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

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

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

We have early December available for a short break in Glencoe

Most e-mails we get are lovely, none are nasty, but some are exceptionally kind. Thanks, Phil, we did appreciate it.
For December, click on the heading to this blog and you will go through to the web site.
John

John/Gillian
What can I say but thanks? Sounds a little understated for having had such a fabulous week.
Cottage was lovely, everything you could ask for and in such a beautiful setting.
Weather was good, dry in the main, warm on occasions, odd shower and only one grey miserable day, but hey, when you are up there it really doesn't matter.

Found the Holly Tree to be lovely - good food, good atmosphere, friendly staff. Cafe at Stalker castle, just shaded it for the coffee and carrot cake in my book.

Week went so quick, needed anyother two at least to do what we wanted to do and we did plenty as it is. Had no problems all week, it really was superb By all means you can use the comments. I could have gone on for pages about it.

From as far back as I can recall, whilst I love holidays and travelling abroad, it is always nice to get back home. On this occasion, it felt like we were leaving a home. We've never felt so relaxed, comfortable and happy anywhere.

Perhaps it's released the deep hidden scottish/irish genes within me!!

Take care. Hope you are both okay

Many thanks and best wishes and you may not have heard the last of us......

Phil

Here are some useful links for you.
New website to help find holiday accommodation in the West Coast, Oban and Fort William areas

Last minute, short breaks, in Scotland, owners sites direct

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


Events in Glencoe Appin Lochaber Oban and Ballachulish

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

Glencoe cottage offered at half price for the week of October 18

Cuil Bay, near the cottage.

This is a sunset from Ballachulish bridge. These views are staggeringly beautiful at this time of year. We had a lovely e-mail from Sheelagh when they stayed recently.

Dear John, Just a quick note to let you know we had a wonderful time, you are right about Cuil bay being the most romantic place on earth. Your book of information was truly amazing I have never seen anything so comprehensive. My husband thinks the Scottish Tourist Board should employ you as you are so enthusiastic about the area. "

"Thank you" says he with appropriate blushes. When Gillian and I go to the cottage, we go to Cuil Bay first, just to look South down Loch Linnhe.

We have just one week left available in the cottage before the short breaks season starts in November. Week Commencing October the 18th - this is offered at rates which are half the normal rate, £295. If you'd like it then just e-mail us at lochsidecottage@yahoo.co.uk

Here are links to other web pages which may interest you. First, if you are looking for self catering cottage properties in Scotland you can do no better than look at these ten or so

Short holiday breaks, special last minute deals, self catering Scotland

These describe the Glencoe cottage area
Availability for the lochside cottage near Glencoe always up to date
Take a break in the Autumn at the lochside cottage
There are 20 brilliant walks around the cottage area
The details of the cottage near Glencoe, in Appin
Prices in the cottage including low season rates
How to walk and navigate the Glencoe mountains
The local history of the area
Weather and temperatures in Scotland
All in one page, the best ways of tracing your Scottish ancestors
Over 20 totally different walks in this area
Winter skiing in Glencoe and at Fort William Glen Nevis
Scottish mountain navigation Winter and Summer
Tourist information glencoe and ballachulish
Facilities for visitors to glencoe, appin and lochaber
Easy munro hill walks
Most people can just walk up Ben Nevis
This guide helps you to find your ideal Scottish holiday cottage + 26 properties

If you are touring Scotland by car look at these pages:
Driving and touring around Scotland
The wrong way to tour Scotland, don't do it like this
How to drive the single track roads of the Scottish highlands

That's enough. You must be exhausted.

John

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.

This little post is just to get us listed with Teknorati

If I put this bit of code into the blog then the ranking service Teknorati will list us.
Not very interesting I agree.

Technorati Profile

A few other links to recent new pages in other sites. Will get back to Scotland's Travellers News soon.
John

No Smoking self catering holiday properties Scotland

Smoking allowed in these self catering Scottish holiday properties

Pets Welcome in these Self Catering Scottish holiday properties

Pets not allowed in these self catering Scottish Holiday properties

All the facts you need about Self Catering Scotland

The facts about Scottish rain

How to find your ideal self catering property on the internet

Painting Glencoe's Three Sisters mountains sounds good to us

One of the most famous spots in the world where climbers meet. The Climbers bar at the Clachaig Inn, best bar meals in the area.

Many folks go to the cottage for rest and relaxation at any time of the year. You can do your own thing and meet up at Crafts and Things..... here is a lovely e-mail from Moyna...

Hi John,
Sorry for not getting back to you earlier but we got back home and had to galvanize ourselves straight into work which is always more difficult after a holiday! However, I have been meaning to email you to say that we had a really wonderful time.....might even be the best holiday my husband and I have had so far.

