Oban Winter Festival 16th - 25th November

Winter in Argyll is magical - why not experience it for yourself?  Plan a winter getaway in the Oban area this November and enjoy glorious coastal scenery wrapped in a winter blanket, plus a range of events and activities the whole family will love at the Oban Winter Festival.  Last year's festival included:

• Markets
• Reindeer parade
• Carriage rides
• Wine tasting
• Ceilidhs
• Outdoor activities - cycling, dry ski slope, gorge walking
• Children's cookery workshops
• Choirs
• Lantern parade

The Festival will be held from 16th - 25th November 2012 - for updates on events and activities, visit the Oban Winter Festival Facebook page.

As well as the Winter Festival, you can enjoy winter walks, explore historical attractions and just relax in the run up to the festive season.  If you're looking for accommodation in November to explore the beauty of Oban and the surrounding area in winter, why not curl up in your own chalet?  Airdeny is only 12 miles from Oban, set in beautiful, tranquil surroundings with stunning views of Ben Cruachan.  Take a look at our availability page to view vacancies for the winter months.

Fishing in Argyll

Argyll is an ideal destination for the keen angler, with a variety of fantastic fishing on offer, including sea fishing, river fishing and loch fishing, and beautiful, tranquil surroundings to enjoy this peaceful pastime.

Sea Fishing
If you're after the likes of mackerel, skate and sea trout, try your hand at sea fishing in Argyll.  With its lengthy coastline, Argyll is perfect for sea angling (and a spot of wildlife watching).  You can fish the tidal waters of Loch Etive, near Airdeny Chalets, until October.

River Fishing
The River Awe runs for three miles from Loch Awe into Loch Etive, and fishing is by fly only.  Fish for salmon and sea trout until the end of the season in October.

Loch Fishing
Set amongst stunning scenery, Loch Awe is the longest freshwater loch in Scotland.   Fish this popular loch for brown trout, Arctic char, perch, pike and ferox trout.  As with the River Awe, the season runs until October.




If you've always wanted to learn to fish, you can take advantage of the free fly fishing starter course available to all guests at Airdeny.  Willie Cameron, a local fly fisherman, will explain about the equipment, demonstrate some basic knots and help you try your hand at casting.

So why not unwind with a fishing holiday in Argyll?  Enjoy a few days fishing and the beauty of the Argyll landscapes in an autumnal cloak.

Autumn in Argyll

Autumn is a beautiful time to visit Argyll and the Isles, with fiery shades lighting the landscapes.  If you're thinking about a getaway in autumn to recharge the batteries, why not head to glorious Argyll and enjoy a range of outdoor activities and events, or simply bask in the stunning autumnal colours?  Whether you need time away just to relax and unwind, or you want to get active in the great outdoors, there are a number of ways to spend an autumn break in Argyll.

Events
There are fantastic events happening across the Argyll area in September and October.

• Have a family day out at the Dalmally Agricultural Show on 1st September.
• Head to the Best of the West Festival in the grounds of Inveraray Castle from 15th - 16th September, for a celebration of music, food and drink.  Featuring headline acts Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Skerryvore.
• For something that little bit different, stop by The World Stone Skimming Championships, taking place on Easdale Island, near Oban, on 23rd September. 
• There are various venues across Argyll that will take part in Doors Open Days in September, giving you free access to a number of interesting buildings.
• Enjoy a gig by John Renbourn and Wizz Jones - two fabulous folk guitar artists performing on Easdale Island on 6th October.

Activities
Revel in the glow of Argyll's autumn landscapes whilst you explore the area on foot, by bike or boat. Take a wildlife boat trip, discover the many walks and bike tracks, explore historic sites or head to the nearby islands... there are many different activities in the Oban area to fill your days.

Why not make Airdeny Chalets your base for an autumn break?  Surround yourself in the tranquil surroundings of the chalet park, nestled in 3.5 acres, and enjoy spectacular views of Ben Cruachan and Glen Etive wrapped in an autumnal cloak.  Check our availability page to view vacancies for the autumn months.

What do you love about autumn in Argyll?  Leave your comments below.

The World Stone Skimming Championships 2012

If you love skimming stones, or if you're on holiday in the Oban area, why not head to The World Stone Skimming Championships?  Taking place on Easdale Island, near Oban in Argyll, on Sunday 23rd September, the championships are open to any age and skill level.  Contestants come from all across the world and the annual event attracts many spectators.

The competition is split into the following categories:

• Ladies
• Men
• Junior Boys and Girls
• Under 10's Boys and Girls

Each competitor is allowed three skims (using Easdale slate skimming stones) and the stone must bounce at least three times to qualify.  The skim is judged on the distance it achieves before sinking.

  

There is a Pre-Skim Party on the Saturday night before the championships at the Easdale Island Community Hall, with live music and a licensed bar.

