A Hundred Thousand Welcomes from this friendly face

Enjoy West Highland hospitality!

Holiday West Highland Autumn Edition 2009

You can read the full version of the publication simply by clicking the link above – All you need is flash installed!

And why would you want to do that? When you are planning a holiday – you want to know about the area before you get there – using this publication you can find out about lots of exciting things to do in the West Highlands of Scotland before you get here – and all the contact details for individual activities/locations are included within Holiday West Highland so you can contact and even book things you want to do while you are here. A Highland Holiday or a Scottish Highland Holiday can offer so many different opportunities so it is best to read up before you come.

We also print a physical copy of Holiday West Highland so when you arrive you will find it in shops, pubs, restaurants, tourist information centres, ferries and a number of other places – so you can pick it up when you arrive.

We update Holiday West Highland from Eater until September/October so don’t forget to check back to see what is new and exciting in the Scottish Highlands. We look forward to seeing you here!

The first Daffodils of Spring with Loch Melfort in the Background

The Cuilfail is a real Scottish gem, charming, with authentically traditional food, and offering fifteen different kinds of single malt whiskies, in what was once a Drovers Inn. The majority of the hotel was built during the Victorian era and one can still find some fascinating old photos. The name Cuilfail (pronounced ‘cool-fail’) in Gaelic appropriately means ‘Sheltered Corner’ and is run by Jack and Lourda MacDonald.

On the shores of Melfort Village at Melfort Pier, you will find the Melfort Mermaid Restaurant, with fabulous views from its panoramic windows, with fresh cooked local food and all day service, or just enjoy a cup of the best brewed coffee in Argyll, with scones or short bread. It is open 7 days a week, with plenty of parking, and 100% disabled friendly. Children of all ages very welcome, with a playground and beaches.

A half mile south of Kilmelford, take the right turn, sign posted 1½ miles to Melfort Pier, and follow the loch shore on the single track road, over the wee Oude river bridge, then immediately left and a ¼ mile further you arrive at Melfort Pier & Harbour.

On the shores of Melfort Village at Melfort Pier, you will find the Melfort Mermaid Restaurant, with fabulous views from its panoramic windows, with fresh cooked local food and all day service, or just enjoy a cup of the best brewed coffee in Argyll, with scones or short bread. It is open 7 days a week, with plenty of parking, and 100% disabled friendly. Children of all ages very welcome, with a playground and beaches.

The sixteen holiday homes located around the harbour, are fully equipped to the highest standards and can be rented by the night. There are twenty moorings available just off shore if you wish to visit by boat, with a floating arrival dock alongside the ancient Pier, with under-cover dinghy storage inside the harbour.

Melfort Pier, built 180 years ago, is located in the centre of the Magic of Melfort, an area of outstanding natural beauty, and is ideally situated for those who wish to explore the hills on foot, or the surrounding coast and islands be boat.

There are many miles of excellent walks, some of which provide the opportunity for wild life spotting, from the brown eagle to grey heron, gold finches, robins and deer, with stunning views over the surrounding countryside, and many locations for shore side sea fishing.

If you wish to enjoy the area by boat, then a short drive on down the A836 brings you to Craobh Haven, (pronounced ‘croove’) the base for Farsain Cruises. The skipper will take you on a special trip along the shores of Jura, Scarbe, Luing, the Garvellachs, and one of the largest whirlpools in the world at the Corrywreckan.

The Appaloosa stables, also located at Croabh and open all year, offer group, private or lunge lessons, natural ground training, and schooling on the all weather arena round pen, with gymnastic jumping lane or over outlying cross country jumps. Peaceful hacks or day-rides with cameras and picnic bags. Rides might include a visit to local shrub gardens, to village Inns, rounding up hill cattle or simply splashing along the sea shore.

Round the day off with a visit to Arduaine Gardens, open from 9.30 a.m. till sunset. It is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty and historical interest. Disabled friendly and plenty of free parking.

