Sunday 10 June 2012

Waverley to Iona, Inverie and Kyle of Lochalsh

Some photographs from a few days' break up in the West Highlands to sail on the paddle steamer Waverley. We begin at the utterly charming Falls of Lora Hotel at Connel Ferry, where I stayed two nights:














Dinner: mussels followed by lamb:










The hotel gardens:


What a location:



Oban in morning sunshine:



Waverley approaches:







Loading 'catering supplies' (as opposed to food, or even cuisine):


Isle of Mull approaches:






Heading along the rocky South-East coast of Mull:








Iona Bay:




Cal Mac local ferry:


With iona Abbey in the background:




The tender boats arrive to bring Waverley's passengers ashore:












Luncheon:


This was followed by a little climb:











Diamond Jubilee decorations:







All too soon, it was time to leave:




Waverley's port-side paddle float in the clear water:



Heading northward:


Lord of the Isles, en route to Colonsay:





The cruise ship Ocean Countess approaches on her way south from Fort William:









Waverley back in Oban:


Dinner:



Oban Harbour the next morning:


Oban signs:























Quality books in Waterstone's:



Lord of the Isles and Hebridean Princess:


The moderne Regent Hotel:


(I merely popped in to have a wee look around)









It looked unfortunately run down and there were some old mattersses piled up for disposal  - oh dear, oh dear:



A pity - it could be such an elegant an stylish place, but it badly needs quite a lot of sympathetic T.L.C.












Corran Esplanade Church of Scotland (Leslie Graham MacDougall, 1957), very much in the manner of Swedish churches of the 1930s:





St Columba's RC Cathedral (Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, 1932-1959) - a very fine modern romantic building:






The main attraction at the Corran Halls - blood transfusions!:














A glimpse of Castle Stalker, seen en route to Mallaig:


Mallaig:



In the second hand bookshop in the Fishermens' Mission, someone had shelved Fanny Hill next to the Small Tools Handbook:




Mural with heroic fishermen:


The B&B where I stayed in Mallaig:



Dinner:




The view from my window the next morning:


Colourful fishing boat:



Loch Nevis leaves Mallaig for the Small Isles:



Coruisk approaches:



Onboard Coruisk, bound for Armadale on Skye:







A book of quality for sale in Coruisk's shop:


Armadale:








Luncheon:


I never could resist:


An eco-encampment:


























Coruisk again:


Waverley approaches Armadale Pier:




Small cruise ship Lord of the Glens:


Passing Coruisk:


Approaching Inverie:


Waverley hiding behind Inverie Pier:



(The midges were out in force, so I got no further than half way along the pier before retreating back aboard ship.)


More passengers boarding Waverley at Mallaig Pier:


A Gradwell with two fish suppers:


Detail shot of another Gradwell eating a fish supper:


Loch Nevis in the distance:



Kylerhea turntable ferry at Glenelg:




The Skye Bridge:



Waverley at Kyle of Lochalsh Pier:



Bed & Breakfast interior:





Dinner at Creelers' Restaurant in Broadford - this was outstanding:


West Coast Squat Lobster - Mmmmm!



And, for dessert, Clootie Dumpling drizzled with Buckfast* reduction (living as I do in Airdrie, the global epicentre of Buckfast consumption, this had to be tasted):


(* For bemused foreign viewers, Buckfast is a tonic wine, made by monks in an abbey in Devon. Once upon a time, it was a 'pick me up' for older people with poor circulation, but in more recent time, it has become the favoured drink of youth in Lanarkshire because it has a sweet taste and its combination of alcohol and quinine makes imbibers drunk and high - if they quaff enough, that is.)


The view from Broadford on Skye, where I stayed overnight:





Waverley leaving Kyle of Lochalsh pier and heading northward, beneath the Skye Bridge:










Things seeen en route home:







1 comment:

  1. Sorry to see the Regent Hotel seems run down - it looks an absolute treasure. The Grand in Fort William was demolished recently as well. The Falls of Lora looks right up my street!

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