The Wet Way to the Isles

Shot of the Day

Looking towards The Isle of Mull from Oban

I've just returned from a few rather wet days in Oban with my friend Margot who comes from Rutherglen near Glasgow. Our plan was to catch the service bus early on Sunday morning and just enjoy the journey. The route takes you up Loch Lomond then cutting across towards Inveraray over Rest and be Thankful. Normally this would've been a journey with spectacular views but the wind and persistent rain that accompanied us for the whole journey put paid to that Idea.

We arrived in Oban around midday where we were booked into the Regent Hotel.

The Hotel was of 1930's Art Deco style. The place was rather tired and could do with a serious make over, however the food was reasonable and the bed comfortable.

As we couldn't get into our room until 3 O'clock we left our cases and decided to brave the rain and head into town and get a coffee somewhere. We ended up in The Corryvreckan which is a J D Wetherspoons establishment adjacent to the ferry terminal, we took shelter here on several occasions over the next couple of days. 

 Oban Lifeboat Station

McCaig's Tower 

The Gateway to the Isles

The weather started to improve the morning we were due to leave

One of the highlights of our stay was the meal we had at the Waterfront Seafood Restaurant which had been highly recommended to me by Helen Goodfellow who knows the area well also Margot had read an excellent review in the Scottish Daily Record a couple of days previous. I indulged in Mussels cooked in white wine sauce followed by a Seafood Stramash which was basically a seafood and fish pie served in a scallop shell. 

Today's Catch

 On the return trip we were advised by the bus driver that we probably have to retrace our steps from Inverurie back to Dalmally and take a detour that would takes back down the full length of Loch Lomond, to me this was an added bonus as the light was good for taking pictures albeit from the coach window.

Connel Bridge

The Vital Spark

No apologies for the lack of quality but from a coach window I think there's some decent landscapes.