Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Rannoch Moor A82 Glasgow to Fort William is clear for traffic, but icy


The A82

The road warnings for the West of Scotland are about icy conditions rather than blocks due to snow. Winds of 45mph are expected so it will not be nice to run out of fuel. A shovel, a blanket, wellington boots, thermos flask and a couple of chocolate biscuits are called for. Don't get benighted. If you are, then the women in your party are more likely to survive.

I rang Traffic Scotland for information about the condition of the A82 over Rannoch Moor. They are responsible for the main roads. Very nice chap said, "Where is that exactly?" As far as he knew it is ok.

So I end up with the Police station in Fort William. Chap said he could not remember the road closing in the past four years. So that looks pretty good.

But the hazards are ice, and deer, and that most dangerous of animals the white van man.

Driving and overtaking standards on this part of the A82 are putrid. Just take it easy. Our daughter had her car jumped on by a deer a couple of New Year's back.

For your information : Police station Glencoe 01855 811222

John
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Fort William and the accommodation to the South
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Several cottages in the Fort William, Glencoe and Appin areas
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Winter breaks in the cottage
Skiing Glencoe and Nevis range, 30 minutes from cottage
Touring the highlands in the Autumn
Honeymoon cottages in Scotland
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre
Cottages Scotland and Coastal cottages Scotland, how to find them
Weather month by month in the area
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Facts about self catering holidays
Short holiday breaks, special last minute deals, self catering Scotland
Special self catering offers in Scotland
Advice on driving in Scotland

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Its not too late for Christmas at our pretty lochside cottage - click for link


It is fabulous here at the moment.


The top ski runs at Nevis range are open, the snow is falling, at Christmas in our pretty lochside self catering cottage you could have a lovely time.


The cottage sleeps four, is fully modernised. New ktichen new bathroom. It takes just two hours to drive there from Glasgow.


We provide all the linen and towels, you just take yourself. There are bar meals just up the road with an indoor swimming pool you can use.


Go to our website for the details.

Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

Sunday, November 08, 2009

"On my Christmas wish list, Mum, is a Winter holiday in Glencoe. Is that ok?"


The photo is of the Pap of Glencoe, taken in November last year from near the old pier at Glennachulish.
Here is an odd idea for a Christmas gift. If you are Mum, you could send your son/daughter/family on a Winter break holiday in Glencoe.
If they are tired and stressed, this could be just what they need to recover. If they need a tonic they could even try skiing or snowboarding. The Glencoe ski centre is nearer, but the famous Nevis Range centre is just over half an hour away.
The costs are cheaper that you think. If it is just for one person, then a B&B or hotel would be best. If it is for couple or a family then the cheapest would be a self catering break. You get the lowest rates of the year in the Winter.
For example many B&Bs in the area are less than £25 per person per night until March. The famous Clachaig Inn is only £40 per person per night at this time.
Our cottage sleeps four. We have one short weekend break left on January 29th at only £149 from Friday to Monday, then our February rates are just £199 for a few days, and £295 for a week. Between February and March only the half term week has been booked so far.
So the cost per person per night if your family filled our cottage for a week would be just £10 per person per night, or double that for 2 people. But there are plenty of other cottages and houses, some of them for larger parties. And you can have shorter breaks if you want.
That is a really nice present to give them.
If you are the son or the daughter, then the sooner you put it on your wish list for Christmas........
Here are the links to these accommodation providers. Just tell them what you are planning and they will send the bill to the giver and the information to the holiday party.
How about that for a Christmas present they'll remember?
John
ps FRIENDS OF GLENCOE. There is a lovely new network site open to all the Friends of Glencoe, there are special interest groups there, accommodation providers there, just-passing-through-Glencoe-visitors on the site, complete with blogs. I've been trying to get the little badge on this blog site and our website which enables you to join, but I can't upload it. Google tells me there is something wrong with the html code. Urgh! But you can click on this link, have a look and join if you feel so inclined.
The Friends of Glencoe network site

The Clachaig Inn
The Glencoe and Loch Leven Association with 40 B&Bs
Email 14 properties with one click
Our pretty little lochside cottage which sleeps four people

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Skiing in Glencoe saved for this Winter

I hope the new owner of the Glencoe Ski Centre does not mind my pinching his ski map to illustrate this great news. Andy Meldrum, who already owns the activity centre at the Spitall of Glenshee has bought it and plans to extend it into a major all year round attraction.


That's the best news Glencoe has had since coming 4th in the competition to name the Wonders of Scotland. (Ahead of Glencoe I seem to recall were Malt Whisky and Edinburgh Castle.)

These are the plans:
Snowmaking machines may be built
Improved facilities for snowboarding and skiing
All round the year attractions to be built in
Mountain bike trail to be added
Adventure playpark to be added
Dry ski area to be built
Archery range to be added - is this a first for a Skiing Centre?

Maintenance has already started, so there is momentum there. Apparently the Cafe is to open soon.

All that is very good news indeed.

