Winter Festival Fun in Oban

This winter why not embrace this corner of the west coast, wrapped in its gorgeous winter blanket?  If you book a self-catering break at Airdeny Chalets this November, here are a few ideas of what you could do during your holiday.

The Oban Winter Festival, 21st to 30th November, is a winter celebration packed full of festive fun and family entertainment.  Events include a Scottish Food and Craft Market, a Reindeer Parade, fireworks and light show, ceilidhs, performers, lantern parades, workshops and, of course, Santa. The programme also features new events for 2014 including a St Andrew's Day HaggisFest and Tartan Dash, haggis hurling, and a science and circus show.

Buy some hand-crafted Christmas gifts, join a Gaelic singing or wreath workshop, join in the lantern parade, listen to live music and enjoy the festive atmosphere of this wonderful ten day event.

Photo credit Oban Winter Festival

On Sunday 30th November the Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary will host a Winter Festival Funday at Sealife Centre, where you can visit Santa in his grotto and enjoy some festive games.

Curl up with a hot chocolate in one of the area's many lovely cafes.  From the Ben Lora Cafe at Benderloch and Castle Stalker View, to the Oban Chocolate Co. Cafe on the pier in Oban harbour and the Robin's Nest Tearoom in Taynuilt, there are plenty of places to enjoy a warming drink and a minced pie or two.

Winter is a great time to immerse yourself in wonderful woodland scenery and there are plenty of places nearby to enjoy a winter walk, such as Fearnoch Forest, the Glen Nant National Nature Reserve and Sutherland's Grove.

Or you could simply soak up the peacefulness of the chalet park and enjoy views of Ben Cruachan in its winter cloak.

Take a look at our availability page to view vacancies for the winter months and start planning your winter getaway.

A Day in Oban

The lovely town of Oban, nestled in a scenic bay and gazing out at an island-dotted horizon, is the perfect place to unwind.  Known as the 'Gateway to the Isles' and the 'Seafood Capital of Scotland', this pretty coastal town is only a twenty minute drive from Taynuilt and has a host of attractions and sights to discover.  If you're looking for ideas on how to spend a day in Oban, here are a few suggestions.

Head to Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds in the morning to delve into its fascinating and rich history and soak up some beautiful views.  The castle is only a two minute drive from the centre of Oban and a twenty minute walk for those keen to take in some sights on foot.  If you decide to walk, head north from Oban town centre along the shoreline, past Corran Halls and take the old carriage track across the road from the War Memorial.  (You can also keep walking along the coastline and take a right just before the castle).

Dunollie stands on Bronze Age foundations and the castle that remains today dates from the 15th century.  It is the ancestral home of Clan MacDougall, and has been occupied by chiefs of the clan for around 900 years.  Explore the 1745 House Museum to find out the story of the castle and the MacDougall family, enjoy a stroll in the castle grounds and visit the castle site to bask in stunning views towards the islands.  If you're in need of a morning coffee, there is also a cafe which is open daily.

Walk back into the centre of town for a spot of lunch at Bossards Patisserie on Combie Street.  This charming coffee shop is ideal for a light lunch, with a range of mouth-watering cakes and pastries as well as home cooked soups and delicious sandwiches.

After lunch, why not explore one of Scotland's oldest distilleries?  Established in 1794 Oban Distillery is also one of the smallest distilleries in the country, with two pot stills.  The distillery is near the centre of town, just off George Street.  Visitors can learn about the production of its classic malt during a distillery tour, as well as enjoy a complimentary dram of Oban 14 year old West Highland Malt.  (Advance booking for the tour is advisable).

Not far from Oban Distillery, you'll find the Oban War and Peace Museum which is brimming with interesting photographs and historical artefacts.  It's a great place to find out more about local history, including the fishing and maritime industries, and the building of the iconic McCaig's Tower - the Colosseum-style building that sits like a watch-guard over Oban Bay.

For an afternoon treat, head to the Chocolate Factory on the Esplanade, renowned for its scrumptious hot chocolate and handmade chocolates, where you can also admire the stunning views across Oban Bay.

To end the afternoon, take a walk or drive up to McCaigs Tower.  A word of warning if you decide to walk, the hills are quite steep - but the gorgeous views over Oban and the islands of Kerrera, Mull and Lismore are more than worth the effort.  The tower was built in 1897 by a local banker and is now a public garden.  It is a must-see whilst in Oban for the sweeping west coast vista.

If you want a slightly different angle, you can also drive up to Pulpit Hill Viewpoint to enjoy views across Oban and towards McCaig's Tower.

