No 11 - CHRISTMAS IN GLENCOE
Hi again. We enjoyed our Christmas at Onich which is on the shores of Loch Linnhe near Glencoe between Oban and Fort William. Below is the Lodge on the Loch where we stayed - viewed from the other side of the Loch. We had a room with great views of the loch and the mountains.
The first two days were very windy with regular rain showers and low cloud. Then the wind calmed and the weather improved so we took a drive around Loch Leven. There were some amazing reflections. At this time of the year with the trees bare of leaves great scenes can still be seen through the trees.
The village of Glencoe viewed from other side of the loch. Behind the village is the valley called Glen Coe (In Scotland, glen = valley).
The next day we took a drive to the west passing the northern end of Loch Sheil. The memorial in the foreground is to those who died in the Jacobite uprising in the 1700s.
Turning around from the photo above is the Glenfinnan Viaduct rail bridge. I am told it was used in a Harry Potter movie. It is still an active part of the Scottish rail network.
From here we went further west, via some roads less used to Loch Moidart. This is Castle Tioram which for many years was the seat of power for Clanranald - a branch of Clan Macdonald. It is now just a ruins. It is located on a tidal island in Loch Moidart. The afternoon we were there it was peaceful and beautiful place however history tells that it has been the site of numerous battles.
Currently it is owned privately. The owner is trying to renovate it for his private residence however the Scottish Heritage people are not keen about that idea.
We took a different way home driving along the west side of Loch Linnhe and were rewarded with some great reflections of Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK.
Ben Nevis from a different angle just before sunset. Some of Fort William can be seen on the left.
Loch Linnhe is at one end of the Great Glen that almost cuts Scotland in two. The other end of the Great Glen is Loch Ness. Joining the upper Lochs with Loch Linnhe is a series of locks (the kind that raise or lower vessels) called Neptune's Staircase. This is the lower end of Neptune's Staircase.
About 30 minutes out of Fort William it passes over the Glenfinnan Viaduct mentioned earlier - looking forward.
And looking backwards. The weather was kind in the morning with light winds and plenty of blue sky.
Just after passing over the viaduct the train stopped at the Glenfinnan Station. Nancy boarding for the leg to Malliag on the western Scottish coast adjacent the Isle of Skye, Eigg and Rum.
At Malliag there was time to have a look around. A Caledonian MacBrayne ferry was in port. One of Bryan's, Macdonald relatives works on this vessel however as they were in the process of loading we could not catch up with him.
As we started the journey back to Fort William we caught this view of the Isles of Eigg and Rum.
On the return trip there were showers of rain which turned to light snow through the higher country. The weather improved at the Glenfinnan Viaduct to allow this photo.
As we cross the viaduct this photo looking down Loch Sheil shows a snow shower about to move across the loch.
Our time in the Scottish Highlands was coming to an end. We departed via Glen Coe. Below is a view looking west down the glen toward Glencoe. This area is a very popular outdoor activity area.
We stayed a night at Annan near Gretna Green on the Scottish boarder. In the morning we were greeted to some more snow. Nancy's wish of a white Christmas has certainly come true. As we crossed the higher country through Cumbria in northern England the snow began to fall again. The green fields of summer were now white.
This made for 'interesting' driving conditions on the M6. The snow plowers and salt laying trucks were busy.
The weather improved as we travelled south. Our destination was Tynllwyn Farm near Welshpool in Wales. This is our accommodation for the next few days.
Until the next blog, take care and God bless.
Bryan and Nancy
Comments
Enjoy! xx