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Went back to Kilmartin Glen and the Dunchraigaig House B&B at Easter, for Jan's 50th birthday. I wanted to take her abroad but she wont fly anymore (seen to many aircraft crash programs on Sky). It was touch and go if we went though, I was in hospital and only got discharged on the Friday. The doctors said it was OK for me to travel so we went on Saturday, a day late (I really no how to treat a lady).
The Irskine Bridge
The bridge was designed by William Brown and was opened on 2 July 1971 by HRH Princess Anne. It has a 524 m main span and two 68 m approach spans and is 38 m high and 1310m (4300 ft) long. During construction of the bridge, a major collapse of the West Gate Bridge in Australia, a bridge of a similar construction, saw re-calculations in the design. As a result the bridge was stiffened following construction.
The two views of the bridge and the following two were taken from the car window while on the move.
Kilmartin Parish Church
In the churchyard is an important collection of early Christian and medieval carved grave slabs. Some are displayed outside, while others are housed in a stone building in the graveyard. In the church itself are the two most important monuments, The Kilmartin crosses, one 9th-10th century, the other late medieval in date.
The arch you have to go under to enter the graveyard is the war memorial.
The Dunchraigaig House Bed and Breakfast
Two views of the Ballymeanoch Stone Circle, taken from the bedroom window.
A couple of blurry shots of the Pine Martin.
GD sat on the bench outside The Dinchraigaig and Jan by the standing stones with the B & B in the background.
The Ballymeanoch Stone Circle
Lochgilphead
Argyle Street
Colchester Square
Isle of Seil and Easdale
View from Easdale Harbour
Cottages and The Highland Arts Exhibition at Ellenabeich
Went on a boat trip from Ellanbeich Harbour to see what widlife was around, and also to the Gulf of Corryvreckan. This is an area where at the right time you can see the world's third largest whirpool.
Unfortunately we were unable to go at high tide, so when we arrived we only saw small whirpools forming then disappearing.
You can just see some whirpools in the picture right. If you look closely at both photo's, the area of sea in background appears higher than the foreground. Not a trick of the camera this is how it looks from the boat.
Ellenabeich
Jan settling down for lunch, not a bad backdrop.
Some of the Cottages in the village
Restored crane once used for loading slate
Oyster Bar Restaurant and brewery
Cottages on the edge of the flooded slate quarry
Easdale Island
Two old relics together! GD and the jetty guess which is which.
The Clachan Bridge built in 1792/3 for the sum of £450. It is now sign posted as The Atlantic Bridge or Bridge over the Atlantic. Seil is cut of from the mainland at high tide by the Atlantic Ocean, the only way across is by the bridge hence the name. The single arch is 72ft wide and at high tide the top of the span is 28ft above water allowing small vessels to pass underneath. Just over the bridge is the "Tigh an Truish Inn" (house of the trousers). The name comes from the time after the rebellion of 1745 when the wearing of kilts was banned. Islanders on their way to the mainland would stop here and exchange their kilts for trousers.
Ronachan Point
Headed south down into Kintyre, on the way we stopped off at a couple places.
Some views from Ronachan Point looking out towards Islay in the distance. If you look at the picture top left, there is a rock which is perfectly smooth and shaped as though used for tying boats to.
We came across this old graveyard by the side of the road near Belloch and stopped to take a look. Great view, but not if your a reisdent!
Inscription reads
Here lyies Alex & Dun mcmillans sons of Duqald mcMillan & mary fairly In Belloch the one aged 30 the other 28 Years they were both seized with a fever & died ~~~~~
Mull of Kintyre
This is the road to the Mull of Kintyre, it runs like this for about eight miles. Eventually you arrive at parking area for about ten vehicles and a gate across the road that is locked. The sign on the right tells you that a lighthouse has been here since 1788 standing on the edge of 300ft cliffs, and that the present one was automated in 1996. It also tells you that Ireland is only twelve miles away, and that the Mull was made famous the Sir Paul Mcartney's song in 1977.
It then says: " A Cautionary Note To Vistors. Congratulations on negotiating one of Scotlands most exciting roads. Cars must now be left safely in the car park - hairpin bends and steep gradients on the road to the lighthouse are even worse than those you have left behind".
What it doesn't tell you is: That in August the road is like the M6 on a bad day, and that strange people in motor homes come here and get stuck. Trying to turn round where the sign is!
It does however mention the memorial above the road to the lighthouse. This commemorates the Chinook helicopter crash of 2nd June 1994, killing all 29 people on board. It is a stone cairn, the plaque on which the victims names are engraved is mirrored and reflects the surrounding scenery and sky.
Jan and GD by the memorial
On the way back to Kilmartin we drove through Cambletown. It had been quite misty so we took a detour to Claonaig opposite the Isle of Arran, to see if we could get a better view. Jan immediately, found a lady who needed help with a horse, and I spotted the ferry coming in.
The Loch Tarbert Built: 1992 and Entered Service: 25/07/1992
Named after: A Loch on the Mull of Kintyre peninsular
Gaelic Name: Loch an Tairbeirt
Castle Dounie
Castle Dounie is an iron age hill fort overlooking the Sound of Jura and Loch Crinan. It stands just below the summit of Creag Mhor, at about 255 metres. The walk starts at Crinan Harbour by the shoreline. It then takes you up a steep path up through the forest, and via forestry roads and tracks, part of the route is also the Ardnoe & Feary Isles Cycle Route.
Inside the fort with a view over Loch Crinan towards Loch Craignish.
View from the fort interior with Creag Mhor to the left and Jura just visible on the right.
Looking back the way we had come, with Loch Craignish in the distance.
Looking down on Castle Dounie from Creag Mhor.
Looking back towards Castle Dounie & Creag Mhor, still along way down to go back to the harbour.
Loch Awe
We didn't come back the direct route, we came back via Loch Awe
We went up the B840 to Cladich where we joined the A819 heading for Inverary and Loch Fyne.
From Inverary we went round the head of Loch Fyne and joined the A815 heading towards Dunoon.
We were heading for the ferry from Hunters Quay to Gourock. We stopped for lunch at Jubilee Point, by the side of Loch Eck
