Achingly beautiful Appin

2011-12-12T17:14:00.001Z

How Dunstaffnage castle used to look in its glory days, of the 13th and 14th centuries

We have just put up a new page in our cottage website about Castles in the area and we need a link from other sites such as this to get the Search engines to see it.

Castles in the Scottish West Highlands area

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
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

We have a Duror and Kentallen community website in Appin

2010-09-15T20:19:00.001+01:00

We first noticed Jan Hamilton's photographs in the Duror and Kentallen Community website, and thought how beautiful they all were. She has kindly given us permission to use this shot, and we have done so in our site map page in the website. There is a link to it from the title to this post. Thank you Jan.

This is the Arts and Crafts page in the website where she is mentioned.

The community website with her contact details

John

Cottage Autumn, Winter, Spring
Hotels in the West of Scotland
The West Highlands of Scotland
Holiday cottages in general
Photographs Glencoe
Walks around Glencoe
Hill walks around Glencoe
Walking Ben Nevis
Munroe mountains in Glencoe
Port Appin details
Barcaldine info
Accommodation around here
Kentallen information
Ballachulish data
Onich info

Glencoe: the most beautiful area for photographs: Lovely little Cuil Bay, Appin, near Glencoe by John W

2010-09-09T15:29:00.001+01:00

Glencoe: the most beautiful area for photographs: Lovely little Cuil Bay, Appin, near Glencoe by John W

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

Lovely photograph of Glencoe mountain

2010-09-09T15:04:00.001+01:00

We were sent this lovely photograph from Andy at the Glencoe Ski Resort. Aren't the colours gorgeous?. This is the time for photography, late evening when the Sun is going down, or early morning. The light is wonderful. I reckon that we are facing West, with sun in the North-west. Is that the Buchlle in mid distance?

John

John
Masses of information about the area in our Site map
This is about Fort William
Appin is beautiful
B&Bs 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

Our Appin cottage in October has been reduced by £50, November by £100

2010-09-06T15:11:00.000+01:00

We have a couple of weeks available at the end of September, which we have reduced in price by £100, in October our low season price starts and we have reduced this by £50, and we have also reduced the November price by £200. Well, folks are concerned about saving money and why not?

Email us at lochsidecottage@yahoo.co.uk or go to the cottage website for details. Just click on the title to this blog pos and that will get you through.

John
Last minute Cottage holidays Scotland in the Autumn, Winter, Spring
Good value B&Bs and hotels in the West of Scotland
The beautiful highlands of Scotland
Find Holiday cottages anywhere
These are the most gorgeous photographs of Glencoe
This is Beautiful Appin, Scotland
Around our cottage area in Glencoe
Hill walks locally
You can walk Ben Nevis
Munroes in Glencoe

John

Visiting friends in Scotland, that's why some people come on to Appin.

2010-08-23T14:35:00.001+01:00

Believe it or not this is Glasgow, a lovely photograph. People come here for a conference, then spend a few days on the West coast

There has just been some research out from VisitScotland to show how different parts of the market for Scottish tourism and holidays breaks down.

I've just published a brief summary on this blog site, if you are interested. It also shows how our own cottage guests are made up. We call it Travellers Tales of the Highlands, and the latest post is a summary of the research

Research is always notable for what they leave out, and if you don't ask the question you will not get the answer.

A huge number of first time visitors to Scotland, a critically important group, come because they are visiting friends in Edinburgh, or Aberdeen, or Stirling, or coming on business to Glasgow. Then they take the opportunity to come and see Appin, or Glencoe, or Perthshire for a few days. This determines whether they come again for a proper holiday. I know this from other research into Scottish tourism.

These visitors tend to come in the shoulder season, September or October perhaps. They stay in bed and breakfast mostly - that way they can easily tour about from place to place.

I want to see some good VisitScotland research into first time visitors, and how many of them repeat. I want to know what they like, what they don't like.

Nearly everyone who has stayed in our cottage has already been to Scotland before, and some are devoted to the place, as we are. Aren't we lucky to be here?

