Talk Morgan Forums Community The Malvern Arms Scotland

Thanks for the Arden link Alastair. It looks like a good billet for a stopover on the way back!

The best car trip is the north coast 500 .I live at Scrabster so if passing come an see me .

Ian

While I hesitate to recommend hotels because everyone’s taste, requirements and standards are different if in the vicinity of Applecross the Myrtle Bank Hotel in Gairloch is a good stop, not the most modern but lovely setting, good food, friendly staff and Owner.
As Applecross and Gairloch are on the NC500 they can get quite busy and many of the roads are single track with passing places, most folk are patient enough but you do get the odd one who appears to want to do the whole NC500 in day.

Last time I was up north it was shut for refurb. I must get back up there, even if just for the museum!

And I'll do a bit of the pedant bit - Applecross is a peninsula (NO "r" on the end )

I used to love the drive up through Glencoe to Fort William then across Ardnamurchan Peninsula through Strontian to Lochaline then take the small ferry across to Mull, beautiful scenery, great roads and lovely places to stop. My recommendation for the Islands is Mull, southern Mull to Fionnphort is lovely and if feeling intrepid the walk to the fossil tree on the Burg is spectacular. If you have good sea legs a trip to the Island of Staffa and Fingal's Cave is worth doing too, load Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture on your phone and play it whilst watching the waves crash into the cave.

Britmog, been there done that on the Paddle Steamer Waverly with the Hebrides Overture on the ship`s loud speakers. Have twice since then anchored off the island and took the dingy to shore to investigate Fingal`s cave.

https://waverleyexcursions.co.uk/

I never did the Paddle Steamer which looks to be very interesting, went by open whaler from Fionnphort which was exciting we were taking geological equipment to the island. The other exciting trip in the whaler was taking some metal ladders from an old Frigate across from Fionnphort to the Fossil Tree on the Burg. We had to get the ladders (bloody heavy) through the water about 50 feet to the shore and man handle up the cliffs to fix in place so the tourists could climb down to the tree from the path, I think they are still there today. We were on exercise in the area and the National Trust asked us to help them with various tasks they wanted completed, at least the weather was pleasant.

Have anchored around the Ross of Mull a few times, once in wonderful calm weather and once in search of shelter after a hard day in heavy weather, with a very busy CH 16 with numerous call outs for the Tobermory RLNI crew, we finally anchored up in what I thought was a quiet location with an old stone pier that looked semi derelict, and which then became very busy at night with numerous fish landings...! Lack of local knowledge...Duh !

Saw US Navy Seals on ribs in Oban bay, so yeah a lot of military presence in the area. The trip and vessel you describe is not one I would fancy in other than calm weather... Well done.

In September 2019, we took part in the Bo'Ness Revival Jim Clark run from Linlithgow through the borders, pausing in Duns for lunch before the return journey. The museum had just reopened. The next day we joined the lovely people of JockMog at the Revival itself and were rewarded with a very fine trophy for the furthest travelled entrants.

Humble apologies for my incorrect spelling of peninsula, I'm surprised the spellcheck didn't notice and I shall be more careful next time!

Spellcheck wouldn't pick it up Alastair. With an "r" usually means "of a peninsula" = e.g. Peninsular War, or as Andy wrote Peninsular tour. Unfortunately the meanings (a little like tonneau cover) have become fuzzy over the years.