Steading Holidays

March Newsletter

Steading Holidays — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:42:49 +0000

Walking in Western Ardnamurchan
There are some wonderful walks around western Ardnamurchan and Jacqui belongs to a walking group who manage to get out every fortnight, come hell or high water! There are walks to suit all levels across the area, but the Ardwalk group like to take on something that requires a bit more of a challenge. A recent jaunt over rough grass, sand, rock, bog and track took them to Beinn Bhuidhe (473m picture). The route took them from the car park at Sanna on a short beach walk and then followed a narrow trail to the old Achosnich schoolhouse. From there, a landrover track led them out onto the B8007, where they entered the “Bluebell Woods” and follow a path to the Viewpoint. It was then a hike over some rough ground and a fairly steep climb to Beinn Bhuidhe with fine panoramic views on a clear day. The initial descent was slow, crossing over fences and then a scramble up Sgurr nam Meann – a fine rocky hill. From there it was a quicker descent to the coast and across to the island in Bay MacNeill followed by a climb to the site of the old Coastguard Station. From there, a narrow path leads the way to Portuairk where the group joined the marked path back to Sanna. There is a good leaflet available locally with information about walks. For further info, see http://kilchoan.blogspot.com/p/walks-index.html

Cottage of the month
A holiday in our cottage, Mull View, was recently reviewed in the Press and Journal newspaper. They described the property as ‘everything we had expected and hoped for’ and Kilchoan as ‘a place where time has stood still and the hardy local residents have been subsistence farming since long before it became trendy’ and ‘buzzing with wildlife – herons, geese and seabirds were regular visitors, while bats and eagles took to the skies as dusk fell, and mountain sheep grazed peacefully as close to the incoming tide as was safe’.

About the property
Mull view, a spacious croft house, is stood by the sea, making it just a stroll away from the village jetty, the Ferry Stores and the large, far-stretching shoreline which is brimming with rock pools and coves to explore. It has a colourful, mature garden enclosed with a traditional low stone wall at the front and a paved area with seating. From there you can look straight out over the sea to the Isle of Mull and watch the activities on the water of peole and animals alike – yachts, canoes, wild ducks, sea birds and if your lucky an otter. A barbeque at the side with large grassy enclosed area is perfect for family fun. At night, an open fire ensures a warm, cosy atmosphere inside.

On the ground floor: large kitchen, dining room, living room with an open fire.
Upstairs: double bedroom, twin bedroom, bunks for 2 in a small bedroom and a bathroom. House heated by oil central heating all inclusive

Click here for the full and delightful article, and
here for further information
on how to make a booking

Western Ardnamurchan go to Holyrood

Steading Holidays — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:09:26 +0000

Quote from Gael Cameron “The team of amazing West Ardnamurchan representatives who went to Holyrood today to speak to Nicola Sturgeon have had a Fantastic result. Public appologies from the NHS/SAS and we will have emergency cover in place asap and 3 fully trained professionals will be put inplace as the Job/s will be advertised nationwide..Look what can be achieved when a community sticks together. Nicola Sturgeon has even said she will come to Ardnamurchan when the new model is in place. RESULT! WELL DONE EVERYONE !!!”
Picture of Rosie & Jac bearing gifts of local prawns and Ardnamurchan whisky.

Threat to Ferry service!!

Steading Holidays — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:11:27 +0000