To find out more about the Magic of Melfort, read the ads and check out the web sites. It is a pet friendly area, great hill walking, lots of wildlife, good fishing and good hospitality.

www.cuilfail.com
www.aboutscotland.com/argyll/appaloosa.html
www.mellowmelfort.com

Smile please! This cheeky seagull hitches a ride on the Oban to Mull Ferry.

Any stay in the West Highlands is memorable – apart from its spectacular mountains and lochs scenery the area has award-winning restaurants, superb fresh food, varied accommodation including hotels, guesthouses, caravan parks, campsites, log cabins and hostels and fantastic nightlife with ceilidhs and traditional music resounding throughout the night. And that’s just for starters.

The West Highlands also specialises in outdoor life, with Lochaber and Fort William as the outdoor capital of the UK. Add to this fabulous views round every corner and you’ll see why the West Highlands definitely have the – wow factor. The West Highlands are wonderful to visit at any time of year though April and May off er the most settled weather. Visitors shouldn’t be surprised to see tropical plants dotted about at any time of year. Despite us being on the edge of Europe the Gulf Stream passes by here, making for a temperate climate.

Oban - Gateway to the highlands

They came by steamship in those days and a fine sight these vessels must have been steaming into the bay. Today it is easy to reach Oban by car, coach and train, making it a popular visitor destination, but it also serves an important role as the main town for its extensive hinterland, with its court, police station, auction mart and regional council headquarters. It also has a fishing fleet and important port facilities for such things as lighthouses, coastguard operations and fisheries.

If you don’t wish to do anything energetic – though there is still plenty for those who do – Oban can off er you a really relaxing time. Our hotels, guest houses, camping and caravan sites and hostel in and round the town offer all kinds of accommodation and facilities from the luxurious to the basic – whatever you are looking for Oban can supply it. Because we have few of the chain stores found in most big towns and cities, the shops in Oban make for a more exciting purchasing experience because they are different and unusual. There is so much choice as well  delicatessen, a distillery, bookshops, a wealth of clothes shops and shoe shops, beauty parlours, souvenir and craft shops, galleries, outdoor activity retail outlets, and plenty of others which stock Highland memorabilia for you to take home. All are within a short walking distance of each other.

Self-catering holidaymakers will love Oban as they can buy fresh local produce in our butcher and baker shops. We also have a choice of supermarkets, hardware stores, chemists and so on, so you’ll never be short if you need to stock up.

One of the most enjoyable things about Oban is the chance to sit and savour your surroundings. An ideal location is the bay area where you can sit and watch the Caledonian MacBrayne ferries with their striking red, black and white livery swishing in and out of the heading for the islands of Mull, Coll, Tiree, Lismore and Islay and further west to the romantic Outer Hebridean islands of Barra and South Uist, or heading into port. Not for nothing is Oban known as the ‘Gateway to the Isles’. You’ll also see small sailing
boats and bigger charter vessels moored against the harbour walls while seafarers stock up at the town’s shops. Don’t be surprised if you see a tall ship gliding gracefully into Oban Bay or even a Nato or British warship moored there. Oban serves all kinds of ships and serves them well. Bigger cruise liners call in as well to give their passengers a chance to experience the delights of
the town.

A choice of eating establishments in Oban makes choosing a meal very easy. There is everything from fast food outlets, bars and
cafes to top-notch award-winning restaurants and hotels serving fresh locally-sourced produce including seafood for which the West Highlands are famous. Our selection of eateries includes Indian and Chinese, and many off er spectacular views across Oban
Bay along with their breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks and afternoon teas. Sometimes it’s hard to keep children amused when
it’s raining and if the skies should happen to open during your stay there are plenty of places to keep them entertained.

Night-time strolls in Oban can be full of romance and memory. Once you’ve had dinner and you want to walk it off you could stroll up to McCaig’s Tower overlooking the town and bay and offering magnificent views out to sea and glorious sunsets. The tower is a folly and was originally destined to be a museum to house statues of the family of wealthy banker John Stewart McCaig. However, his sister contested his will and the tower was never finished.

Yachts moored in Oban Bay wait for the sunset.

