CYCLE FROM OBAN TO INVERNESS. THINK £3MILLION

This is the path by our cottage which will carry the cycle track.

You'll soon be able to set out from Oban on your bike and get to your office in Inverness by a cycle track all the way. This goes past the back of our cottage and up the sides of all the lochs on the way. It will be a glorious bike ride, the best in the world. It will take you three days to get there. Have a coffee with your office pals, one quick meeting, turn round and come back again in time for the weekend. To get you to the office and back will cost the rest of us £3 million.

Transport Minister, Keith Brown, has announced funding of almost £4 million towards the development of the National Cycle Network. Three quarters of this will be spent on the dedicated cycle track between Oban and Inverness.

‘The Great Glen cycle path will be an iconic route which will boost the local economy through additional tourism. Indeed it will – and bang on message in adding to Scotland’s USP of activity tourism in breathtakingly beautiful surroundings.

Michael Russell, SNP MSP for Argyll and Bute says: ‘I welcome this commitment to route 78, and particularly the cycle route to be created between Oban and Appin, to link a remote community off the main Oban to Fort William section of the larger route.

John
ps. Will it be worth it? Yes, in the long run, of course it will. In 50 years' time it will seem like small beer.

WEATHER WEST COAST
Weather Misconceptions Glencoe Oban Fort William and West Coast
January February Weather Glencoe Oban Fort William and West Coast
March April Weather Glencoe Oban Fort William and West Coast
May June Weather Glencoe Oban Fort William and West Coast
Jul August Weather Glencoe Oban Fort William and West Coast
September October Weather Glencoe Oban Fort William and West Coast
November December Weather Glencoe Oban Fort William and West Coast
Wind in the mountains and West Coast
What to do about Rain in Scotland

Never mind Fracking. We have earthquakes in our village

I should have posted this story a long time ago.Scotland gets a lot of minor earthquakes.I remember last year they had one at Glenfinnan, a much bigger one.

Two little earthquakes hit the area. Residents said they felt it at Duror. Just the same strength as the Fracking quakes at Blackpool

The first quake struck at 6.06am and measured magnitude 1.4. It was followed 12 minutes later with a 0.8 tremor. Both were recorded by the British Geological Society.

Last August, residents reported a magnitude 1.9 quake in the Argyll village which they said “felt like thunder”.

There are roughly 200-300 quakes in Britain every year, but the vast majority are so small that no one notices them.

JOHN

LINKS The magnificent community website for Glencoe Scottish castles in the West Highlands New page in our site about driving on snow and ice Masses of information about the area in our Site map This is about Fort William Appin is beautiful Bed and breakfast and hotels from Oban to Fort William Walks around our cottage Autumn short breaks in Glencoe Ben Nevis walking is a slog, but worth it Cottage holidays Scotland in the Autumn, Winter, Spring The highlands of Scotland Find holiday cottages anywhere Gorgeous photographs of Glencoe Hill walks in Glencoe Munroes in Glencoe Port Appin Barcaldine Accommodation in Lochaber Kentallen Ballachulish Onich How to find cottage owners self catering websites

Half a million people are descended from Somerled, the founder of the MacDonald clan.

This pic is in this site.  The story is mostly from: Viking histories

The great Scottish hero, Somerled, founded two clans, the MacDougalls who were based around Oban, and the MacDonalds, the seafarers who controlled all the Western isles in days gone by. These were called the Lords of the Isles.

"DNA proves Celtic hero Somerled had Viking roots"

A leading DNA expert has shown that the Celtic hero Somerled who was credited with driving the Vikings out of western Scotland was himself descended from a Norseman. (I've always been taught that his mother was a Viking, so that would technically make him a Viking slave. furthermore the Vikings were not driven out, they were absorbed as settlers)

It had always been believed that Somerled was descended from an ancient royal line going back to when the Scots were living in Ireland.

A few years ago Bryan Sykes, an Oxford University professor of human genetics set up a company called Oxford Ancestors to research people’s DNA past, it was Professor Sykes who discovered that Somerled’s Y-chromosome – which is inherited through the male line – is of Norse origin.

Professor Sykes studied three Scottish clans and came to the conclusion that some 500,000 people alive today are descended from Somerled.

The MacDonald, MacDougall and MacAlister clans all claim descent from Somerled and Prof Sykes found that between 25 and 45 per cent of them shared the same Y-chromosome, of a kind normally found in Norway but rare in Scotland and Ireland.

By analysing the rate of mutation in DNA samples from clan members, Prof Sykes was able to show that the Y-chromosome came from a common ancestor who lived roughly 1,000 years ago.

He then tested five chiefs from the clans and discovered they all shared the same chromosome, which convinced him that the common ancestor must be Somerled, Lord of the Isles, in keeping with clan histories.