End your day in Oban with a seafood dinner at the Waterfront Restaurant.  This fantastic restaurant is located on the Railway Pier, with picturesque views, and specialises in quality, fresh seafood.  A fitting way to top off your day in the country's 'Seafood Capital'.

Family Fun at The Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary

Guest post by Emma Gibb

As a mother to a one and a half year old boy, my self-catering holidays have changed somewhat.  Gone are the lazy afternoons in cafes, armed with a good book and endless cups of tea.  But I'll tell you a secret, I love that I now get to explore places that I might not have pre-motherhood.  I have shared my son's delight at penguin-watching at Edinburgh Zoo, I've pointed excitedly with him at polar bears at the Highland Wildlife Park and during our recent family holiday in Taynuilt, I'm not sure who was more excited by our visit to the Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary (ok, it was probably me - I do love otters).  

After our first family bike ride in beautiful and peaceful Glen Lonan, we had a quick bite to eat at the lovely Robin's Nest Tea Room in Taynuilt before heading to the Sea Life Sanctuary, nestled into Loch Creran just north of Benderloch.

The loch-side setting is truly idyllic and I found my gaze flitting between the seal pool and its backdrop of the sea loch; drinking in the views of the loch and the layers of hills huddled at its edge.  The loch is a highlight in its own right and there are plenty of places to soak up its beauty, from the bird-watching hide to the Shoreline Coffee Shop.  The Terry Nutkins Nature Trail is a wonderful way to take in the loch views, as well as an opportunity to search for local wildlife. 

There are three main sections to get up close with the sea-life: the seal pool, the otter enclosure (both outside) and the aquarium, home to everything from sea horses to sharks.  With feeding demonstrations and talks, an interactive rock pool and around 50 marine displays there is a lot for little eyes to take in.  My son had never had a 'sea-life experience' like this before and was entranced from the moment we walked in, particularly by the seals and otters.  (I have to say, the otters were the stars for me - they are utterly charming and never fail to make me smile).

I was particularly interested in learning more about their conservation work.  The Sanctuary rescues common and grey seals, as well as other marine animals, and releases them back into their natural environment.  You can visit the Marine Hospital to find out more about their rehabilitation programme.

The Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary is packed with things to entertain the whole family, inside and out.  As well as all the fascinating marine displays, children can burn off steam along the loch-side trail and in the woodland park.  With its peaceful setting and the loch spilling out around it, I have to say it was one of the best attractions that this little family has visited.

You can follow Emma on Twitter @emmajrgibb and read more about her family adventures around Scotland on her blog - www.emmaexploresscotland.wordpress.co.uk.

If you're look for a family-friendly base in Argyll, Airdeny chalet park has plenty of space for little ones to run around, with a host of great family activities, like the Oban Sea Life Sanctuary, nearby - take a look at our availability here.  

On A Seafari Adventure

Scottish blogger Emma Gibb recently made Airdeny her base for a bit of West Coast exploration, and has shared a series of guest posts with us about her experiences in the Taynuilt area.  First up is her boat trip with Seafari Adventures out to the Corryvreckan Whirlpool.

Corryvreckan Wildlife Tour - Guest Post by Emma Gibb

I clung for dear life to begin with, knuckles white at the sudden speed with which we were literally flying across the water.  We bumped over the waves with such force that it felt as if we were skimming over a hard surface, on a sea turned to stone.  I soon adjusted to the speed with which we were zipping along, drinking in the rugged island-dotted seascape and focussing on the search for wildlife in the waters around me. 

I was on board one of the Seafari ribs, bound for the Corryvreckan Whirlpool (the third largest in the world) that lies to the north of Jura.  The skies had been sea-like throughout the morning, moving in swells of grey.  I had asked my toddler to blow the clouds away for mummy's boat trip (which he dutifully tried to do, bless him, blowing at the sky as if it was hot soup) and although there were a few pockets of brightness when we set off, they moved in and out of the greyness throughout the two hour trip, as elusive as the seals that darted and ducked between the waves.

I can honestly say that I didn't mind when the occasional shower rolled over us.  As much as I would have loved the sun to warm my face and light this new landscape, it seemed fitting that I experienced an area of Scotland known for its slate quarries when greyness gripped the day.  The wildlife tour leaves from Ellenabeich on the Isle of Seil, a short hop from Easdale, and passes the islands of Belnahua and Luing - all of which were 'Slate Islands' (you can find out more about the history of the slate industry in the Easdale Island Folk Museum and the Slate Islands Heritage Trust in Ellenabeich).  Being a history geek, I loved that the wildlife tour combined local history - our guide, Ben, highlighted points of interest and fed us snippets of island stories throughout our journey.  My favourites were the tales of a white sand beach that was blown up to stop people from visiting its lovely shore, the lighthouse-keeper who decided when his daughter went to school based on the roughness of the sea, and the boys on Belnahua whose job it was to throw slate stones at hungry seagulls when herring was washed up on the beach.  

