Day 5, July 31st, Strontian

We left the hotel in Glasgow a little late, around 10:00. We took the M8 Motorway north and then on to the back roads towards Glen Coe. We drove along Loch Lomond on a narrow two lane road. It was interesting when meeting a bus. We stopped at the old Drover's Inn for a rest break and some coffee. This place was built in 1705 and is filled with interesting animal mounts and memorabilia. Who knew that the last wild Haggis was killed by a postal worker back in the early 1800's.


We went on from there to the Clachaig Inn for lunch. Right next to this Inn is the location where the set for Hagrid's cabin was for the Harry Potter films if you are interested. The cabin was not left in place by the film company. We had a great lunch here with a good cask ale to wash it down.


From here, the group split up. A short hike was arranged for those that wanted to go. At this point is where it started to rain. The drive from Glen Coe to Strontian was scenic even in the rain.


After a short ferry ride and more narrow, one lane roads, we got to the guest house. It is still raining as we write this at the Kilcamb Lodge Hotel on the shore of Loch Sunart. The rest of the group has just arrived. They should be plenty wet.


July 31st, 10:30pm

The rest of the group did arrive and they were indeed wet. We learned to recognize 3 different heathers; ling, bell, and cross leaf heath. We are sitting in the parlor, having just finished a 3 hour, 7 course dinner: pre-starter (melon mint shot, pickled fish, and black pudding truffle), soup (mint and pea cappuccino), starter (either scallops with pickled figs or pidgeon with ripe figs), intermediate (potato and caviar), main (salmon with crab filled ravioli, roe and sea asparagus or fillet of angus beef and oxtail truffle), pre-dessert (lemon sorbet and lemon custard) and dessert (options including triple chocolate, bread pudding, sorbet and cheeses). Oh and then coffee and mixed selection of chocolate truffles, back in the parlor. Can we really handle 3 more nights like this?