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Out & About

Self catering in The Highlands

If you can bear to tear yourself away from Blaich Cottage and its private, secluded gardens encompassing 16 acres of woodland, streams and waterfalls, you will find an abundance of delights on your doorstep and within a short drive.

If you have travelled from the south by car, taking the A82, heading for Fort William, you will have crossed Rannoch Moor, a haunting and desolate place which will have lead you through Glencoe, steeped in history and atmosphere, you will have passed Buachaille Etive Mor, a much photographed and beautiful, impressive peak, which stands imposingly at the south-eastern end of Glen Coe, totally awe inspiring in any season. Rocky peaks and narrow ridges offer the best hill walking in Britain- within easy reach of your holiday home and that’s before you even reach Fort William.

Fort William, end of the West Highland Way, and start of the Great Glen cycle route to Inverness, sits under the magnificent presence of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain standing at 4406 feet (1344 metres). A truly worthwhile day out to reach the summit, but do take advice on making the ascent. There are different routes to the summit, but treat each one with caution and always go prepared. They say you have to climb ‘The Ben’ ten times before seeing the view from the summit, but that’s not always true. I was lucky enough to take the pony track up in October, with my good friend Timber, my German Shepherd, and the view was fantastic. It felt like we could see half of Scotland from the summit. Allow about 7 hours for the round trip, but visit the Information Centre for more information on mountain safety and weather conditions.

5 miles north of Fort William, you will find the Nevis Range including the mountain gondola, (Timber has also been on this!) rising to 2150 feet where you will find a restaurant and bar, plenty of seasonal activities. Also home to the Mountain Bike World Championships in September, it offers year round activities for young and old, whether just watching or partaking.

Fort William is home to the Scottish Six-Days Motorcycle Trial, first held in 1907, it is now an international event.

Just down the road at Roy Bridge check out Highland Activities who are a modern outdoor adventure centre offering quality outdoor activities including quad biking, white water rafting, canyoning & gorge walking, clay pigeon shooting, off road driving, paintballing, archery and mountain biking
http://www.highlandactivities.co.uk

If climbing is your thing, you are only a few miles away from Ice Factor, Britain’s premier indoor ice climbing wall, with the benefit of a more conventional climbing wall.

You mustn’t forget the breathtakingly beautiful Ardnamurchan Peninsula. Blaich self -catering cottage, is on the edge of some of the most remote and beautiful scenery in Scotland. Truly a relatively undiscovered piece of Scotland, you can take the single track roads through unrivalled scenery and discover some of the most perfect beaches you will ever see. Take your time, watch the wildlife, eagles, seals, pine martens and deer are often seen in close proximity to the road as it winds along the shore line.

Visit Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, the most westerly point of mainland Britain, Sanna Sands, or Tioram Castle, which is only accessible when the tide is out. Check out www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk and add Kilchoan and Ardnamurchan Point.

Take the much acclaimed ‘Road to the Isles’ where you can visit Mallaig, and catch a ferry to the small Isles, or just enjoy the bustle of a small fishing and ferry port, where I can vouch for the fresh Mallaig haddock!, or visit the Silver Sands of Morar and the quiet beaches of Camusdarach.

At the turnoff to the A830 Road to the Isles there are the ruins of Old Inverlochy Castle, which played a part in the Civil War of 1642.

On the way, you will pass the Jacobite Glenfinnan Steam Railway and viaduct famous for filming The Hogwarts Express from Harry Potter. Check out www.road-to-the-isles.org.uk

At a slower pace, just 4 miles down the road from Blaich Cottage, at Trislaig, local crafts, tea and home made cakes are served throughout the summer, where a warm welcome is assured, right opposite the Camusnagaul Passenger ferry, which will take you, your bike and/or dog across to Fort William. www.lochabertransport.org.uk

Excellent walking, fishing, bird watching, sailing, climbing or just chilling is available without ever venturing far from Blaich Cottage.

The choice is yours... Enjoy!