Taigh Ailean Hotel - Alan's House

01/06/2026

Every day is a school day. Our gorgeous guest Kirsty booked the sheep dog experience in the north of the island. They had a fantastic time. Beautiful scenery, a small group and intelligent dugs. What more could you ask for?

28/05/2026

Sometimes we have guests with a gift for language!
Image is the final paragraph of a very glowy trip advisor review which begins “ While the grass may wither and the flowers may fade…” and goes on to say we’re great. I’m a big fan of the poetic. …
Thankyou to everyone who leaves a review. We appreciate you!
E, J and K

20/05/2026

Some of you might know that we’re between dogs at the moment. We think we might be ready for our next dog this autumn. So, as with Fritz, we have chosen a name and now need to find the right boy to go with it. I was chatting to our amazing Family Edwards about these matters and, after they left ,I found this on our pinboard. We have the best guests. That’s a fact my friends.
Image is of a Thankyou note. Beautifully drawn is a sausage dog with a small smile and a tartan necker stood by The Old Man at Storr. It’s perfect.

18/05/2026

Morning! Pop the sound up if you’re not somewhere you shouldn’t be looking at your phone.

10/05/2026

He looks proper Scottish!

A capybara pup has been born at Edinburgh Zoo, the first to be born in Scotland in 18 years.

The pup is said to be around 1.5 to 2.5kg, similar to the weight of a six-pack of Irn-Bru! 🥹

08/05/2026

Sometimes it’s hard to see good news in the world. But it’s a world where David Attenborough has been for the last 100 years. Happy Big Birthday to a wonderful human and an amazing example of how to respect our planet.
And can we take a moment to appreciate how very handsome and stylish he is.
If you’re not from the UK and you don’t know who David Attenborough is, head to YouTube. You’re in for a rabbit hole of joy.

06/05/2026

Hey Falkirk Rocks! found your stone in St Monans and left it to be liberated in Skye. Can’t tag you tho…

02/05/2026

A while ago I posted about a podcast by Davey Donaldson investigating the treatment of Scottish gypsy/traveller families in the last century (and this one). Yesterday we made a diversion to visit the grave of the Unknown Bairn in Tayport Cemetery. We tidied it up on all of our behalfs. If you’re coming to Scotland it’s always worth digging deeper into history, uncomfortable though it might be.
Images are of a small grave, the headstone says “Erected in memory of the ‘Unknown Bairn’, a wee boy aged between two and four years, found on the beach at Tayport, May 23rd 1971." It’s surrounded by flowers and toys.
A screenshot of the podcast The Cruelty A Child Unclaimed. It’s definitely worth listening to.

01/05/2026

Bit long this one, but bear with me. I read a question on one of those Travel “Advice” pages from a woman who wanted to bring her autistic son on holiday to Scotland and wanted reassurance. I was a bit horrified by the comments tbh, firstly by people telling her how to describe her son (autism is not an accessory my friends) and also by the general level of well meaning misunderstanding.
Things hospitality can do to make a holiday enjoyable for a family with an autistic member.
Offer early breakfast, later breakfast or room service.
Enquire about, store and/or stock safe foods and offer a microwave or oven to heat them.
Be fine about the guests’ own bedding being used and (if time) launder it before the next leg of the holiday (see also safe clothes).
Working with the family, speak to other guests to help them understand behaviour they might see and how to be most supportive.
Any others?
Image is from The Other Miss Bennet, a wonderful BBC series.
The caption is Autistic people talking to neurotypicals be like:
Mary Bennet: why didn’t you just ask me
Mr Haywood: I was reading between the lines
Mary: THERE WERE NO LINES
National Autistic Society Scotland have I missed anything out?