Easdale Island is a beautiful, car-free island (the smallest of the Inner Hebrides) sixteen miles south of Oban.  You can reach the island via a five minute passenger ferry from the Isle of Seil (which is connected to the mainland by the 'Bridge over the Atlantic').  If you'd like to find out more about the islands around Oban, read our blog post on 'An Island Adventure'.

For more information on the categories, competition rules and how to register, visit www.stoneskimming.com.

Are you planning on going to the 2012 World Stone Skimming Championship?  Leave your comments or questions below.

An Island Adventure

Oban, only 12 miles from Taynuilt, is known as the 'Gateway to the Isles', with a number of ferries travelling to breath-taking West Coast islands such as:

• Mull
• Coll
• Tiree
• Colonsay
• Islay

The nearest island to Oban is Kerrera - six and a half miles long and ideal for walking and cycling.  You can reach Kerrera via an independently run ferry a couple of miles south of Oban.  

Mull is a popular destination with visitors to Oban and is home to whales and dolphins, puffins, otters, basking sharks and eagles.  Take a trip from Mull to the small but stunning island of Iona, and visit one of Scotland's most revered sites, Iona Abbey. You can also organise a trip to the Isle of Staffa, and get up close with the spectacular Fingal's Cave.    

The island of Lismore, situated in Loch Linnhe, is an hour's ferry ride from Oban.  Enjoy fantastic views, explore the historical sites and discover the range of wildlife on this 10 mile long island.

Seil lies 12 miles south of Oban and can be reached by the 'Bridge over the Atlantic' (the 200 year old Clachan Bridge).  The car-free island of Easdale lies about 200 metres off the island of Seil, and is the smallest of the Inner Hebrides.

  

Getting There

Coastal Connection offer a range of boat trips to the surrounding islands, including a Tobermory Day Trip and a Wildlife and Castles Trip (they also offer whole boat charter), and Caledonian MacBrayne run regular ferry services to the islands.

Why not take a day trip on your next visit to Airdeny and visit one of the beautiful islands around the Argyll coast?  Which of the islands would be top of your list for your next trip?  Leave your comments or questions below.

Down at the bottom of the garden...

Vegetable garden at Airdeny

With the sunshine of recent months, the garden at Airdeny Chalets has been flourishing.  Rows of leafy vegetables stretch up to embrace the sunlight, the beans are weaving their way up the support canes and the strawberries are enticing the (pesky) voles.  I spent most of Saturday in the garden (is there anything more lovely than a day gardening?) and recently picked my first cucumber, as well as harvesting the first courgettes, brocolli, lettuce, spinach, rocket and a few strawberries.  The first tomatoes should be ready in the next few weeks.

The garden is completely organic and guests at Airdeny can sample the yummy, fresh produce.  The greenhouse is packed with different varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, and courgettes (both pale green and yellow ball), there is an abundance of herbs and the raspberry bushes are getting thick.  I'm growing edamame beans for the first time this year (as well as other beans), ordinary and gold beetroot, and both ordinary and purple varieties of cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts and brocolli.

Why not ask to sample the home-grown vegetables on your next visit?

5 Family Friendly Things to See and Do in Argyll

Self-catering is a great option for families, giving you freedom and flexibility to really enjoy your holiday together.  Airdeny Chalets has plenty of open space for children to run around - so you can relax and enjoy the beautiful views of Glen Etive and Ben Cruachan, and your own living space, whilst the kids explore the 3.5 acres and bluebell wood.

There are lots of family friendly things to see and do in the area around Airdeny - here are just 5 ideas:

1. Why not explore the Argyll coast and islands?  Coastal Connection runs boat trips from Oban, giving you an up-close experience of the nearby lochs and islands.  Sea-fari Adventures offer marine wildlife tours, as well as trips to the Corrywreckan whirlpool. 

2. The Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary on the shores of Loch Creran, near Oban, has an aquarium (with a range of sea creatures from sharks to stingrays) and a rescue facility for common and grey seal pups.  

3. The hidden wonder of Cruachan Hollow Mountain is the world's first high head reversible pumped storage hydro scheme, lying within the heart of Ben Cruachan.  Visitors can enter the cavern, explore the visitors' centre and enjoy views of Loch Awe.

4. Watch courtroom trials, go to jail and browse the exhibition of prison artefacts at Inveraray Jail - a 40 minute drive from Taynuilt.  This living museum gives you an insight into life in a 19th century prison. 

5. Kilmartin House Museum lies 22 miles southwest of Taynuilt and is an award winning centre for archaeology.  There are more than 800 ancient monuments (many prehistoric) in the area around Kilmartin and there are hands-on activities for the children to try in the museum.

Have you been on a family holiday in the area around Oban?  Do you have recommendations on things to do and see?  Leave your comments or questions below.  

