Hugh Raven
@hughraven.bsky.social
Economy, business, environment, Highlands: MD at Ardtornish, charity founder, trustee and chair
The Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation 5th birthday – so here’s a pic of me introducing our party’s guest of honour, the world’s greatest wildlife filmmaker Alistair Fothergill. With stunning excerpts from his last David Attenborough series Wild Isles - & a taster of his next, Caledonia. 👏👏
November 7, 2025 at 12:48 PM
The Highlands & Islands Environment Foundation 5th birthday – so here’s a pic of me introducing our party’s guest of honour, the world’s greatest wildlife filmmaker Alistair Fothergill. With stunning excerpts from his last David Attenborough series Wild Isles - & a taster of his next, Caledonia. 👏👏
The Parallel Roads of Lochaber (in Glen Roy), which have attracted scientists (including Darwin) for centuries, have their protection upgraded. Three men have been arrested for damaging them. If you’re a landscape geek you should get along there: they’re unique in the UK.
October 29, 2025 at 7:29 AM
The Parallel Roads of Lochaber (in Glen Roy), which have attracted scientists (including Darwin) for centuries, have their protection upgraded. Three men have been arrested for damaging them. If you’re a landscape geek you should get along there: they’re unique in the UK.
Such a pleasure to interview my old friend Charles Clover (now also a neighbour in the West Highlands) at Tobermory Book Festival 2025. Charles’s contribution to marine sustainability is immeasurable. We had an exhilarating conversation about his great book ‘Rewilding the Sea’.
October 20, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Such a pleasure to interview my old friend Charles Clover (now also a neighbour in the West Highlands) at Tobermory Book Festival 2025. Charles’s contribution to marine sustainability is immeasurable. We had an exhilarating conversation about his great book ‘Rewilding the Sea’.
Driving early to the Tobermory Book Festival this the view that greeted us. The programme, speakers and atmosphere were all excellent too
October 19, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Driving early to the Tobermory Book Festival this the view that greeted us. The programme, speakers and atmosphere were all excellent too
Fares on our lifeline #CorranFerry - on which our business #Ardtornish completely depends - rise again. Another ~10% on top of prior steep rises in recent years. There are two ferries, one 50yo, the other ~25. Ie pretty ancient and unreliable. The crew? Dedicated. The Highland Council? Not so much.
March 30, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Fares on our lifeline #CorranFerry - on which our business #Ardtornish completely depends - rise again. Another ~10% on top of prior steep rises in recent years. There are two ferries, one 50yo, the other ~25. Ie pretty ancient and unreliable. The crew? Dedicated. The Highland Council? Not so much.
Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Kidnapped’ had David Balfour, the hero, coming through #Morvern. He stayed at #Kinlochaline - “the most beggarly vile place that ever pigs were styed in, full of vermin, smoke and silent Highlanders.” The accommodation here is now much improved.
March 30, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Kidnapped’ had David Balfour, the hero, coming through #Morvern. He stayed at #Kinlochaline - “the most beggarly vile place that ever pigs were styed in, full of vermin, smoke and silent Highlanders.” The accommodation here is now much improved.
Thinking of marrying? Try #Ardtornish
March 25, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Thinking of marrying? Try #Ardtornish
Granite setts, Somerset House, London. Good colour mixing. 👏
March 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Granite setts, Somerset House, London. Good colour mixing. 👏
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, we learn that the newest vessel in the #Calmac fleet - the 7-yr delayed 3-month old #GlenSannox - is out of service. A weld is cracked. #CalmacCrisis continuing: now the longest-running public sector farce in recent history.
March 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, we learn that the newest vessel in the #Calmac fleet - the 7-yr delayed 3-month old #GlenSannox - is out of service. A weld is cracked. #CalmacCrisis continuing: now the longest-running public sector farce in recent history.
