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

This is a Dream World. Glencoe

First we drove down the Coast of Loch Linnhe. Coffee overlooking Stalker Castle above.

Alongside this view.

Then we dropped down to Oban. This photo by Douglie Lee for us.

Bit of Tesco, bit of Homebase for a new crockery set for the cottage, then back up Loch Linnhe to rest awhile in Cuil Bay, just around the corner from us. Here it is

Then to our own Cuil Bay 3 minutes away. Our cottage is on the left. You know what? It all looked exactly like this. Exactly.

Jan Hamilton's photo, from Duror. Thank you Jan. Why can't I take lovely pics like this?

John

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

CORRAN FERRY UP TO £7. Bet I know why.

The fare for a car in 2008 was £5.20. 40% increase in 4 years, ouch!

The thing is that the demand is inelastic - people living in remote Ardnamurchan have to get supplies from Fort William, the journey to Oban is much more expensive. All the builders, bus and delivery companies have to use it.

I'll take a bet that their financial people had already written off the cost of the old ferry, and the piers, in 2008.
Lets say that after depreciation year by year they were valued right down to £500,000 (I've got no idea) For that they would have an easy job of making a 7% return on their assets, only needing £35,000 of profits a year.

Now they been upgraded, at a big cost probably. Their new value could easily be £5 million. So they suddenly need £350,000 a year in profits to get 7%. That is an extra £1,000 a day needed. That's where your price increase comes from.

Its no good everyone bleating about it. Its the commercial fact of life.There is no greedy Russian Oligarch involved. Just everyday normal folks. Like your neighbours. How normal is that?

John
ps. On the other hand the price for the ferry crossing for a car to-day is just about the same as it would cost you in petrol to get to Fort William going the long way round and adding 45 minutes to the journey. Funny that, huh?

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&b Kentallen b&bs Ballachulish B&Bs Onich B&B

We stayed at the Holly Tree last night

This great picture is from a lovely website about old Appin
It shows the Oban steamer leaving Kentallen Pier, probably around the turn of the century. There is the old railway line down there with Kentallen Station, which is now the lovely Holly Tree hotel.

Once a week, people from these parts went into Oban for their shopping, until they built the railway line.
This was renowned as one of the most beautiful railway lines in the world, running alongside the shore all the way down to Stalker Castle. Then it was closed by Dr. Beeching.

The old line ran behind our cottage. Jessie, our lovely neighbour, tells of the times when her son came home from school each day, the driver slowed down, the boy would throw his satchel out then himself into his back garden. You can see the railway jobsworths doing that to-day can't you?

We stayed last night at the Holly Tree. The sun shone all day yesterday and all day to-day. To look out on this view is bliss.

Last week's guests write in our book. "What a place to bring my new wife! ....stunning scenery around every corner, makes me proud to be a Scot!

John
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

CYCLING AROUND GLENCOE

They've built a new cycle path along a lovely stretch along the coast from Glencoe to our Kentallen village. Ultimately, when the country has enough money, they'll continue it down to Campbeltown. (Don't ask, Google maps. near Northern Ireland)
I came across this lovely little film and commentary. Quite short. Beautiful though.
John

It is Glencoe really not Rannoch. Beauty and a little fun with pipes

The piper often busks at the roadside parking overlooking the Hidden Valley. The chap who made the film call it Rannoch. But he comes from the US. 

John

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

He was hunted as a fugitive, sheltered by the MacDonalds to become Scotland's most famous King

A longer blog post than usual. People are interested in the story of the most famous King of Scots, Robert the Bruce. His family title was Robert V111 de Bruce. He hid out on with the West coast as a fugitive guarded by his friend Angus Og, the MacDonald Chief. He had a sad family life. We think he looked like this.