However, the analysis threw into doubt Somerled’s own origins. Prof Sykes told The Scotsman: “In the traditional genealogy, Somerled is a great Celtic hero who drives the Norse from Scotland, but his Y- chromosome is definitely Norse. The genealogies trace him back to a long line of Irish kings. But that’s not what the Y-chromosome says.

“He is certainly of Norse Viking paternal origin.”

It is open to question whether Somerled, who made driving the Vikings from western Scotland his “cause célèbre”, would have known the truth. (I don't like this idea of Somerled driving out the Vikings. Somerled, like all the clan chiefs was a chancer who took every opportunity to extend his territory. For example on the death of the great Scottish King, David 1st, Somerled took the Western seaboard. It didn't matter to him whether his opponents were Vikings or Scots)

The fact that clan chiefs still share the same basic Y-chromosome after some 87 generations shows that high-status women in the MacDonald, MacDougall and MacAllister clans were extremely faithful.

However, the large number of people alive today with the same Y-chromosome means the men in the family did not share this virtue to the same extent.

Maggie Macdonald, archivist of the Museum of the Isles on Skye, said Somerled was traditionally viewed as a Celtic hero.

But she added: “Maybe at that time it was more important who it was said you were descended from than who you were actually descended from.

“People may well have known his great-great-grandfather was a Viking.

“But it could have been that his great-great-grandmother had relations with someone who wasn’t her husband – it could be Somerled wouldn’t have known and thought he was this great Celtic hero.”

John

HISTORY PAGES. Scottish castles in the West Highlands The story they don't tell you about the Glencoe Massacre History around the cottage in Appin Did the Vikings stage a battle in Glencoe? The Pictish broch in Lismore West of Scotland millions of years ago Robert the Bruce and the Ardchattan parliament Robert the Bruce and the Knights Templar The story of the MacDonalds of Glencoe Ancient roads of the Highlands Glencoe, the 4th Wonder of Scotland Castles in the Glencoe area

HELEN TOOK THE LIFT UP GLENCOE MOUNTAIN - IN OCTOBER

September and October are sometimes quite good months for a break. Helen Konachick emailed us. Thank you Helen. The photos look really nice. you look lovely by the waterfall but I can't upload it Helen, it comes out horizontal for some reason. Not you fault, not mine. I blame Bill Gates. Always have done. The Holly tree rainbow looks nice but it is not the same. Sorry.

"Glencoe was gorgeous. Lovely time of year to visit. Weather could have been a lot worse; bouts of rain most days, but also some sunshine, which meant a lovely rainbow. Only snow we encountered was up a mountain. It certainly could've been much wetter, so feel we were lucky.

We went walking most days. Cuil Bay was great - saw a seal popping up every few mins, and Highland Cattle. Very boggy ground to walk on. Taking the lift up Glencoe Mountain Resort was excellent. We walked about at the top to the 'summit', saw deer, and scrambled down. 

The walk around Braveheart territory was challenging in places, but also very enjoyable. We loved the view from the Holly Tree. (That is the restaurant and hotel close by the cottage. JOHN)
I've attached a few photos with people in them for your blog."


LINKS Scottish castles in the West Highlands New page in our site about driving on snow and ice Masses of information about the area in our Site map This is about Fort William Appin is beautiful Bed and breakfast and hotels from Oban to Fort William Walks around our cottage Autumn short breaks in Glencoe Ben Nevis walking is a slog, but worth it Cottage holidays Scotland in the Autumn, Winter, Spring The highlands of Scotland Find holiday cottages anywhere Gorgeous photographs of Glencoe Hill walks in Glencoe Munroes in Glencoe Port Appin Barcaldine Accommodation in Lochaber Kentallen Ballachulish Onich How to find cottage owners self catering websites

GOOD PLACE FOR A NEW WIFE SAYS KENNY

We have had many professional photographers take pictures of our cottage, but this is one of the loveliest we have ever seen. This one was taken in September by Rod MacDonald, a guest, (now a prized guest). Thank you Rod for permission. I'll be posting others. His photographic website is to be found here. You can email him from here

Kenny and Donna, just married, came to us a couple of weeks ago. What an enthusiast! Who else would write in the guest book, "Stunning scenery all around. Makes me proud to be a Scot"

He likes the Clachaig Inn up the road, and so do Gillian and I. We were in there two weeks ago.

The best bit of his story is where he tells of coming across three Twitchers who had been in position for 3 days looking for sea eagles. Within 5 minutes of Donna and Kenny arriving two flew over the ridge behind them. Like number 11  buses they are. You wait for days for one then .......

Thanks Kenny for your great comments. 

John

PS. We've just had an enquiry for the New Year - the cottage is still available at £595 for any numbers of days between Dec 28 and Jan 7th if anyone is interested.

