Argyll's Glorious Gardens: Fifty Shades of May

Whether you're thinking about an Easter break or a May getaway, spring is a lovely time to visit Argyll.  The landscape is ablaze with colour, from carpets of bluebells to rhododendrons and azaleas, and the lengthening days gives you more daylight for exploring.  

Glorious Gardens of Argyll and Bute has organised the first Scottish Festival of Rhododendrons from 1st April to 31st May, where you can bask in the beauty of spring flowers as well as make the most of events such as guided garden walks, talks, demonstrations and Open Days.

Here are just some of the beautiful gardens in the area you could visit during your stay at Airdeny Chalets that are part of the Glorious Gardens of Argyll and Bute scheme - perfect for enjoying fifty shades of May...

Barguillean's Angus Garden 
Not far from Airdeny Chalets on the Glen Lonan road, you'll find Barguillean's Angus Garden - a nine acre woodland garden on the shores of Loch Angus which is well known for its many rhododendrons and azaleas.  It is a peaceful place to soak up the spring scenery, with three colour-coded walks around the gardens and a waterfowl sanctuary.

Ardchattan Priory Gardens
Nestled into the edge of Loch Etive and a short drive from Taynuilt via the Connel Bridge, Ardchattan Priory Gardens are well worth a visit.  As well as the beautiful garden to admire, you can take in the stunning views of Loch Etive and explore the 13th century priory ruins.  The loch-side setting and the colourful backdrop of azaleas, rhododendrons, shrubs and plants make it a tranquil place in which to wander.  There is a guided walk of the garden on 15th May.

An Cala 
The garden at An Cala, just outside the village of Ellenabeich on the Isle of Seil, was established in 1930 and is another gorgeous garden with lovely displays of azaleas and rhododendrons, as well as Japanese ornamental cherry trees.  The An Cala Open Day is on 15th May, from 2pm - 5pm.

Armaddy Castle Gardens
A visit to Armaddy Castle Gardens could be tied in with a trip to An Cala, as you also follow the B844 to the Isle of Seil but four miles after the turning you then continue on the Armaddy road.  Highlights include its Walled Garden (with unusual plants and shrubs), Clock Garden, woodland walk (complete with a huge hydrangea) and water gardens.  Join the owner for a guided walk on 1st May.

Arduaine
Run by the National Trust of Scotland, Arduaine is set in an idyllic coastal location about 20 miles south of Oban.  Explore the twenty acres of garden from its woodland to its water garden.  As well as its variety of rhododendrons, there are a wide number of trees and shrubs, bamboo and plants from around the world, such as Blue Tibetan poppies and giant Himalayn lillies.   The Open Day for the Rhododendron Festival is on 10th May and there are guided walks on 26th April and 17th May.

Inveraray Castle
As well as drinking in the impressive sight of Inveraray Castle, you can enjoy the spring colours in the the sixteen acres of Inveraray Castle Gardens - a lovely place to walk at any time of year.  Spring highlights include the rhododendrons and azaleas, as well as the daffodils at Easter and the bluebells in May.  Tour the castle itself or head to the tearoom before or after your garden walk.  As part of the Rhododendron Festival, you can join a walk with the Head Gardener on 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th May.


And did you know that you can also enjoy the beauty of rhodendrons and azaleas in bloom, as well as a bluebell wood, here at the chalet park?  Take a look at our availability to book your spring getaway.

4 Ideas for Rainy Days

Hopefully you'll experience some lovely west coast sunshine during your stay at Airdeny but, as the weather in Scotland can be unpredictable, you may find yourself looking for ideas on where to spend a rainy afternoon.  These attractions are all worth a visit during your visit to the Taynuilt area, whatever the weather, and will certainly brighten up a wet or grey day!