For children and adults Oban offers a cinema showing all the latest films, a leisure centre with a splash pool and a full-size swimming pool with flume, a climbing wall, a gym. Add to this an outdoor play park, soft play area, tennis courts and
a five-a-side astro-turf park as well as badminton courts and squash courts and you’ve have more than enough to work off your surplus energy. And aft er all that exercise you can enjoy a relaxing sauna as well. The town’s War and Peace Museum is also
a popular attraction.

It has a huge display of nostalgic heirlooms and a dedicated and highly knowledgeable army of volunteers. Outdoor activities are there for the taking – climbing, walking, cycling, boating, diving, canoeing, horse riding, fishing, sailing, skiing and much more.
Then there’s the wildlife and plenty of it – deer, sea eagles, otters, seals, dolphins, whales and more.

Oban has one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland and you can have a guided tour with a wee dram at the end which will really put a spring in your step. Near to Oban are lots of attractions where visitors can enjoy a day out or just a morning or aft ernoon. Children will love the national seal rescue sanctuary and the rare animal breeds park.

In addition, there are historic castles with dark dungeons, a power station inside a mountain and lots of intriguing mysteries and legends whose trails you can follow. A pleasant excursion is a visit to Ardchattan Priory Gardens. The priory itself is Scotland’s second oldest inhabited house and the seat of the last Gaelic-speaking Scott ish parliament in 1308. Older still is Dunollie Castle, at the entrance to Oban Bay, with records showing it was captured as early as AD498 by the marauding Irish Loarn brothers from whom comes the name Lorn, still used today for the area surrounding Oban.

The castle guards the northern approach to Oban Bay. From their principle seats of Dunstaffnage and Dunollie castles, the Macdougalls, lords of Lorn and chiefs of the clan, exerted a major influence in Argyll as well as in the islands to the west. Their power ended early in the 14th century when the clan chose the losing side in the struggle for the Scottish throne. Today, the name is known mainly for the MacDougall Collection, a vast array of artefacts of social history amassed by Miss Hope Mac-Dougall, daughter, sister and aunt to three successive chiefs of the clan. The vast collection include peat spades, a herring girl’s kist, early vacuum cleaners, butter moulds and churns, the contents of a cobbler’s shop, hand-loom weaving and textiles, an early post office and an unrivalled range of tools for working the land.

This unique collection is accompanied by clear documentation as to the origin and owner of each item and the collector’s own research and brings the history of the area alive. There are plenty of hostelries round Oban set in tranquil glens or by the sides of lochs selling the area’s finest of ales and whiskies as well as high quality meals using local produce. All in all, Oban and its surrounding area have everything the visitor could want and more. There is so much to see and do that their attractions will call you back time after time as if by magic.

The picture postcard village of Stein, Waternish, Isle of Skye

Top-quality accommodation and hospitality facilities make this spectacular peninsula the perfect place for exploring the rich history and wildlife of the area, as well as the wide range of activities and visitor attractions on offer.

Add to these two potteries, four art galleries and printmaker’s studios, knitwear and pyrography craft shops, a blacksmith, a weaver and more and you have a very full day. The picturesque fishing village of Stein, originally designed by Thomas Telford- with its diving centre, boat trips, upgraded jetty and car-park, moorings and conservation area – is an ideal and developing maritime centre too.

This unspoilt village in its idyllic shore-side setting is living architectural history and the hub of this thriving, dynamic community. As well as having one of the finest concentrations of quality crafts and businesses on Skye, Waternish is indeed rich in history and legend. Before leaving the area, visitors can walk forestry or coastal trails, see legendary Annat’s temple, the Cat Cairn, Trumpan Church, the ancient fort of Dun Hallin or trek to the lighthouse at dramatic Waternish Point. And if all that’s too much for a day out visitors can stay a week and explore all north Skye from this strategic and enchanting peninsula. Skyeskyns, the Scotland’s traditional exhibition tannery established 1983 in Waternish, Isle of Skye, is widely recognised as a manufacturer and supplier not only of natural sheepskins but also of specialist sheepskins and related products.