John



ps If you are looking for holiday accommodation over Christmas and the New Year, then we have availability for the first but Hogmanay is booked, sorry. Otherwise, the first website in this list has two special Christmas and New Year pages.
I'll try and find out who still has accommodation in Glencoe available and will publish it.
Short holiday breaks, special last minute deals, self catering Scotland
Special self catering offers in Scotland
Helpful guide for holiday home owners with their web sites
The best way of finding your ideal Scottish holiday cottage on the internet
The mystery of king robert the bruce and ardchattan priory
The knights templar in argyll
The battle of Bannockburn
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Christmas and New Year available in our Glencoe cottage

Have the most peaceful, lovely and romantic Christmas or New Year imaginable. Our cottage at Kentallen, just around the corner from Glencoe is available at present. It sleeps four, it is warm and cosy, it is fully modernised. It has the Holly Tree hotel just a walk up the road for Bar meals or a really good Restaurant, it has the atmosphere and fun of the Clachaig Inn in Glencoe.
The area has everything you could possibly want from a year end break.
Go to our website, just click on the title.
Look at these views in this photovideo



Monday, October 05, 2009

Wedding in Appin, near Glencoe


Wedding in Appin, Kentallen wedding, Honeymoon cottage Glencoe, Duror church wedding

We love it when folks get married fom the cottage or come to us for their honeymoon. It is, after all, one of the most romantic spots in the world.

Hi John, I hope you are well... !! The wedding was wonderful and the cottage was superb!I must say the directions were great, we arrived there in the dark and everything was easily found. The service was lovely, a stunning setting and good acoustics for all the screaming babies... The reception was held in a marquee just over the road from the church in the field. The road down to it was slightly muddy and uneven - so nice shoes got a bit of a battering!

The marquee was also slightly on the nippy side, especially as most people were in frocks and kilts so it was good to get up and get dancing. In the end we used the services of a friend who is pregnant so hadn't had a drink (she probably did the local taxis out of a good dose of cash) to take us home however the bride and groom had laid on some transport as well. In all, a great place for a wedding!!

Training for the marathon I also had a lovely although slightly soggy run to Ballachulish and back most of it along the new cyle way which is superb so I am very keen to go back and cycle/run along more of it!

Thank you again.

John

Our lochside cottage in Appin near Glencoe
Fort William and cottages to the South
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Several cottages in the Fort William, Glencoe and Appin areas
Honeymoon cottages in Scotland
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Winter breaks in the cottage
Skiing Glencoe and Nevis range, 30 minutes from cottage
Touring the highlands in the Autumn

Sunday, September 27, 2009

HOW TO RE-INVENT VISITSCOTLAND TO PLEASE NEARLY EVERYONE



Look, I'm not an expert and I'll get a lot of this wrong. But I'll bet that most of it will be right.

The Oban Times has just reported that the new local visitor centre at Mallaig (pop 797) has just processed 3,000 visitors a month. It is staffed by local volunteers, set in a local internet cafe. They hand out info about all the local accommodation and facilities. A little display board shows what's going on locally. A bit old-fashioned I hear you say. Yes, well, that’s quite good in my book because it works.

They were grumbling in the paper about getting no involvement from VisitScotland. Yet Mallaig gets 25,000 visitors each year to the local Marine Zoo. On its own.

This is not another knock at VS. It is no good grumbling about it lads and lasses, VS have no money. They also have rules that their visitor centres can only promote locations that are in membership of VS. Once you go down the central subsidy route your life won't be your own. Fancy a career as a box ticker, do you?

The locals are the ones with the headache so they need to buy the tablet as Mallaig has done. That way they'll make it work.

Gillian and I arrived in Lairg, Sutherland, a bit early. Nice little VS centre told us where to eat, a few places to visit. Two well turned out young VS ladies there - and us of course. Great film show about the birds and bees. Lairg is not big, there are 2 people per sq km in Sutherland.

Shin Falls is a couple of miles away, and that has a huge Visitor Centre to cater for bus parties. Wonderful exhibitions, very very good cafe. Shop sells Harrods products, no less. Not surprising the Visitor Centre is staffed, very well, by VisitScotland but completely owned by Al Fayed. It is a totally commercial operation as you would expect, not one bit of local involvement. If you ask about accommodation, they'll send you to the other VS centre.

Shin Falls is not that great. I'd rather amble over to Inchree, by Onich, any rainy day to be impressed.

You know, if I am a Visitor, then the Visitor Centre I prefer is the homegrown one in Mallaig. The people are deeply involved in everything going on locally. They’ll set me right.

VS, through absolutely no fault of its own is held rigid by its constitution. It cannot work as it is.

I've spent my life working with large company managements at very senior level. At one time 25% the companies in the FTSE 100 index were my clients at senior level.

I've watched takeovers and turnarounds galore. There is a standard routine.

How to effect a turnaround.
Outsiders, turnaround experts, take over failing businesses and turn them around often in 9 months from longstanding losses to profit. It is a bit bruising to say the least. Everyone gets upset at the changes but at least 7 out of 10 people will stay. If they are not turned around then all of them will go in the end.

My special takeover pal, call him Stuart, would have his team track a take-over target possibly for years. Just as Kraft have been doing with Cadburys until they struck last month. Cadburys are now "in play" as the rather jolly saying goes, for someone to take them over.

He'd know a huge amount about the company, its management, its people, before he started. Once he has bought them, he and his top team would 'walk the job' for three weeks, meeting the top teams and looking at them as individuals.

He would not spend much time with absolutely top management at parent Board level, because none of them would survive the cull to come. None. Even if they are good, and they are often very good indeed, they have to go. Otherwise, with them still in place, they will quietly block the changes to come. The staff would remain in awe of them. But Stuart aims to set the staff and their energies free. The top people must go.

Then he would take three large sheets of paper. Ignoring completely the existing organisation he would describe the absolutely essential tasks of the organisation. The high profit returns, and the growth tasks would be added.

Then, not being a total brute, he would add some "desirable" tasks. That is the first bit of paper completed. He might take a walk through the mountains and lock himself away while doing this. Maybe even stay at the Clachaig Hotel. It is a lonely task.

