Strath thumped good and hard by Storm Arwen
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As predicted, Friday's storm across the area did real damage and the headache is continuing well into tonight with one form of disruption or another.
As Kingussie businessman Ruaridh Ormiston discovered down south today when waiting to return home after a business trip: "No LNER trains until Monday, we're told.
"Am having to fly home tonight..."
The messages from ScotRail were not too hopeful this evening, with the storm having causes widespread suspensions involving Inverness routes, notably its Aberdeen and Wick links, but the position was not so clear on Perth to the Highlands, although Perth to Dundee was certainly off.
"Our advice is not to travel on the affected routes," said a spokesperson.
Roads in certain areas of Badenoch and Strathspey were blocked for periods after last night's storm, with some sizeable trees falling under the blasts – and not always across roads.
At the Old Manse in Kincraig, there were fears the world was falling in.
Sam Hills told the Strathy: "Yeah we were in, heard a big crash and the whole house shook.
"Happened about 9.30pm. We had a mad hour dragging big branches off the cars and moving the cars next door to the Christian Centre.
"We have cracks in the rooms on that side.
"We all slept downstairs last night in case there was anymore."
But Highland Council convener Bill Lobban, on his FB page from home in Aviemore, had nothing but praise for those working out of doors trying to lighten everyone else's difficulties.
"A bit breezy last night. Loads of trees down and roads blocked.
"Spare a thought for the Highland Council staff who were out and about doing their job whilst most of us were at home in front of the fire.
"Well done and thanks for all your hard work not just last night but also for the last couple of Covid years."
At Kingussie, community development company director Bob Kinnaird posted: "Driving between kingussie and Aviemore , really impressed with the work done so fast to remove fallen trees."
At Newtonmore a spokesperson for the business association, confirmed: " A’Chailleach looks serene, but many tall, elegant, orange barked, mature Scots pines uprooted by Arwen’s fiercesome power – many falling over the Main Street.
"One car, sadly, damaged but thankfully no one hurt."
In the Tomintoul area, Traffic Scotland confirmed snow gates were closed tonight.
Generally, the prediction was: "Rain and sleet showers will continue overnight into Sunday around northern and eastern Scotland and eastern England. These will turn to snow at times to low levels but mainly over modest high ground with some small further accumulations.
"Surfaces will remain wet from these showers with icy stretches likely to form readily Saturday evening. There is also likely to be some icy stretches forming where snow is already lying over parts of the high ground of northern England and Scotland.
"There is a chance of some more general snow falling over the far north and northwest of Scotland during Sunday morning and this may bring some local further small accumulations."
More Strathy headlines here