Many of the leading interior designers are customers and have featured Skyeskyns in the national media. Today, visitors are transported back in time to witness the time-honoured methods of leather-making. Whilst the reconditioned machinery is what one might have found in a 1920’s tannery, state-of-the-art leather technology produces fully machine washable leather. A free guided workshop tour offers the chance to learn how leather is made, to see not only the tanner’s traditional implements: the beam, paddles, racks, buffing wheel, combs and ironing machine; but also hand-finishing processes which exploit the differing density and textures of the fleeces.

Having understood how a sheepskin is made and how to look after it, the refurbished showroom offers the chance to browse what must be the widest selection of sheepskins anywhere. Look out for the new line in exotic mosaics!

Eilean Donan Castle

At the small village of Invergarry is the A82/A87 junction where you can either turn right for Inverness or left for the Isle of Skye and all points north west. Shiel Bridge is an ideal base from which to tour the immediate area, visit Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, a couple of hours’ drive away, or go over to the island of Skye or further up the north west coast beyond Kyle of Lochalsh to Plockton and Applecross.

A single-track road from Shiel Bridge takes you round to the Glenelg peninsula via the Mam Ratagan Pass. Glenelg is a charming village and if you still want to go ‘over the sea to Skye’ by boat rather than the Skye Bridge you can do so from here with a small vehicle ferry which in summer plies the short distance between Glenelg and Kylerhea on Skye. Heading once more on the A87 towards Kyle of Lochalsh you will find yourself at one of the most photographed, if not the most photographed locations in the whole of Scotland.

Skirting the shores of Loch Duich, suddenly you come across the ancient stronghold that is Eilean Donan Castle, sitting on a rocky outcrop into the loch and accessible by foot over a stone bridge. Heading towards Kyle of Lochalsh (Kyle) you’ll spot the famous Skye Bridge, built to replace the short ferry crossing to Kyleakin on Skye. Don’t just bypass Kyle, though. It gives you the chance to stretch your legs and gaze over to Skye from its bustling harbour from where larger ferries sailed to Stornoway in the Western Isles before roll-on/roll-off ferries arrived and moved the main ferry port to Ullapool further up the coast. The railway from Inverness terminates here and in summer you can enjoy a steam train journey up through Achnasheen and glorious Glen Carron to the Highlands capital – an unforgettable trip.

Near to Kyle is Balmacara Estate, run by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) – a fine example of a Highlands crofting estate. The land has been in use for thousands of years.

The impressive Duart Castle

Children will love Mull for it is here that the television series Balamory was set – at Tobermory.

The ferry trip from Oban to Craignure, near Tobermory, doesn’t take long. They’ll be thrilled to be in Balamory with its gaily-coloured houses. Tobermory also has plenty of bars, restaurants, cafe’s and hotels offering superb locally grown food. Any idea of dieting will go out of the window when you see the mouth-watering foods you can taste or buy. Mull and Iona are a foodie’s paradise and calorie counting will simply be a ‘waist’ of time.

If you want to sample all thats best about the islands foods you should visit at the end of summer when a food festival celebrates all that is good about Mull and Iona’s produce the cheeses, meats, seafood and bread are a gastronomic delight. With its rugged high mountains, Mull is rapidly being recognised as one of the places to go for a wildlife holiday for there is much to be seen. Birds include the recently introduced white-tailed sea eagle.

Other rare birds you could spot are merlins, hen harriers and ‘incomers’ such as the bee-eater. Wildlife abounds on Mull and Iona and round their shores as well and if it’s an all-round experience you want this year’s festival of wildlife will be right up your alley. The islands of Mull & Iona are internationally recognised as areas of outstanding scenery, biodiversity and geology, and are home to some of Scotland’s leading wildlife tour operators.

Countryside Rangers will lead visitors to see the chicks of world famous White Tailed Eagles of Mull. Experienced tour guides offer close encounters with otter, deer, golden eagles, whales and dolphins, as featured on the BBC programmes presented by Bill Oddie. More recently the isles have also become known for the quality of produce on off er, from succulent seafood and award winning local cheese to smoked Þ sh and hill reared lamb, showcased in the Taste of Mull & Iona Food Festival. If this were not enough for the discerning visitor, Mull & Iona off er a varied programme of activities organised by the island’s numerous arts, culture and heritage organisations.

