The Campbells are back in Glencoe to-day. USA ones

Lochside cottage, in Appin, just around the corner from glorious Glencoe. Just one week availabile now, week commencing June 28th.

Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage

Our lovely visitors from the USA are still with us Pokey and Kent.

The murky Campbell family history continues again and will shortly take us down to Loch Melfort chasing Covenanters flip flopping sides and financing early New Jersey.

I was hoping Kent (husband) was connected to the kinder gentler Campbells but evidence is now turning the other way and a possible connection to the very crafty Black Duncan of the Cowl is emerging. To be fair, Black Duncan was a big fan of trees and possibly an early enviromental champion. He had some other less desirable qualities however.

Must mention, we had a lovely hike from Duror this week. After years of digging around looking for Appin Murder clues under rocks and bushes, they have put up little signposts with blue tops and yellow crosses to mark the Clansman Trail - places significant to the Appin Murder and other events related to the history of the clans after Culloden. Great for Robert Louis Stevenson fans. We went up the forestry track in Duror to the signposted Birthplace of James of the Glen. Beautiful walk and great place to sit and have a packed lunch.

If you remember to bring one and you aren't running down the trail just ahead of another wall of water....
Pokey and Kent (of the Cowl...)

Gillian and I are still campaigning for an upgrade for the A82 road. This is the new blog post
John

The latest A82 victim is a fort William cycling hero.
The A82 upgrade campaign, please contact your Msp

We have revamped some of the Cottage website pages and added new ones. Please have a look if any interest you.
mystery of king robert the bruce and ardchattan priory
the knights templar in argyll
the battle of bannockburn
tourist information glencoe and ballachulish
how to lower your holiday costs
events and entertainment in glencoe and appin
facilities for visitors to glencoe, appin and lochaber
the best way to find your holiday cottage on the internet
news and stories of glencoe, appin and lochaber
how to avoid getting speeding fines
the viking battle in glencoe
the true story of the glencoe massacre

The pic is of Morar sands. Why? No reason. I just liked it from the file. Why not? Its my blog. Sorry, dear, our blog.

We have a lovely couple from the USA staying in the cottage. He is a Campbell and goes back to the days of Angus Og, and his lovely wife calls herself Pokey Sue always sends us e-mails of what they are up to. This is part of her latest e-mail. They are staying for a month.

They already know the area well, used to live in Benderloch.

Hi, John, we are just attempting the low level walks due to the snow level (and if truth be told, our rather substandard level of fitness at the moment!). If it gets bad, it's certainly easy enough to simply turn back and return to the coziness of the cottage.

The central location is great. We have been in Glencoe for small, medium and longer hikes (once up the Devils Staircase) weather permitting. This morning we were back in Glencoe Valley with friends who have a six year old, and simply drove the valley to see the view - after last night's storm it was spectacular - and then went over to the Visitor's Centre and took a low level hike out the back door and up the forestry road with especially clear views of the Pap of Glencoe. By lunchtime we were grabbing a couple of pizzas (great for fitness!) at the Co-op in Ballachulish and back at the cottage to eat and watch the latest storm flying across Kentallen Bay.

Late in the day I decided to explore the disused railway track which we had been observing while driving the road to and from the cottage. A considerable amount of work is going into making this a bike and walking path. At least we hope its for walkers too! I set out in the sunshine and only about a quarter of a mile down the road was met by a wild squall of a hail, sleet and windstorm that blew me into the Holly Tree Hotel dripping wet and wondering why my Maine gloves didn't seem to be working.

Reception was very welcoming and I proceeded into the non-resident bar where another friendly person fixed me a very large pot of tea. I drank this overlooking the amazing view of Loch Linnhe from their huge windows. The storm blew over and I walked back along the track to the cottage with glorious views and sunshine. As it turned out, I barely made it back. Within minutes after turning the key, another wall of freezing water appeared and obliterated everything.

Pokey Sue.

I'll post more later... meanwhile we are interested in getting the A82 road upgraded....

The A82 upgrade campaign website
The A82 tragedies, and accidents. This is our new blog site about it.