In 1307 the King of Scotland, Robert the Bruce was in hiding, in the West Coast of Scotland the world's most glorious playground. He had a close band of followers, including the High Steward of Scotland and was being looked after by his friend Angus Og, chief of the MacDonalds.. A terrible fate awaited him if he was caught. He would have been taken to London to be hanged, drawn and quartered. He would have had a show trial, would have been scorned and abused by the London crowds. His sadistic rival Edward 1st of England would have him found guilty. This dreadful punishment was reserved only for the men most hated by Edward and Bruce was his leading opponent. He had already done this to David, Prince of Wales, for his so-called treason, and to the rebel Scots Knight, William Wallace, again for treason.

As they scrambled in MacDonald boats from island to island, from Rathlin to Islay, to Mull then probably to Tioram Castle on Ardnamurchan, hiding from Edward's fleet often in the open or in caves, the followers of the King formed a close bond of friendship. Bruce spoke Gaelic, which was a great asset in the Highlands. No one there spoke either English nor French.

Their triumph was to come in 1314 at the Battle of Bannockburn where the Scots army faced overwhelming odds, yet emerged victorious. One year later, Robert the Bruce's daughter, Marjorie, married his friend Walter, the High Steward of Scotland. In triumph, Bruce gave Angus Og the lands of Duror and Glencoe, he gave the Campbells the castle of Inverlochy and the Oban area, and into Appin he put the Stewarts. The Appin land lay strategically between both of the clans probably in case of trouble between them.

Little did any of them know that the marriage would be the foundation of the magnificent line of Stewart Kings and Queens for 400 years. Their son became Robert 11, and their successors included Mary Queen of Scots, the executed Charles 1st, and the final Stewart monarch, Queen Anne. Their homelands in Appin were very important to the Stewarts. James IV often visited his cousin in Stalker Castle, Appin in the 15th century for hunting and fishing.

A SAD POSTSCRIPT
Bruce's family story was extremely sad. His wife died in childbirth at 19. While he was in revolt his 2nd wife, two sisters and his daughter were turned over to the English King. His brother was executed brutally. The women were imprisoned for years, two of them were put in cages for 4 years hung in public view. They were released after Bannockburn in exchange for hostages.

When she was released Marjorie married The High Steward. She had a child, David, who later became King. Then 2 years after Bannockburn she fell off a horse near Paisley and died. She was just 19, the same age as her mother.

WHAT DID ROBERT THE BRUCE LOOK LIKE?
The picture shows a forensic reconstruction of Robert the Bruce's features, as he might have looked just before his death at the age of 55 It was created by a forensic scientist using a cast made of a skull, unearthed during excavations at Dunfermline Abbey in 1818 and believed to have been that of the Scottish king.
It shows Bruce with a deep scar across his face and eye and ravaged by leprosy. It is known that Bruce suffered from dysentery and a skin illness, which may have been leprosy, though someauthorities dispute this.

John
HISTORY LINKS 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

Glencoe Mountain Rescue team out twice

The Coire above the Hidden Valley. 

Thousands of people walk up the Hidden Valley each year. Known as Coire Gabhail it is the main target for folks with only a day or so to spare.

Equally thousands of people walk the West Highland Way each year, from just South of Loch Lomond up to Fort William.

Inevitably a few of them have problems. Two parties were found and helped by the Glencoe Rescue team in one weekend in July. 

A couple of Dutch walkers lost their way near the Kings House Hotel on Rannoch Moor around 11.00pm. They wouldn't be the first people to be lost and confused in that pub. They had to be found first before being taken to Glencoe village. A lady walking in the Hidden Valley tripped, twisted her ankle and had to be stretchered down the hill. 

Have you ever tried to carry someone on a stretcher? Going down a rough path on a steep hill? It is very hard work I can tell you.

The rescuers are all volunteers, unpaid. They are on stand by 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There is a call out somewhere, on average once a week. They depend mostly upon public support.

This is a website whereby you can buy stuff online and a percentage goes to the Glencoe  Rescue team so technically it does not cost a penny.  You can help the Teams finances without giving a donation through this site

The founder of the team is Hamish McInnes. See our other blog posting for news of him.

John

ps.November seems to be filling up in the cottage, but not October so much. Why is that?

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