These include the unique Ionad Eachdraidh an Rois Mhuilich, and An Tobar. This year An Tobar are hosting a special programme celebrating 10 years of providing arts and cultural activities from their centre in Tobermory. A brand new comprehensive ‘What’s On’ website at www.wildisles.co.uk lists all the activities and organisations involved with contact details and a new e-booking facility for many events. Apart from whales, dolphins, seals and other sea life there’s plenty to discover about the seas surrounding the islands, including the supposed wreck of a Spanish galleon with its cargo of gold beneath Tobermory harbour.

You didn’t know Mull had a railway? Well, an ideal family trip on a summer’s day on Mull is to take the Mull Rail from Old Pier Station at Craignure to Torosay stately home. This 10 ¼ inch gauge line operates steam and diesel engines and allows you to take in breathtaking views across to the mainland as you’re chugged along. You’ll see Ben Nevis; Britain’s highest mountain, Glencoe, the island of Lismore, Ben Cruachan and the island’s own Duart Castle, making it an unforgettable experience.

This really is a unique trip, equal to any similar one in Europe, with the railway climbing steep gradients through woodland, with primroses and rhododendrons lining the route. The train can be chartered for large groups and there is limited accommodation for wheelchair users. Once you arrive at Torosay you will see it is a fabulous Victorian house set in 12 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and woodlands. If you’re a history buff a visit to Duart Castle should satisfy you.

This 13th century seat of the Chief of Clan MacLean is visited by people from all over the world. It has everything you could wish for: dark dungeons, exhibitions, state rooms and there’s also a tearoom. You and the family can also play boules or do some kite-flying here. An artist’s mecca, Mull and Iona are also popular with craftsmen and women who’ve sett led here inspired by the islands’ beauty to create fine hand-crafted wares. There are plenty of retail outlets where you can Þ nd their goods. A prestigious new arts and craft s complex has been created on the charismatic isle of Iona with the idea of providing a sustainable future for island businesses and boosting the economy.

Two years in the building, St Columba Steadings arts and crafts complex was conceived by local artist Mhairi Killin in partnership with The National Trust for Scotland. Mhairi’s aim was to provide affordable, well-equipped workshop and retail premises in an ideal location for local artists and crafts people. Working to exacting standards of renovation, given the location’s proximity to one of Scotland’s biggest tourist attractions, Iona Abbey, local stonemason Colin MacDougall has lovingly restored the ruined farm steadings.

With internal features by Scottish artists the buildings themselves are a beautiful addition to the architecture of the island. Various organisations have helped with funding and offered vital support. They include Argyll and Islands Enterprise, The Highland Fund, The SJ Noble Trust and, through the auspices of The National Trust for Scotland, The Russell Trust. More than ten percent of the island’s population will benefit economically from the St Columba Steadings project by encouraging islanders to develop their creative and business skills. It offers an economically sustainable future for 11 micro businesses and has created a diverse and lively centre of activity on Iona. The businesses are Mhairi’s own, Aosdana, a craft co-operative of nine small businesses, Oran Creative Craft s and a knitwear business, Issy on Iona.

This exciting project will be a sure addition to the Iona visitor itinerary. Aah, Iona ancient burial ground of Scottish kings and the cradle of Celtic Christianity in Scotland. The island is dominated by its abbey and the story of St Columba who landed here from Ireland to bring Christianity to pagan Scotland. For such a tiny island Iona has a huge Christian reputation and is visited by tens of thousands of people each year. As well as its religious side, Iona has plenty of bed and breakfast and hotel accommodation and shops selling paintings of local seascapes and landscapes, books and other items.

With its air of spirituality and its interesting shops, Iona will draw you back time and again, as will the delights of Mull with its varied offerings for young and old. Mull Theatre, based just outside Tobermory, is one of the top professional touring companies in Scotland, and has been producing high-quality and innovative theatre for more than 40 years. Each year, a selection of drama, comedy, children’s shows and workshops from Mull Theatre can be found in venues all over Mull and Iona.

Cute and Cudle, Highland calves need their thick, wooly coat to protect them from wind, rain and snow.

