Wednesday, November 09, 2011

The Clachaig Inn - the heart of Glencoe.




When I was a young man of 20, I finished National Service and came up to Glencoe in February before going back to work. I stayed in the Youth Hostel next to the Clachaig, and took the early slopes of the famous Clachaig Gully. Very very wet, very slippy. Not the place for solo climbing. I slipped down into what is now called the Boots Bar. The Clachaig Inn was famous even then. All the climbers met there, and they still do. You hear it mentioned to-day wherever climbers meet around the world and talk about Scotland. 


We have just posted a new page in our website about where to eat in the Glencoe area. This is what we said about the meals at the Clachaig Inn - and we meant it


"For the past 60 years, since the end of World War 11, the Clachaig has been at the centre of peoples plans. "What shall we do to-morrow?" you can hear every night in the Bar. It is always busy, always fun, many languages, everyone mixes in. The meals are fine, pub meals at pub prices. You won't find City people here, no collars and ties, but no drunks and no rough stuff either. You’ll find music here, most weeks."


They stock over 200 malt whiskies. The atmosphere is tremendous.


John
ps Ed, what are your plans for Christmas and the New year in the Clachaig, so we can tell our guests when to come and what to expect? I'll post them.
pps In case anyone thinks I'm just plugging a friend's place, you should know that Ed and I don't always see eye to eye, we are sort of arm's length to each other, but I hold to none in my admiration of what he has done at the Inn.
From Clachaig postings in the Glencoe website

Offer runs from: 07/11/2011 to 20/12/2011
The Clachaig Christmas Party Tuesday 20th December Stuff the turkey - it's a hog roast at Clachaig. To celebrate the re-opening of the refurbished Boots Bar we introduce the inaugural Clachaig Christmas Party Night. Refectory style dining in the new look Boots Bar ... Complimentary glass of Mulled Wine on arrival 3 course Hog Roast Buffet from 7pm to 8.30pm including Homemade soup, hog roast & all the trimmings – stuffing, apple sauce, baked potatoes. Desserts include our legendary ‘boozy’ trifle. Live music from Shananigan - plus a guest appearance from one of our old 'acts' out of retirement especially for the evening. A fun, informal and positively relaxed Clachaig Boots Bar style night out. Perfect for your Xmas party with friends, family or colleagues Santa will be making an appearance complete with a bulging sack and not a Brussels sprout in sight. £19.95 per person Special accommodation tariff on a bed & breakfast basis at £25 per person if the taxi bill home again is looking a bit steep. Contact us now on 01855 811252 to book your table.




The best walks in Glencoe    
Ben Nevis, go climb it
Munros are over 3,000 feet
Some Munros are easy
Glencoe rock climbing
Skiing in Glencoe is excellent again
New cycle tracks around Glencoe
There are lovely beaches and bays around Glencoe
Accommodation Fort William
Golf on the West coast
Tour the Highlands
You can cruise the West coast
Driving around Glencoe on snow and ice - Tips


















Always somewhere new to find around Glencoe


Lovely email from Kay and Roger. This photo is by Billy Currie, one of the great Scottish professionals.

Hello John and Gillian,  Roger and I had a wonderful holiday, thank you so much for letting us stay in your lovely cottage, it really felt like home from home! (in fact we have an almost identical kitchen to yours!)
You seem to have thought of everything!

We have stayed in the area before, but  it was very helpful having all your information and suggestions. We discovered Glen and Loch Etive this time and thought it was glorious, plenty of wild life, lots of Deer and Chaffinches galore! The majority of our time was spent in and around Glen Coe and Rannoch Moor, we just love being there and enjoyed  eating in the Clachaig Inn. We have met some lovely people on our travels.

We've not been to the Isle of Skye, so we planned to go on the last Wednesday and perhaps stay the night, but unfortunately Rogers back went (this happens occasionally!) so we stayed in for a couple of days, which worked out well as the weather wasn't great and it was so cosy and relaxing in the cottage. We hope to come back and visit Skye very soon.

Will send you some photos as soon as we've sorted them out. Thank you once again.

 
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
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