My other half and I had decided to escape the rate race and the screens, recharge our batteries and finally relax. We have made it our mission to see the entire coastline of the UK; Scotland is almost complete, this time we wanted to be half way between Berwick upon Tweed and Newcastle, giving us the opportunity to take in a big chunk of the north east coast of England.…
This story begins because my brother-in-law and I wanted to find somewhere to stay between the distilleries at Oban and Glen Scotia in Campbeltown and I stumbled upon Achanduin Cottage in Ardfern (Lochgilped). The owner, Sara, used to work as a professional cook and for many years she ran a film and television location catering business and I figured we’d be well looked after. Davy and I had decided…
My Dawes Galaxy Tourer was British racing green was retro fitted with an elongated rear derailleur, a handlebar panier and two rear paniers. This was in the days before mobile phones and GPS for the common man; the perfectly folded map was in the clear plastic cover of my front panier showing the first stage, the road to Crianlarich. 5 day cycle route Edinburgh to Wester Ross Road cycling that…
Badachro Inn The outside seating area of the pub was freshly varnished, the sun, although about to kiss the horizon was projecting a reflection across the bay. Behind me I heard footsteps go from a crunch on gravel to the clump, clump of the decking before I felt the wallop across the back of my head. Those summers of the late 70’s always seemed so hot, especially in Badachro.…
Otters, Salmon and Whisky The sun is high in the sky, yet on the floor of the forest there is still dew on the grass; we carefully wipe away the midges from our exposed eyes and continue to wait with baited breath. Long before our grandparents had bought the estate the river held many secrets, not least the ‘poachers venell’ (or PV as we know it). By a trick of…