Today, the faded yellow, rustic red or sometimes jet black coated Highland cattle are experiencing something of a revival, finding great popularity not only with a new generation of wealthy hobby farmers who purchase them for their looks and social status but Highlanders also fulfilling a role in land conservation thanks to their ability to thrive on low quality vegetation that more selective herbivores turn their noses up at. Highland cattle may be direct descendants of the herds of wild oxen or aurochs that roamed northern regions of Britain.

Certainly their breed characteristics are closer to wild animals such as deer than the modern cattle breeds commonly seen on todayÂ’s modern livestock units. Or can they trace their traits and bloodlines from a domesticated strain of cattle brought to our shores by Neolithic man? Recently genetic research would suggest that the most traditional of Scottish cattle are closer to livestock found in Syria or Turkey, regions which have been attributed with the first domestication of wild cattle.

Whatever their past, they are without doubt fearsome and formidable looking beasts, yet they have a reputation of being peaceful, content and docile. The colouring of their shaggy coat has changed dramatically over the years as light colouring became something of a fashion icon. The breed’s ancient stronghold was in the Western Isles where they were known as ‘kyloes’ or ‘black cattle’. Although there were lighter coloured animals among the herds – browns, duns, reds and mottled yellow – the predominant colouring was black.

Over several generations, and particularly during the Victorian era when ‘fashion’ became of great importance, it became desirable to have a small herd of wild looking Highlanders roaming the grounds of country estates. These ‘ornamental’ livestock became increasingly popular with brown, red and yellow coats, to the extent that these have become the colours we recognise as ‘traditional’, although black is now making something of a comeback. In the 1900’s there were in the region of 150,000 black cattle throughout the Western Isles, plus considerable numbers in the Northern Isles and Highlands. With poor soils and little harvest to allow winter feeding, there was an annual exodus in late summer as up to 30,000 cows and calves were walked on drove roads to fattened on the richer pastures of southern Scotland and northern England. These arduous journeys involved huge distances being covered, with cattle from the barren croft lands of the Outer Hebrides and west coast townships being gathered together. Drovers would swim or ferry cattle across the narrow sea straits or ‘kyles’ to the mainland before setting off on recognised drove roads to the ancient market centres in central Scotland such as Crieff , Stirling and Falkirk.

Rugged looks amid a rugged landscape. Highland cattle have evolved to live in the harshest of landscapes.

The characteristic shaggy fringe of hair, or ‘dossan’, hanging over their face protects the eyes against the elements and even today’s pure bred Highlander will survive in conditions that no other modern breed could tolerate. After a period of rapid decline at the end of the 19th and 20th centuries, when modern methods of farming switched the focus of UK cattle production towards quick growth rather than the ability to survive, Highland cattle have again found popularity thanks to their ‘age-old’ characteristic of being able to convert the poorest of pasture into high quality lean beef.

Valuable traits which lend them ideal for ‘low input’ organic systems. The international emphasis on conservation has also proved an opportunity for the Highlander to gain wider recognition as a land conservation ‘tool’ as cattle – unlike sheep or deer – control vegetation while allowing trees to regenerate. From the heights of the Austrian Alps or the South American Andes to the flat lowlands of nature reserves in the Netherlands, you will now find Highland cattle doing what they do best.

If you want to take a Highland cow or two home with you to graze the lawn, the main markets are held at Oban in February and October. But be prepared to dip deep into your bank account as a good pedigree Highland bull may cost you in the region of £10,000 while a ‘hairy Heilan coo’ may set you back £5,000.

A superb view from Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain.

Streams tumble down its mountainsides, waterfalls crash down from great heights. The 92-mile West Highland Way ends at Fort William and the 73-mile Great Glen Way to Inverness starts at the town. From the central belt Rannoch Moor is the entrance to Lochaber through Glen Coe, one of the top ten sights in the world.

Driving down the A82 along this looming, glooming glen, you gain a sense of its sad history with the infamous 1692 massacre. Home of the MacDonalds, descendants of the survivors of the massacre still live in Glencoe village which has a small but entrancing museum, a shop, post office and community hall. From Glen Coe you can follow picturesque Loch Leven to its head at Kinlochleven.

