4 day tour in Scotland
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Last week, just back from a quick trip to Mallorca to see a friend, attend to some business and I was into the throes of a 4 day driver-guiding FAM tour. Mallorca was beautiful as ever on the north-east - one of my favourite places being Puerto de Pollensa. Weather was pretty good and excellent for walking and cycling.
The 4 day tour back in Scotland started in Aberdeen. I had the pleasure of accompanying a Japanese lady from Tokyo around some of the delights Scotland has to offer. The weather was at its best - cold, sunny and clear and I have rarely seen the scenery so magnificent. From Aberdeen we went to Crathes Castle and Gardens (National Trust for Scotland), then on to Glenfiddich Distillery for an interesting visit and a superb lunch in their very nice restaurant and cafe (portions are huge!).
Inverness was next for an overnight and then by Loch Ness on to the Island of Skye. A visit to Eilean Donan Castle and then a spectacular journey over the Mam Rattagan Pass, stopping for photos of The Five Sisters of Kintail - snow-capped and quite breathtaking. I do wish someone would stop the tree-planting in front of the car parking areas which are beginning to block this magnificent view. Perhaps a midnight prowler with a chain saw would oblige?!! Or perhaps the landowner could be bribed by some of our environmental or conservation agencies to desist planting there?
Delighted to see that the Glenelg turntable ferry is still running - one of the gems of Scotland and so glad it was saved. This would be such a miss. My clients never cease to be amazed by this journey and crossing - one of the best in Scotland!
The Cuillins were looking their very best and many photo stops were had on the journey to Portree. We really enjoyed the stop at Sligachan where my guest had her photo taken with two willing gents sporting their kilts!! The little museum in the Sligachan hotel is so interesting. The people on Skye were so friendly and hospitable.
After Portree the tour continued in glorious sunshine over to Mallaig, down the Road to the Isles, Fort William and Ben Nevis in all its splendour with lots of snow for the time of year. Then Glencoe where there was an unexpected fire on Rannoch moor, allowing for some rather unusual photo shots. Finally reached Inveraray on the last evening and finished off with an excellent meal including scallops in The George Hotel (my home town!!).
Amazingly the great weather held out for the last day's journey down by The Rest & Be Thankful Pass and Loch Lomond to Glasgow where I showed my guest the wonderful variety of museums and galleries we have there. She was delightfully surprised at Kelvingrove Art Gallery, The Lighthouse Centre and The Glasgow School of Art, not to mention the senorial Victorian mansions of the west end.
Labels: April tour in Scotland
posted by Scottish Tour Guide @ 3:29 AM
Time for rhodies and azaleas!
For those of you who are keen on gardens - the west coast of Scotland is the place to be at this time of year. Many beautiful gardens in the Argyll area - Benmore, Crarae (near Inveraray), Arduaine, on the way to Oban and the smaller but very interesting Ardkinglas garden at Cairndow. Perhaps farther afield - the gardens on the Islands of Gigha and Bute are worth catching a ferry to.
Spring is late this year - one day it is here - the next it has gone! A cold but sunny couple of good weeks at the end of April has now turned to rain - hopefully the warmer weather will return soon. The trees are late in budding this year but ...... the swallows have arrived at last, after their long journey north. The azaleas and rhododendrons are now starting to bloom and this is the time to spend meandering through the gardens to see them at their best.
Labels: West coast gardens
posted by Scottish Tour Guide @ 3:17 AM
Better late than never!
Sorry for the long absence from the site. Heavy work season last year plus a 3 month vacation in Spain over the winter! Just had to escape all that wind and rain and, apart from -8C some nights in Aragon in the N of Spain, the temperature was very appealing. Did not manage to reach Portugal this year - kind of meandered about in La Rioja, Aragon, over to Barcelona and down the Coast as far as Tarragona and south of Valencia. Then inland to one of my favourite places - The Alpujarras. Very disappointed in the whole coastline, some of which I had not visited for years - when will the Spanish planners ever learn? And do they need any more golf courses - I doubt it, when there is such a lack of rainfall. Perhaps developers greed has something to do with it. Hardly any natural coastline left - such a shame. The best places are to be found inland - also the camp site - the coastal ones are crowded in winter and no doubt in summer too.
Enjoyed the walking and the cycling. Cost of living going up also in Spain but still good menus del dia and good fruit and vegetables to be had in the markets. Fuel is cheaper than UK too. What a fright when I returned home!!
I had good opportunities to use my Spanish - especially in Andalucia. This year managed to catch Carnaval as it was early - I was in Pego (south of Valencia) at the time, and although this is a fairly small inland town, near Oliva, it was quite an event. Hundreds of young and older people thronging the street in amazing costumes. The drummers were fantastic and probably my favourite. There were also 5 large stages with good bands to suit most tastes - all for free. Quite incredible.
Labels: Vacation
posted by Scottish Tour Guide @ 2:55 AM