John
These are website pages for local accommodation
Port Appin
Barcaldine
Accommodation in the area
Kentallen
Ballachulish
Onich

Robert the Bruce gave the Appin lands to the Stewarts, as a thank you for saving him

2010-08-12T18:45:00.000+01:00

In 1307 the King of Scotland, Robert the Bruce was in hiding, here in the West Coast of Scotland. He had a close band of followers, including the High Steward of Scotland and was being looked after by his friends Angus Og, chief of the MacDonalds, and the Campbells. 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 our own rebel Scots Knight, William Wallace, again for treason.

As they scrambled in MacDonald boats from Island to Island, Rathlin to Islay, to Mull then probably to Tioram Castle on Ardnamurchan, hiding from Edward's fleet the followers formed a close bond of friendship.

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 Appn he put the Stewarts. The Appin land lay strategically between both of them probably in case of trouble between them or revolt against the King.

Little did any of them know that the marriage would be the foundation of the magnificent line of Stewart Kings and Queens. 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.

Then, as now, the East of Scotland was the seat of government and Appin was a playground. There was uproar in Appin with the revolt of Bonnie Prince Charlie - Charles Edward Stewart - the whole clan turned out for him at Culloden Field in 1745. The repercussions for the clan were awful. The banner of the Stewart Clan was hidden after the battle and is now in Edinburgh.

Where was all the Appin activity over the centuries? Why here, around Duror and Ardsheal in our Appin area. We are so lucky that our lochside cottage is in the heart of this wonderful land.

John
Other history pages around Appin, with links to Robert the Bruce
What they don't tell you about the Massacre of Glencoe
Robert the Bruce and the Ardchattan Priory
Glencoe could have seen the last of the Vikings in Scotland
The mystery of the Knights Templars at Bannockburn
The Knights templars in Argyll
Other useful web pages
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

It is lovely when guests send you their photographs of the area

2010-08-10T15:24:00.001+01:00

Our guest from Cincinnatti, Wendy Scott and her friend from the USA took some lovely photographs of the area. Here are a couple of them. If you click on the title to this post "It is lovely...." then you can see more of her photographs in Facebook.

It is marvellous the photographs you can take without sunshine.
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
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

How Loch Linnhe was formed a few million years ago

2010-08-05T11:16:00.001+01:00

This story was published in planet earth last month. Click on the title to see the original.

B&Bs and hotels in the Appin area.

Loch Linnhe is the south-westerly end of the Great Glen Fault which cuts across Scotland to the Moray Firth on the east coast. During past ice ages, the loch was a major outlet for glaciers from the Rannoch Moor area, where ice built up in the initial stages of development. Our recent multibeam survey of Loch Linnhe discovered moraines that suggest that the Younger Dryas glacier may have advanced significantly further down the loch than was previously thought from onshore field mapping evidence.

John

Pretty cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands
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

Between Fort William and Glencoe £100 off August 28th week avalable

2010-08-04T11:36:00.001+01:00

Cottage in Kentallen, Appin, near Glencoe is still available for the last week in August 2/4 people beside the loch near the most famous Glen in Scotland.

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

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

Special deal 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

Price reduction 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.

Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the heart of Appin Scotland
or email us direct at kentalleninfo@yahoo.co.uk

John

Cottages Scotland in the Autumn, Winter, Spring
Hotels in the West of Scotland
Travellers in the highlands of Scotland
Find Holiday cottages anywhere
Wonderful photographs of Glencoe
Lovely Appin, Scotland
Walks around Glencoe
Hill walks in Glencoe
You can walk up Ben Nevis one day?
Munroes, the easy ones, in Glencoe

BUT FOR AWKWARD JOHN SMITH OUR AREA WOULD HAVE SHOCKED THE WORLD LAST MONTH

2010-07-06T21:03:00.001+01:00

Pictures are from the BBC. The link is above in the title. Maybe the original source is the Press Association

On the night of the 28th December in 1879, the Tay Rail Bridge to Dundee collapsed in a gale, taking the train and 75 people to a very wet and very cold grave. The bridge had been completed only months beforehand. The disaster passed into world Engineering history. It shocked all the experts everywhere.

The theories for the accident included train derailment, heavy winds, poor workmanship, or a complicated design involving inadequate bracing. Recent theory points to metal fatigue, which was unknown in those days. It was probably a bit of all these things coming together.