Please see below a joint statement released today by West Ardnamurchan Community Council and Ardnamurchan Tourist Association in reaction to the Scottish Ferries Plan, published yesterday (available here ). The Scottish Government are seeking community’s views on the proposal so please please write to let them know what a disaster the removal of the vehicle ferry would be for us. An online questionnaire is available here, or responses and comments can be sent to Transport Scotland at the address at the bottom of the page.
The statement is as follows:
“West Ardnamurchan Community Council are horrified by the Scottish Government’s proposal in the Scottish Ferries Plan to replace the current vehicle and passenger service from Kilchoan to Tobermory with a passenger-only service. The local economy in West Ardnamurchan is predominantly based on tourism, the majority of which comes via the ferry to and from Tobermory; without it, Kilchoan essentially becomes a dead end, stranded at least an hour and half from Fort William. The effect of this on local business is unimaginable.
“The report’s claim that a passenger vessel would allow the existing needs of the local community to be met is simply not based on fact and is yet another example of those living in the most remote and rural areas of the country being sidelined and neglected. Yes, many local people travel to Tobermory as passengers, to shop, to use dental services and to visit friends and family, but many more would use the vehicle service if the fares were not so prohibitive. The current cost for a family of 4 to take a car over and back is nearly £70, a considerable outlay before you’ve even started your day out!
“In other areas the introduction of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) scheme resulted in 23 per cent more cars and 14 per cent more passengers. We have not yet been lucky enough to benefit from this scheme but it is apparently to be rolled out to the Tobermory-Kilchoan route within the term of this Parliament, and there is every reason to believe that passenger numbers here will increase accordingly. It is ridiculous to base a decision on our ferry on figures that will be out of date by the time of its implementation.
“In 2009, in relation to the RET scheme, Alex Salmond said:”The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring all remote and fragile communities have direct links to the greater Scottish economy”. We urge him and his Minster for Transport to ensure that these were not hollow words said in pre-election days.”
Rosemary Curtis, Chair of West Ardnamurchan Community Council
07917 064058
“The Ardnamurchan Tourist Association take the view that this review has been carried out looking at island communities in isolation, excluding the communities that support the ferries on the main land – ‘Scotland’s island communities make a substantial contribution to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of our nation. Ferry links to these islands and our remote communities are therefore an integral part of Scotland’s transport network.’ – SCOTTISH FERRY SERVICES DRAFT PLAN FOR CONSULTATION DECEMBER 2011
“The summary for the Mull section of the report is solely looking at the benefits of an improved service between Craigure to Oban ignoring the economic impact a reduction in service or change to passenger only provision would have on the remote mainland communities of Ardnamurchan and Morvern. As one of the main entry points for visitors to Ardnamurchan, the Kilchoan ferry is essential to both the community and businesses. The tourist route from Mull to Skye via Ardnamurchan is well known and well used. I echo WACC in the unimaginable effect the change to a passenger only service would have on the fragile tourism economy of our area. The RET MUST be allowed to be implemented and for numbers to be reviewed thereafter.”
Susan MacDonald, Chair of Ardnamurchan Tourist Association
01967 431456

Address to contact Transport Scotland:
Colin Grieve
Transport Scotland
Ferries Unit
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
Tel: 0131-244-1539 Email: colin.grieve@transportscotland.gsi.gov.uk
Posted by Jac Crosbie at 19:01

Write up from the Press & Journal

Steading Holidays — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 14:20:50 +0000

As the crow flies, it is easy to reach Ardnamurchan: face west and drive as far as you can across Scotland and stop before you reach the sea. Next stop is Canada, if you miss the turnoff.
In reality, it is a long and winding road to the isles, taking in some of Scotland’s most beautiful sights on the way, including the towering grandeur of the Ben Nevis range, the Glenfinnan landing place of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the railway viaduct immortalised in the Harry Potter films.
But when you reach your destination, the volcanic rocky outcrop fringed by the yellow sands of Sanna to the west and rock pools and changing tides on the others of its shores, you realise this little piece of heaven was well worth the journey.
Our home for the week was the aptly-named Mull View Cottage in Kilchoan, a two-storey croft house in the peninsula’s largest community, with uninterrupted views of the island of Mull, which rises from the sea, providing a home for the reintroduced sea eagles, indigenous golden eagles and a thriving seabird and wildlife population.
The house was everything we had expected and hoped for from a croft in the west Highlands – a place where time has stood still and the hardy residents have been subsistence farming since long before it became trendy.
After unpacking our car, which was truly heaving with clothes, food, boogie boards, fishing rods, bikes and board games for our week in the wilds – knowing that Kilchoan had only a tiny, albeit well-stocked shop, we didn’t want to take any chances – we set to work exploring the area.
Kilchoan itself is a tiny row of houses facing the sea. It has a hotel – the only place to find WiFi in the area, as my partner discovered while performing his Local Hero role to perfection – while, on Friday nights, it becomes the focus for families, with a games night when you can enjoy fish and chips eaten from the papers of the previous day’s Press and Journal, while taking on your offspring at Scrabble or dominoes – the perfect escape from the world of video games and television in which today’s youngsters usually reside.
The village also boasts a school, church, community centre, shop and small car ferry to Tobermory, with a couple of jetties providing a home for the peninsula’s crab population, who appeared to lie in waiting for a couple of children with crab lines.
My expert fishers, armed with the leftovers of that day’s breakfast, spent many a happy hour at the jetty tempting crustaceans of all sizes with their tasty bait, and watching in delight as they scuttled back down the jetty, only to be tempted out once more by the smell of bacon a few minutes later.
From our cottage, the grass stretched down to the shore, which was buzzing with wildlife – herons, geese and seabirds were regular visitors, while bats took to the skies as dusk fell, and mountain sheep grazed peacefully as close to the incoming tide as was safe.
Across the road from the houses and shop – which is truly the centre of village life and the hub of gossip and goings-on in the area – lies the Sound of Mull, fringed by grass and rock pools, with a handful of boats bobbing gently offshore, used to check the creels for their latest haul of delicious langoustines, available to buy if you are lucky enough to be in the know.
In my role as modern mum, I try not to stereotype. However, there was something about living in a croft house in Ardnamurchan that brought out the differences in our little group.
Within hours of arriving at our croft, my partner and son became at one with the sea, spending hours out on the jetty, striving for days and nights to catch that illusive whopper, and finally being rewarded for their perseverance on the final night when they landed four mackerel on the last cast and arrived home in true hunter-gatherer style, with beaming smiles.
Meanwhile, my daughter and I whiled away the days baking bread, painting and designing mosaic patterns on the patio with shells gathered from the beaches we had visited.
The more you explore Ardnamurchan, the more it reveals itself as a land of all seasons, with a typical week encompassing extremes of weather from sun to torrential rain, with the occasional gale-force wind whipping the waves into a frenzy across the Sound of Mull. The unpredictable nature means that a holiday there is never dull, with plans changing as constantly as the weather conditions.
The brightest days saw us heading for the beach and, after a day’s swimming (admittedly in wetsuits) and rockpooling on Sanna Sands, which must be one of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland, we dried and warmed ourselves with a barbecue on the beach as the sun set.
Rainy days were spent baking, curled up with a book or playing board games in front of a roaring log fire, while windy weather provided the perfect conditions for a breathtaking visit to Sanna lighthouse, where we admired yachts in full sail while the tumult swept around our cagoules and we clung together laughing while we were buffeted like kites caught on the breeze.
The location of Ardnamurchan may make it out of sight, out of mind for many travellers, but, like all hidden treasures, it is well worth looking for.
Sonja Rasmussen stayed at Mull View Cottage at Kilchoan, booked through Steading Holidays on www.steading.co.uk Depending on the size of the property, a week’s stay costs from £245 in low season to £745 in summer. There are good deals available over the New Year.
The only way to reach the Ardnamurchan peninsula is by car, or by ferry to Kilchoan from Tobermory on Mull.