Short breaks in Scotland, Last minute cottage holidays Scotland, Autumn, Winter, Spring Weather month by month Scotland summer Weather month by month Scotland Autumn Weather in Scotland Winter, month by month Misunderstandings about Scotland's weather Scotland's rain Advice on driving in Scotland. Several Scotland driving pages are linked to this. Honeymoon cottages in Scotland Scotland for Christmas and New Year The unofficial Scottish tourist Board Cottages in Scotland permitting smoking Cottages in Scotland welcoming pets

THE GORY TALE OF THE ISLE OF EIGG

They have been looking this summer for an ancient monastery, Kildonan, on the Isle of Eigg. That's the Island just off the coast with the huge rock knob shape you can see at the South end with steep cliffs to the North. You can reach it by ferry from Mallaig or Arisaig. The Eigg people own the Island now, as part of a Trust. 

These old church sites, were built upon even older religious sites, and this one might go back to Mesolothic times. The archaeological teams are from Glasgow, Cranfield and Birmingham universities

St Donan was the missionary who led a big expedition to Christianise these Islands. A contemporary of St Columba, he actually led a rival group. Apparently he and his followers were murdered and buried in the Church on Apl 17th April 617. How they know this in such detail beats me. 

They had extensive signs of very ancient peoples here, anything up to 8,000 years ago. It has been a violent place in its day. The Vikings from Norway made this one of their early settlements in the 8th century. They brought the spoils from their raids on Iona and they brought slaves captured in Ireland. These poor souls were destined to be taken to Norway, sold on to Sweden, and the survivors from these journeys were taken to Constantinopol.

Isle of Eigg
The Isle of Eigg is situated in the heart of Clanranald country, this small island has a very bloody history being  involved in every MacDonald rebellion against the crown and in a good many feuds. A lengthy feud between the MacDonalds and the MacLeods in the 16th Century led to the death of 395 MacDonalds in 1577, the island’s entire population, in “Uamha Fhraing” (Cave of Frances, aka Massacre Cave) The Clanranald residents of the island took refuge in a cave on the south coast and they were suffocated by a fire lit at the entrance by a party of MacLeods in what apparently was a revenge attack. The feud was finally ended some years later by the marriage of Alan of Moidart to the daughter of MacLeod of MacLeod. Hugh Miller visited this notorious cave three centuries later, in 1844, and described in his book, “The Cruise Of The Betsy,” seeing the bones of adults and children in family groups with the charred remains of their straw mattresses and small household objects. All were finally removed for burial in hallowed ground.

That's enough blood and gore for one day.

John
The story they don't tell you about the Glencoe Massacre History around the cottage in Appin Did the Vikings stage a battle in Glencoe? The Pictish broch in Lismore West of Scotland millions of years ago Robert the Bruce and the Ardchattan parliament Robert the Bruce and the Knights Templar The story of the MacDonalds of Glencoe Ancient roads of the Highlands Glencoe, the 4th Wonder of Scotland Castles in the Glencoe area

Home now. We miss this place already

This lovely photograph shows Loch Achtriochtan, with Willie's cottage in Glencoe. Before the Massacre there was a small hamlet here. This is what it looks like at this time of year. The photo was sent to us kindly by Bill MacKenzie. Here is his Flickr site.


Just arrived home. Had a wonderful week there, saw Christine, Alan, and met Felicity on Friday in Comrie, saw Mavis on Saturday, Michelle on Sunday, David on Monday at Crafts, then to Inverness to see Mo on Wednesday, Sheila and Mike at Arisaig on Thursday, chat with Jessie on Friday, took Maggie out to the Holly Tree bar, on Friday – Jim was on the rig - home by Sunday.
Nice relaxing time really. Weather was gorgeous.
John

Short breaks in Scotland, Last minute cottage holidays Scotland, Autumn, Winter, Spring Weather month by month Scotland summer Weather month by month Scotland Autumn Weather in Scotland Winter, month by month Misunderstandings about Scotland's weather Scotland's rain Advice on driving in Scotland. Several Scotland driving pages are linked to this.

David Cooper's champion boat for Sale

This is David Coopers champion racing boat. It has won everything. You'll find it outside Crafts and Things the coffee shop by Glencoe village. He has bought a new one, bigger of course, as you do.

I can tell you personally that this is a good price. It is fully discounted against the current market conditions in my view. He could probably get £2/3000 more somewhere else I reckon. However, that's David. - milk of human kindness.

See the details below.

John

Ps. Just in case you think you may leap to the front of the fleet as soon as you have it then I have to tell you that it is not boats which win races, it is the people wot drive them.

If you want to win races, you'd be better off trying to buy David.

