Saturday, April 08, 2006

GLENCOE - ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF SCOTLAND - OFFICIAL









THE SEVEN WONDERS OF SCOTLAND.
GLENCOE VOTED IN THE TOP FOUR.
The Scotsman newspaper and the Scottish National Trust made a long list of all the top sites in Scotland in their search for the Seven Wonders. Glencoe came towards the top of all sites voted by over 50,000 readers. Knowledgeable, these Scots.

Here are seven reasons why. The pics are all free if you want them. If you want to copy them you may do so without any copyright fee. We hold the rights to each of them.

From the top, Kentallen Bay, with our cottage on the right, then Loch Leven, then loch Linnhe,
then you see Ardsheal, the Ballachulish Quarries which once Queen Victoria visited,
and Glencoe village a shot taken in January this year. At the foot is the sentinel of Glencoe the lower slopes of the great Buchaille Etive Mhor.

And we could have shown you another 50 shots all different.

John
www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk - we have just two dates open this summer until the end of September, weeks commencing June 3 and July 8. If you are interested in a holiday cottage for four facing the lochside in one of the Seven Wonders of Scotland.....

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

The old Appin railway to be revived!


Up the hill, behind our cottage is an old railway cutting. It was famous in its day for being one of the most beautiful railway lines ever built and it ran between Ballachulish and Oban. All down the side of Loch Linnhe, around Castle Stalker and through Barcaldine, can you imagine the beauty of this route? Our neighbour, Jessie's boy used to catch it to school and back, and the driver would slow down to let him sling his bags into the garden as he passed.It was far more renowned in its day that the present Fort William - Mallaig run.

Built in 1903, there was an outcry in 1966 when it was closed as part of Dr Beeching's railway cost savings. Gradually, the line was grown over, the Kentallen Station was turned into the Holly Tree Hotel and other stations used as houses. Now the old station at Creagan Bridge has been restored, and they plan to use much of the track bed as part of the proposed West Coast Cycle Route.

Hurrah, we say! John Winkler
www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk

Sunday, April 02, 2006

Rescued by men in a White Van!


http://www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk

Late March 06.
John, We had a wonderful week – the weather was generally dry, clear and sunny – snow on the peaks; just what we had hoped for. We had one day of snow when the whole place turned to a winter wonderland – though quickly melted when it turned to rain!

I had a great walk up the ‘Pap’ and another family walk up Glen Nevis. Also other smaller walks – one less successful out at Arisaig along a non existent path! I was wondering why ordnance survey rarely show paths in Scotland – perhaps that is why! This one was clearly marked on the map but was a swamp! We ended up being rescued by two men in a white van who took us all back to Arisaig!

We really liked your cottage – very cosy and full of character. Thanks for the baby chair – this was really helpful though you ought to know that it doesn’t actually fit your chairs, at least not very securely. But it didn’t matter – we just used it on the floor.

The info you provided was really helpful – we followed your advice on where to eat and drives and walks etc. all were good! Crafts and Things and Stalker View (which became our second home!) were very child friendly and had lovely coffee and cakes.

All in all Scotland has much to commend it in March – things are open and happening but there aren’t the crowds. I was the only person up the Pap on what was an ideal day. Plenty of space in all pubs and cafes etc too.
Andrew
 
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
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