Venice
Friday, 29 April 2016
Wednesday, 27 April 2016
Stuff that grows in my garden
A springtime garden safari. I can't take much credit - they were mostly there when I bought the house.
 |
| ok, dandelions are weeds - but I don't mind them |
 |
| the stuff I'll be able to eat....apple |
 |
| plum |
 |
| chive |
 |
| peppermint |
Monday, 25 April 2016
Tuesday, 19 April 2016
Castle Sween
Last October I took a run to the village of Tayvallich on
Loch Sween on the Argyll coast. I noticed on the map that on the other side of
the Loch was Castle Sween. I didn't have time visit then but went for a run there yesterday.
Castle Sween is thought to be the oldest castle in Scotland
and dates from the late 1100s.
 |
| Location of the castle |
 |
| On the way there I stopped at Inveraray. The "Vital Spark" was the name of the "puffer" in comedy short stories by Neil Munro. Puffers were small cargo ships that serviced the Highlands and Islands. The stories were made into TV comedies. The ship in the photo was used in the '90's "Tales of Para Handy". |
 |
| The story of the castle |
 |
| Looking down Loch Sween to the sea |
 |
| The kitchen |
 |
| Ovens |
 |
| A well inside the castle is a good idea if you have to withstand a siege |
Friday, 15 April 2016
The Roads to Nowhere on the Cowal Peninsular - Part#3
 |
| At Ardlamont Point there a a couple of houses…. |
 |
| … that must have one of the best views in the country |
 |
| Daffodils at Kames |
 |
| Tighnabruiach |
 |
| The Kyles of Bute |
 |
| Dunoon |
 |
| My final dead-end west of Dunoon leads to a Navy fuel depot. |
 |
| On the ferry |
There
are two "dead ends" I didn't visit. One is to Strone point. On this
road there is a short ferry from Colintiave to the Island of Bute - so
that may be a future trip. Also Glen Massan - but that doesn't look that interesting
on Streetview.
Wednesday, 13 April 2016
The Roads to Nowhere on the Cowal Peninsular - Part#2
 |
| Old Laughlan Castle…. |
 |
| …and the new one nearby |
 |
| How cute is this cottage? |
 |
| The view from the cottage - Canada geese grazing in a field beside Loch Fyne |
 |
| Otter Ferry |
 |
| Highland hospitality - the drinking fountain has a cup provided |
 |
| Portavadie. There is a ferry from here to Tarbet |
 |
| Also the "ghost village" of Pollphail. This was built in the early '70's at the start of the North Sea Oil boom. Constructed by the Scottish Government for workers in a proposed yard constructing oil rigs. But the yard never materialised and the village was abandoned. |
 |
| I spied this remote beach at Kilbride Bay but…. |
 |
| ..there is no access (by road anyway) |