Be Brave in Argyll

If the new Disney-Pixar animation, Brave, set in Scotland and released this summer, makes you long to experience Scotland's beauty for yourself, why not plan a trip to Argyll?  You're sure to be enchanted by the majestic castles, atmospheric lochs and glens, and breath-taking scenery.

Airdeny Chalets is a great base for discovering the spectacular castles in Argyll, such as Dunstaffnage Castle, built around 1220 and captured by Robert the Bruce in 1309, Inveraray Castle, the ancestral home of the Chief of Clan Campbell, and the 15th century Kilchurn Castle, in its scenic setting on Loch Awe.  You can also wrap yourself in layers of stunning scenery from your base at Airdeny - with views of Glen Etive and Ben Cruachan from the chalet park, and the surrounding landscape of forests, mountains and glens, you can get a taste of Scotland's raw beauty.

If you want to experience the Argyll landscape by boat, you can visit nearby Loch Etive, Loch Awe and the coast, or there are plenty of tracks and trails for biking and walking in the countryside, such as Glen Nant Oakwoods, near Taynuilt.

Click here to check availability at Airdeny and book your Argyll adventure.

What would you most like to do whilst on holiday at Airdeny?  Leave your comments below.  

Summer at Airdeny

With summer just around the corner, you may be thinking ahead to your next holiday.  Airdeny is a great base to explore Argyll and the Isles, a destination recently featured in National Geographic's '10 Best Summer Trips 2012'.  Whether you simply want to immerse yourself in beautiful scenery, be active in great outdoors or enjoy some summer events, there are many ways to fill the long summer days in glorious Argyll.

Summer is Highland Games season, with traditional games happening across the area.  From dancing and piping competitions to 'tossing the caber' and tug of war contests, you can enjoy a range of events at the following games in Argyll:

• Taynuilt Highland Games, 14th July
• Inveraray Traditional Highland Games, 17th July
• Mull Highland Games, 19th July
• Oban Highland Games, 23rd August

Other events include the West Highland Yachting Week, from 28th July to 3rd August - a unique sailing regatta based around Craobh, Oban and Tobermory - and the Summer Solstice Walk through Kilmartin Glen.  For information on other events in Argyll this summer, visit Welcome to Scotland.

If you're keen to be outdoors during your holiday, there are a multitude of activities you can try - for information on marine wildlife tours, Loch Etive boat hire and adventure activities, take a look at our blog post on 5 Activities for your next Argyll Adventure.

If you're planning a trip to Argyll this summer, why not make Airdeny Chalets your base in the area?  Check our availability page to view vacancies for the summer months.

Wildlife Watching in Argyll

Do you love wildlife watching?  As well as being a great base for discovering the wildlife in Argyll, you can enjoy some wildlife watching here at Airdeny Chalets, including cuckoos and the resident family of red squirrels.  We recently heard our first cuckoo of the year, singing its heart out next to the chalet park!

The Argyll area is ideal for wildlife lovers, as the skies, seas and forests are full of wildlife, from minke whales, dolphins and basking sharks to sea eagles, puffins and otters.  If you're interested in birdwatching, you can find out more about birdwatching on Mull and other Argyll isles on www.mullbirds.com, and information on wild birds in Argyll on www.argyllbirdclub.org.

The Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary in Oban is a fantastic place to visit, with an aquarium and a rescue and rehabilitation unit for common and grey seal pups.  Or how about a Sealife Adventure?  Based near Oban, Sealife Adventures offer whale and wildlife watching boat trips.

You can also find out more about the Scottish Beaver Trail - a five year reintroduction of beavers to Knapdale Forest in Mid-Argyll - or get up close with the local wildlife with some wildlife photography.

If you love bird and wildlife watching, why not plan a trip to Argyll this summer?

Clare's Kitchen

Did you know that you can get delicious, ready-made meals delivered to your chalet here at Airdeny?  If you're busy settling in on your first night or just want a night off from cooking, why not take advantage of Clare's Kitchen?  Clare's home-made meals are all prepared locally, and can be delivered to your accommodation or left in the fridge for your arrival.

You can choose from a range of fantastic dishes, including:

• Ham, cider and vegetable pie 
• Steak & ale pie
• Coq-au-vin
• Venison casserole
• Smoked fish pie 

Each of these main courses serve two people and cost £8.50.  There are also tempting desserts, at £3.50 each, such as rich chocolate pudding, sticky toffee pudding and fruit crumble.

What better way to end a day of sightseeing or exploring, than a ready-made, home-cooked meal? 

5 Activities for your next Argyll Adventure

If you're looking for an Argyll adventure, there are plenty of fantastic activities to fill your days in the area around Airdeny.  With the stunning Argyll coast only a short drive away, and Loch Etive and Loch Awe nearby, you will be spoilt for choice for activities on both land and water.  Here are 5 activities you could try on your next holiday.