Train through Glencoe the best way to travel

Steading Holidays — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:08:03 +0000

I went to the Scottish Trade Fair at the SECC on last Monday & Tuesday got some great contacts for greeting cards & pottery for the Gallery. Traveled by train, I highly recommend it, beautiful scenery, snow & blue skies. It is great to know that the Euston to Fort William sleeper is no longer threatened by cut backs.

Ardnamurchan walks

Steading Holidays — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:33:55 +0000

Great Ardnamurchan Walk (146) Beaches Bobbles & Beinn Bhuidhe 12km.

A Great walk from Sanna, through Sonachan Woodlands on to the hills following the ridge down along the beach at Bay MacNeil, up to the old coastguard, down to Portuairk and back to Sanna, dry sunny & cold, BRILLANT

Hopscotch Great way to start or finish your journey

Steading Holidays — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:13:30 +0000

Isle of Mull arriving into Oban

Great way to see Mull & Ardnamurchan cruise from Oban spend some time in Tobermory, and arrive in Kilchoan. SAVINGS Car & couple £16.90, car & family of four £18.80.

Discount on Borve

Steading Holidays — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:42:38 +0000

Spring Special Offer for Borve House @ £350 week commencing 3rd, 10th & 17th of March.

Special offer at Eilean Feoir

Steading Holidays — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:38:53 +0000

Latest discounts for Eilean Feoir

Eilean Feoir is currently available at the reduced rate of £320 for the week commencing 3rd, 10th, 17th of March.

For more information on Eilean Feoir, please click here.

The West Ardnamurchan Regatta

Steading Holidays — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:29:05 +0000

The West Ardnamurchan Regatta

The annual West Ardnamurchan Regatta takes place in late July or early August each year – dates vary depending on tides. This year, the event will take place over Thursday 26th and Friday 27th of July and will include sailing, rowing, kayaking and power boat racing with
categories for all ages including children.

The main events take place on Friday when there is a fun family atmosphere and plenty of things for everyone to enjoy including stalls, a large food marquee with a barbecue and local baking and an appearance by the RNLI and Coatguard. There is also a bar.
One of the best races to watch and take part in is the raft race which attracts a large number of local competitors as well as visitors to the area who make their rafts out of all sorts of junk. Just staying afloat in this race is a feat in itself but winning of course brings that added bonus!
The event culminates in a prize giving ceremony on Friday afternoon and is usually followed by a fun family ceilidh with a stomping live band at the Kilchoan Community Centre in the evening. This year, Sonafest, the local music festival will be held over the following two days – so for those wanting a wild weekend in the Highlands, then this is your opportunity to get involved.