Scotland and the Lakes. Holiday 2011. part VIII

Saturday and the time to return. we are returning back to the Lake district  for a  short weekend break.

As we  had left early we caught the light of the rising sun and stopped at Connel to take a last panoramic view of  the isle of Mull across the Firth of Lorn.

There were more treats in stores as we approached Glen Coe .Passing along Loch Etive the light and reflections were crying out for a pictures and how could we resist.

On to Glen Coe a better prospect weather wise that the previous week but we would not liked to have to live in this Croft no matter what the weather.

A long and winding road [oh i think there's a song in there somewhere]

We stopped at Dochart Falls again to partake of a wholesome breakfast . Then of to Stirling and the road to the lakes. on the outskirts of Stirling we ran into the ubiquitous road works which lasted for 10 miles and unfortunately due a combination of poor signage and eyesight we failed to take the exit we needed which meant we went into and through Glasgow which were trying to avoid . So we decided to continue or journey through the lowlands of Strathclyde were not sure how we got to pass Moscow but...

We did pass the Burns Monument and alms houses at Mauchline Ayrshire the National Burns Memorial . It was first opened in 1898 to commemorate the centenary of Burns' passing.

 We also were close to Hollywood and went through Lockerbie and Gretna Green before we got to Penrith.

Scotland and the Lakes. Holiday 2011. part VII

Friday and the weather has turned for the better, we awoke to bright sunshine and birds song. After breakfast we decided to go to the Ben Nevis center which is above and behind where we are staying, we could walk but it is long slog but only 5 mins by road .

When we arrived we discovered that they were having the a world class mountain bike event and the world had indeed arrived. We had to park outside the of the centre and get the shuttle bus in . We could have walked, but then we might as well have walked from home in the first place.

When we arrived last weekend the weather was so bad that the ski centre was closed and this weekend could not be more of a contrast .

The Down hill mountain race looks extremely hazardous and thrilling . It was good to see so many youngsters having a go leaping and turning over the rough and rugged track. they get down in about four minutes !.
Just think all this started with  kids on a 'Chopper' and jumping off the kerbs !

We ventured up to the summit [ well nearly] in the gondola .What stunning views to be had from here, because of the Lochs that are in the valleys below it gives the edge to Snowdonia with which we are so familiar

The awesome track down which they race viewed from the gondola

This shows the track from the start point  down the first section





They're Off !

We went for a walk to the view point and it was  worth the walk

Fort William from Ben Nevis

Scotland and the Lakes. Holiday 2011. part VI

Thursday.

Staying locally we went to Corpach / Banavie about  3 miles from Fort William on the Mallaig road. Which is at the head of  Loch Eil and the end of the Caledonian Canal.







It is at this location that we visited 'Neptune's Staircase'  a flight of 8 locks  and it is from here that the Canal exits into the Sea Lochs and onto the open seas. This Was one of Thomas Telfords masterpieces.[ in conjunction with William Jessop  ] he insightfuly managed to join the line of Lochs which run diagonally across Scotland from east to west. Inverness to Fort William these include Loch Ness , Loch Oich, Loch Dochfour and Loch Lochy  some 60 miles . Finishing with the Canal several feet above sea level and it is down the flight of locks that the vessels descend. [or ascend]  .

But this is no ordinary Canal because as you can see this is for ocean going Ships not narrow boats .

The sheer size is breathtaking especially  when you consider it was dug by hand in c1806 . the whole project took twenty five years to complete. And remarkably was funded by the government [in reality the Tax payers]

This Very evening [Thursday] on Scottish Television was

'Julia Bradbury, Canal Walks No 8 The Caledoian Canal ' 

 So now you know why we know so much about it 

From here we journeyed a little further along the Malliag road [again] and stopped to view the highland monument. erected to commemorate  the raising of the standard by Bonnie Prince Charlie which led to the Jacobite rebellion in 1745.

The view down the loch and the precession of light on the mountains is inspiring 

Scotland and the Lakes. Holiday 2011. part V

Wednesday : As the weather was somewhat inclement we stayed at home and 'pottered'  It has lashed down with Heavy Rain all night and continued for most of the day but is has stopped in time for our train journey this evening . As we are traveling first class we have made smoked salmon sandwiches and have some miniature bottles of wine to wash it down along with fruit cake.