Once an important aluminium smelting village it is now a quiet community but busy with tourists in the summer as the West Highland Way passes through it and its amenities include pubs, shops and accommodation. Here, too, an old aluminium smelter houses world-famous indoor rock and ice climbing walls, a real tourist attraction.

The journey round the loch to Kinlochleven and round the other side is well worthwhile as it offers lovely views and places to stop and stare. The village of Ballachulish, near Glen Coe, was once important for its slate quarrying. Now, like Kinlochleven, its industry is gone, but it is still an interesting place and you can walk round one of the quarries which villagers look after. There is plenty of wildlife there, particularly bird life and way markers tell you the slate story as you walk round.

Ballachulish slate was used all over the world to roof buildings and it has an important place in Scotland’s history. All along the A82 from Glen Coe you will find accommodation for all pockets. Near Inchree is Corran Ferry where you can take a short ferry trip across to Ardgour on the Ardnamurchan peninsula ‘ a hidden gem of the West Highlands. But follow the A82 and you find yourself in Fort William which lies at the foot of Ben Nevis and on the shores of Loch Linnhe.

Fort William has everything to show LOCHABER & GLENCOE it is the outdoor capital of the UK. It has many outdoor clothing shops, pubs, bars and hotels, guesthouses and restaurants and places where you can hire outdoor equipment such as canoes and mountain bikes and skiing equipment.

Snowboarding at Nevis Range

At the fishing port of Mallaig where the Road to the Isles ends you can take a ferry to one of the Small Isles of Rum, Eigg, Canna and Muck, or to Skye. Magical and romantic with their strong associations with the Prince, a trip to the Small Isles is to go back in time. Eigg is now owned by the islanders themselves and they off er a warm welcome and several events are planned throughout the year.

Kinloch Castle on Rum, an island owned by Scottish Natural Heritage, is an anachronism, a massive baronial mansion literally stuffed with fine furniture and paintings and all the trappings of a rich Victorian industrial family. Open to the public it is a fantastic opportunity to glimpse a past way of life. You can even get married there if you’re looking for a romantic location! The pretty village of Arisaig, near Mallaig, has associations with the Prince and you can also take a trip from here on the Shearwater during the summer to the Small Isles. It doesn’t take long and it’ll be a voyage to remember as you most likely will see whales, seals and dolphins. Mallaig itself is also worth a walk-round with its pier and shops and you can visit by train, bus or by car. Watch as fishing boats unload their catches or just stand and gaze over to Skye and the Small Isles. The Ardnamurchan peninsula is widely regarded as one of the last wildernesses of Europe.

Here you can go eagle-spotting and see other rare birds. There are also some famous oak woods, rare flowers and gorgeous villages including the main one, Strontian. The folk of Ardnamurchan are keen to keep the area safe as a wilderness and fight hard to ensure visitors can see it in all its wild glory. Ardnamurchan is both pretty and rugged, though parts of it are very fertile, and driving along its single track roads gives you superlatively beautiful loch and mountain views at every turn. The villages of Ardnamurchan have annual agricultural shows or Highland Games and are highly popular, although the Lochaber Gathering at Fort William is the biggest and best attended. There are ancient castles, hidden coves and at the far end at Sanna Bay fine views of the Small Isles. There is plenty of accommodation including camp sites and caravan parks as well as hotel and bed and breakfast establishments.

The ruins of Castle Coeffin medieval castle of theChiefs of the Clan MacDougall

It is gentle and undulating; a rare spur of limestone, which gives rise to a profusion of wild flowers and birdlife. Long and narrow, Lismore is around 11 miles long by little over a mile wide, and its closeness to the mainland makes it a perfect day out with a choice of two ferries which both land within easy reach of some of the best places to visit on the island. Lismore’s fertility and accessibility has attracted people from the earliest times, and over the centuries they left a landscape rich in monuments making it a superb place to discover the heritage of Argyll.

