A Bike Ride Through Glen Lonan: Photos & Video

Guest post by Emma Gibb

I like to think of it now as The West Highland Cow Way (even though the Highland Cows were congregated only around one section of our hour cycle).  A corridor that snakes between rugged hills, the road that weaves through Glen Lonan leads you into peaceful mountain landscape.  With many more cows than cars, it was also the perfect place for our first family bike ride.

The gorgeous Glen Lonan is on the doorstep of Airdeny Chalets, near Taynuilt (what a location - in the shadow of the mighty Ben Cruachan, a short drive to the shores of Loch Etive and on the edge of this scenic glen).  We opted to explore the glen by bike, despite the showery forecast, but didn't even need to leave the chalet park to organise bike hire.  RCS Cycles is based further up the road we intended to cycle and the owner Nick delivered the bikes down to the chalet park for us in the morning and picked them up that afternoon.

I'm pretty sure from his squeals of 'weeeeee' that my son enjoyed the bike ride as much as us.  Once we'd climbed the first initial hill the road levelled off; winding past the occasional house and farm, and forested landscapes.  We cycled slowly, soaking up the lovely scenery (nothing at all to do with being out of breath!).  After about half an hour, we arrived at the bottom of a hill where Highland Cows wandered freely. I'm sure our son would have happily watched them all afternoon, completely entranced by the sight of so many cows inches from the road.  And not just your traditional toffee coloured cows either - it was the first time I'd come across white and black Highland Cows.  I have to say, I probably did cycle ever so slightly faster past the very large white one (pictured below)...

After crossing the river and attempting a few more hills, we took a sudden (though short-lived) shower as a sign to turn back.  It felt more of an incline on the return journey, but there are plenty of hills to whizz down on the approach to the chalet park. 

It was a wonderful place to just enjoy some peace and quiet, and I would have loved to have cycled further along the road (which eventually arrives in Oban).  I'll save that for next time, though...

Why not see for yourself?  Emma also shared this short video clip of her Glen Lonan bike ride.

  You can read more from Emma on her blog - Emma Explores Scotland.

The Colour of May

In recent weeks we've enjoyed sunny blue skies over in the Taynuilt area of Argyll - but even on the mixed days (like the last few) where the sunshine has to fight to push through the clouds, the world is awash with spring colour and the chalet park is lit in shades of blossom, azaleas and rhododendrons.

It is a lovely time of year to explore the gardens of Argyll, with the full bloom of azaleas and rhododendrons peaking in the next couple of weeks, and carpets of bluebells lining the roads and walkways.

I wish I had a photo to share of the beautiful Great Spotted Woodpecker who frequents our bird feeders but alas he remains camera shy.  I was, however, able to snap the cheeky squirrel who manages to squeeze inside the 'squirrel-proof' bird feeders.  And perhaps (as in the photos below) there is nothing more lovely than the lush green of spring trees against a blue sky...

Although the bluebells in the chalet park are waiting patiently to throw down their purple carpet (being that little bit higher we are slightly later for bluebells bursting into colour), you can spot them all around the area (there's a lovely patch behind the 'Loch Cruises' and 'Bonawe Iron Furnace' tourist signs near Loch Etive in Taynuilt).

And even if Loch Etive isn't sparkling in the sun, the gorse is sure to brighten your day (if its heavenly coconut scent doesn't).  

The colours of the mixed weather days where the skies are a tangle of grey and layers of light, those are truly special.  Artists' say there is nothing like the light of Scottish skies, and I have to agree.