The next bit of paper he would fill with his necessary organisation and key jobs, ignoring the existing team and structure. That would break up the units a bit, maybe find some bits for selling off later on.

The third bit of paper hurts some people a lot. Others end up loving it. "That take-over was the best thing that ever happened to me". Yes, it is not at all unusual to hear this afterwards.

(Just imagine the reactions of the existing VisitScotland inspectors who stay on under the new plan I've got. They'll love it. It just makes so much sense. Explained in a mo)

On this third sheet is a list of the existing people, the ones reporting to the Board, the Unit chiefs, and their key managers.

He now matches existing people to the proposed jobs where he thinks they may have the skill and talent. They'll be ok.

He has some further enquiries to make about the next lot of maybe/maybe not candidates, perhaps in-depth interviews. He wants to keep as much existing knowledge as he can, as much existing experience. He does not want a baby and bathwater scenario.

He has a total headcount to think of as well, because his overall costs are going to be a lot lower, perhaps a third lower, and that goes into this mix. So all of them on the list that is left are now very vulnerable. He is going to have to get rid of some really good talent in that bunch simply because there is no appropriate job for them. This could be management buy-out time for some of them. "Best day of my life...." time again.

The other people who will go, have done absolutely nothing wrong at all. It is not their fault. But there simply will be no job for them.

After this, he has to slump into the politics of how it is done, who does what, involve the unions, government agencies, politicians, the usual treacle. Yeah, he could blow it all here, but then the company goes bust.

Now turning around VisitScotland.
The publicity and public relations is great, fabulous. Look at the Visitor numbers overall, look at Scotland's reputation.

Stuart would cut the cost of publicity material, of course. Cut back on the expensive films that few people will see, re-work the literature, and the amount if it, but this is small beer. He would keep the Graphic design head provided that he or she gives up this ambition for VS to be a "Global brand" That will continue to stultify initiative.

The local Visitor Centres, they'll need thinking about, aims and purpose, relevance, cost and a reworking into the communities which want them. If the community wants VS then maybe a service could be provided. So long as VS gets its money back. But it should be community led and made to pay for itself. Internet cafes, local booking fees, charges for providers to go on display, yes, we all need to share the pain.

It is the inspection system which is most out of date.

VisitScotland have done the job here already. They've set up wonderful standards in every but and ben, a credit to the country. They've lifted Scottish hospitality and accommodation to world standards. They have established a very high reputation for accommodation standards.

But the job is done. It is maintenance which is required from here.

Here is what I would do. I'd keep the existing scheme only for new entries to the market who join VisitScotland, with thorough inspections for them and a tough approach. Excellent.

With existing properties I would do a quick check, lasting an average of an hour, using a sampling method to check existing standards are being maintained. I don't have to stay at a B&B. I might need the right to contact three past guests for their views, I'll select them from the book myself.

I'd get in four inspections a day, average. Shock horror, it can't be done! They always say that. Then they always go and do it. Here is how.

I'd offer the existing inspectors a territory to handle, and then I'd franchise them, making them work for themselves with a contract. Give them their salary for three months (or payment by results whichever is the higher) while they get used to the new scheme, then they go self-employed. Many won't like it and will leave. Many will stay, work harder and make more money. Some will make a lot of money. People always work a lot harder for themselves than they ever work for someone else. If you don't believe it works then ask me for the hundreds of case histories I've got. Have you never bought an ice cream from an ice cream van on a Sunday?

I'd task them with bonuses to get new properties on the books. For a start they can go down the Golden Mile in Fort William and pick up some the 30 or so B&Bs they are missing now. Tip. Your past customer list is always your best list of prospects.

They'll all need re-training. The properties they handle are now their customers, they need to know that their salary is paid by the owners effectively. New attitudes will be needed. But they'll have to be tough too with some customers. Call in the heavies, maybe for a re-inspection or after severe complaints.

But, and here is the catch. The Inspectors will be inspected themselves. 1 in 20 of the properties will be re-visited and re-checked by someone from the heavy mob. In addition, each owners will need to fill in a card about the inspector's visit. Short questions, but the key one will be "How long did the inspection last?" That is the way that market research companies check on their interviews door to door, Mori, Nop, everyone good in the market research game knows that if you don't check then interviewers will fill in their own questionnaires after a while.

George Gallup, of Gallup Poll fame, once was booed at a Market Research Society conference by joking that he always recruits his interviewers broken down by age and sex, so that if they complete the forms themselves then at least he has a representative sample. Bit touchy are the serious market research people.

THE DANGER OF NOT DOING IT.
If we don’t get something like this done with VisitScotland then the scenario is as follows:
VS continue to lose money
In a bit to get financial control, Brussels legislation will be blamed and a government-inspired compulsory inspection system set up for everyone, on the spurious grounds of “getting rid of the rogue traders”
Like speed cameras, this will be a government money-making device
VS will get to handle it and our money will drain away.
More arrogance, more shrugging of shoulders.
Then the whole of the UK will adopt the system because it raises money.
John


Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

HOW DID VISITSCOTLAND GET INTO THIS STATE?

















On a hot day in June, Gillian and I thought to stay on Tiree for a few days. We had heard about it so often on the weather forecasts, we just wondered....

We got a Scottish Tourist Board catalogue. The Island looked nice. The book showed three self catering properties and a couple of hotels - one of them on Coll I think.

We didn't think there would be much to choose between the islands, silly us. we were young and ignorant. It was 1978 after all.