Scottish castles in the West Highlands New page in our site about driving on snow and ice Masses of information about the area in our Site map This is about Fort William Appin is beautiful Bed and breakfast and hotels from Oban to Fort William Walks around our cottage Autumn short breaks in Glencoe Ben Nevis walking is a slog, but worth it Cottage holidays Scotland in the Autumn, Winter, Spring The highlands of Scotland Find holiday cottages anywhere Gorgeous photographs of Glencoe Hill walks in Glencoe Munroes in Glencoe Port Appin Barcaldine Accommodation in Lochaber Kentallen Ballachulish Onich How to find cottage owners self catering websites

An October afternoon in the Scottish Highlands

Started late, why can't we get out of bed up here? Saw these on the Cormorant Rock a short distance from the cottage. Got a better close up on the proper camera but can't get the wretched files across to the laptop.
Weather is splendid. Sorry you've got rain down South. We don't know what that is up here.

Then down to Crafts and Things. Splendid place for lunchtime latte and a bacon bun. Chat with our chum David Cooper, the owner. He does a brilliant job there. It is so well known this place throughout Scotland, stars of stage and screen stop there. The famous Hamish McInnes the Himalayan climber is there most days with his chums.

Then our favourite short run. Over the hill from Glencoe village down to Kinlochleven, 7 miles of road built by German prisoners in World War 1, then towards the light up the other side. This pics from our parking place shows Glencoe and the biggest mountain in the area Bidean nam Bian, well over 3,000 feet. I must say the mobile is a lot better at taking pics than I thought it would be. No telephoto though. Prob there.

Inverness to-morrow to see an old friend. A couple of hours up the side of the Loch, looking out for Nessie.

Not living in hope.

John

Anyone want to come to the cottage in March? We'll give you a nice deal. Got it let until then.

LINKS

Masses of information about the area in our Site map This is about Fort William Appin is beautiful Bed and breakfast and hotels from Oban to Fort William Walks around our cottage Autumn short breaks in Glencoe Ben Nevis walking is a slog, but worth it Cottage holidays Scotland in the Autumn, Winter, Spring The highlands of Scotland Find holiday cottages anywhere Gorgeous photographs of Glencoe Hill walks in Glencoe Munroes in Glencoe Port Appin Barcaldine Accommodation in Lochaber Kentallen Ballachulish Onich How to find cottage owners self catering websites

Oban has become University town. Good, really good news.

Picture taken of Dunstaffnage Castle last month by Dougie Lee. This is a truly important area in Scottish history. 


As of 2nd Feb 2011 Oban is a university town! The University of the Highlands and Islands has 13 colleges in the area including the world renowned Scottish Association of Marine Science. The Privy Council of the Scottish Parliament has decreed it so. There has been a sustained campaign for this ever since the 1960's.
This is real prestige for the town, and the University shows Scottish education at its best. Just by Dunstaffnage Castle is the truly famous Marine Science lab. Good news


John
Misunderstandings about Scottish weather
Honeymoon cottages in Scotland
Scotland for Christmas and New Year
The unofficial Scottish tourist Board
Cottages in Scotland permitting smoking
Cottages in Scotland welcoming pets
FOR WEST OF SCOTLAND SITE
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in the West of Scotland
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in Oban
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in Glencoe
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in Fort William
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in the far West of Scotland
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in Appin
Port Appin and Lismore B&Bs
Barcaldine B&Bs and hotels
Duror B&Bs
Kentallen B&Bs
Ballachulish B&Bs
Onich B&Bs
How to find cottage owners self catering websites

Rebekka - what an enthusiast!