 Our special holiday treat was the journey on the Jacobite express a proper full size stream engine with Pullman coaches.

The real treat is traveling first class !  With our own table and lamp, curtains and a heater. Coffee was served on the way out and on the way back with biscuits and fudge .

    Is that Harry Potter ?  I wonder ?

In spite of the rather damp beginning the train windows dried out and most people got a good view . We had traveled the road on the previous day and as the road runs parallel and very close to the track, we had the advantage of having taken pictures from the coach  and knowing where the best vantage points would be along the way .

Oh look the Train has a tender behind

 Now for some Trainy pictures for you railway buffs

This is the train that is featured in the 'Harry Potter' films and the scenes over the viaduct are well known .

So there was an unseemly scramble for places to take pictures of the train traveling over the viaduct .The smoke was billowing in the wind and blowing back into the carriage windows . some people tried to get to the doors windows but they were either to slow and or the restricted space was overcrowded and by the time they were in postion we were past the point of view.

But after the excitement every body .[well most people] forgot that the train passed over the viaduct on the way back, and we were now the last carriage not the first.as on the way out .So I had the window to myself, of course the light was not in my favour but I did get some shots. as you can see .

One piece of romance was when the guard presented a young lady with a bouquet of flowers as her boyfriend proposed to her .

But this is a different 'Bird' a nest builder none the less. Must have supreme confidence in the railway timetable  definitely not a 'Virgin'

Having arrived in Mallaig [again] at around 7.30 p.m we found it was closed . Now such is the demand for  the train trips, that this year, for the first time they have decided to run an evening special and we made history by being on the first of these 'Jocobite night flights' so to speak.

In their exuberance and excitement at putting on these extra trains, somebody forgot to tell Mallig we were coming .So several carriage loads of people from the far flung corners of the empire  [Luton. The Wirral. Essex . Japan . America etc.]  found they had money to spend and nowhere to spend it ! The excitement was obviously to much for some and so the lifeboat was launched

The Chip shop was open though as the boats had just come in with a fresh catch of chips and stuff.

But we did enjoy our smoked salmon sandwiches and wine 'en route'

Scotland and the Lakes. Holiday 2011. part III

On Sunday we ventured into the town [Fort William] and strolled around .Stone me after paying through the nose for some much needed supplies on the way in at a Teco's Convenience store we found a Morrisons Then on the way out we noticed, joy upon joy LIDL have a shop here . Saints be we are saved !

We also located the Station where we will catch the train for Mallaig on Weds evening and the coach station for our trip around the islands on Tuesday.

A short drive a round established our bearings and we are but  half a mile from the Ski lift to Ben Nevis so when the skies clear we will venture up on the gondola . We also visited Spean Bridge .Don't know why ? but the name seemed familiar and we felt compelled to go there . we had a Car Picnic in the rain !.
The evening perked up and P went for a stroll around the area.

Not  a lot see but there was an old Land Rover .

Today, Monday before we ventured south to Oban, we  booked our tickets for the Cruise around the islands for Tuesday.

So on to Oban.







  After a short stroll around the town we retraced our steps and visited a castle we passed on the way in.








Dunstaffnage Castle an 800 year old edifice which was built upon an enormous rock base.
 Here we met the ubiquitous yank ! A dentist from Florida who new more about anything than any one else in the world !

Retracing our Steps we then went to a Gardens ? This was set in a an old priory grounds, Ardchattan Priory.

The Gardens were a disappointment but the Cacti house was impressive with its large collection ,a lot of which were in flower.

We did get to meet with the Gardener and had a long chat, he is also a Mcnab  so we had an in !.

He was very talkative and showed J his special Cacti ? It was something Prickly any how, judging from the gasps from the back of the green house.

Mr McNab aslo showed us some 'secret' Knights Templar Carvings in the stone work.

On the journey in from Fort William and along the way to the other sites we visited ,some interesting landmarks were noted and we stopped on route on the way home to take some photo's.

One of the Stopping points was Portnacroish where there is an Island castle  'Castle Stalker ' I thought I had been clever spotting it on the way down but we stopped to photograph it on the way back and so had half the camera brigade in our part of Scotland .

As we had forgone lunch and afternoon tea we stopped at the supermarket on the way home and bought supplies and tonight we feasted upon double steaks and all the trimmings American cheese cake with fresh strawberries and half a bottle of wine each !. So now we are pogged and tired