WE NEARLY HAD A MAJOR DISASTER LAST MONTH. HERE.
Just before 9.00pm on Sunday 6th june, one month ago as I write, we nearly, so very nearly, had another rail disaster of similar magnitude. Yet virtually no one has heard about it. It has already been forgotten and people are on their merry way again thankful that they don't have an extra 90 minutes drive to get to and from Oban.

This rail derailment happened between Dalmally and Oban. The driver of the 6.30 train out of Glasgow, Willie Dixon, found himself and his passengers hurtling towards a rockfall on the track. Somehow it had escaped the railway warning system put in place for this kind of event.

Two carriages were derailed, and the front half burst into flames. The engine driver, despite being very shaken led them all to safety with minor cuts and bruises. Willie Dixon is a brave man who kept his head. But this story is not about Willie.

AWKWARD MAN TO WORK WITH JOHN SMITH, APPARENTLY.
It is about John Smith, whom none of them had ever met. John was a road engineer in the late 60's. A cussed sort of fellow by all accounts. You know the kind, does not take to fools kindly, a bit stern perhaps, and you can keep your committees, he would have no time for them. Listens, and takes it all in, but he remains his own master with a job to do. The job was to overcome the problem and to build that amazing stretch of road. According to a colleague, people were inclined to fear him, but I bet his closest working colleagues always bowed to his judgement, and secretly admired his strength of character. But cussed he was, certainly, the take or it leave it kind.

John was the roads engineer who designed that stretch of road which runs beside the Cruachan Power station. Our family can easily remember the bottlenecks that occurred there in the old road to Oban in the early 70's. Massive queues built up even in the days when there was only one-third of the traffic carried to-day. It took a very special brain to design it, because the solution was to build the road on struts above a very deep part of Loch Awe. He saw this as the only way to resolve the problem.

The problem is that in order to widen the road any excavation into the mountain would run foul of the railway line. He told them to build the road out into Loch Awe on struts. Does anything, so far, remind you of bracing problems at the Tay Bridge disaster? They argued with him, but he stood his ground. They argued and complained but he said it was workable. Sensibly, they looked into the whites of his eyes, trusted him and said "Yes ok, we'll do it" That was a brave committee decision. I commend Niall McClean, and the Chairman Mr. Nelson amongst the others who sat on that commitee.

So it was done, and hundreds of cars, lorries and buses have passed over that road without realising that there are only a few struts holding them up over a deep part of the Loch. But that is nothing compared to the test to come. The subsequent pressure on the road was never envisaged. This happened after the derailment as the engine and carriages were being lifted up. Yet the road held.

Think of the forces acting on that road when the train was derailed. The engine alone weighed probably 120 tons, and was travelling at probably 60mph when it crunched to a halt with massive forces acting upon it, much of which would transfer down. That is maybe 20 fully laden lorries plus the velocity. The road stayed firm. This is probably not exceptional so far. But that is not all.

THE FANTASTIC LOADS UPON THE ROAD DURING THE RECOVERY
They now had to recover the engine and the carriages hanging down over the Loch. To do that, they needed to get the biggest crane in the land, a 1,000 tonne monster. It could not be dug in, it could not be cemented in, it had to lie flat on the road and its struts, over the loch. Unbelievable pressures. That is probably a total of 150 fully lorries deadweight.

Wow! What an engineer that man was. We all salute you John Smith. And we thank Niall McClean, one of the original committee members, for telling us a little of his story.

John Winkler
PS Wish we had John Smith to ask about doubling the carriageway of the Loch Lomond road, you know where the temporary emergency one-way traffic lights have been installed about 1million years ago. He would tell it straight.
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

Erin, 13, and a Benderloch boat, nearly gets the world record for a fish.

2010-06-28T17:31:00.001+01:00

Erin's story beats this sort of stuff by a mile.

A little 13 year old holiday girl, Erin Cherry, from Glasgow has just landed one of the biggest Skates ever caught in the world. It weighed 225lbs, just 10 lbs short of the world record, and took 2 1/2 hours to land. It was reeled in from a depth of 400 feet. She was fishing from a boat owned and chartered by Adrian Lauder of Benderloch. If you want an exciting day fishing trip go to him. He knows where the big ones are.