Aren't our guests the nicest people you can ever meet? It is a joy to rent out this cottage. Rebekka stayed with us in November just before the cold set in and we all iced up. The photo is of the Holly tree Hotel just a stroll up the road from us
Hello John!
We had a wonderful week thank you! We arrived about 6pm Monday evening and decided rather than trying to find a shop that we'd treat ourselves, so we headed to the Holly Tree for a bar meal :)Tuesday we ventured into Fort William, did a food shop, had a walk through the town, and then spent the afternoon back at the cottage watching movies on the sofa :) We then ventured back to Fort William in the evening to go out for a meal at a place called Loch Iall I think (I'll double check!!- it is Loch Eil -Ed).. On Wednesday we went up to LochNess for the afternoon.. we figured after travelling 400 miles, another 60 wasn't going to kill us!! Lovely afternoon!! We then went back to the HollyTree for dinner that evening, but ate in the restaurant this time.. Thursday, I spent the morning in doing some university work (so I'm not totally behind when I go back tomorrow!!), my partner went for a 16km walk around the local area.. We then went to the Ben Nevis pub in Fort William for lunch.
The weather was good to us.. It only rained when we were in the car! Tuesday night and Wednesday were VERY windy though. I meant to leave the cleaner a note to apologise for not leaving the bin out the front, but we'd have lost the bin it was that windy.. They were scattered everywhere!!
I'll send you all the photos I took when I find the camera cable! I took one of a gorgeous sunrise Friday morning, it was about an hour's drive from the cottage, but I'm still very chuffed with it!!
I've also decided to start a food blog about all the places I go for meals.. Me and my partner regularly go out and thought it would be fun to do, so once it's up, I'll link you to it - Scotland will be the first entries :)
Many thanks for letting us use the cottage. I had a super time!!!
Rebekka.
Links
New page in our site about driving on snow and ice
Masses of information about the area in our Site map
This is about Fort William
Appin is beautiful
Bed and breakfast and hotels from Oban to Fort William
Walks around our cottage
Autumn short breaks in Glencoe
Ben Nevis walking is a slog, but worth it
Cottage holidays Scotland in the Autumn, Winter, Spring
The highlands of Scotland
Find holiday cottages anywhere
Gorgeous photographs of Glencoe
Hill walks in Glencoe
Munroes in Glencoe
Port Appin
Barcaldine
Accommodation in Lochaber
Kentallen
Ballachulish
Onich
How to find cottage owners self catering websites
HISTORY PAGES.
The story they don't tell you about the Glencoe Massacre
History around the cottage in Appin
Did the Vikings stage a battle in Glencoe?
The Pictish broch in Lismore
West of Scotland millions of years ago
Robert the Bruce and the Ardchattan parliament
Robert the Bruce and the Knights Templar
The story of the MacDonalds of Glencoe
Ancient roads of the Highlands
Glencoe, the 4th Wonder of Scotland
Castles in the Glencoe area
GLENCOE OUTDOORS
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
BLOGS
Travellers Tales from the highlands of Scotland
Find your ideal holiday cottage anywhere
The most beautiful photographs of Glencoe
The achingly beautiful area of Appin, Scotland
Special offers for self catering in Scotland
COTTAGE ATTRACTIONS
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
20 brilliant walks around our cottage area
Easy hill walks in Glencoe
Why not walk up Ben Nevis one day?
Easier Munroe walks in Glencoe
Skiing Glencoe and Nevis range, cottage is midway between the two
Video. Skiing on Glencoe mountain
Weather in the West of Scotland
Rock and Ice climbing in Glencoe
Cycling and fishing Glencoe
Spectacular wild life around our cottage
Golf in the Highlands, Dragons tooth golf course, Glencoe
Cruising the islands, using Glencoe as a base
Safe, beautiful beaches and bays in Glencoe area
Touring the Highlands by car from Glencoe,
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Winter breaks, Jan Feb March in the cottage
Autumn breaks November December in the cottage
Our new Appin blog site
FOR LASTMINUTE BOOKINGS
Short breaks in Scotland, Last minute cottage holidays Scotland, Autumn, Winter, Spring
Weather month by month Scotland summer
Weather month by month Scotland Autumn
Weather in Scotland Winter, month by month
Misunderstandings about Scotland's weather
Scotland's rain
Advice on driving in Scotland. Several Scotland driving pages are linked to this.
Honeymoon cottages in Scotland
Scotland for Christmas and New Year
The unofficial Scottish tourist Board
Cottages in Scotland permitting smoking
Cottages in Scotland welcoming pets
FOR WEST OF SCOTLAND SITE
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in the West of Scotland
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in Oban
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in Glencoe
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in Fort William
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in the far West of Scotland
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in Appin
Port Appin and Lismore B&Bs
Barcaldine B&Bs and hotels
Duror b&bs
Kentallen b&bs
Ballachulish b&bs
Onich b&bs
How to find cottage owners self catering websites
MISC
Misunderstandings about Scottish weather
Get off those speeding fines on Scottish roads

Brilliant! Matt's word, not mine

The IceFactor wall at Kinlochleven

The following email came from our guest at the New Year. Thanks Matt. It was a pleasure having you stay.

Hi John

Brilliant.

Cottage was fantastic, walking and climbing were great and it didn't rain (that much!). We solved the boiler problem - Michelle was very helpful.

The Ice Factor was good - helpful staff and a good setup. Climbing wise we did Garadh Gully on Ben Nevis and went up and around the Three Sisters in Glencoe. The ice was starting to melt is places but there was plenty to go at still. We spent New Years eve in the Clachaig which was very, very busy, but the atmosphere made it a great night. We then spent New Years day walking from the cottage back to the Clachaig to pick up the car (we got a taxi back on New Years eve - it only cost £20, very reasonable). The walk was lovely, we set off early from the cottage, went up Glen Duror to its head and then up and over Sgorr a Choise before dropping down into Gleann Leac na Muidhe which eventually brought us out at the Signal Rock car park. It was then just a short walk to the pub. It took us about 5 and a half hours in total. It was great.

I'll collect some photos together for you and send on.