There were only three ways to find B&Bs or self catering in those days. You sent off for the Scottish Tourist board (later VisitScotland) catalogue or you called in at one of their many Tourist offices around the country. Their catalogues were then, and are to-day beautfiully designed. The third way was to go there and take pot luck in finding somewhere. That's more my style, but not Gills. We had a lovely time.

I've just looked up Coll and Tiree on the VS website. Two hotels and one self-catering. Both islands together. Then I looked up the community website for Tiree alone. 18 self catering owners and many more properties.

VisitScotland had done nothing wrong to lose that share of the market. The market shattered into fragments.

They lost their monopoly on accommodation, because more and more property owners started to do their own marketing using the web. As a visitor to-day you can still take the VS catalogue, you can still respond to small ads in the Travel Sections of the papers, you can still get referrals from friends, and pick up leaflets, you can still drive past and hope for luck - well, not for self catering maybe, but for B&B certainly. But the proportion of visitors doing things in this traditional way is getting smaller by the minute. One large modern commercial holiday facility with a world-wide reputation reports that only 17% of its business involves "literature" For them, and for most, past users and referrals are still big, but the biggest is the web.

Even the web itself is fragmented. You can find agencies which will book you into properties, charging owners from 25% to 35% and making a surcharge on the buyers as well. VS does this, but at lower cost. Owners often don't like agencies. We got shot of the only one we ever used within six months.

You can find directories which list the property details and the website together with photos and you can contact the owners direct. For this owners only need simple and cheap websites but the owners rely heavily on three or four listing directories plus repeats and referrals.

You can find community sites where everyone gets together for marketing their
area. Or you can search Google or Yahoo and find property owners websites for yourselves.

I love it. I've spent 53 years full time at the highest levels of marketing, around the world and I've never ever imagined a medium so rich, so quick, so responsive to ideas.

I made a change to our website last week and already I am excited to see the initial response. Last week? The web is wiping out industries as we speak and will wipe out more. VS was caught in the turmoil.

It is no good owners complaining that VS does not get them as many bookings as they feel it should. It can't. I can list our site openly on Undiscoveredscotland.com for about £70 a year, and also give them our late availability weeks to push. If they get me only three bookings a year that is an ad cost of under 4%. Sign up to three or four others and I'm in business with that kind of cost ratio. I'd still rather get my own visitors.

Are visitors who use VS happy with the grading facilities? I think they are very happy indeed in the main. We use it ourselves to find B&Bs, (but we do not book through it) My pal booked a two week tour of Scotland for four people through it, and each of us was very happy with the properties.

But practically all owner-members have complaints about VS, and these days if VS inspectors start getting stroppy with what they want, then owners tend to shrug their shoulders and
leave. When they do so they tell everyone they know about it, so the rot spreads.

The VS marketing and the grading systems need re-engineering. At one time so did ship building, textiles, gas lighting, candlestick makers, monocles, coal mines, horse and carriages, peat gathering, girdles, snuff taking, musket balls, right back to flint knapping. It never comes back in the way it was.

I'll suggest how to re-engineer in another piece.
John Winkler
bayviewkentallen.co.uk

Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Fort William and the accommodation to the South
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Honeymoon cottages in Scotland
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
Cottages Scotland and Coastal cottages
Scotland, how to find them

Weather month by month in the area
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Facts about self catering holidays
Short holiday breaks, special last minute deals, self catering Scotland
Special self catering offers in Scotland
Advice on driving in Scotland
Skiing in Glencoe

Monday, September 14, 2009

Where does VisitScotland go from here?


I'm not known to be VisitScotland's best friend in their Facebook entry.

Some people have campaigned against them, others have petitioned the Scottish parliament, everyone has a story to tell about them which makes them look silly.

I'm not a member of VS but I'm one of their best friends.

Listen.

Gillian and I knew Scotland and its accommodation thirty years ago. To say that standards were pretty awful gives a new meaning to the word pretty.

We've just had a week at B&Bs in Orkney with Dumfries and Sutherland on the way. They were all brilliant. Standards were matchless. You won't beat them anywhere in the world.

They don't get many bookings from VisitScotland, and three out of five of them have pulled out. The last one said that their inspector wanted them to have furniture all with dovetail joints.
Another, in an old traditional building, had walls which were not at right angles. Another did not put parsley out with breakfast. Another did not have an underlay in some minor room which no one used. The inspectors use personal whims and fancies so they say.

In the Golden Mile in Fort William there are 38 B&Bs all doing well. In every one the standard will be world-class I'm sure. Only 9 of them are now in VisitScotland. But nearly all of them used to be in membership in days gone past.

That's the problem. VisitScotland without a doubt has set the standards for hotels, B&Bs and self catering. Without any doubt. But once the standards are set, then there is no point in being in membership. I believe that the standards they have achieved in the past are the envy of the English and Welsh Tourist associations.

So VisitScotland should be universally admired. But the words "by" "sell" "past" and "date" come to mind.

Unless, of course, members get bookings from VS. Now there is the rub.

People say they are not getting bookings from VS. In Stromness they tell me that their local VS office is far more important to them than the central booking service. Of course it is. They can grab the local girl by the throat if she slips up and they can't do that with a call centre.

The world has moved on from the days of hard copy directories and leaflets. Most people are Googling what they want. I can go to Google maps. Enter . I can then drag the map to Kentallen along the coast and find a nice cottage there. Where I want it. Ours. How easy is that? For hotels and B&Bs I can read visitors' reviews through Trip Advisor.

VS is trying to re-create the past. It is not at the forefront of the internet.