Early in the month there was a story in the papers about a big skate caught off Crinan by a shark project officer. But this one weighed a paltry 210lbs - wow, Erin, go to the top of the fishing honours list, girl.

You can charter from Adrian if you call him at 01631 720262
John
ps. So what did they do with the fish? They chucked it back in. The old MacDonald clan, the Lords of the Isles, would think we are nuts. That would have fed the clan for a month. I exaggerate, but you get the drift.

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
Our new Appin blog site
www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk/shortbreaksavailability.html www.westofscotlandholidayaccommodation.co.uk www.lastminutecottageholiday.co.uk

It is better if you have a smile and a gun, than if you only have a gun.

2010-06-23T19:10:00.003+01:00

Don't litter: help protect the enviroment
Originally uploaded by ♥jade♥

The local council are going to widen their litter hunt from Fort William down to Onich, Ballachulish and Kinlochleven. Bit of a clean up campaign in the offing. I think the Glencoe locals have already done it with great success. We don't get much in the way of eyesores around here - they do on the Ben Nevis route though. But why do councillers, when they announce these things, always have the threaten people with fines and criminal charges? It is far more effective if you have a smile and a gun than if you just have a gun. That;s what my granny used to say anyway.
John
20 brilliant walks around Kentallen area
Easy hill walks Appin area
Ben Nevis one day?
Easier Munroe walks Appin area
Rock and Ice climbing locally.
Cycling and fishing Appin
Spectacular wild life around Duror and Kentallen
Golf in Appin, Dragons tooth golf course, Glencoe
Cruising the islands
Safe, beautiful beaches and bays in Appin area
Touring the Highlands by car from Appin
Spring breaks, March April May Appin
Winter breaks, Jan Feb March in the Kentallen cottage
Autumn breaks November December in the cottage by Duror
www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk/shortbreaksavailability.html www.westofscotlandholidayaccommodation.co.uk www.lastminutecottageholiday.co.uk

The Caledonian Way, Oban, Dunbeg, Benderloch, Sea Life Centre, Kentallen, Duror, Ballachulish and Glencoe. Wonderful when it is done.

2010-06-15T17:39:00.023+01:00

View from Ganavan Sands
Originally uploaded by Ray McC

This pic shows the start of the Oban to Fort William cycle, walking, and horse riding path called the Caledonian Way. Sections are completed but the full track might get caught in the budget cuts. Hope not.

Sustrans is the charity which is responsbile for the cycle, walking and horse riding path from Oban to Fort William. There are three sections open at the moment each about 4 miles in length.
One is from Ganavan sands just north of Oban to Dunbeg, where everyone moors their yachts. There is a little bit done at Benderloch, and a section from the Sea Life Centre to Creagan. Our own section at Kentallen, by Duror goes around the corner to Ballachulish and Glencoe.
The opened sections of the track are already proving very popular with visitors. These include traffic-free sections of special attraction to families, young cyclists and new or less confident cyclists.
At the moment, the route is something of a hopscotch, with open sections separated by others to be built in 2010 or as yet to be successfully negotiated with landowners. The old railway line stations are holding them up. They all been built over with houses.
Some of the completed sections are so small as not to be worth using until adjoining sections are open. For example there is half a mile opened at Oban Airport and less than half a mile opened at Benderloch. The sections still to be built in 2010 will make almost no difference to this situation.
Sustrans hopes that negotiations with landowners on several extensive sections will be successful and are aiming for the Caledonian Way to be completed by 2014.
So take your bikes if you are in the of Ganavan Sands, by Oban, then cycle up to Dunbeg and back, a nice run free, of traffic. Or if you visit the Sea Life Centre then also take your bikes, it is an easy flat run from there to Barcaldine Castle, a funny looking historic building. Kentallen to Ballachulish and Glencoe is a nice run. The path is also open a bit around Stalker Castle I think.
Sections to be built in 2010 are a 1.4 mile track from Benderloch to Barcaldine Castle.
John
Walks in our cottage area
Hill walking Glencoe
Ben Nevis walk it one day?
Munroe walks in Glencoe
Rock climbing in Glencoe
Cycling and fishing near Glencoe
Kentallen wild life around our cottage
Golf, Dragons tooth golf course
Cruising by boat, using Glencoe as a base
Safe beaches and bays in Glencoe area
Touring by car.
Spring breaks, March April May Glencoe
Winter breaks, Jan Feb March in the cottage
Autumn breaks November December in the cottage

