As some have guessed correctly, we were on a CalMac ferry across to the beautiful island of Arran – a place of very fond memories over the years. -  Memories of climbing many of its rugged peaks, long walks in all weathers, cycle trips, picnics and barbeques and importantly our first meeting. Today we relived the exhausting cycling up The String and Boguille high roads followed by the excitement of miles of freewheeling down again, but this time we travelled leisurely on a bus.  We heard that people had been trapped on the road yesterday and there was still a lot of snow on the road side but unfortunately the frequent heavy sleet showers meant that the snow covered mountains have not been visible.  Later we drove to Kildonan in the south from where this photo was taken in a brief clear period.    
The two uninhabited islands visible from the south of Arran are of great contrast to each other.  Just a kilometre off shore with its lighthouse is tear shaped  Pladda, a Norse word  meaning “Flat Isle.”   In the distance is the tall 338m (1109ft) Ailsa Craig which was often called Paddy’s Milestone because Irish labourers seeking work in Scotland said it was halfway between Belfast in Ireland and Glasgow in Scotland.  Its volcanic rock was famous for making curling stones and now as a. bird sanctuary.