Brothers in arms: Dornoch distillery duo battle virus
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It is a stark image that encapsulates the coronavirus nightmare which has Sutherland and the rest of the UK in its grip.
Wearing full face protection, brothers Simon and Philip Thompson, founders and operators of Dornoch Distillery, sell hand sanitiser from a street stall.
Chalk marks drawn on the pavement indicate that customers should stand at least 2m apart.
The enterprising pair have swiftly turned from making gin to producing hand sanitiser, containing 75 per cent alcohol by volume.
The chalk marks are replicated in the few, mainly food shops, throughout the county which are still operating
Meanwhile open hostility broke out this week at holidaymakers travelling into Sutherland, prior to the Government's lockdown.
Parkdean, operators of caravan and camping resort Grannie’s Hielan’ Hame in Embo were the target of online vitriol after announcing it was ‘business as usual’.
But the company was soon forced to backtrack, closing all its parks and announcing it would relaunch the season on May 1.A ks are closed for holiday makers until 30th April and we will re-launch the season on 1st May.
The popular Sango Sands Oasis campsite at Durness has also closed down. Operators were forced to block up the site’s entrance as people continued to arrive.
A Brora dog walker, who did not want to be named, got in touch with the Northern Times to voice his and others' concern at the number of motorhomes and campervans spotted in the area, despite a ban on all but essential travel..
He said: “The feeling here is that non-essential travel should be permitised. Motorhomes and tourists in general comprise non-essential travel and it is putting an exceedingly fragile area at increased risk.
“Just when the rest of the country goes into lockdown, the Highlands are everyone’s escape.”
East Sutherland and Edderton councillor Deirdre Mackay said she had been contacted about the issue.
She said: “I have referred concerns about tourist activity to the Sutherland Emergency Liaison Group. The issue is also receiving attention at both UK and Scottish Government levels so we may yet see a further tightening of restrictions.”
Cllr Mackay was yesterday chairing a teleconference of Sutherland Food Poverty Group.
“We intend to build a picture of what is happening across Sutherland, what resources are available, where there are gaps and how we can bridge them,” she said.
“Importantly we need to consider the implications for distribution of food given the restrictions imposed by the lockdown.
“We will also be looking at how we can coordinate things and work together to find new ways of getting support to where it is required.”
She added that there was a need for personal protective equipment for volunteers engaged in supporting vulnerable people
“It is important that these volunteers who are providing a critical service are protected from the virus as far as is practically possible.
“With support from Kilbraur Windfarm Community Benefit Fund we are seeking to access a stock of face masks, latex gloves and hand sanitiser.”
As the crisis deepened, the toll of cancelled events continued to mount.
Organisers sadly announced that VE Day 75th anniversary celebrations planned for Golspie on May 8 will not go ahead.
The village’s Gala Week Committee has also suspended its preparations - but held out hope that a scaled down event may yet go ahead.
Rogart Gala Week, traditionally one of the first to be held in the county, has fallen by the wayside. But organisers hope to possibly stage an event later in the year.
Dunrobin Castle has put back its opening until May 1.
