Eriska Road widening

Its amazing to think of the changes in transportation in the last century and hard to believe that Eriska, the main house, was infact built before the bridge and therefore before the drive was ever considered. I suppose when the house was built most of the materials would have been delivered by sea and then brought up on carts from the water. Anyway such is progress that we now have a mile of driveway to maintain and now with all the right to roam legislation and a certain amount of ambiguity about the rules and the term curtiliage it is in our interest not only to maintain but tend and nurture the driveway to Eriska.

When my parents bought Eriska they had to push the bushes aside on the drive to enter the island and indeed it was said that the previous owner of the island actually encouraged the local farmer to graze the driveway so that the entrance was less accessible - how times have changed - we have to look after the drive to help access and spend a great deal of time to keep the borders clear to help viewing oncomming traffic. However there is a rather difficult balance to this in that we need to increase visability whilst at the same time trying to insure that visitors maintain the recognised and requested speed limit of 20mph!!.

If we ever have an incident on the driveway then normally the tyre marks suggest a much greater speed being travelled than the occupants would suggest.We do however try to keep the undergrowth back and then we have our wonderful stones. These were put on the drive for two reasons firstly to stop lorries from running on the verges and secondly to try and persuade visitors to take caution and care. Given the large number of walkers on the drive it is important that drivers maintain the speed limit to increase safety, especially as many of the walkers seem to wear head phones and therefore wander oblivious to passing vehicles! Howeerv we do try and keep the width of the drive between the stones well abovbe the recommended limits so tis week , as we did 4 years ago we have been widening the drive and replacing the stones to keep the regulation distanmce between the edges. It s amazing the reaction tis has, some drivers see the stoines being more pronounced and tehrfore proceed with more cautiona nd otehrs see the increaseed gap as being an invitation to rally drive. However on the whole it has a calming effect, especially once the speedsters have clipped the stones!!! Its only a mile they have to drive at 20mph and if the maintain this speed then we wil all be safer and happier. Anyway the job is now done and the sunshine is out so we will have to wait for the next rain to wash the sides of the drive although Chay has brushed most of the debris off the surface- good practice for him at home!