Cruachan Hollow Mountain

A focal point in the scenery that surrounds the chalet park and a watch-guard over Taynuilt, Ben Cruachan has a towering presence in the area.  But did you know that it deep within the mountain you will find one of the country's most impressive feats of engineering?  Just a short drive from Taynuilt and on the shores of Loch Awe, you can visit Cruachan Hollow Mountain to learn more about this fascinating power station, hidden one kilometre beneath the ground.  Take a guided tour to explore the heart of this underground world (£7 for adults and £2.50 for children).  There is also a Visitor Centre with a free exhibition, a lochside cafe and a gift shop.    

Glencoe Visitor Centre

About an hour's drive from Taynuilt on the A828 or the A82 takes you to Glencoe, one of Scotland's most breathtaking glens.  The mountain scenery is hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric even on a grey day.  The National Trust's award-winning Glencoe Visitor Centre is a wonderful place to find out more about the area's history, landscape and wildlife, with an interactive exhibition, audiovisual presentations and information displays.  Children also receive an activity book to keep them busy.  There is a cafe where you can shelter from wet weather with a hot drink and home-baking, and a gift shop to browse.  

Inveraray Castle 

Inveraray is around a 40 minute car journey from Taynuilt, along the A85 and the A819, and has two fantastic attractions that you could explore on a rainy day.  Delve into the past with a tour of Inveraray Castle, the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, Chief of Clan Campbell.  As well as touring the beautiful rooms and discovering the castle's fascinating history, you can visit the gift shop and enjoy lunch or a snack in the castle's lovely tearoom, with its Scottish-sourced menu.

Inveraray Jail 

Children will love stepping back in time at Inveraray Jail, one of the world's best preserved jails and courtrooms.  With many interesting exhibitions, and warders and prisoners who bring the jail's history to life, you can discover what life would have been like for its prisoners.  Your visit will start by learning about the torture and punishment of prisoners, and you can then take a seat in the courtroom, before exploring the old and new prisons. 

Other good places to while away a rainy afternoon are the Scottish Sealife Sanctuary, Oban Distillery and the Oban War and Peace Museum.  

Or, of course, you could always simply curl up in your comfortable chalet with a good book or DVD! 

Family-friendly places to eat in the Oban area

Argyll is a wonderful destination for a family holiday, with a wide range of activities on offer from wildlife watching boat trips to outdoor adventure days with Stramash.  From your base at Airdeny Chalets you can spend time walking or cycling, explore the beautiful west coast or the many lovely lochs, head north to Fort William and Lochaber, known as the Outdoor Capital of the UK, or take day trips to the nearby islands.

If you're enjoying a family Easter break in the Oban area, here are some ideas of places to refuel after a busy day exploring.

The Oban Chocolate Company

Situated on Corran Esplanade, you can drink in views of Oban Bay as well as the divine hot chocolate.  The spacious chocolate cafe and shop has plenty of seating, and a kid's table, with jigsaws and books to keep younger children entertained.  You can choose from a variety of different hot chocolates, as well as coffees and Belgian waffles, made to order.

They also run kids chocolate workshops throughout holidays, lasting around 45 minutes and aimed at 4-10 year olds.

Poppies Garden Centre

Poppies Garden Centre is signposted off the A85 as you travel south towards Oban.  Located on the edge of the Firth of Lorne with views towards Dunstaffnage Castle, Poppies is another wonderful little cafe.  Younger children will enjoy watching ducks and birds at the feeder on the outside seating area from the cafe's window in the colder months, and there is an extensive menu from which to choose, with smaller portions for wee ones.  Make sure you leave room for the delicious home baking!

Castle Stalker View

If you're heading north on the A828 during your holiday, or planning a tea break on the journey towards Oban, the View and Co Cafe at Castle Stalker is well worth a stop.  The cafe enjoys stunning views of Loch Linnhe, and its beautiful castle of course, and is also now home to a Wildlife Hub, which children will love.  The menu features local produce and mouth-watering home made dishes, as well as fantastic home baking.