So proud to host the team from @open-seas.bsky.social at #Ardtornish for strategic planning, having grown from one staff post to ten. Of many charities I’ve watched over ~40+yrs, this might be the most effective. Our dinner - prepared by the boss - showed seabeds ravaged by industrial fishing. 👏
March 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
So proud to host the team from @open-seas.bsky.social at #Ardtornish for strategic planning, having grown from one staff post to ten. Of many charities I’ve watched over ~40+yrs, this might be the most effective. Our dinner - prepared by the boss - showed seabeds ravaged by industrial fishing. 👏
The colours this evening on #LochAline are exceptional. Early spring really is the most exhilarating time of year. #Morvern #Highland
March 14, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The colours this evening on #LochAline are exceptional. Early spring really is the most exhilarating time of year. #Morvern #Highland
The UK papers are reporting on a European leaders’ summit with this photo, Justin Trudeau very clearly in it. Is this a new Canadian bid to join Europe? Leave N America…. ?#BoldMove
March 3, 2025 at 7:30 AM
The UK papers are reporting on a European leaders’ summit with this photo, Justin Trudeau very clearly in it. Is this a new Canadian bid to join Europe? Leave N America…. ?#BoldMove
Today’s The Times…. #CalmacCrisisContinuing - the casual subheading acknowledging “a third of the fleet is out of action.” Unbelievable - though given recent incompetence, all too believable. Consider yourself lucky if you don’t live in a Clyde or Hebridean community.
February 27, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Today’s The Times…. #CalmacCrisisContinuing - the casual subheading acknowledging “a third of the fleet is out of action.” Unbelievable - though given recent incompetence, all too believable. Consider yourself lucky if you don’t live in a Clyde or Hebridean community.
On #CorranFerry - still the #MaidofGlencoul, our second best standby vessel, 50yo this year. The main vessel’s been off nearly six months - so we have this replacement, with no crew facilities, and a fraction of the capacity this route needs. So more strangulation of our economy. #BrokenScotland
February 25, 2025 at 10:48 AM
On #CorranFerry - still the #MaidofGlencoul, our second best standby vessel, 50yo this year. The main vessel’s been off nearly six months - so we have this replacement, with no crew facilities, and a fraction of the capacity this route needs. So more strangulation of our economy. #BrokenScotland
The centenary is this year of the death of Highland #Scotland’s foremost architect, Alexander Ross. We’re holding a symposium at # Ardtornish to mark the occasion, with a panel of distinguished speakers (and me). May 17th. We may publish the proceedings.
February 23, 2025 at 6:26 PM
The centenary is this year of the death of Highland #Scotland’s foremost architect, Alexander Ross. We’re holding a symposium at # Ardtornish to mark the occasion, with a panel of distinguished speakers (and me). May 17th. We may publish the proceedings.
You’ve got to admire our #Hebridean neighbour #CameronMackintosh. His productions cover the full range - menacing, dolorous, joyous and raucous - and feel both contemporary and historic at once. This has them all. Mr Bumble, the Artful Dodger, Fagin all deserve the #Olivier award. #Respect
February 21, 2025 at 6:20 PM
You’ve got to admire our #Hebridean neighbour #CameronMackintosh. His productions cover the full range - menacing, dolorous, joyous and raucous - and feel both contemporary and historic at once. This has them all. Mr Bumble, the Artful Dodger, Fagin all deserve the #Olivier award. #Respect
Delighted today to attend the well-deserved introduction to the House of Lords of Wendy Alexander – or, as we shall need to learn to call her, Baroness Alexander of Cleveden. Wendy’s experience and exceptional intelligence make her ideal for the upper house. It was an honour to see it happen.
February 13, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Delighted today to attend the well-deserved introduction to the House of Lords of Wendy Alexander – or, as we shall need to learn to call her, Baroness Alexander of Cleveden. Wendy’s experience and exceptional intelligence make her ideal for the upper house. It was an honour to see it happen.
This is #LochAline. Imagine in this tranquil scene the intermittent splash of jumping fish. The #seatrout are back - amazing brothers & sisters to freshwater Brown Trout that choose to migrate to sea instead. They seem to be recovering here, probably due to the closure of the industrial salmon farm.