It has the finest broach in Argyll and the largest Bronze Age cairn, and has produced an archaeological find of a massive bronze armlet so important that it has to be displayed at the National Museum of Scotland rather than in the Lismore Museum (although a replica can be seen there). Lismore became a highly important centre for Iron Age peoples around 2000 years ago, and much later was chosen by the Celtic monk St Moluag, as the base for his mission to the Picts in the 6th century. It reached another peak in the 13th century under the Chiefs of the Clan MacDougall who built two spectacularly sited castles on the west side.

Later still, islanders turned its very rocks into a thriving industry producing lime; limekilns still dot the landscape. The story of Lismore has been encapsulated in a new award-winning museum at Ionad Naomh Moluag, which was opened last year by the Comann Eachdraidh Lios Mòr (Lismore Historical Society). It lies close to many of the monuments and is the focal point for discovering the island. The museum began with a project to reconstruct a thatched cottar’s house, and this now stands alongside a truly 21st century building, which is an attraction and talking point in itself. It has a ‘living’ turf roof, geothermal heating and walls lined with sheep’s wool.

Its displays, café and shop make a welcome stopping point, and on summer days the Lismore Café is busy with walkers and cyclists resting over excellent coffee and a slice of homemade cake or a delicious lunch made from local produce ‘often basking in sunshine on the veranda while rain clouds glower 20 miles away over Ben Nevis. There are many ways of discovering the island, and these can be found in a new booklet of Lismore Heritage Trails produced by the museum.

Including maps, circular walks, heritage and nature notes. The Trails guide is an indispensable item in the rucksack. Lismore has no formal paths and its natural landscape is its greatest asset. The walking guide will direct you to the best places and loveliest views, taking advantage of gates and new stiles, and along the driest routes. Many visitors who come to Lismore for the day often talk of coming back for a longer stay.

The island website www.isleoflismore.com has a full list of accommodation, which ranges from bed and breakfast to some delightful holiday cottages. It is also a good place to find out what’s on this summer. It is worth stopping by the island shop, just ½ mile from the museum. The Lismore shop has occupied the same building for more 100 years, and is famous for having everything from oatcakes to capers, and postcards to hand-made jewellery. It has won awards for its friendliness and service.

Small businesses on Lismore produce many quality items, from soft fruit to designer textiles. Locally produced beef and lamb is also available, reared on herb-rich pasture and noted for its flavour. Best of all though, are Lismore’s people. You will get a friendly welcome and a wave as you go along the road. Enjoy your Lismore experience!

GETTING THERE

The two ferries offer quite different experiences, and are very much part of the ‘day out’. Oban to Achnacroish (Caldeonian Mac- Brayne car ferry) 50 minutes. On a fine summer’s day a trip on the ‘Eigg’ is a delightful journey with superb views to the islands of Kerrera and Mull, and good bird watching from the deck. If you are lucky you will see porpoise.

Port Appin to Point (passenger ferry) – under 10 minutes. This ferry runs hourly through the day and into the evening during the season. Small and full of character, the ferry takes just 20 passengers and a staggering number of bikes, and will repeat the crossing if full.

GETTING ABOUT

The museum and café are 2½ miles from Achnacroish and 3½ miles from Point, and the island is perfect for walking and cycling, with bike hire on the island (delivered to the ferry) and at Port Appin. A post-bus meets the Oban boat in the morning and afternoon with the pick-up point at the Lismore shop.

There is also an island taxi service and a community minibus can be hired for special group trips. This summer a pony and trap will occasionally meet the ferry from Port Appin and transport you at an old-fashioned pace along to the museum 3½ miles down the road.

MUST SEE and MUST DO’S

It all starts or finishes with Ionad Naomh Moluag, the Gaelic Heritage museum and reconstructed croft house, café, shop, library, family history resource Â…wet weather refuge (not that it ever rains in Argyll)Â…. Make sure you have a copy of the Heritage Trails (available at the Oban Tourist Office, local shops, the museum, and at ‘honesty boxes’ at the Lismore piers).

Lismore is a farming island. Give livestock a wide berth and keep your dogs on a lead remember that cows with calves can be dangerous. Please close gates and take your litter home.