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?