Halftown Cottages

Glorious Weather

2010-01-23T21:17:00.003Z

What a remarkable country is this land of Scotland. Only weeks ago and we had the weather below.Fiona and I struggled to keep the cottages open for our guests.The wee roadway froze up and at one point the water threatened to go off.Some of our neighbours came to use our toilets and we were glad to oblige. Now this glorious weather today. You could shave or put on make up in your relection in the loch.Don't worry,there are no monsters in Loch Fyne.So we have been told anyway.

Christmas 2009

2010-01-05T11:18:00.003Z

Christmas 2009 was one of the coldest on record.We struggled to keep the drive to the cottages opened and had to go to the Argyll and Bute Council gravel store at St Catherine's for gravel.The reward for our guests and ourselves was the sheer beauty of it all. The blue skies and the snow covered moutains were quite staggering.

2009-09-06T17:37:00.005+01:00

From The Hills Above Halftown

This is Inveraray, probably the typical Scottish town. It is 15 miles from Halftown around the top of Loch Fyne. There is much to see and do there. For most of our guests it is on the first day's visit.

2009-02-13T10:27:00.003Z

Fancy a seaplane ride--or a dram? (but not at the same time!)

Loch Fyne Whiskies

Probably the finest stock of whisky in Scotland

(20 minutes from Halftown)

https://www.lfw.co.uk/about/interior.html

Loch Lomond Seaplanes

(30 Minute drive from Halftown)

http://www.lochlomondseaplanes.com/

2008-12-23T11:43:00.002Z

Day Visit

Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument

From the end of the 13th century till almost the beginning of the 15th century the Anglo Norman Plantagenet kings of England,Edward 1st, Edward II and
Edward III pressed territorial claims on Scotland. This led to a number of brutal invasions of Scotland and ruthless counter attacks on the north of England, as far south as York.The relationship between Scotland and England at that time was one of almost continuous war. Find out more . Visit the Bannockburn Heritage Centre, http://www.instirling.com/sight/bannock.htm the national Wallace Monument www.nationalwallacemonument.com and Stirling Castle http://www.instirling.com/sight/castle.htm .Stirling is also an excellent shopping centre.

Schedule

Leave Halftown between 0800 and 0900 hours.
Turn right at the bottom of the drive and drive to Arrochar, then on to Tarbet.
At the Tarbet Hotel turn hard left on to the A82. Drive to Crianlarich. At Crianlarich turn right and follow signs for Perth and Stirling.

2008-12-20T13:01:00.002Z

Day Visit

Glenfinnan Monument

See the spot where Prince Charles Edward Stuart raised the clans in 1745 in an effort to regain the thrones of Scotland and England.This is also one of the most magnificent railway journeys in Europe.

Schedule 0900 hours . Leave Halftown .Twelve/Fifteen minute drive to the railway station at Arrochar. There are adequate parking facilities at Arrochar station. Train arrives 0937 hours.Pay on the train. Arrochar station is unmanned. Check with the conductor that you are on the correct section of the train ,as the train normally divides at Crianlarich ,with one section going to Oban.

The train arrives at Glenfinnan at 1244 hours.Alight and view the monument. For other things to do have a look at the Glenfinnan website on;

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/glenfinnan/glenfinnan/

Return trains leave Glenfinnan at 1651 hours, arriving Arrochar at 2007 hours,or 1903 hours arriving Arrochar 2248 hours.Pick up your car for the short drive to Halftown. Relax at Halftown over a bottle of wine or a dram purchased at Glenfinnan and reflect on a stunning ,historical and memorable day.

2008-12-20T11:33:00.002Z

Day (or Longer) Visits

Staffa and Fingal's Cave

'Beyond Awesome' --Halftown Guest

Visit the island and go into the huge and magnificent sea cave and hear the sounds that inspired Mendelsohn's Scottish Symphony" and his "Hebridean " Overture.

Schedule
0800 hours .Leave Halftown and drive via Inveraray to Oban. This itself is a quite magnificent drive through the mountains. When you arrive in Oban the Caledonian Macbrayne Ferry terminal is well signposted and anyway you can see the ferries at their berths. Ferries leave at 0950 and 1155. The earlier one gives you a fuller day. The sail to Mull takes 50 minutes. Full meals are available on these large car ferries.

Go to the ferry terminal office and book.If you are not taking your car remember to book the tour bus there also. There are adequate car parking facilities.On arrival on Mull walk to the tour bus for the guided tour to the village of Fionphort,or drive to Fionphort if you are taking your car .There are also of course tour buses going to Tobermory,the Balamory of children's TV.

At Fionphort there are regular high powered boats travelling the 20 minute sail to Staffa. No need to book.They will allow you to land at Staffa and walk round the cave. Unfortunately this tour is not suitable for the disabled.You can also travel from Fionphort to the holy island of Iona,the sight of the early Columban Christian missions to Scotland.There are both Protestant and Catholic places of residence on Iona. Cars are not permitted on Iona.

2008-11-26T13:28:00.006Z

Deer at the Door

Several of our guests have reported deer around the cottages and on the driveway. The deer tend to come down from the hills during the winter in search of food. Human settlement usually means just that. Watch when driving along the main roads for them. If you hit one you will probably kill it, but it will probably write off your car at the same time! Whatever else do not leave seriously injured deer to die in agony. Phone the police. It is a potential road safely hazard and warrants their intervention.They are more afraid of you than you are of them. However locals tell us that male guests should not appear too challenging towards the stags during the rutting season! Dogs will tend to chase them in spite of your shouts to stop,so keep an eye on larger dogs. Although it is not generally appreciated, they can outrun dear and are very much more likely to get lost in the hills after the chase.

2008-10-20T23:46:00.001+01:00

Rest and be Thankful

If you come to Halftown from Glasgow you will cross the Erskine Bridge then drive down Loch Lomond side. These are the Bonnie Banks of history,song and folklore.You come to the small village of Arrochar.You are now only about a fifteen minute drive from Halftown. First however you must go over the mountain pass called the Rest and be Thankful. It is 2000 feet above sea level,so do not be surprised if you ears start to pop.Look down below into the glen,but not if you are the driver or you might end up down there. You will see the remains of the old road into the highlands. This was built in 1745 to bring troops into the highlands incase there was another Jacobite rising.The soldiers would march up that road and when the got to the little loch at the top ,called Loch Restil,they were allowed to stop and rest and would say Restil and be thankful. That is how the name came into being.

2008-10-20T20:45:00.002+01:00

The Winter Days

Even as Autumn gives way to winter there are things to do at Halftown. Spend some time away from the comfort of the log fire and the soul refreshing peace at Halftown and drive fifteen miles to Cruach Mohr to the wind farm there. This family did. The children were rewarded,to their astonishment,by a once in a lifetime experience of actually looking down on and aircraft in full flight. Magic for the children and a bit scary for the adults,

2008-10-20T20:29:00.003+01:00

Autum on Loch Eck

The autumn slowly moves towards winter and boat owners bring their little vessels in for the season. Happy and many have been the beautiful days on the loch. The mountains look down on you ,almost with amusement, as they have done almost since the beginning of time.The memories get intermixed with the memories of those who have lived on these banks for hundreds of years.Time now ,when the dark nights come in, to go for a drink or a refreshment in the Coylet Inn or the Whistlefield Inn and enjoy good company and shared experiences of life and the eternal loch.