The Highlands are what you make of them. They can be BRILLIANT- it is up to you

We received this lovely email from David and Kim who stayed last week. Thank you, you two. It is comments like this that make it so worthwhile letting the cottage. The Ardnamurchan scene shot by David has hardly altered since the volcano erupted there 55 million years ago. I think his photograph of Kim is lovely. Scotland is what you make it - if you are looking for South of France weather then you will not enjoy it. 

We never had a day without rain, but we were never 'washed out' for the day - all that was needed was the right clothing!  We had four walks, Ben Hiant on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, Pap of Glen Coe, Steall Falls and Meall Cumhann, and the Lost Valley in Glen Coe. Saw herds of red deer from Ben Hiant, wonderful rainbows from the Pap, golden eagle from Meall Cumhann and with the rain all the rivers were full so the waterfalls were impressive. Never got any high level walks done, limited visibility in low cloud was one issue, but gale force winds on the summits was the main concern. We'd hoped to get some climbing done, but the rocks were not dry enough to make it enjoyable. We did spend a rainy morning at the indoor climbing wall in Kinlochleven; some good routes in the 15m main hall. Also had a great afternoon there ice climbing; highly recommended (we are also now deemed competent for our next visit to just book a session and look after ourselves!).  Did the tourist bit around the cafes and shops of Fort William, and completed a circuit of Loch Ness via Inverness for lunch and the Culloden battlefield site (again, recommended; very good visitor centre). Very much looking forward to returning later in the year.

Photos from David
Enjoying the deserted beaches on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula.
Taking in the view from Meall Cumhann above the Nevis Gorge.

This is a link I need to put in to help another website I'm involved with. Sorry.
Jazz Smugglers plays at the Chichester Festivities June 25th

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West of Scotland millions of years ago
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Maggie goes to Sanna Bay to see the storm. Winter walks

It does not get much more remote than lovely Sanna Bay, just facing the Isle of Muck. This photograph was taken by Geo5  on a nicer day than the one our guests had and if you click the title of the post you can get to his Flickr pages.

Dear John,

No - the weather wasn’t too bad at all, the really bad stuff seemed to pass us by. The worst wind and rain seemed to happen at night time.

Years ago, when the boys were little we stayed at Acharacle and while we were there we went to Sanna Bay in a storm (because we love watching big waves). So we thought we’d catch the ferry and go for a drive. The woods on the way down were beautiful and although the wind was in the wrong direction for big waves it was good to go back there. Sanna seemed to have lost some of it’s wildness with a carpark to organize the tourists – but I suppose the locals must have thought it necessary.

We had a really lovely sunny day on Kerrera. On another day we went on an absolutely beautiful sunny walk behind Kinlochleven around Mamore Lodge and up to the reservoir. The other days all had rain – but not bad driving rain. It snowed on the mountains – but not at our level. Nothing stopped us going out but it would have been better if it hadn’t got dark so early.

We only ate out on one night and that was at the Clachaig Inn. The food was good and the beer was excellent. Then we had 2 nights at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel (food excellent) and drove home yesterday.

Maggie,
Thanks Maggie for sending us this. I've heard very good reports of the Bridge of Orchy food, we must try it out soon.
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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
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Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Short breaks in Scotland, Last minute cottage holidays Scotland, Autumn, Winter, Spring
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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
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Cuil Bay to watch the Geese feeding and flying.

Corran Ferry, route to Ardnamurchan - lovely, lonely roads

We loved Cuil Bay and went most nights to watch the geese feeding and fly away. Loved Lismore, we walked all the way to the Museum and back to the Appin ferry. We really loved the Ardnamurchan peninsula across the Corran Ferry - went there twice and just reflected.

We had a lovely meal at the Creagan Inn, drove down the RTGN (roads that go nowhere), loved Glen Nevis and Glen Etive. WE had a long day to Skye, up to Portree and back via Plockton.
Best of all, no midges, weather great. Glencoe Museum, the girl was great in there.

Karen
ps Left sandals and flip flops, could you post them please? (Yes, of course we will. You two are real romantics we reckon, John)
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
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

Ardnamurchan; the best of the West Coast

They passed the Corran lighthouse on the way to Ardnamurchan. Lovely couple.

John,
We got on really well, and were particularly lucky with the weather. The last three days were dry and there were only intermittent showers on the first three.
We mainly explored around the area and spent a few days in and around Fort William. We took up one of your suggestions to go to Ardnamurchan Point which we really enjoyed and was the highlight of our trip (and also the best weather!).

We did the Gondolas in Fort William which was also good, did a a couple of museums (the West Highland and the Clan Cameron), explored the coast between Kentallen and Oban (we followed your advice on getting to Tralee beach to the letter - and would never have found it if you hadn't explained how!), visited the 12th century priory and had a good day in Glen Nevis.
We had also wanted to visit Staffa and Mull but didn't seem to get round to it. It was the last week they were running the Staffa trip we wanted to do and it was too windy when we first tried to do it, so after one failed attempt we decided to abandon it and just stay mostly more local.
We also didn't really explore Glen Coe and when we were leaving we realised how spectacular it was and wished we had spent some time there.
When we were driving up, I think we were concentrating too much on traffic and where we were going to notice! Your cottage was very cosy and well located for what we wanted to do so it was great. I think we would like to visit again in future as there are definitely places that we didn't get round to visiting.
Nicola

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