It is still very good at what it does traditionally, i.e. inspecting properties and creating booklets. Although these days it has not recognised the fact that most properties meet the standards they have set and they don't need now to go over the top.

It is very good at promoting Scotland generally. We've had masses of television programmes in England about Scotland. That may be due to Vs, or not. Don't know.

But it is all overbloated. Too many committees. Too many centralised managers. Stuck in past marketing ideas.

Slim it all down lads, take it easy. You've done most of the job that had to be done, so settle down to maintenance. Just bed in the new owners properly. You do that well.

John
ps We've put up two new pages in our site. Technical stuff really providing these links.

Fort William and the accommodation to the South
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Several cottages in the Fort William, Glencoe and Appin areas

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Low bargain price for September in pretty Glencoe cottage


There is a chap fishing there if you look closely. It is at the Stone House Pier about 200 yards from our Glencoe cottage. We let the family cottage for self catering.
We have no bookings yet for September, and the prices have been reduced by £155 per week from the Summer price. This is a very good deal for a 2 bedroom, 4 person cottage with every mod con you can think of, new kitchen, new bathroom, and even a wireless connection! Less than £300 per week.
Glencoe is the most beautiful place on this Earth. Mountains all around, one of them growing out of our garden at the back, lochs, castles, lakes and romance everywhere. The area is called the Outdoor capital of the Country.
Have a look at the website. Here are some links in it that may interest you.
John


Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Honeymoon cottages in Scotland
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

A wonderful trip to Fort William

Gill and I have just had the loveliest day. To Fort William and back - how boring, not. Sunshine and showers.

We amble across the little Corran ferry. Good job we have a disabled ticket at half price, 3.10p. Calmac and the others pushed the prices up when the oil price climbed last year.

I'm sure they were anxious to take the prices down again when oil dropped, but they just couldn't bring themselves to do it. Sleepless nights around the boardroom, I'm sure.

Cormorants and shags clustering on a different rock from usual as we drive. We stop for a while at Ardgour, watching the fishermen. This is the best fishing area if you get the tide right. Not a spectator sport, really, but pleasant. Masses of solitary herons. If we stop they always wait a mo, then amble off lazily.

We are on the little used single track road on the West side of Loch Linnhe.

Only two cars come the other way in 40 minutes of driving. We are heading for Glenfinnan for coffee.. Coming back, a magnificent double rainbow alongside us to the North, Ben Nevis ahead, wow! The top is occasionally clear. Past Charles Kennedy's old school.

A final amble back to Cuil Bay, look at the 700 year old bridge, look at the little island where the Columban monk lived for 16 years. Watch the Oyster catchers on the beach.

Brilliant.

John
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Honeymoon cottages in Scotland
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre
Cottages Scotland and Coastal cottages
Scotland, how to find them

Weather month by month in the area
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William
areas

Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe
information site, hotel and cottage accommodation

Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Facts about self catering holidays
Short holiday breaks, special last minute deals, self catering Scotland
Special self catering offers in Scotland
Advice on driving in Scotland

Sunday, June 28, 2009

New page in the website


There are about 10,000 cotttages let as holiday homes in Scotland. Some of them are on the coast.

Many are in holiday complexes with several properties together, but a few are, like ours, a family cottage which we let out for holidays.

We don't like properties being left vacant, it is not fair on the locals. At least, this way, we can put something back into the community.

This blog is to link to this new page.
http://www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk/cottagesscotland.html

Here are some other pages which may interest you.
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Honeymoon cottages in Scotland
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre
Cottages Scotland and Coastal cottages Scotland, how to find them

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Glencoe mountain rescue tops again


The two mountain rescue teams in the area,
Lochaber, based in Fort William, and Glencoe, between them handled 151 call outs, more than 30% of all the mountain rescue calls in Scotland in the last year.

Mobile phones help a lot these days, together with gps systems. But, year after year, trivial calls are on the increase. It is unbelievable that people can call for an emergency helicopter because they feel "too tired" to get down. Still the calls outs are for people with poor clothing, no maps, wearing trainers and no experience. Most of them have not left any message to say where they are going. This is one of the worst, because when people fail to return it takes a long time for people to become worried and then the rescue teams have no clue about where to find them.

But sometimes it is serious. We've had some terrible tragedies this year in the Glen. one only a week or ago coming down the Clachaig gully off the ridge. Experienced people too.

Strangely it is not a dangerous sport because climbers are sensible and take only calculated risks. Most rescues are of amateurs.

John
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Honeymoon cottages in Scotland
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre
Weather month by month in the area
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Facts about self catering holidays
Short holiday breaks, special last minute deals, self catering Scotland
Special self catering offers in Scotland
Advice on driving in Scotland


Friday, June 19, 2009

Wonderful new social network site for Glencoe

Wherever climbers meet around the world, in the Himalayas, the Andes, the Alps, The Rockies, the Cuillins, or at Napes Needle, sooner or later the conversation will get around to the climbs in Glencoe. Shortly afterwards they'll agree to meet together next time in Glencoe in the Climbers Bar of the Clachaig Inn.

Yes, the Clachaig is that famous, all around the world. There is nowhere else like it.

Now there is a fresh burst of life there. Ed Daynes runs it and has got Glencoe and Ballachulish into the 21st century. With encouragement from David at Crafts and Things he has set up an excellent and simple service whereby if someone has an accommodation enquiry when they are already booked, then it is passed around by e-mail and someone with a vacancy picks it up.

Everyone wins.