FAMOUS GLEN NEVIS STEALL BRIDGE DAMAGED BY IDIOTS

2010-06-09T17:26:00.002+01:00

Lovely pic of Steall wire bridge in Glen Nevis, taken by W42ren. Click on the headline to his Flickr pics link
One of the local highlights of the year is the Annual River Nevis race on airbeds. The start is spectacular. Each competitor clutches the airbed to their body, and jumps into the gushing torrent from the road bridge high up Glen Nevis, at the point where it becomes a rugged mountain track. The start of the road to it is just the other side of Fort William.

Gillian and I go to the head of the Glen every time we are in Glencoe and just gaze in wonder at the torrent. This spot is where much of Braveheart was filmed and it is altogether spectacular. It is one of our favourite "Roads that go Nowhere".

So a bunch of rowdy students took it into their brainless skulls to jump up and down in unison on the Steall wire bridge until the footway cables broke. They were thrown into the stream.

Apparently they were Dutch, but they could have come from anywhere. Dutch people don't do things like this - as a rule they are exceptionally polite. I doubt, however, if any bunch of Scots lads would do it. For years and years we had the notorious Creag Dhu boys from the Glasgow slums secretly rock-climbing all the major routes to a very high standard and without supervision. Not a scrap of damage did they do, neither to climbs nor to bothies where they slept. Glencoe's Hamish McInnes used to climb with them.

Shame on you stupid lads of to-day. Shame.

John
Link to the roads that go nowhere
Ancient trackways, the roads that go nowhere

No NEED FOR SPEED CAMERAS in APPIN. WE NEED BAD DRIVING CAMERAS

2010-06-09T16:53:00.001+01:00

There are no speed cameras in Onich, Ballachulish, Appin, Kentallen, Duror, Port Appin, or Benderloch, although very occasionally a mobile camera has been used near Ballachulish

There are no speed cameras in Appin, nor have I heard of Appin itself having had a hand held laser speed camera. There are no established speed cameras between Fort William and Spean Bridge on the main road to Inverness either. It is a winding single carriageway road.

A man has just been fined £400 and banned for a year, but not for speeding. A speed camera would have let him go. He was trying to overtake a row of six cars. He spun off the road and rolled over.

His fiance was badly injured. We have a similar single carriageway stretch of road along the Lochside between Duror, Kentallen and Port Appin, maybe around Benderloch, too. It is not speeding that is the problem in the Highlands. It is plonkers like this one, and the many more who drive too close to the car in front.

We don't need speed cameras in Appin and Lochaber, we need bad driving cameras. They could set some up on Rannoch Moor for a start. We know all the mauvais pas. They would earn their cost 50 times over.
The Oban Times carries reports like this every week. They've got fed up with it now, so they just put a small story on the inside pages.
John
See this page. http://lastminutecottageholiday.co.uk/drivingscotland.html
www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk www.lastminutecottageholiday.co.uk www.westofscotlandholidayaccommodation.co.uk

Appin roads disrupted by rail crash near Oban, through Glencoe, Kentallen, Duror and Port Appin

2010-06-07T17:07:00.000+01:00

Photo from STV, click headline for link

STV reported earlier to-day the derailment of a train at Cruachan Power station. The train was travelling from Glasgow to Oban when it hit a boulder on the line last night.
Those onboard had a lucky escape after it burst into flames near the Falls of Cruachan Power Station, by Loch Awe in Argyll just before 9pm. This is just past Dalmally.
The train came to rest balancing over the A85 – the main road between Glasgow and Oban – and both road and rail routes are likely to be closed for up to three days.
It will mean a 60 miles detour for cars and lorries, via Glencoe, then near our cottage in Kentallen, through Duror, near Port Appin, then Benderloch. That is 90 minutes on the journey by my reckoning.

