Loch Awe from the Duncan Ban Memorial

Probably our most successful day in our mini-holiday in Argyll. We drove over to the top ie. north of Loch Awe intending to visit Castle Kilchurn and drive all the way down the loch. As it was quite a drive over there we had to wet our whistle before proceeding which we did at the Glenorchy Hotel. Whilst we did this over a coffee and a delicious scone, cream and jam we got talking to the owner of the hotel who advised us of the best local beauty spots and how to get to Castle Kilchurn which is appallingly badly sign-posted. He suggested that we first visit the Duncan Ban Memorial as it gives a splendid 360 degree view of the local area including fabulous views of Loch Awe. Although this is sign-posted in Dalmally it is way up a forest track and far off the beaten track but definitely worth a visit as the views are stunning. Today was not quite the clear day we had been promised. There were one or two patches of blue but there was no direct sunlight. Even in these conditions it was well worth the wee climb up to the memorial.

Duncan Ban is a local oral poet who could neither read nor write but whose poems were transcribed for him. Castle Kilchurn is also well worth a visit , a partially derelict castle but with sufficient battlements, chimneys and walls to be a wee gem. Although it is an unattended Scottish Heritage site you can climb up stairs to at least three levels in the castle and all of these give great views down Loch Awe. We spent quite a time there as I was trying to photograph sand martins in flight who were nesting in some of the chimneys and battlements. It is a wee walk to the castle across a grassy marshland and on the way back I was delighted to see some damselflies and have a go at photographing them even though I did not have the best lens for the job with me.

The journey down a single-track road alongside Loch Awe proved a bit of a chore as there were few views of the loch and an endless windy road that took about an hour's driving. Don't be beguiled by maps that show roads going along side lochs in Scotland because as often as not the trees and vegetation will totally spoil the view. Unfortunately this meant we did not reach Kilmartin until 3.00 pm and both the chef from the visitor centre had departed and the local pub had stooped serving food so we had to sustain ourselves with cakes and coffee.

We rounded off our day with an exploration of the standing stones and the Danadd in Kilmartin Glen and a brilliant meal at the George in Inverary.