Now Ed has gone one stage farther. Acquiring technical skills that are well beyond the range of normal humans, he has set up a "social networking" website for Glencoe. Like YouTube, Twitter and the rest, the site enbables anyone with an interest in Glencoe to post messages or photographs, or videos, and to add comments to others' postings.

Here is the site.
The Glencoe network site

There are some splendid people in this world. Thanks Ed.

John

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Weeks commencing June 27th and July 4th Cottage Available Glencoe




We had this lovely e-mail recently. People do enjoy themselves at the cottage, no doubt. We get them a special rate on the Mull Wild Life Tours which saves nearly £30.

Hello John. Thought I'd let you know about our stay in your cottage. First off thanks so much for all the info. it was so so helpful. We had great fun finding some of the walks and getting in a muddle. Nothing to do with your instructions but entirely to do with me. I'm easily confused. Lots of coffee in Crafts & Things. And bought a couple excellent books. Did quite a lot of reading actually. Also we had brill weather unlike down south which got completely rain clobbered. We went on the wildlife safari on Mull which was very very good. Managed to watch golden eagles crusing around then resting up by their nest.Watched two sea eagles over the loch and one swooped down and had a battle taking a duck off the water. Bit worrying as the the eagle looked as though it was getting into trouble and obviously very worrying for the duck. Bad news for the duck as the eagle managed to lift off and go up into the trees. Also had a great view a a couple of otters playing around as they ate some eels. Watched them for quite a while. I managed to get a finger slammed in the van door while we were over there and it was a mad dash for the first aid kit to strap me up. I was very brave though and didn't make to much fuss. Actually I was worried about the sheep everywhere. Not only because the drivers didn't seem to make allowances for the babies right by the side of the road and also because it was just so craggy and scary and anything to do with babies and animals is a biggy for me. Had to avert my eyes a couple of times. We saw lots of kinds of birds on Mull and our man Richard picked up on everything. Also did the supper trip out to the inner hebrides whch was very relaxing. Harry Potter train - GREAT. Got lots of photos.The cottage proved absolutely everything we needed. We borrowed the waterproofs but actually didn't need to use them. Also used the binoculars, the dvds and vids, the computer, scrabble boards and cards and probably just about everything else. Had great meal at the Holly Tree prices much the same. How lovely it was to sit out on their balcony of an eve with a beer and just gaze over the loch. Didn't eat out anywhere else but bought shopping in co-op and sorted outselves. Took 8 - 9 hours driving plus breaks. Not hard at all. Although we drove all the way home with the water temp gauge on red but just decided to ignore it. Good decision because it seems to be broken! Anyway say hello to Scotland from me when you go next and again big thankyous! Barbara and Mary

Still got a couple of weeks free before the school holidays begin.
John
Some pages you might be interested in.
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Honeymoon cottages in Scotland
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre
Weather month by month in the area
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Facts about self catering holidays
Short holiday breaks, special last minute deals, self catering Scotland
Special self catering offers in Scotland
Advice on driving in Scotland

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Cottage still available for World Mountain Bike Championships June 6/7 Scotland

World Mountain Bike Competition, June 6/7 Fort William, Scotland.

If you plan to visit the World Mountain Bike competition at Nevis Range near Fort William, Scotland, then here is a desirable self catering cottage which has availability that weekend June 6 and 7.

The World Mountain Bike competition at Nevis Range will attract a big crowd but this cottage on the lochside is very quiet, has ample parking and plenty of space for bikes. It is about 35 minutes away from Nevis Range, the site of the World Mountain Bike competition. The cottage sleeps four and is exceptionally pretty in a beautiful site.

We offer a special deal. The cottage is available at the moment and will not be occupied again until June 12th. You can arrive any day and leave any day before then for a price of £495, less £20 discount. The only extras are for heating, to be put in the honesty box, and for linen and towels, £10.

See the website for details:
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

John

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Glencoe cottage weeks available June 6th/June 27th/July 4th

In our little Glencoe cottage we still have a couple of dates available before the school Summer holidays start. June 6th/June 27th and July 4th are free. You get a £20 discount on the normal rates, too. Just click on the headline above and it takes you to our short breaks availability Glencoe website for details of rates etc.

We had this lovely e-mail recently.

Hi both of you, Thank you for sharing your lovely cottage with us for a week over Easter. Everything we needed was there, it was comfortable and cosy. It certainly is in a beautiful spot and we didn't have any of the driving rain over the loch but lots of bright sunshine so we could do all we wanted to do, including Ben Nevis (which I feel may be once in a lifetime for me - it wasn't easy!) We have photos galore, as screensavers, PC desktop etc etc, I 'm even turning one of the view from Kentallen into a cross stitch scene as a lasting momento! I'd wanted to take my children to the area for many years and it was well worth the wait, we hope to visit again some day. Debbie ....
We really do have nice guests. The cottage is available still for June 6/June 27th/July 4th/July 4th
John
Here are some useful links to the area.
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Honeymoon cottages in Scotland
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre
Weather month by month in the area
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Facts about self catering holidays
Short holiday breaks, special last minute deals, self catering Scotland
Special self catering offers in Scotland
Advice on driving in Scotland

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

3 dates available still for Glencoe cottage

30th May, 6th June, 27th June are available, very pretty cottage sleeps 4

This is the view over the bay in Loch Linnhe from the front room of our cottage in Appin, near Glencoe.

The Glen itself is wondrous, quite spectacular; the finest in Scotland - well, we think so. The peaks rise up either side from sea level to nearly 4,000 feet.