We journeyed down the corridor between Easdale and Jura, slowing down to spot wildlife (red deer, common seals, gannets, shags, porpoises, wild goats and - with binoculars - a sea eagle's nest).  Just north of the island of Scarba we were given a taste of the whirlpool to come, whisked through Little Corryvreckan (or 'Grey Dogs' as this passage is also known).  

  

Instead of directing my camera solely towards the water, I found myself taking photo after photo of the land - with the afternoon soaked in slate-grey, it made the oranges and yellows of the hills leap out at me.  I was almost spell-bound by the colours of the landscape; the lined rock and leopard-print hillsides.  Ok, I admit I would not complain one bit if the skies had been blue behind the hunched island mounds; if the deep green of the sea had shimmered in sunlight; if the sea spray that showered me during the boat ride had been dried by the warm caress of sun rays.  But actually, the landscape suited this weather; the rugged land dotted with cottage ruins, the layered colours of the rock, the crags up which red deer scrambled, the whispers of once busy slate quarries.. it made it all even more atmospheric.  Ben at one point said of the forest we were drifting in front of that it was thought to 'resemble what the forests of Scotland would have once looked like’.  And it did make me imagine days gone by (the same way my trip through Milford Sound did in New Zealand – incidentally, also on a very cloudy day).  If, I thought, it looked this beautiful on a grey day, how mesmerising must it be in the sunshine... 

Just before we arrived at the Corryvreckan Whirlpool, we spotted a number of porpoise fins arching out of the water (unfortunately, unlike dolphins, porpoises are content to just poke their fin above water and don't leap out for the delight of happy-snappers like me).  It was wonderful to see them quite close to the boat (which only happened when my camera was lowered, of course) and I was still scouring the waters for more fins when I noticed that the water was incredibly calm in the pool around us but waves were breaking at its edge.   This was the famous whirlpool - and it is every bit as amazing as I had heard.  Again, the murky skies added to the experience, with sudden brightness clashing eerily with a stream of dark clouds as I watched the tides colliding.  It is described as 'a step in the Atlantic' and although my photos don't do it justice, it is, extraordinarily, on two levels.  It is quite a sight to behold - almost as if there's an invisible barrier between the flat calm section and the ripples and waves.  With food swirled around by the tidal activity, it was no surprise that this was a great place for wildlife spotting - as well as the porpoises there were gannets circling overhead and a seal that bobbed alongside us.  

Our journey to Easdale looped around the back of Scarba and Lunga (where I was so absorbed in the scenery, my brain didn't clock the speed at which we were approaching the island until moments before the driver took a sharp turn; tipping the rib on its side and almost sending my camera to a watery grave) and then wove back through Fladda and Belnahua. Time blurred along with the landscape and before I knew it we had returned to the lovely slate pier at Ellenabeich.  I'm not sure what left me more exhilarated - the speed with which we took in the scenery or the scenery itself...  I loved every minute of the wildlife tour and hope to return one day to do the same journey again; and maybe next time the sunshine will paint the island passage in a whole new palette of colours.

Many thanks to Ben and Steve for a truly breath-taking trip!

You can read more from Emma on her blog - Emma Explores Scotland - and follow her on Twitter @emmajrgibb.

Glasgow to Oban: A Rail Journey to Remember

I love nothing more than a scenic train journey: the rhythmic racing by of the landscape; scenes that have your nose pressed to the glass; the feeling of everything else drifting away as you gaze out at the passing countryside.  And I'm lucky enough to have one of the country's best railway journeys on my doorstep - the Glasgow to Oban stretch of the famous West Highland Line (recently featured here on The Scotsman online).

The journey takes you from Glasgow Queen Street to Crianlarich, where it veers west (otherwise you will continue onto Fort William and Mallaig).  You then pass Dalmally, Loch Awe, Falls of Cruachan and Taynuilt, skirting Loch Etive, before calling at Connel Ferry and then arriving in Oban itself.