The cottage is absolutely marvellous and the young Filipino man who does your maintenance told us that you and your wife have hardly had a chance to enjoy it yourselves this year because its been so busy! I can easily see why that is so....your efforts to provide comfort and information surpasses any other place we have been to as I have also mentioned in the visitor's book.

Your notes and the books and maps etc are all so useful for a stay in that area......my husband loved your little Scottish library. I found the kitchen wonderfully well equipped (this was my first experience of a self-catering.....we've always stayed in B&B places before) so it was easy to organize our meals and we didn't eat out as much as we had thought we would.....it was so much nicer to come 'home' and relax over a home-made meal.

However, we did check out the Clachaig Inn more than once because we liked the atmosphere there. We also liked the little Crafts & Things place which was much better value for money than the Craft Cafe overlooking Stalker Castle.....although I ended up buying a hugely expensive cashmere cloak at C&T because I couldn't resist it but will now have to scrimp and save to recover from that!!

We did several of your walks but the one Gareth did on his own seems to have been the highlight of his holiday....he did the walk to the 'Lost Valley' while I sat in the car in the car park and painted the Three Sisters. I had a bypass last year so I could only do the flat walks....so I did the Lochans one several times because I liked the colours there too.

We just love the Glencoe area and I have to go back and do some more painting of the mountains. I come from India and usually there is nothing that can compare with the Himalayas but the Glencoe mountains are just as forbidding and awe inspiring even if not as high.....I just love the formations and shapes and at this time of course, the autumn colours are unbelievable. We will definitely go back there soon.

All in all it was a lovely stay, thank you........we've had a great time and we would definitely recommend 3 Bayview to our friends and relatives. Gareth's sister's family live near Teessside and visit Scotland often so they would be interested for sure....

Will be in touch soon when we want to go again....you're really lucky to have that place!

Warm regards to you and Gillian...Cheers and many thanks again. Moyna

Thank you Moyna, you were lovely.

I've just been putting up some new pages on a self catering website I run as a hobby. It is called last minutecottageholiday.co.uk and I share it with a few good friends. These links to the pages help Google to understand the site.

John

No Smoking self catering holiday properties Scotland

Smoking allowed in these self catering Scottish holiday properties

Pets Welcome in these Self Catering Scottish holiday properties

Pets not allowed in these self catering Scottish Holiday properties

All the facts you need about Self Catering Scotland

The facts about Scottish rain

How to find your ideal self catering property on the internet

The Vikings in Scotland, the Terror, the Battles, Vikings in Glencoe

Don't leave your car keys on the top of the Pap of Glencoe

This is the view from the top of the Pap of Glencoe at Midnight in the Summer. Our good friends and neighbours Chris and Fiona Hall climbed up to the top of it the other day. This is their story.

Hi, John
We're just packing up to go home now.The weather here was glorious yesterday so Fiona and I did the Pap of Glencoe (2500ft). As we got down near the bottom I discovered I'd lost my jacket - with the car keys in it. So I had to go all the way to the top again! There cannot be many people who have climbed the Pap twice in one afternoon!!

How long was the round trip Chris?

From the gate at the road to the top took us 1h40. The descent was a little under an hour.
The complete double trip took exacty 5 hours, invloved 4300ft of climbing (and descent) and was just over 6 miles in distance. I've got a Garmin GPS so know all the facts and figures!
However, on the second trip I was really motoring and virtually ran (jogged) most of the way down as it was gettting near sunset.
I think a comfortable time for average walkers would be around 3 hours for a normal round trip.
By all means relate the story in your blog. The lesson to be learned is to keep the car keys safely in a rucksack or trouser pocket! I would have happily left my jacket on the top - but the car-keys were another matter. :)
Cheers

Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland

Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe

last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage

The Vikings in Scotland, the Terror, the Battles, Vikings in Glencoe

Scotland how to find your ideal holiday property

last minute, self catering holiday breaks scotland

excellent Scottish holiday properties offering short breaks and special prices

Late availability Christmas and New Year

Sometimes other holiday home owners visit this blog site, and want to find out how to do their own internet web site.

Also I run a couple of other sites which might be useful to them or to you.

One of them is a blog site I've just started called How to Find your Ideal Holiday Property, and another is a blog site called Scotlands self catering offers, and a third is for other holiday home owners with internet web site tips.

If you are interested, here they are.

Still available for Xmas and the New Year, self catering in Scotland

Scotland's self catering, fine individual cottages and chalets, the blogsite

Scotland how to find your ideal holiday property, another blog site

John