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
www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk www.lastminutecottageholiday.co.uk www.westofscotlandholidayaccommodation.co.uk

Cruising on the lochs around Appin, take care.

2010-06-03T15:33:00.001+01:00

Loch Awe is just out of the Appin area - in Campbell country.

Last year there was a tragic accident. Four fishermen were drowned when their boat overturned. Foggy weather I think at the time.

Loch Awe is the longest freshwater loch in Scotland, from Dalmally in the North, and the Cruachan hydro electric scheme, more than 25 miles South, with an average width of just over half a mile. It is popular with anglers, with trout, rainbow trout, pike, and perch among the fish which can be caught in its waters. A beautiful loch, but as so often with Scottish Lochs tragic as well.

So there was the usual hullaballoo erupting about "official" search services being unavailable. The nearest official rescue boat was at Renfrew, a two hour journey. The men died within ten minutes of hitting the water, come on. But we must find someone to sue mustn't you?

I followed the story with amazement. Official Rescue Teams were being demanded to be permanently stationed on the loch, helicopter stand by crews to be available. A review of Inland Water Rescue Services was even commissioned by the Scottish government. We are all suposed to fund it, of course. Its madness.

Whatever happened to the idea of being responsible for ourselves? They've had people drowning in Loch Lomond since the glaciers went and you'll never stop tragedies. Never.

But, hoorah! Common sense has prevailed. Loch Awe people have got it sorted. "Loch Watch" it is called. 20 volunteers from around the loch, some with their own boats, will keep a look out. Kilchrenan seems to be the centre, a lovdely little village, just off the main road and beside the loch. Bit of training was needed- how to throw a rope to a drowning man, the use of smoke flares on small boats, that sort of thing - its now sorted.

Well done Loch Awe. You are a lesson to bureauprats everywhere.

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

www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk www.lastminutecottageholiday.co.uk www.westofscotlandholidayaccommodation.co.uk

Is Cuil Bay a magnet beach for Appin?

2010-06-01T14:21:00.000+01:00

When we get to the cottage, at the first opportunity we slip around to Cuil Bay. To do what? Nothing. Nothing at all. Just sit in wonderment. It is about a 5 minute drive from the cottage. The road to it is just beside the old bridge at Duror, and 3 miles from Kentallen. It is a classic magnet beach right in the heart of Appin country. Everyone keeps going back
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

www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk www.lastminutecottageholiday.co.uk www.westofscotlandholidayaccommodation.co.uk

Lovely Lismore Island and its Broch.

2010-05-25T18:41:00.001+01:00

The Port Appin to Lismore ferry. After you cross its Shanks Pony - or bicycles.

I couldn't believe it. Our little middle daughter Joanne, who knows everything about everything in the highlands, went to Lismore without realising that there is an ancient broch there, mysterious, very very old, and pretty rare. It is an hours walk South along the road from the little northern ferry from Port Appin

I think that Lismore folks want to keep down the publicity because it is an open ruin, and it could get severely damaged with many folks clambering about. Also folks themselves could get severely damaged if they fall between its walls.

The origins and purposes of these brochs remain cloudy. Some sort of defensive construction obviously, and a big rounded ball of a building constructed on several floors. Families huddled together for safety in the murderous times gone by. Why do human beings have to kill each other so readily?

Brochs are found all over the old Pictish parts of Scotland. Normally you think of the West Coast being dominated by Scots people from Northern Ireland. For many centuries they were the deadliest of enemies of the Picts. It was said that it was St. Columba himself who forged the peace pact between these different races. He also created the original bishopric of Lismore Island which became Argyll's centre for Christianity.

Lismore is lovely. The broch is enchanting - now. Jo can't wait to give it another go.

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

www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk http://www.lastminutecottageholiday.co.uk/
http://www.westofscotlandholidayaccommodation.co.uk/

Ok Mr.McGrigor you may have a point with the large signs in Appin.

2010-05-19T14:21:00.002+01:00

Is this complex of lights a traffic hazard, do you think? This is what a local authority can do without anyone grumbling. But let a small local business put up a sign , ........well, that can't be done, can it?

