THE HOUSES OF THE HOLY OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY

 Now, I know I've done this before, but, Hey, Hey, What can I do? I could not resist doing it again. Yes, I shall be sprinkling this blog with the titles of Led Zeppelin songs, because this walk involved a visit to Boleskine House, which was once owned by Jimmy Page, the Led Zeppelin guitarist. You will be relieved to know that I won't go into the dates of recording, album versions or other arcane details.

I could not attend the walk, so this may bear no relation to what happened, or indeed to the order it happened in. It is not a Communication Breakdown, just that I am Dazed and Confused. It is Nobody's Fault but Mine, so let's Rock and Roll.

This may or not be the group at the starting point of the walk by the Black Mountain Side. There are at least Four Sticks that I can see.

Off they go and the tarmac is Trampled Underfoot.

That's the Way.

Here they are, gathered behind the Sugar Mama , hoping for a sweetie.

Jimmy and Robin indulging in a bit of Misty Mountain Hop, or was it Dancing Days?

A nice view In the Light.

Don't overdo lunch, or you will be Sick Again.

What's a bit of Custard Pie or a Hot Dog between Friends?

C'mon Everybody, would you like Somethin' Else? If you really would, then I'm Gonna Crawl over and get it.

 You should finish luncheon with a Tangerine  and don't forget to say Thank You. I would have expected Hugh not to have a hat on whilst eating. Remember, Hats off to (Roy) Harper.

"Take another selfie."

"No! another one."

"You'll get a good one eventually!" 

"Oh! How Many More Times If only I hadn't been Out on The Tiles last night".

Dave off, singing some Travelling Riverside Blues.

Once the walk proper was over, they all went to visit the newly refurbished Boleskine House, which, of course, was once owned by the Led Zeppelin guitarist, Jimmy Page.

The house has had a bit of a chequered history. It was built for one of the Lovat Frasers, Archibald Campbell Fraser. His father was Simon Fraser, "The Fox" whom we have met a few times on our travels. The Fox was executed after the 1745 rebellion, not on the Gallows Pole, but he was offered No Quarter on the chopping block!

Sandra has a word about dust with the Living Loving Maid, before asking if she might have Tea for One.

Out on The Tiles and In the Light the hallway looks Like Somethin' Else. I wonder if that green thing is Robert Plant?

Sandra and Jacque say We're Gonna Groove, hopefully not to The Lemon Song, which is a bit naughty. Then again, I'm not sure what Sandra has in her hand!

The view from the window over Loch Ness is Somethin' Else!

Perhaps the most notorious owner of Boleskine House was not Moby Dick, Poor Tom or The Rover, but Aleister Crowley. Crowley bought the house in 1899 for £2000. He was a poet, mountaineer and an esotericist. It was the esotericism that earned him his reputation.

Basically. esotericism refers to owning a secret meaning accessible only to a select few. It is a concept that has been about for hundreds of years, but became more of a quasi religious phenomenon in the late 19th Century.

It is probably the secret and select nature of Crowley's beliefs and practices that gained him a reputation for Black Magic. In reality, he was more interested in following austere and rigorous devotion as a means of speaking directly to God. He was, in effect, looking for his own Stairway to Heaven! There is little doubt that he was a bit strange and the secrecy surrounding him and the Houses of the Holy only added to his reputation. 

The house as it now stands seems to be in direct opposition to this, but it looks to me, in fact, that it retains a quiet serenity and beauty that probably attracted Crowley in the first place - in essence, The Song Remains the Same.

Crowley had to sell the house when he ran into financial difficulties. 

The house was eventually owned by a Dutch couple and was badly damaged by fire in 2015. It was sold in 2019 after another fire and the charitable trust was instituted thereafter. Through the work of the charitable trust, the house re-opened to the public in April 2026.

Of course, Dinos don't live by historic houses alone, they need tea and buns. It was time to do the Candy Store Rock and Ramble On down to the Pier Café.

They were almost Down by The Seaside.

Agnes was there too. D'Yer Maker. No, she went of her own accord.

Well, it looks like they all had a good time. You could say it was a bit of a Celebration Day. 

Well done to Jim and Jacque for what looked like a really interesting day out. Thank You to everyone who took and sent photos, allowing me to do this blog.

Who knows How Many More Times we will do these walks, but it is certainly great to get out with Friends.