Everywhere you look the scenery is wonderful.
But all the stories of this land are epic as well. The MacDonalds of Glencoe are world famous as the victims of the tragic, viscious and clumsy attempt to exterminate them in 1692.

But Appin, here by the cottage, is renowed as the home of the Stewart Clan. The Stewarts provided the great line of British Kings and Queens, from Mary Queen of Scots to Queen Anne, to the fated king, Charles 1st.
We've got the romantic Stalker Castle just down the road from our cottage to prove it, the second most photographed castle in Scotland. One of the Scottish Kings, rather a good one, actually, stayed in the castle a few centuries ago.
But we have modern amenities as well. 400 yards away, within walking distance so you don't need to bother how much you drink before going home, is the Holly Tree Hotel. They've put in an indoor swimming pool, which can be used by folks who dine with them. The dining is top class, and you will get change from £10 from their bar meal dishes.

Here is the photograph of the outlook from their dining room and bar window.
We have three dates available for renting the cottage before the Summer holidays being to fill up the place.
The cottage sleeps 4 people, in the 2 bedrooms, has all mod cons, has been fully refurbished in the past two years. We are a tiny bit proud of the job they've done on the new kitchen, and on the new bathroom.
The dates available are 30th May at £395 less the £20 discount for the credit crunch; the 6th June at £450 less the same discount and June 27th at £495 less the same discount.
If you fancy it then look first at the website, check the availability page because the dates do fill up at the last minute and the one you want might not be free.
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
John

Monday, April 06, 2009

Buy your own ski slopes in Glencoe


I ski like a haggis.

In my book salopets are nice tame little animals which need no feeding or cleaning and love you for ever.

Gondolas are for lazing in, attached to Italians, punting.

Buying the Glencoe skiing slopes is as far removed from my imagination as cycling fish. It is Scotland's oldest ski resort.

But someone will do it, you can bet. The slopes were in administration last year, brought back to life and are now being offered for sale.

According to Ski forums;
"I believe they've costed a gondola system as well as other improvements and also have plans for on-site accommodation and other facilities"

"it's an awesome place ... but then do we really want the general population to know about it and crowd the slopes ... not sure"

"It has some steep runs and great scenery. "

Here is the link to the details; http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1125170?UserKey=


Even late in the year, now, there is snow for skiing on the tops. Here is the Nevis Range ski report for to-day:

Date: 06-04-2009 at 08:32
Current weather : CURRENT WEATHER Dry & clear with good visibility. Wind/temp top station: SW 10-20mph, 4CWeather Forecast : FORECAST FOR MONDAYDry, bright morning. Rain or snow above 750m. Wind/temp at 900m: SE 15-20mph > 30-35mph, 3C < 1CSnow level : 800Vertical runs : 400Runs : Weather looks settled until mid afternoon. Fresh soft wind blown snow on summit, upper Goose and Warrens runs. Goose from tower 4 up is complete.Access/downloading on Goose chair. Dry slope for beginners & lower abilities. Back Corrie off-piste and unpatrolled; the walk out is about 25 minutesTerrain Park - features for all levels of ability.

John
ps Someone just said that you can eat haggis. That must be where I'm going wrong.

Skiing in Glencoe and Nevis Range
Our lochside cottage near Glencoe
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
Weather month by month in the area
Skiing in Glencoe
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Rain in scotland
Summer weather in Scotland
Autumn weather in Scotland
Winter weather in Scotland
Spring weather in Scotland
Facts about self catering holidays
Advice on driving in Scotland
The Demand A82 upgrade campaign site

Monday, March 02, 2009

The Holly Tree Hotel must be the outstanding success of the West coast of Scotland

Can you imagine dining at a window with this view. This is taken from the Bar at the Holly Tree Hotel. They do the absolute best bar meals in the West of Scotland at the most sensible prices.

Gillian and I know the Holly Tree Hotel as customers. When we cannot stay in our cottage which is only 400 yards away, we stay in the Holly Tree. We eat often in the Holly Tree, and so do the visitors to our cottage. Everyone, without exception gives it top marks.

It was not always so.

When we came here 20 years ago, the Holly Tree was always nice, but expensive under the original owners. So you took out a mortgage and paid it off your credit card over the following year. The standard dropped under different owners, and we gave up.

Then the McFatridge family took it over. They slowly re-built the standard, built up the trade and worked out the best way to go. With a couple of years experience behind them last year they went for broke. They improved just about everything and spent a lot of money. Made major upgrades everywhere. They brought the bar to the front, so everyone could look out at the stupendous view, enlarged the dining area, got a new chef. They put in a real winner then, the indoor swimming pool, which has been a great success.

We did ask them if they could find a way of producing some meals at prices which normal holidaymakers in our cottage would find reasonable. They did better than that, much better.

When their new chef went in, he developed a bar meal drawn from the main restaurant menu, and priced it at around £10 or so for a main course. That makes it the best in the area. Combined with the view, and the super service, I'll bet they are now the best Hotel/Restaurant on the West Coast anywhere from Campbeltown to Applecross.

This is tremendous. With upgrades going on in all the rooms, the reputation is spreading all around the country. They've been packed out through February.

Just as a contrast, the two bigger hotels in the area have gone into liquidation twice in the past four years, and have been saved by the skin of their teeth through a management buy-out. The other classy hotel, too classy, too expensive, arrogant service "no, we only do a three course menu even though there is no one else in the restaurant, that'll be £80 sir" can't sell the business at all.

Good luck Holly Tree. We love success stories like this. It is the well run family business which will survive and grow in this recession.

Gillian and I know. We've lived through four of them.