Wildlife Photography
Get up close with Scottish wildlife - join Philip Price, an award-winning wildlife photographer and tour guide, for an exciting journey into the world of wildlife photography.  All equipment is provided so even if you don't own a camera, you can still enjoy this wildlife experience.  

Stramash
If you're interested in activities such as sea kayaking, gorge walking, canoeing, coasteering and archery, why not have an outdoor adventure day with Stramash?  Surround yourself with the stunning scenery in and around Oban whilst you enjoy an exhilarating outdoor activity.

Loch Etive Boat Hire

Take a trip on the sheltered waters of beautiful Loch Etive for a day's fishing or sightseeing.  Loch Etive Boat Hire in Taynuilt offer five boats with cabins or cuddies, and all boats are equipped with outboard engines, fuel, maps and safety equipment.  If you're keen on fishing, you can also hire rods and bait at a small extra charge (when available).

Sea.fari Adventures
For a truly memorable to experience Argyll's wildlife, go on a Sea.fari adventure. Sea.fari Adventures is a marine wildlife tour company offering a unique combination of adventure and close encounters with sealife.  Whether you want to go whale watching, take a high speed trip to Iona, Colonsay or Staffa, or go on a wildlife tour that includes a visit to the Gulf of Corryvreckan, home to the world's third largest whirlpool, an adventure with Sea.fari is sure to be a unique holiday experience.  

Argyll Adventure
Located on the shores of Loch Fyne beside Inveraray, Argyll Adventure offer something for children and adults.  You can choose from a range of fun activities, from horse riding and pony rides, to rock climbing and paintball in the Adventure Park.  All activities are supervised by the friendly staff and you can mix and match your activities.  Perfect for a fun family day out!

Click here for more ideas on things to do in the area around Airdeny Chalets.

Delve into Historic Argyll

Duart Castle

Why not take a trip back in time next time you visit Argyll?   There are many fascinating historical attractions to discover, from the prehistoric landscape of Kilmartin Glen to one of Scotland's most sacred sites, Iona Abbey.  Explore the many castles in the area, such as Dunstaffnage Castle, one of the oldest stone castles in Scotland, Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull and the iconic Inveraray Castle,whose gardens were recently featured in The Independent's '10 Best Gardens to Visit'.

Dunollie Castle

Dunollie Castle in Oban opened to the public on 24th March for the first time and is well worth a visit.  Having been inhabited for more than 2,000 years and occupied by the Chiefs of the Clan MacDougall for 900 of these, Dunollie has a rich history - not just interlinked with the local area but with important events in Scottish and UK history.  Find out more at http://www.dunollie.org/.

Discover historic Argyll on your next holiday.

Free Fly Fishing Course at Airdeny

Get hooked on Argyll!  If you've always wanted to learn to fish, why not take advantage of the free fly fishing course available to guests at Airdeny?

Willie Cameron will be your teacher - an enthusiastic fly fisherman, Willie will explain about the equipment, demonstrate some basic knots and help you try your hand at casting.  You can then move on to the beautiful Loch Avich for the real thing.  What better way to spend a spring break than enjoying the beauty of Argyll whilst learning this peaceful pastime?

All equipment is provided - for more information and details of how to book click here.

If you're already a keen angler, Argyll is the perfect spot for a fishing holiday, with river fishing, fresh water lochs and sea fishing all nearby.  So why not take a break from it all this spring, and unwind with a fishing holiday in Argyll?

Oban's Festival of the Sea

Oban Harbour

If you're planning a trip to Oban this May, make sure you catch Oban's Festival of the Sea.  Coordinated by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), the festival will be held from 18th - 28th May 2012 at venues in Oban, Lorne and the Isles.  There are a wide range of events to enjoy, such as:

• open days
• lunchtime lectures
• guided walks and talks
• 'Our Future Seascapes'
• marine-themed art exhibitions
• Stramash adventure day evening sessions
• and much more!

For more information on the events taking place, visit www.obanseafestival.org. 

Easter at Airdeny

Bluebell Wood at Airdeny

Why not hop on over for Easter?  Spring is such a beautiful time to visit Airdeny, as the bluebell wood bursts into colour and the countryside comes alive.  Experience the joys of spring in a peaceful natural habitat, surrounded by spring flowers and wildlife.

Airdeny is an ideal base for an active holiday in Argyll, with plenty of activities to fill your days, including sea kayaking, Sea-fari Adventures, scuba diving and horse riding.

Or if you want to just relax in tranquil surroundings, Airdeny is the perfect place to enjoy some 'me' time, with spectacular views, leisurely walks, and wildlife watching.  Curl up in your cabin with a good book or a DVD, and escape away from the hustle and bustle of every day life.

If you would like to spend Easter at Airdeny, check our availability - you can also make your booking there.