Matt
Driving on snow and ice
Information about the arear Site map
About Fort William
Appin beautiful
Accommodation from Oban to Fort William
Walks around cottage
Autumn breaks in Glencoe
Ben Nevis is a slog, but worth it
Holidays Scotland in the Autumn, Winter, Spring
The Highlands
Holiday cottages everywhere
Photographs of Glencoe
Hill walks Highlands
Munroes Glencoe
Port Appin, a glorious Highland village
Barcaldine little highland town with a castle
Accommodation Lochaber
Kentallen is our own hamlet
Ballachulish our nearest village
Onich lovely views from the hotels here
Find cottage owners self catering websites
HISTORY PAGES.
The story they don't tell you about the Glencoe Massacre
History around the cottage in Appin
Did the Vikings stage a battle in Glencoe?
The Pictish broch in Lismore
West of Scotland millions of years ago
Robert the Bruce and the Ardchattan parliament
Robert the Bruce and the Knights Templar
The story of the MacDonalds of Glencoe
Ancient roads of the Highlands
Glencoe, the 4th Wonder of Scotland
Castles in the Glencoe area
GLENCOE OUTDOORS
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
BLOGS
Travellers Tales from the highlands of Scotland
Find your ideal holiday cottage anywhere
The most beautiful photographs of Glencoe
The achingly beautiful area of Appin, Scotland
Special offers for self catering in Scotland
COTTAGE ATTRACTIONS
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
20 brilliant walks around our cottage area
Easy hill walks in Glencoe
Why not walk up Ben Nevis one day?
Easier Munroe walks in Glencoe
Skiing Glencoe and Nevis range, cottage is midway between the two
Video. Skiing on Glencoe mountain
Weather in the West of Scotland
Rock and Ice climbing in Glencoe
Cycling and fishing Glencoe
Spectacular wild life around our cottage
Golf in the Highlands, Dragons tooth golf course, Glencoe
Cruising the islands, using Glencoe as a base
Safe, beautiful beaches and bays in Glencoe area
Touring the Highlands by car from Glencoe,
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Winter breaks, Jan Feb March in the cottage
Autumn breaks November December in the cottage
Our new Appin blog site
FOR LASTMINUTE BOOKINGS
Short breaks in Scotland, Last minute cottage holidays Scotland, Autumn, Winter, Spring
Weather month by month Scotland summer
Weather month by month Scotland Autumn
Weather in Scotland Winter, month by month
Misunderstandings about Scotland's weather
Scotland's rain
Advice on driving in Scotland. Several Scotland driving pages are linked to this.
Honeymoon cottages in Scotland
Scotland for Christmas and New Year
The unofficial Scottish tourist Board
Cottages in Scotland permitting smoking
Cottages in Scotland welcoming pets
FOR WEST OF SCOTLAND SITE
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in the West of Scotland
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in Oban
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in Glencoe
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in Fort William
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in the far West of Scotland
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in Appin
Port Appin and Lismore B&Bs
Barcaldine B&Bs and hotels
Duror b&bs
Kentallen b&bs
Ballachulish b&bs
Onich b&bs
How to find cottage owners self catering websites
MISC
Misunderstandings about Scottish weather
Get off those speeding fines on Scottish roads

To-day Fort William won the Camanachd Cup, for the 4th time in a row

Shaking hands after the game - not true, I made this up
Originally uploaded by ufopilot

To-day Fort William won the Camanachd Cup for the 4th time in a row at Inverness. This is shinty we are talking about - this cup is the tops, the absolute tops in the sport. I'm telling you this, because a key player in the forward line of the Fort William team is John MacDonald, the husband of Michelle, our housekeeper.

John is the nicest, gentlest, softest sort of chap you could meet, unfailingly polite, always helpful. Except on a shinty pitch.

The game of shinty is older than the recorded history of Scotland. Christianity came after shinty and it is reputed that St Columba tried to pacify the players without success so he turned his attention to a lesser target, the Vikings.

Shinty is based roughly on hockey but with a lot of blood added. You can whack the opponents head, er sorry, ball, with either side of the stick. The hockey stick is kept below waist height but in shinty it was found that you can't do enough damage that way so they let you, indeed encourage you, to hit the ball in the air.

To start the game they throw the ball in the air and hit it. If the referee is English they throw him instead.

The game is absolutely splendid to watch, and we are very proud to know John. They have won it four years in a row, and it gets harder every year. Everyone, without exception are after Fort William. They don't win everything in the League, but they do go for this Cup, big time.

Well done, really good result. Could you do it a bit earlier than the last minute another time please lads?

John


Masses of information about Glencoe in our Home page
About Fort William
Hotels and B+Bs from Oban to Fort William
Walks around our Glencoe cottage beside the loch
Autumn short breaks in cottage, £200 off
Ben Nevis walking, a slog, but at least you can say you've done it

You can get to Staffa and Iona from our cottage in Appin. Ask Nathalie.