John
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
Weather month by month in the area
Skiing in Glencoe
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Rain in scotland
Summer weather in Scotland
Autumn weather in Scotland
Winter weather in Scotland
Spring weather in Scotland
Facts about self catering holidays
Advice on driving in Scotland

Thursday, February 05, 2009

A walk up the Pap of Glencoe in Winter


This lovely mountain is the Pap of Glencoe. It is about 2500 feet and at a leisurely 1,000 feet an hour you can tell how long it would take up and down. Easy stuff, but brilliant view from the top.

Legend has it that a MacDonald piper broadcast a lament about the Massacre to tell the other clans about it - that would be just after February 14th, in 1692.

Here is a report from two of our friendliest returning guests, who stayed with us in January.

"We had a good week despite poor weather as it forced us to relax a bit - we had a wet wander near Port Appin, a fun visit to the Oban Sealife centre, a day on Beinn Sguilaird (near Creagan) (v windy), a walk up the Pap of Glencoe, a day on Garbh Bheinn (over the Corran ferry) and a lazy day with a swim in Fort William."
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
Weather month by month in the area
Skiing in Glencoe
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Rain in scotland
Summer weather in Scotland
Autumn weather in Scotland
Winter weather in Scotland
Spring weather in Scotland
Facts about self catering holidays
Advice on driving in Scotland
The Demand A82 upgrade campaign site

Monday, February 02, 2009

Amazing weather in Glencoe - right now

Picture shows the Pap of Glencoe from the Kentallen road. Isn't the whole place stunning?

Here is the most amazing thing. Right now, the UK news bulletins are full of horror stories involving cold weather, deep snow in the East of Scotland, cars benighted, emergency services at full stretch, and worse to come. The worst snowfalls in the UK for 20 years they say!

What have we got in our little micro climate at Kentallen? Well, nothing but peace and calm. And we have quite high temperatures.

I've just looked up the weather station report from Mark our neighbour. This is what it says:

Dry, wind wnw force 1, no gusts humidity 55% (quite low). Temperature 6.9C no windchill at Kentallen cottage on 2/2/09 at 20.55.

It is very very much warmer here on the Scottish West Coast than on the East. It is the Gulf Stream and all that which does it.

Here at Kentallen, we have a different climate from Glencoe itself, because Glencoe, although it is just around the corner, is just over the hill. A 3,000 foot hill. And our climate in Kentallen is different again from that on Rannoch Moor. Now the Rannoch plain is one where you definitely do not want to be stuck overnight. Not unless you have a duvet sleeping bag, plenty of spare clothes, and a hot thermos. They'll get you out ok, but you want to be warm and still breathing when they do.

But here at Kentallen, all is peaceful bliss. Snow on the hills of course, brilliant skiing both at the Glencoe centre and at Nevis range. Brilliant high level walks.

By the way our cottage this month costs only £290 for the week. That is half the standard price

John
ps We can sometimes, very occasionally, get horizontal rain driven with the force of an AK47. Oh, very occasionally, of course. "A wee bit damp" they say.
pps. Here is a link to a page which gives you all the weather information, month by month for the region. Weather month by month in the area

Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Skiing in Glencoe
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Rain in scotland
Summer weather in Scotland
Autumn weather in Scotland
Winter weather in Scotland
Spring weather in Scotland
Facts about self catering holidays
Advice on driving in Scotland
The Demand A82 upgrade campaign site

February Ski Report Ben Nevis area, Nevis range


Another ski report, if you are thinking of flying high. These two months, February and March are the best for skiing in Glencoe or the Nevis range.

If you read it you'll see how you can learn to ski for less than half the usual price, with plenty of other offers.


SKI REPORT
Nevis Range
Date: 01-02-2009 at 08:06
Current weather : CURRENT WEATHER Dry & Clear, windy. Wind & temp top station: SE 15-45mph, -1C Weather Forecast : FORECAST FOR SUNDAYDry day with some clouds and bright spells. Wind & temp at 900m: SE 30-40mph, -2 < -4CSnow level : 300Vertical runs : 550Runs : RUNS Set up firm overnight, grooming is coming up well. Wind speeds are still high. Lower lifts only to start with - will review as day goes on to try and open more lifts. Despite the recent thaw, most main runs are complete with good cover. Lower area has most runs complete with groomed snow but there are some bare patches.
Gondola expected to open Trainer Rope Tow expected to open Great Glen Chair closed Snowgoose Chair expected to open Summit Button expected to open Braveheart Chair closed
Linnhe/Lochy Button expected to open Alpha Button expected to open Rob Roy T-bar closed Goose T-bar expected to open Warren's T-bar expected to open
Additional Comments: : If you have never, ever skied or boarded before LEARN NOW for £100, less than 1/2 price! Includes 'any 5 days in the season' lift pass, 3 lessons + equipment hire on tuesdays and thursdays in January or February. Phone 01397 705825 for details.CLIMBERS GONDOLA 8am sharp. GONDOLA open 9-4.30.Access roads : ROADS Clear


John
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
Weather month by month in the area
Skiing in Glencoe
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas
Tourist and visitor information, this is the biggest Glencoe information site, hotel and cottage accommodation
Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish
Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
Scotlands weather misconceptions
Rain in scotland
Summer weather in Scotland
Autumn weather in Scotland
Winter weather in Scotland
Spring weather in Scotland
Facts about self catering holidays
Advice on driving in Scotland
The Demand A82 upgrade campaign site
 
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
  • Short Breaks Glencoe
  • Stories about Appin villages blog