Happy Thanksgiving!  No trips planned before spring, but we are contemplating a maintenance trip in March or April.  Timing may also depend on the progress/approvals for placing the signage.

We are still here and working away.

We have wonderful professionals working with us, but their schedules are quite hectic.  We have concluded that we are unable to influence the pace of the completion of the HES report and the progression toward work on the tower itself.   The tower has been there for 442 years and ... particularly with the work we have done so far ... will be around for many more.   

We had planned to have the HES report completed by the end of this year, but I think that is unlikely at this point.   We will leave the progression of the report and stabilization of the tower in the capable hands of the professionals ... and we will focus on what we can do ... the continued maintenance of the site and the signage.

Thank you again for your continued support!

August 9-12, 2019 were spent cleaning up the island, trimming saplings on the walls and wall heads, and trimming ivy under our existing Scheduled Monument Consent. On August 12, we were fortunate to be joined by Joss Durnan of Historic Environment Scotland.  Fiona Baker took extensive notes on Joss' recommendations for site management and for additional tree removal  and will write up details for review at first opportunity. (Thanks!)   

​One recommendation involved the old yew to the west of the chapel.  It leans badly and has a limited root structure penetrating one of the fence walls.  If possible, we'd like to find a way to reduce the chance of this tree falling rather than removing it.  These old yews are a special part of the Elan Vow environment.  We will also see if we can age the tree.  It is potentially quite old.

In addition, we reviewed possible locations for an informational sign.  After discussion with Fiona and Joss, it was decided that signage should be at the edge of the north landing beach near Building 1 and oriented north to south.  This is least intrusive and affords a view up the hollow way to the castle tower.  We are also engaging Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park for participation in the design and installation of the sign.  We plan to publish drafts for review when available.

Thanks for your continued support!

Our next visit is planned for August 8-13, 2019.  We will do our annual foliage maintenance and plan placement of proposed signage.

Coordinating schedules for August or September visit for foliage maintenance and, hopefully, some report work.   The Board will either donate a cordless hedge trimmer or will figure out how to properly transport one from the States.  If any readers have experience transporting similar tools, please advise.  

We will post dates as soon as we know them. Thanks!

We are also looking for volunteers to revamp the web site.

We have had a number of people volunteer to help with the next maintenance trip to the island.  While it is difficult to have many volunteers at once, and we need to ensure that maintenance activities are supervised by an archaeologist, we can certainly accommodate a few additional sets of hands.  We are beginning planning for a cleanup weekend in August and more details will follow shortly.  We will post details here as they evolve.

The team has been largely diverted to other projects this month, but rest assured that we are still here and still working toward further preservation work.

We are beginning the specific work on the signage for Eilean a Vow and will strive to provide an opportunity for comment from the community.   We are proposing to locate the sign (mostly flat, with an incline for run-off) on the north beach landing about half way between the water and Building 1.   This should make the sign noticeable to visitors (usually landing on the north beach) and yet minimize any distraction from the charm of the site.  Of course, the sign and placement will all be subject to approval from Historic Environment Scotland and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

Team members have made some progress in the last few months, but are now, once again, far afield on other projects for a while.

When we commissioned a quadcopter flyover for 3D modeling of the island, the folks at Aye in the Sky captured a bit of video ... which is now shared on the home page.

We received, this week, what we hope is the last invoice from Simpson & Brown on the Standing Buildings assessment and we are hoping that this signals that we now definitely have all information needed to complete the HES report for the work to date.  The EVPF Board plans to cover this 1800 GBP invoice without using any donated funds.

The Historic Building Record provided is very thorough and suggests the tower was likely two or two and a half stories above the cellar with gabled roof, overhangs on the north and south, possibly with bartizans.  It seems to be simple, but indicative of lairdly status.  No evidence contradicts Nesbit's report of construction in 1577 and all seems to be consistent with reports through the ages ranging from "elegant" to "a pretty good house with gardens" in the mid 18th century.

More to follow ...