Dear John and Gillian. The sun was shining almost every day! It was just fantastic. We even had the sun shining on our boat trip to the Isle of Staffa and Iona. That was my personal highlight of the holiday for we saw both basking sharks and dolphins on our way to Staffa. The island itself is so beautiful and kind of...scary, dont you think? My mother loved the Isle of Iona, especially the white beach. She also fell in love with Oban and our trips to that town were really really fun. We walked very much and visited both Fort William and Inverness and it was really great. Two weeks are way to little time to see everything we wanted to see but we both want to go back as soon as possible.            Nathalie and Beate

Cottage holidays Scotland in the Autumn, Winter, Spring
B&Bs and hotels in the West of Scotland
The highlands of Scotland
Holiday cottages anywhere
Gorgeous photographs of Glencoe
Beautiful Appin, Scotland
Walks around our cottage area in Glencoe
Hill walks in Glencoe
You can walk up Ben Nevis one day?
Munroes in Glencoe

Visitor numbers up in the Western Isles

According to the BBC, visitor numbers throughout the Western Isles are up by between 25% and 40% on the same time last year
Apparently the Scottish government's road equivalent tariff (RET) scheme, which offers lower ferry fares, has been a factor. The scheme was launched on Western Isles routes in 2008.
The subject of Island fares charged by Calmac has been the subject of local outrage for years. Oban has always been a main focus for grumbles. The cost of living on one of the Islands is horrendous, and all services from the mainland are very expensive. Imagine getting building work or contracting from the mainland if you live on Barra. Calmac do have a difficult job in profitably maintaining safe and up to date ships for traffic that peaks for just three months of the year.
But the tourists expect to pay the normal sort of holiday charges, and the accommodation providers are squeezed hard to cover costs.
So it just shows that when the ferry costs are reduced then this works for tourists.

The cost of services is a general problem in the Highlands as a whole. We may grumble about paying 32p for a 2nd class stamp, but this is based upon delivering letters to Birmingham. Can you imagine the costs of delivering even to Ardnamurchan? Or to Glencoe come to that? That is the hang up about privatising the Post Office. Whoever takes it on will be forced to charge the same rate for delivering everywhere. If they are allowed to charge differential rates then expect postal charges in the Highlands to go up to £1 for a 2nd class stamp. Ouch!

John
Local accommodation around our area
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Short breaks in Scotland, Last minute cottage holidays Scotland, Autumn, Winter, Spring
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in the West of Scotland
Travellers Tales from the highlands of Scotland
Find your ideal holiday cottage anywhere
The most beautiful photographs of Glencoe
The achingly beautiful area of Appin, Scotland
20 brilliant walks around our cottage area
Easy hill walks in Glencoe
Why not walk up Ben Nevis one day?
Easier Munroe walks in Glencoe
Port Appin and Lismore B&Bs
Barcaldine B&Bs and hotels
Duror b&bs
Kentallen b&bs
Ballachulish b&bs
Onich b&bs

£100 off 28th August holiday lochside cottage Glencoe Fort William

If you are looking for 2/4 people in a pretty holiday cottage beside the loch for the last week in August look no further.


£100 off 28th August holiday lochside cottage Glencoe Fort William
Glencoe is the most famous and most beautiful glen in Scotland. Fort William is the home of the renowned Ben Nevis.


£100 off 28th August holiday lochside cottage Glencoe Fort William
The self catering cottage is equipped with full mod cons, new kitchen, new bathroom, everything you could want

£100 off 28th August holiday lochside cottage Glencoe Fort William
The wild life outside the cottage is spectacular, there is a wonderful nearby, and the famous Glencoe massacre took place just up the road. There are 20 locals walks of all kinds in the self catering cottage area

£100 off 28th August holiday lochside cottage Glencoe Fort William
The usual price for August is £595, but we have reduced this by £100 because the children have gone back to school and it is all going quieter then.

Email; kentalleninfo@yahoo.co.uk or look at the website for all the details.
Lochside holiday cottage between Glencoe and fort William in the Highlands of Scotland
John
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Short breaks in Scotland, Last minute cottage holidays Scotland, Autumn, Winter, Spring
Holiday accommodation, B&Bs, hotels in the West of Scotland
Travellers Tales from the highlands of Scotland
Find your ideal holiday cottage anywhere
The most beautiful photographs of Glencoe
The achingly beautiful area of Appin, Scotland
20 brilliant walks around our cottage area
Easy hill walks in Glencoe
Why not walk up Ben Nevis one day?
Easier Munroe walks in Glencoe

How the McDonalds won Glencoe about 700 years ago

Inverlochy Castle, given to the Campbells by Robert the Bruce around 1314

It started with a knife fight in a Church

Around 700 years ago the Chief of the Clan Donald, Angus Og, was awarded the "lands of Durro' and Glenco" by the King of Scotland.

