Thursday, 2 September 2010
Thursday 2 September Oban - Fort Augusta
Today we travelled 187 miles from Oban to Fort Augusta. The man who owned Wellpark House thought we were travelling a long way!!! We woke to a glorious day, blue skies and a temperature of 8 degrees. As the day wore on it reached 22 degrees. We were talking to a guy at Fort William who said that he had lived in Scotland for a year and this was the very best day that he had experienced.
We had decided that we might go to Inveraray before heading to Ben Nevis and Glen Coe. However, we ended up on the wrong road and it was a single lane road. Thank goodness the bus driver on Mull that explained the genre of driving on a single roadway!!! After 7.5 miles we realized that we were on the wrong road so backtracked and decided to give Inveraray a miss.
Our path then took us through Glen Coe. The guide books described it as the most beautiful glen in Scotland and it was just fantastic. The hills are so weathered and stark with moraine from the ice age deposited across the valley floors and the weathering causing rock falls from the hills.
From Fort William, we went looking for the Glenfinnan Viaduct. The train from Fort William goes daily during week days to Mallaig and we just missed it as it passed over the viaduct. We thought the viaduct would be by the road but we had a bit of a walk to reach it. Found it eventually!! And it was well worth it. It is the train that was used in the Harry Potter movies. We actually thought this glen was really beautiful and liked it better than Glen Coe.
At Fort William the Caledonian Canal passed through Neptune’s Staircase a series of 10 locks, one after the other. We walked the staircase to see the canal from both ends. From here you can see Ben Nevis.
We intended to get to Inverness tonight but only got as far as Fort Augusta – This is where Lock Ness begins. Tomorrow we are on the look out for Nessie. Jo want to take him back for Michelle. We have a room at the Lovat Arms Hotel – very nice too.
We had decided that we might go to Inveraray before heading to Ben Nevis and Glen Coe. However, we ended up on the wrong road and it was a single lane road. Thank goodness the bus driver on Mull that explained the genre of driving on a single roadway!!! After 7.5 miles we realized that we were on the wrong road so backtracked and decided to give Inveraray a miss.
Our path then took us through Glen Coe. The guide books described it as the most beautiful glen in Scotland and it was just fantastic. The hills are so weathered and stark with moraine from the ice age deposited across the valley floors and the weathering causing rock falls from the hills.
From Fort William, we went looking for the Glenfinnan Viaduct. The train from Fort William goes daily during week days to Mallaig and we just missed it as it passed over the viaduct. We thought the viaduct would be by the road but we had a bit of a walk to reach it. Found it eventually!! And it was well worth it. It is the train that was used in the Harry Potter movies. We actually thought this glen was really beautiful and liked it better than Glen Coe.
At Fort William the Caledonian Canal passed through Neptune’s Staircase a series of 10 locks, one after the other. We walked the staircase to see the canal from both ends. From here you can see Ben Nevis.
We intended to get to Inverness tonight but only got as far as Fort Augusta – This is where Lock Ness begins. Tomorrow we are on the look out for Nessie. Jo want to take him back for Michelle. We have a room at the Lovat Arms Hotel – very nice too.
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Wednesday 1 September 2010
Today we awoke to rain! Thought it might continue for the day but it stopped and though the sky was overcast we did not get any rain. We caught a Bowman’s Tour to Mull & Iona. We departed from Oban on the Caledonian MacBayne’s ferry MV Isle of Mull. The crossing to Craignure on Mull takes about 40 minutes. It was beautiful with all the different islands but it was difficult to photograph as they were all tones of blue and grey. Once in Craignure, we transferred to a bus that took us across the island. We went though the glens and over the pass to reach Fionnphort where we were supposed to catch the ferry to Iona. However, there were so many people that we missed the ferry and had to wait 25 minutes for the next one.
Once on Iona, we walked to the Benedictine Nunnery which is in ruins. From there we visited the Iona Abbey. It was founded by St Columba in 563 and it is believed the Book of Kells was written here.
Had lunch in the St Columba Hotel which is near the Abbey and then return to the ferry for the trip back to Oban. Walking back from the ferry, we could hear bagpipes so followed the sound. It was the Oban High School Pipe Band which had won the World Champion of Champions Pipe Band. How good was that?
We are staying at Wellpark House on Esplanade Oban. It was once the stately home of a shipping magnate. Breakfast in the front room is fantastic as it looks out over the harbour. Breakfast in Scotland, is a full breakfast – bacon, sausages, black pudding, haggis, potato scones, tomato, mushrooms and eggs. All this is after you have had the usual, juice and cereal!!! Not having the full breakfast!!! Would end up 20 stone!!
Once on Iona, we walked to the Benedictine Nunnery which is in ruins. From there we visited the Iona Abbey. It was founded by St Columba in 563 and it is believed the Book of Kells was written here.
Had lunch in the St Columba Hotel which is near the Abbey and then return to the ferry for the trip back to Oban. Walking back from the ferry, we could hear bagpipes so followed the sound. It was the Oban High School Pipe Band which had won the World Champion of Champions Pipe Band. How good was that?
We are staying at Wellpark House on Esplanade Oban. It was once the stately home of a shipping magnate. Breakfast in the front room is fantastic as it looks out over the harbour. Breakfast in Scotland, is a full breakfast – bacon, sausages, black pudding, haggis, potato scones, tomato, mushrooms and eggs. All this is after you have had the usual, juice and cereal!!! Not having the full breakfast!!! Would end up 20 stone!!
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