Ellenabeich and Easedale Island

Ellenabeich turned out to be a lovely location - it is at the southern end of the peninsula on the island of Seil with Easdale Island just off the tip. We ended up staying here for 4 nights as it was such a friendly and relaxing place. We had wanted to see the Corryvreckan Whirlpool but didn't realise trips were organised from here - by the same family that owned the motorhome stopover. We immediately booked on a trip the following evening - they only go out on Spring tides as this is the best time to see it and we happened to be there during one. 

Ellenabeich is within a conservation area so completely unspoilt.

From Ellenabeich there is a regular ferry to the old slate mining island of Easdale. The slate seam (which includes 3 other little islands  - called the Slate Islands) used to be a major provider worldwide and the centre of the slate mining industry in Scotland for nearly 3 centuries. The mining stopped on Easdale Island when the mines were flooded by a gigantic storm in 1881. So now there are big pools everywhere - people swim in some of the shallower ones.

The World Stone Skimming Championships will take place on the island this September, in one of the flooded mines!

Purdy enjoying her new sleeping bag!

We had a lovely hike around the hills behind Ellenabeich, up to Dun Mor and beyond.

Easdale Island viewed from Dun Mor

The Corryvreckan Whirlpool

We were excited and dressed up ready to leave at 1930 on a sunny evening with a flat calm sea - are were really in Scotland? The trip was organised on a Spring tide when the tide was going out. 

The company had two purpose kitted out RIBs, each with two 300HP Yamaha outboards. Both were out this evening, which made for some good pics.

On the way we say a local Sea Eagle nesting on the Isle of Scarba, which was nice to see - we hope to have a closer look at some of these enormous birds elsewhere on our travels.

The Corryvrecken Whirlpool is not one big whirlpool but lots of small ones. The surface of the sea is randomly bumpy with areas of smooth which is where water is being forced from the sea bed. These vary in size and turn into whirlpools. The captain got us spinning in them; luckily you don't get pulled down the plughole! Difficult to get a good photo though.

It was a beautiful evening to be out at sea

The next day we had a hot day in Scotland (a bit too hot for our hike) and a quick dip was needed!

We loved our time here - the park up, the pubs and the people. We might call in again to catch up with Lydia, who is one of the tour guides and call in The Puffer - the pub/cafe on the island where we had an absolutely lovely meal. We might also see Josh again - he will be working on a farm in Shetland when we are there.

Blair Atholl to Mull

After leaving the Stirling area we travelled north to the Cairngorm National Park and Blair Atholl, where we stayed on the estate of Blair Castle. The campsite was big but had nice walks, free entry to the castle grounds and discounted entry to the castle.

An interesting fact about this castle - it has its own private army - the only one in Europe - the Atholl Highlanders.

Lots of wild flowers that I haven't seen before

Some pics from inside the castle.

Amazing weapons collection!

This dress is over 270 years old! So around 1753!
Is hand painted Chinese silk with gold thread 

I quite like a fan!

We even learned about the language of the fan!

We left Blair Atholl for the Island of Mull and had a lovely drive along a small road where we stopped for a walk and a cuppa.

However, before we reached Oban we had a text telling us that the dock at Craignure (on Mull) was faulty so vehicles could not be accepted. One option was a 3 hour detour to another ferry or do something different - we decided on the latter.

After a night in a small layby along a narrow road we decided to carry along that road over the old Clachen Bridge and on to a place called Ellenabeich. The Clachen sound is connected to the Atlantic at both ends so the bridge is known as 'The Bridge over the Atlantic'. For two weeks a year it is covered in purple flowers which have been decorating the bridge since it was built in 1792. When it was renovated, the flowers were removed and local people planted them in their gardens before they were replanted in the bridge.

Fairy Foxgloves on the side of the bridge

When we arrived we realised that we had found a little gem in a tiny little village with a tiny island you could get to in a beautiful bay overlooked by cliffs. We immediately decided to stay for at least two nights, as the village also had a motorhome park up area. This morphed into 4 nights! Mull could wait.

This is where we stayed (below), more in the next post.

Engineering, Art and History

We were based in between Stirling and Falkirk for 5 days - the truck went in for a service at Ford in Stirling. Phil and Purdy stayed at Ford for a couple of hours where Phil worked and Purdy got pampered by the staff! Dee went into Stirling and wandered around the historic centre and castle area. 

We were impressed with the Falkirk Wheel - it's basically a canal boat lift. It's pretty ingenious and was opened relatively recently in 2002. The boat goes in from the canal basin at the bottom and joins the canal at the top - which travels through a tunnel and then joins the main canal system. Or vice versa.

On the same day we went over to see the Kelpies - they are 30 metres high and inspiration was taken from Clydesdale horses who would have worked alongside the canals. A kelpie is a shape shifting mythical spirit of Scottish lochs - but are often in the form of horses. They are great sculptures.

This very ornate monument below is the Wallace Monument, dedicated to Sir William Wallace. He was a Scottish knight, fighting for Scottish independence. He was a leader in the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 which defeated the English army. This monument opened in 1869 and is 220 feet high. We went inside up to the top where you get a 360 degree vista - the spiral staircase is that bit on the outside on the left. There were different levels inside which have displays and info.

The Acton Coat of Arms - you could design your own!

Great 360 degree view from the top

We also visited the site of the Battle of Bannochburn in 1314, won by Robert the Bruce, another Scottish Knight, against the English - on their way to Independence - sounds a familiar story! We took part in a "Battle Experience" at the visitor centre and had a walk around the grounds where there is this impressive monument to Robert the Bruce.

We were then worn out of history!