Following My Nose…South

Late Monday morning I headed out of a wet and windy Fort William, for my continuing trip down the West Coast of Scotland, firstly down through Ballachulish, with a quick trip up and down the valley of Glencoe, but torrential rain reminded me how wet it can be, and denied me any reasonable views…

I then returned to Ballachulish, and travelled South on the A828, diverting to Port Appin http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/appin/portappin/ ,with views over the Bay of Loch Linne,and lots of different small islands.

I continued on the main road,travelling through the port of Oban,firstly going over the old iron work bridge and into the town, and out to Ganavan Bayhttp://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/Ganavan , where I sat for some time,watching the sea, and hoping the rain would stop - it did,occasionally !

I then continued down and along  the coast ,not sure where I would be ending up, just ‘following my nose’

As I travelled along I saw signs for Kilmartin Church and Stoneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilmartin_Stones , so stopped to see what was there..It’s an old church,from at least the 1300’s with gravestones dating back to that time, and many since – the gravestones, or slabs were particularly finely carved pieces of rock, many showing knights in armour, or sword, and probably originate back to a school of Irish masons,settled in Iona.  

 

 

 

 

A very interesting find…with information that this particular area was full of ancient archaeological sites,dotted around…more to come !

I then continued to Lochgilphead,where just outside the town there was a Forest,http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/ourwoods.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/ScotlandArgyllandButeKilmichaelForestKilmichaelForestAchnabreacAchnabreaccupandringmarkedrocks with a bike trail,which I thought may be suitable for a night stop….and it was, settling down, just before dark…and more rain…