).
  12. Ghillieing/tuition is available by on a first come, first served basis. This must be booked in advance with the Estate Office and is subject to availability. A half day ghillieing/tuition is approx. 3 hours, full day approx. 6 hours. Please contact the estate office or check our website for current rates. Rates do not include discretionary tips.
  13. Rod, Reel & Line hire is available by on a first come, first served basis. This must be booked in advance with the Estate Office and is subject to availability. Please contact the estate office or check our website for current rates. A rod, reel and line set is for one person and is subject to a fully refundable damage deposit of £100.
  14. Aside from fishermen, others, including rafters and kayakers, enjoy this stretch of river and mutual respect and consideration is expected.
  15. Bookings are confirmed when initial payment is received. Subsequent changes in dates or number or rods are entirely subject to the Estate’s discretion and to availability. Change of dates, if accepted, incur an administration fee. In the event of a cancellation the tenant must advise Logie Estate immediately, whereupon Logie will endeavour to re-let. If a new tenant can be found the deposit will be returned less any expenses incurred for advertising, office costs, etc., and less any shortfalls in discounted list price. Until such time as a vacancy has been re-let the hirer is responsible for making any further payment by the due dates. Failure to do so may mean that the hirer forfeits any refund if the dates are re-let. If it is not possible to re-let, all payments are still payable by the due date(s). It is unlikely that a refund can be made for a late cancellation. Logie Estate recommends that fishermen take out relevant cancellation insurance.
  16. Subletting fishing is only allowed with Logie Estate’s permission.
  17. Logie Estate reserves the right to immediately withdraw fishing without compensation from anyone who breaks these or associated conditions, or flouts normal standards of behaviour or fishing etiquette.