Bossards

This bakery/cafe can be very busy at lunchtime and you may have to wait for a seat, but it has a great menu with lots of choice and is good value for money.  The soups, sandwiches and specials are ideal for a light lunch, or you can choose from a range of home baking if it's just an afternoon snack you're looking for.  Located on Combie Street, as you're heading south, it's not far from the centre of Oban.

Oban Fish and Chip Shop 

As Oban is known as The Seafood Capital, you'd expect there to be good fish and chips on offer - and you won't be disappointed.  What better than a delicious dinner of fish and chips beside the sea after a day exploring the coast?

The Oban Fish and Chip Shop on George Street is a popular choice, with Rick Stein having said that they were 'the best fish and chips I've ever tasted'.  High praise indeed.  Whether you want takeaway to enjoy looking out onto Oban Bay or to sit in the restaurant, this is sure to be a hit with all the family.


If you're thinking about a family holiday in Argyll this spring why not take a look at our availability?  The chalet park is ideal for families, with lots of space for little ones to run around, frequent wildlife visitors and a number of activities and attractions on our doorstep.

Port Appin

As well as a lovely base to bask in peaceful surroundings, Airdeny Chalets has a number of wonderful day drips on its doorstep.   

To soak up the scenery of Loch Linnhe, you could head to Port Appin, a 35 minute drive north of Taynuilt.  Following the A828 north, take a left at Appin (as the road winds along the lochside, you get a great view of Castle Stalker).

You can park in the village hall car park as you drive into Port Appin (on your left just after the Airds Hotel and opposite an old lighthouse lantern, which has information boards on the history of the village) or continue down to the ferry car park.  Port Appin is a pretty little village, with stunning views of Loch Linnhe and the Isle of Lismore (the ferry to Lismore leaves from the jetty in front of the Pierhouse Hotel).  There is also a fantastic little shop selling arts and crafts.

I'd recommend the short but gorgeous Clach Thoull circuit to really enjoy the loch scenery. The walk is signposted from the ferry car park and leads you along the cliff edge with spellbinding views of Loch Linnhe and Lismore.

  

As you round the corner of the headland you'll see a limestone arch - there is a path to the right here which is a little detour offering pretty views of the Lynn of Lorn.

Back on the track you'll pass the lovely arch and continue along the edge of Airds Bay before looping back to Port Appin.  (You'll come out near the village hall car park).

If you're looking for somewhere to refuel, you could enjoy coffee and cake or lunch at the Pierhouse Hotel.  The bar has a cosy log burning stove, beautiful views and a lovely room with comfortable chairs in which you can rest after your walk. 

And, of course, you could also hop on the passenger ferry to the Isle of Lismore for an afternoon of cycling or walking on the island.  

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

I hope that you had a happy Christmas and enjoy the New Year festivities.

Here at Airdeny Chalets we've enjoyed lovely blue skies and snow-capped mountain views over the past few days.  Guests at the chalet park woke up on Christmas morning to Ben Cruachan looking magnificent in its snowy blanket.

Today has been cold and frosty but absolutely breathtaking.  As the sun wearily rose from its frosty bed this morning, I soaked up the sparkling scenery with a short walk down the road.  The frozen landscape glittered in the low-hanging sunlight and Ben Cruachan looked spectacular wrapped in white.  Further down the road I could see wisps of cloud trailing above Loch Etive and the snowy hills topped off the beautiful winter wonderland scenery.

Later on I drove down to the shores of Loch Etive and took a few photographs of the loch in the midday sun.  Stunning scenery and some winter sunshine - what more could you ask for?

If you're thinking about your 2015 holiday, why not make Airdeny Chalets your base for a relaxing west coast getaway - and enjoy the beautiful landscapes for yourself.

Carnasserie Castle

If you love delving into the past, there are plenty of fascinating castles and historic sites in the area you can explore, from Kilchurn Castle perched on Loch Awe to Ardchattan Priory on the edge of Loch Etive.