On 10th February in 1306, before the altar of a monastery in Dumfries, one of the two most powerful nobles in Scotland, John Comyn, was killed after a knife fight between him and his rival Robert the Bruce, later King of Scotland. The motive for the fight was clear - Comyn had reported the Bruce's "treason" to Edward 1st of England meaning a certain, and horrible death for the Bruce if caught. Bruce' friends finished off the Red Comyn in the church, a dreadful crime in what was a very religious country. Excommunication followed for all of them.
What is not clear is why Comyn was there at all, he would have known the danger he faced. What is also not clear is why the Comyn had no friends with him, when his deadly rival for the Scottish Crown had his family seat just 5 miles up the road at Lochmaben Castle. Why was the Comyn alone in his enemy's territory?
For some years, Scotland had been on the edge of civil war between these two great families, each claiming the throne. Of the two, the claim by the Comyns, backed by their many friends including the McDougalls of Lorne was the slightly stronger. In those days, civil war was very violent. No prisoners were taken except nobles for their ransom value. This is how winners of battles were paid out.
The knife fight, and Comyns death, settled the issue. Bruce had no option but to go directly for the Scottish Crown. Six weeks later it was placed upon Bruce's head on the famous Stone of Scone.
Instantly he was a renegade and went into hiding from the powerful and brutal Edward 1st. Half of Scotland's noble families were against the Bruce and most of the other half kept switching sides. But two families remained loyal to Bruce, the Campbells of Argyll, and the Clan Donald who reigned over the Western Isles from their base in Islay.
Why these two families? Well, Bruce was half a Highland man, a Gael, from his mother's side. The other half was from a Norman family brought over to England by William 1st in 1066. Bruce spoke Gaelic, while the clansmen could barely understand the language of the other Scottish noblemen. But they understood the Bruce. He was almost one of them, and these clans reigned totally over their lands and the subordinate families on their lands. They could raise armies which were expert in guerilla fighting and raiding, and they did. It was their way of life.
Angus Og hid the Bruce, while Edward's forces were looking for him. Some say this was at Castle Tioram, on Ardnamurchan a remote hideout almost impossible for Edwards galleys to raid even if they could find it. The Castle belonged to cousins of Clan Donald, also descendants of Somerled, the MacRuarie. A romantic tale has the Bruce and Christina MacRuarie as lovers.
Their problem was the opposition to Bruce by the McDougalls, a big powerful family based upon Dunstaffnage Castle near Oban. They were just as warlike as the Clan Donald their distant cousins, descended as they both were, from a common ancestor the great warlord Somerled, himself half a Viking.
The decisive battle between the three clans probably in 1308, was the famous one fought at the Pass of Brander, by Cruachan at the head of Loch Awe. This is the narrow gorge along the river, where the road past the power station runs to-day. A clever and skilful movement on the hillside above by the Bruce supporters led the MacDougalls into a trap. Their leader, John, escaped while his father gave up Dunstaffnage Castle to the Bruce after a short siege in 1309.
The Comyn Castle at Inverlochy by Fort William was given to the Campbells by the King, as was Dunstaffnage Castle. The Clan Donald were more sea-going clansmen and Glencoe and Ardnamurchan were closest to their Island home. Both of the castles are well worth a visit, as is Castle Tioram. The three ruins are kept in good order. You'll have to find Tioram first. The exact dates of all these gifts is uncertain, but the period of 1310 to 1314 would cover it.
Later, the two clans fought beside The Bruce at the famous Battle of Bannockburn in June 1314. The Scots won, despite being outnumbered by possibly 5 to 1.

The Battle has reverberated in Scottish history ever since. I cut my teeth on the story at Glasgow High School in 1944.

John
Some data you might find interesting relating to this story.

The MacDonalds, one of Scotlan'd greatest clans
Was there a "Scottish parliament" at Ardchattan Priory, by Loch Etive?
Did Knights Templar help Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn?
Appin, Land of the Stewart Kings
plus links below to the Glencoe Massacre, the Viking story;
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
20 brilliant walks around our cottage area
Spectacular wild life around our cottage
Golf in the Scottish highlands, Dragons tooth golf course, Glencoe
Weather in the mountains of Glencoe
Weather month by month in the area
Scotlands weather misconceptions
The Viking battle in Glencoe
The true story of the Glencoe massacre
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Honeymoon cottages in Scotland
Find the best Scottish holiday cottages on the internet
Cut the costs of your holidays
Cheap travel in scotland
The Clachaig Inn - great atmosphere in this world famous climbers pub
The Glencoe and Loch Leven Association with 40 B&Bs
Email 14 properties with one click
The new Glencoe Skiing centre information website
Essential information for holidaymakers in Scotland, in one page
Video. Skiing on Glencoe mountain