If you are attacking large signs only Mr. Mcrigor, then you have my support and that of many others. They despoil the view and are unecessary in the large size. They pose no risk to motorists whatsoever, that's nonsense.

If this is what you propose to outlaw then fine, but you did not say this to the Oban Times, or else the Oban Times did not report it. I think the businesses at risk are the Port Appin Airds Hotel, the Port Appin pub restaurant by the ferry, Kinlochlaich Garden Centre, the Stalker Castle View, and further up the road, the Holly Tree Hotel in Kentallen. Maybe somewhere down Creagan and Benderloch as well.

The words are still gobbledygook though.
John

http://www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk/ www.lastminutecottageholiday.co.uk www.westofscotlandholidayaccommodation.co.uk

Mr McGrigor, Argyll and Bute Council, don't be daft.

2010-05-18T10:59:00.001+01:00

Hopefully, the Argyll and Bute Council will not do anything about the signs on the Glencoe Mountain ski range. Or are they under threat as well?

Three years ago, cars stopped suddenly on the hill leading down to what is called Portnacroish, near Port Appin. The famous Stalker Castle suddenly came into view so the cars did an emergency brake. There was no parking space, accidents were caused, it became a serious issue. The whole of that section of the road is a nightmare for drivers anyway.

Then, the problem was solved. People set up the lovely little Stalker View cafe. Car parking space galore, a true tourist attraction. Pretty good latte as well, (coffee good, staff manner unhappy)

Now the Argyll and Bute Council has told them to take down their sign.

Listen to this garbled stuff and nonsense from Mr. McGrigor the planning officer as quoted to the Oban Times. "I have undertaken a robust approach to assessing their appropriateness against a framework of acceptability"

Mr. McGrigor, can an ordinary lay person ask you to undertake a robust approach to assessing the acceptability of your action against a framework of common sense?

John
ps Our friends at Kinlochlaich House and Gardens are also affected. Their property lies back from the road. How on earth are people to spot it if there is no sign? All of these signs are perfectly well designed.

www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk www.lastminutecottageholiday.co.uk www.westofscotlandholidayaccommodation.co.uk

Appin holiday accommodation and walking news

2010-05-12T23:51:00.000+01:00

Cottages are nearly full for the school holidays in the Summer. Many cottage owners still have some weeks vacant in June and early July. Guests find cottages these day via the internet.

The poor B&B owners are always answering the telephone, and they usually try and send their overflow guests to friends and neighbours. The informal scheme works well and still many people are travelling through and stop overnight somewhere. It makes it difficult for owners to plan for meals.

The internet is not so important for B&Bs as it is for cottage owners. Cottages in the peak season usually take week long bookings only, but if you want a shorter period thjen you should try the bigger complexes. Some of them keep a cottage or two vacant for short term breaks even in mid-summer. The premium charged for a short break is very high, and if they can fill up a cottage with those then it is worthwhile. But there is always the danger that the dates might not be filled.

WALKING NEWS
Many people are now using the completed parts of the new cycle track through Appin for walking. The views are stunning, the gradients are low, and the whole thing is free of traffic.

Walkers bliss, it is called.

John

Travellers Tales from the Scottish highlands: Late booking visitors to Glencoe are lucky. They can have their details circulated to everyone

2010-05-11T15:09:00.001+01:00

Travellers Tales from the Scottish highlands: Late booking visitors to Glencoe are lucky. They can have their details circulated to everyone

There is a wonderful scheme in place in the Glencoe area. If you try and book accommodation and they are full - always a problem in the school holidays, then with your permission they will circulate your request to everyone and you'll certainly be fixed up somewhere.

Going by the ungainly name of B2B after the little bit of software which enables it to be done, the scheme has found accommodation for well over 500 families in the past year. It is now being copied elsewhere in Scotland.

Brilliant, I call it, what do you say?

John

PLEASE COMMENT AS YOU WISH. THIS IS YOUR BLOG TO SHARE. ALL COMMENTS ARE MODERATED.