I recently wrote a post on visiting Kilmartin Glen and the prehistoric landscape of Mid Argyll is a must if you're interested in finding out more about Scotland's past.  As well as visiting Kilmartin House Museum, you can discover the many standing stones, cairns and monuments scattered around the landscape.

Another historic point of interest in this area is Carnasserie Castle,  a 16th century tower house located on a hill overlooking Kilmartin Glen.  There is parking at the bottom of the hill and it's a short, quite steep, walk up to the ruins, which are free to explore.

The castle was once home to the first Protestant Bishop of the Isles, John Carswell who translated 'Book of our Common Order' by John Knox into Gaelic (the first book to be printed in Gaelic).

Built in the 1560s it is a good example of Renaissance architecture having only ever been altered slightly in the 17th century.  I liked how decorative even the gun and pistol holes were in the outer wall.

The atmospheric ruins give you a good idea of what the castle would have been like in the past.  The five storey tower house was combined with a three storey hall house: on the lower levels you can explore the remains of a kitchen and cellars, with a large fireplace; the large hall is above, connected to a drawing room in the tower house; and there are stairs that wind up to upper levels where the bedrooms would have been located.  

As well as exploring the castle interior, one of the highlights of a visit to Carnasserie Castle is the view from the top of the ruins (there are narrow stairs on either side of the castle), where you can take in the sweeping views of the surrounding countryside.  

With its idyllic setting and interesting history, a visit to Carnasserie Castle is a must if you're in the area.

An Autumn Drive to Mid Argyll

I recently took advantage of some glorious autumn sunshine to show some visitors the beauty of the surrounding area.  We followed the B845 through Kilchrenan, along the edge of Loch Awe and down to Kilmartin for lunch.  After a walk to stretch our legs, we returned to Taynuilt via the A816 to Oban and the A85, in a loop that takes just over two hours to drive.

It was the perfect day to soak up the spectacular Oban and mid-Argyll scenery, with a landscape cloaked in blue skies and radiating the last of autumn's fiery shades.

We left the chalet park basking under the blue skies and frost carpeting the ground.  From Taynuilt we took a right onto the B845 (signposted Kilchrenan), which takes you past the Glen Nant Nature Reserve.  The landscape then opened up, with sweeping views across a rugged landscape, wisps of cloud entangled in the hills. 

Shortly after driving through picturesque Kilchrenan we had our first view looking back towards Loch Awe, backed by mountains.  It was a truly breathtaking sight.

The road continues alongside the loch, with lovely scenery of both the loch and the autumnal forests as you wind south.

When we reached the A816 we headed to Kilmartin.  The Kilmartin House Museum and Cafe is a wonderful place for lunch if you're in the area.  There is seating downstairs that looks out onto the surrounding fields and the Glebe Cairn, and cosy seating upstairs where you can access Wi-Fi.  There is even a yurt near the entrance of the cafe with outside seating, decorated with bunting.  We enjoyed the soup and delicious foccacia sandwiches - but I wish I'd left room for some of their home-baking!

Kilmartin Glen is dotted with ancient monuments and is a fascinating place to explore.  You can pick up a map detailing the historic sites from the shop at the cafe (where you also pay if you want to visit the Kilmartin Museum).  We drank in the afternoon sun whilst looking at the Nether Largie Standing Stones and Temple Wood stones.

We left the atmospheric landscape behind and drove north towards Oban, admiring the views of Loch Melfort, shining like a piece of glass.   Just past the dam at Kilmelford the trees reflected in the still water in a splash of brilliant yellow.

Although now coming to the end of autumn's beautiful displays, the palette of Argyll is still captivating: rusty browns, the last glow of yellow, the silver of bare trees streaking the green.

Before long we were in Oban, its bay sparkling in the last of the day's light.  On the last stretch between Connel and Taynuilt the sight of a full moon reflecting in Loch Etive was the perfect way to end the day.