Glorious Weather

What a remarkable country is this land of Scotland. Only weeks ago and we had the weather below.Fiona and I struggled to keep the cottages open for our guests.The wee roadway froze up and at one point the water threatened to go off.Some of our neighbours came to use our toilets and we were glad to oblige. Now this glorious weather today. You could shave or put on make up in your relection in the loch.Don't worry,there are no monsters in Loch Fyne.So we have been told anyway.

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009 was one of the coldest on record.We struggled to keep the drive to the cottages opened and had to go to the Argyll and Bute Council gravel store at St Catherine's for gravel.The reward for our guests and ourselves was the sheer beauty of it all. The blue skies and the snow covered moutains were quite staggering.

From The Hills Above Halftown

This is Inveraray, probably the typical Scottish town. It is 15 miles from Halftown around the top of Loch Fyne. There is much to see and do there. For most of our guests it is on the first day's visit.

Fancy a seaplane ride--or a dram? (but not at the same time!)

Loch Fyne Whiskies

Probably the finest stock of whisky in Scotland

(20 minutes from Halftown)

https://www.lfw.co.uk/about/interior.html


Loch Lomond Seaplanes

(30 Minute drive from Halftown)

http://www.lochlomondseaplanes.com/

Day Visit

Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument

From the end of the 13th century till almost the beginning of the 15th century the Anglo Norman Plantagenet kings of England,Edward 1st, Edward II and
Edward III pressed territorial claims on Scotland. This led to a number of brutal invasions of Scotland and ruthless counter attacks on the north of England, as far south as York.The relationship between Scotland and England at that time was one of almost continuous war. Find out more . Visit the Bannockburn Heritage Centre, http://www.instirling.com/sight/bannock.htm the national Wallace Monument www.nationalwallacemonument.com and Stirling Castle http://www.instirling.com/sight/castle.htm .Stirling is also an excellent shopping centre.


Schedule

Leave Halftown between 0800 and 0900 hours.
Turn right at the bottom of the drive and drive to Arrochar, then on to Tarbet.
At the Tarbet Hotel turn hard left on to the A82. Drive to Crianlarich. At Crianlarich turn right and follow signs for Perth and Stirling.

Day Visit

Glenfinnan Monument

See the spot where Prince Charles Edward Stuart raised the clans in 1745 in an effort to regain the thrones of Scotland and England.This is also one of the most magnificent railway journeys in Europe.


Schedule 0900 hours . Leave Halftown .Twelve/Fifteen minute drive to the railway station at Arrochar. There are adequate parking facilities at Arrochar station. Train arrives 0937 hours.Pay on the train. Arrochar station is unmanned. Check with the conductor that you are on the correct section of the train ,as the train normally divides at Crianlarich ,with one section going to Oban.

The train arrives at Glenfinnan at 1244 hours.Alight and view the monument. For other things to do have a look at the Glenfinnan website on;

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/glenfinnan/glenfinnan/


Return trains leave Glenfinnan at 1651 hours, arriving Arrochar at 2007 hours,or 1903 hours arriving Arrochar 2248 hours.Pick up your car for the short drive to Halftown. Relax at Halftown over a bottle of wine or a dram purchased at Glenfinnan and reflect on a stunning ,historical and memorable day.

1. 
   Day (or Longer) Visits
   
   Staffa and Fingal's Cave
   
   
   'Beyond Awesome' --Halftown Guest
   
   Visit the island and go into the huge and magnificent sea cave and hear the sounds that inspired Mendelsohn's Scottish Symphony" and his "Hebridean " Overture.
   
   Schedule
   0800 hours .Leave Halftown and drive via Inveraray to Oban. This itself is a quite magnificent drive through the mountains. When you arrive in Oban the Caledonian Macbrayne Ferry terminal is well signposted and anyway you can see the ferries at their berths. Ferries leave at 0950 and 1155. The earlier one gives you a fuller day. The sail to Mull takes 50 minutes. Full meals are available on these large car ferries.
   
   Go to the ferry terminal office and book.If you are not taking your car remember to book the tour bus there also. There are adequate car parking facilities.On arrival on Mull walk to the tour bus for the guided tour to the village of Fionphort,or drive to Fionphort if you are taking your car .There are also of course tour buses going to Tobermory,the Balamory of children's TV.
   
   At Fionphort there are regular high powered boats travelling the 20 minute sail to Staffa. No need to book.They will allow you to land at Staffa and walk round the cave. Unfortunately this tour is not suitable for the disabled.You can also travel from Fionphort to the holy island of Iona,the sight of the early Columban Christian missions to Scotland.There are both Protestant and Catholic places of residence on Iona. Cars are not permitted on Iona.