If you're heading to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games this year, why not take some time out before or after this fantastic event and explore the west?  In around 3 hours you could swap the city hustle and bustle for a great big dose of coastal tranquility.  Whether it's a day trip to recharge the batteries or a short break to discover the delights of Oban and the surrounding area, this beautiful train journey from the city to the coast is a wonderful way to explore some more of Scotland and soak up some stunning scenes.

For timetable information and ticket prices for travelling to Oban by train, take a look at www.scotrail.co.uk.

Is this one of your favourite rail journeys?  We'd love for you to leave a comment below.

Living near the Gateway to the Isles

If you fancy a free ferry trip from Oban to Mull, Lismore, Colonsay, Coll, Tiree, Barra or South Uist there are currently free ferry tickets up for grabs as part of VisitScotland's Brilliant Island Moments campaign.  So where would you choose?  The islands that are scattered around Scotland's west coast offer some truly spectacular scenery and fantastic wildlife watching opportunities.  Here are some of my island highlights and photos.

Puffins on Treshnish

Staffa and Treshnish Isles
This is a fantastic day trip from Oban.  The awe-inspiring Fingal's Cave on the uninhabited Isle of Staffa is sure to fill you with wonder, with its impressive basalt columns.  A highlight of this day trip for me was when we landed on Treshnish and puffins wandered out from their burrow right next to where we had just sat down.

If you want to experience the atmospheric Fingal's Cave or enjoy some puffin-therapy, Turus Mara run wildlife trips to Mull, Iona, Staffa and the Treshnish Isles.

As well as exploring Staffa and Treshnish, you can hop on a boat from Mull to the enchanting Isle of Iona, with its wonderful Abbey.  

And if you're on Mull, you have to visit the magnificent Duart Castle, a watchman over the Sound of Mull.  Enjoy the sweeping views and its idyllic location (it reopens for the season on 1st April).

If you're visiting the beautiful island of Colonsay in spring, the Colonsay Festival of Spring (28th April - 18th May) is a great event, with a host of workshops, bird and historical walks and outdoor activities.

Tiree is ideal for easy walking as its very flat, the beaches are wonderful and there are fantastic views over to Mull, Iona and Staffa.  I particularly enjoyed visiting the Blue Beyond gallery, with its fabulous range of paintings, pottery, textiles and cards inspired by the Hebrides.

If you are lucky enough to win a pair of free tickets leaving from Oban, why not take a look at our availability and base yourself near the Gateway to the Isles.

A year of #brilliantmoments in Argyll

This year VisitScotland are asking you to share your #brilliantmoments - the Scottish scenery and sights that tug at your heart and stay with you long after you've left.  So here are some of the things in and around Airdeny Chalets that may be a 'brilliant moment' in waiting...

Sunsets over Ben Cruachan
The chalet park is set in tranquil surroundings under the watchful gaze of Ben Cruachan.  For me sunsets are always a 'run for your camera' moment - there's something so hypnotic about watching the sun cling to the sky before being swallowed by the land.  Seeing the sun set over Ben Cruachan is sure to leave you a-glow.

Walking in Glen Strae
There's a wonderful walk down Glen Strae, with a lovely waterfall.  A beautiful place to get away from it all and immerse yourself in spectacular views.  The walk is signposted to the 'ruined village' but I've never found it - who wants to take on the challenge...?

Springing into life
You could enjoy your own 'Spring Watch' at Airdeny.  Surrounding yourself in nature as spring unravels and unfurls is surely food for the soul - and where better than in 3.5 acres of land, with the air thick with birdsong and the ground beneath your feet thick with bluebells?  You can see a host of wildlife without even leaving the chalet park, from red squirrels, woodpeckers, cuckoos and buzzards to otters, which have been spotted by the stream at the bottom of the bluebell wood.  When you're out and about in Argyll you can also keep an eye out for golden and sea eagles, as well as Ospreys.  April is also the start of Puffin season - these adorable birds are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face (and did you know that a baby Puffin is called a 'Puffling'?).

Highland Games
Traditional Highland Games are truly a sight to behold and there a number of Highland Games in the area, including right here in Tayuilt.  The Oban Games, known as the Argyllshire Gathering, is one of the largest in Scotland.  With kilts, piping and dancing galore, plus track and field events like tossing the caber, it's a time to soak up some Scottish-ness!

Canoeing on Loch Etive

Loch Etive is just a stone's throw from the chalet park and is an idyllic place to enjoy a spot of fishing or a tranquil canoe trip.  Stretching from the foot of Ben Cruachan to the Glencoe hills, this lovely sea loch offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape - just the place to watch the world go by.

Why not take a look at our availability page to see when you can discover all the #brilliantmoments waiting on the West?

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.