Links.
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

Walk and cycle free of traffic from Glencoe

2010-04-20T19:09:00.000+01:00

PLEASE COMMENT AS YOU WISH. THIS IS YOUR BLOG TO SHARE ALL COMMENTS ARE MODERATED.

The new hard cycle and walking track has just been completed between Glencoe and Kentallen Bay.

On the way, you'll be beside the most beautiful sea-loch, watch the cormorants on the rock, pass beneath the infamous spot where Campbell of Glen Lyon was shot, the incident on which Robert Louis Stevenson based his famous book Kidnapped. You'll see the herons by Ballachullish hotel and in Kentallen Bay, go past five ancient piers which were in use 100 years ago, and have coffee by the water in the Holly Tree hotel.. Bliss.

One day, in the distant future, they will have a hard cycle and walking track stretching from John O' Groats to Campbelltown at the foot of the country. Bits of it in our area have been done already between us and Oban. One of the loveliest stretches has been completed between Ballachulish and Kentallen where it runs along the shoreline. It is about to extend into Glencoe itself.

It follows the line of the old, famous railway track to Oban along the shore of Loch Linnhe through Appin. The track carried slate from the main quarries, but when they closed there was no need for the track any more. So it closed on the orders of an infamous Dr Beeching. The hold ups in completing the cycle route are around the old railway stations which have been sold for houses and apparently few of the owners are keen to have cyclists charging through through their living rooms. Be fair, would you like it? They'll have to by pass these, giving a few up and down moments for cyclists.
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
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

Dragons Tooth Golf Course at Ballachulish doing well

2010-04-08T20:22:00.001+01:00

PLEASE COMMENT AS YOU WISH. THIS IS YOUR BLOG TO SHARE ALL COMMENTS ARE MODERATED.
The marketing of the Dragon's tooth course at Glencoe is now vigorous. They've sent us some vouchers for our guests to use, which is very nice, so we have now put them in the forefront of the Golf page in our website.

We keep a set of left and right handed clubs in the cottage for guests to
use

We've also upgraded the wild life and the walks pages in our site. Have a look, with the help of photos from billy currie. Billy's website for his wood turning and photography.

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
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

Why not start your Highland walk at 2,000 feet?

2010-03-28T23:32:00.001+01:00

PLEASE COMMENT AS YOU WISH. THIS IS YOUR BLOG TO SHARE ALL COMMENTS ARE MODERATED.

From Heather Negus Mark Manager, Nevis Range ski centre. I wrote to her to ask about walkers, rather than skiers, using the Gondola. She does not say so, but the views are totally stunning on a clear day. They will embed themselves on your memory for the rest of your life.
Hi John ...

Yip ... we actually get more 'gondola visitors' in the winter than 'skiers and boarders' and quite a lot of 'winter climbers' too.

The gondola visitors who want an easy walk can still access the walks to Meall Beag and Sgurr Finnsg-aig in the winter. However, they do need to be sensibly kitted out and to take heed of the conditions .... sometimes its too icy underfoot or simply too cold - if its winds at 650m there can be significant wind chill, and not recommended.

Climbers using the Gondola to get an early start up high

The 'real' winter climbers can access a early morning climbers gondola at 8am (weather permitting), and (again weather permitting) the quad chair (uplift only). The winter climbers can then access many winter climbs ... and then have a well earned pint in the Snowgoose restaurant & bar at the end of the day. They DO need to be propely equipped for winter climbing and we give them a wee leaflet to ensure that they stay safe and also to ensure our snowsports customers are safe too, as much of the time they're on the ski area. you.

Nevis Range events, celidhs in the evening.
In terms of our events, in the summer we normally have late openings / ceilidhs on a friday - its normally the 4 fridays where the scottish and english school holidays overlap, as that's our busiest times. We've not yet set any dates for this year, but will do soon.
---------------------

Here are a few links for your interest:
Lochside cottage near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland
Last minute, late availability Glencoe, self catering cottage
Spring breaks, March April May 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
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
Local pages of interest
Top professional photographs of Glencoe and the area
The Clachaig Inn
The Glencoe and Loch Leven Association with 40 B&Bs
Email 14 properties with one click
The Friends of Glencoe network site
The new Glencoe Skiing centre information website