Druim nan Darach

my eyes keep getting drawn to those snow covered mountains - Munros?  Completed them all a few years ago - need to start again now.

 

Scotland is a stunning country - if I wasn't Welsh then I'd more than happy settle for being Scottish. 

3 minutes ago, CC45 said:

my eyes keep getting drawn to those snow covered mountains - Munros?  Completed them all a few years ago - need to start again now.

 

Scotland is a stunning country - if I wasn't Welsh then I'd more than happy settle for being Scottish. 

 

It depends which mountains, one gable side of the house has views of the Torridon mountains (across the sea to the mainland - photo 4) some are munros. The other side has views to the Trotternish ridge (Photo 1) these are not munros but the last one is the old man of Storr, which is popular here on Skye. Depending on the built hope to walk on the ridge on Monday!

 

Cruel comment!  Wish I was there.  Tried all the cuilin ridge  in one go once but the weather wasnt good on day 2, sleeping on the ridge was different, real challenge getting off  with little vis.  Stunning.  Once I finish our build then I will be up in Scotland again for some serious  hill stuff.

You can't beat a nice long walk. I did wild camping on the Storr last year, completely clear sky at night and a glorious sun rise. Woke up at 5-6ish, packed up the tent and was back home at 8.

3 hours ago, CC45 said:

Cruel comment!  Wish I was there.  Tried all the cuilin ridge  in one go once but the weather wasnt good on day 2, sleeping on the ridge was different, real challenge getting off  with little vis.  Stunning.  Once I finish our build then I will be up in Scotland again for some serious  hill stuff.

 

 

Nearest I’ve got to the ridge is this. I know some of it is staged but still awesome! 

 

 

All his videos are worth a look - Danny Macaskill.  The ridge is fantastic - even as day walks.  The whole ridge does need some rope etc.  The In Pin is awesome.  

@CC45 and @newhome - I was chatting with the brickie whilst we waited for the second concrete pour and he is involved with the mountain rescue and helps folk stuck on the Cullins like where Danny is on his bike. Can you imagine going onto the ridge in the dark and cold conditions?

Dont need to imagine it!  I wish I'd got better gear when I slept out on it - 6 hours watching rain drip into your sleeping bags wasnt much fun.  Lot of respect for the MR.

Concrete in the profile posts... not thought about that. Standard industry practice or is this a personal innovation?

9 hours ago, epsilonGreedy said:

Concrete in the profile posts... not thought about that. Standard industry practice or is this a personal innovation?

 

Not sure, brickie just popped them in their at the end of the day.

On 07/04/2018 at 15:52, epsilonGreedy said:

Concrete in the profile posts... not thought about that. Standard industry practice or is this a personal innovation?

 

I.G.Noramus here.

What is a profile post, please?

 

1 hour ago, Ferdinand said:

I.G.Noramus here.

What is a profile post, please?

The bits of vertical timber in the corner. You fix a string line between them to help setting out blockwork. Usually they’re just hammered into soil and can easily get moved but no chance of that here if they’re in the concrete.

 

You should post plans or explain the layout more so we can make sense of the foundations and rooms. Which way it faces, enters, views, etc.

2 hours ago, Dudda said:

You should post plans or explain the layout more so we can make sense of the foundations and rooms. Which way it faces, enters, views, etc.

 

 

And also for the benefit of my swmbo, please label the trenches in the photo as "Newly poured wet concrete". She was worried that your rainwater flooded trenches were a portent for our self build. 

Edited April 10, 2018 by epsilonGreedy

 

Here are the elevations plans.

 

It's glorious sunshine here today, although I'm in agony. I was too enthusiastic moving blocks yesterday and I've busted my back  These were bloody heavy, 6 inch solid concrete blocks. Started shifting blocks this morning and had some pain after twenty minutes. Hats off if you are brickie, it's a very hard job.

 

In terms of the foundations, our structural engineer said because of ground conditions a slab, would not be feasible so we are having a suspended timber floor, so the extra trenches are for the sleeper walls. This will result in the house being slightly higher off the ground, but fortunately I have a pretty much endless supply of sub base so I'll be able to bring the levels up a bit. I might incorporate some decking around the front, although I'll worry about that in 2020.

 

Edited April 10, 2018 by Thedreamer

Plenty of solar gain there

Do you have a less desirable view to the West, or is it just the way the layout worked out?

The west is the where the prevailing winds come down of the Trotternish ridge, so I wanted this to well protected against the elements and also no views that side.

 

Fortunately we have the site sitting slightly lower, then a shelter belt and the neighboring croft has large outcrops of bedrock so we quite well protected. The self build the next croft along must take a really hammering, as it has very little shelter.