Friday, December 01, 2006

We wore sunglasses in Fort William in November

I did send you a card yesterday but just to let you know we had a really lovely time. I loved your cozy cottage if ever you want to sell!!

We firstly went to Stirling to stay in Broomhall Castle (where we were the only residents) had an absolutely amazing meal and fab room with brilliant view. We saw the William Wallace memorial and then onto Bannockburn to see the visitor centre there and Robert the Bruce memorial. Over from there on the way up to Glencoe we went via Callendar and saw Roy Roy's grave and then over into Glencoe which just took my breath away. Snow on the mountains looked gorgeous!

We went around and about over to Mallaig, saw where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed, through Fort William and just enjoyed the scenery. Even had to wear my sunglasses (must have been the only place in the UK) with sun according to the weather forecast - looked like the UK was swathed in rain! Went to Ben Nevis & Glen Nevis.

We tried to fit so much in during the day at night we were exhausted and each planned meal out turned into soup and bread in your kitchen as we struggled to stay away beyond 9 pm. I did watch Braveheart - and cried, and had to stand outside the room right at the end as I couldn't stand it any more.

I thought the visitor centre was great in Glencoe, everyone was so pleasant and helpful, and we went to the coffee shop in the village and had a very reasonable good lunch there. Up and around the hospital then for a swift walk around the loch (can't remember the name)! and then to the massacre memorial. I was truly moved.

The only disappointing thing was the mean at the Ballachulish hotel (I managed to get Sean dressed up and out for the evening) the hotel looked so lovely we even thought of going back there for Valentines weekend, but Seans meal was very poor (mine was fine - neeps and tatties, and chicken), Sean has had a restaurant and he just quietly said that the steak was inedible - and they went to pieces, completely forgot about us, (or maybe ignored us I don't know) and we had to ask for desert, drinks etc. I noticed a couple on the next table couldn't eat their steaks either, but they obviously didn't say anything.

We had a great time John, Sean put £15 in the honesty box - I really hope it was enough - if not please let me know. We would love to go back next year. We came back really refreshed. Took loads of piccies for you and will download them (still haven't unpacked properly)... and will write some stuff on your blog site.

This e-mail is from Jan, and shows how much can be done in a long weekend break. They were there a couple of weeks ago. The lovely pic is from Alison, whose partner Kevin took it in the summer. I'm a bit green with envy. We've passed by this way many times and I never spotted this composition.

John

www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk

 
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
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