February 12, 2025 at 4:57 PM
This is #LochAline. Imagine in this tranquil scene the intermittent splash of jumping fish. The #seatrout are back - amazing brothers & sisters to freshwater Brown Trout that choose to migrate to sea instead. They seem to be recovering here, probably due to the closure of the industrial salmon farm.
With good light, the regenerating woodlands in #Morvern are a magnificent winter sight. These at L Arienas, managed jointly by @ScotWildlife & #Ardtornish, are entirely natural: not a planted stem among them (at least not for 100+ yrs). The seedbed was prepared by pigs.
February 10, 2025 at 9:04 PM
With good light, the regenerating woodlands in #Morvern are a magnificent winter sight. These at L Arienas, managed jointly by @ScotWildlife & #Ardtornish, are entirely natural: not a planted stem among them (at least not for 100+ yrs). The seedbed was prepared by pigs.
Nature restoration in #Morvern attracts a crowd: over 40 - more than 10% of the local population - turned out on a lovely winter’s day to discuss our community’s hopes & plans for habitats & wildlife here. Thank you to the great speakers, local enthusiasts, & team #Ardtornish: a great evening. Xx
February 9, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Nature restoration in #Morvern attracts a crowd: over 40 - more than 10% of the local population - turned out on a lovely winter’s day to discuss our community’s hopes & plans for habitats & wildlife here. Thank you to the great speakers, local enthusiasts, & team #Ardtornish: a great evening. Xx
Our biennial #BurnsSupper at #Ardtornish is a chance to enjoy the huge talent we’re blessed to have in #Morvern, and see old pals and new from near and far. 86 will break bread tonight - and celebrate the millennial gifts of Scotland’s greatest bard. 🎉
February 7, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Our biennial #BurnsSupper at #Ardtornish is a chance to enjoy the huge talent we’re blessed to have in #Morvern, and see old pals and new from near and far. 86 will break bread tonight - and celebrate the millennial gifts of Scotland’s greatest bard. 🎉
One final shout out for the #Ardtornish public meeting in #Lochaline this Saturday, 4.30, to hear about the ecological restoration plans we’ve developed over the last decade.
Great speakers (plus me).
Great speakers (plus me).
February 3, 2025 at 9:11 PM
One final shout out for the #Ardtornish public meeting in #Lochaline this Saturday, 4.30, to hear about the ecological restoration plans we’ve developed over the last decade.
Great speakers (plus me).
Great speakers (plus me).
Edinburgh - the food capital of Britain? So says today’s Times. These eager eaters seem to agree: a 35-yard queue on a freezing morning for the hipster bakery on Henderson Row, Lannan.
February 1, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Edinburgh - the food capital of Britain? So says today’s Times. These eager eaters seem to agree: a 35-yard queue on a freezing morning for the hipster bakery on Henderson Row, Lannan.
Millionaires leave Britain in droves. Who cares? You should, if concerned with public services or #philanthropy. Treasury estimates of a £2.5bn rise in tax revenues cut no ice with accountants, who predict lower tax receipts. Charity giving will fall. That matters. “A monumental act of self-harm.”
January 18, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Millionaires leave Britain in droves. Who cares? You should, if concerned with public services or #philanthropy. Treasury estimates of a £2.5bn rise in tax revenues cut no ice with accountants, who predict lower tax receipts. Charity giving will fall. That matters. “A monumental act of self-harm.”
And #Cadiz… what a city! We are loving it. The great Baroque architecture, Moorish flavour, sea-girt ramparts, clean and crisp city management, ample winter sunshine. Those we love, and probably expected. These trees, however, are what have moved me most. (In each pic is Jane to give scale).
January 15, 2025 at 9:29 PM
And #Cadiz… what a city! We are loving it. The great Baroque architecture, Moorish flavour, sea-girt ramparts, clean and crisp city management, ample winter sunshine. Those we love, and probably expected. These trees, however, are what have moved me most. (In each pic is Jane to give scale).