The small town of Inveraray on the shores of Loch Fyne has been the seat of the Clan Campbell for centuries. Land was granted to the clan chief by King Robert the Bruce as a reward for the clan’s support at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, and there has been a castle here since the 1400s.
In the mid 18th century, the old 15th century castle was rebuilt, and the town was moved a little further to the west to give the castle more seclusion. Much of the town was built between 1772 and 1800, and is a classic example of a planned town of this period.
Inveraray Castle is open to the public, and boasts a superb collection of arms and armour, beautiful hand-painted interiors as well as several ghosts! The current clan chief, His Grace the Duke of Argyll, can often be found serving in the castle gift shop.
Elsewhere in the town you can visit the 19th century Inveraray Jail, or climb up Dun na Cuiache, the hill behind the castle. On top of the hill sits a small tower, which is in fact a folly built by the Duke of Argyll in 1748 – the views from here are spectacular.
For a small town there is a great selection of places to eat. We can recommend the Samphire seafood restaurant as well as the excellent bar food in the George Hotel. The local Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, just a few miles outside town, is a mecca for fans of seafood and smoked salmon which is made in the smokehouse on-site.
So the Commonwealth Games kicked off in Glasgow last night 🏅🏅🏅
The opening ceremony was typically bonkers, and featured a massive Tunnocks teacake 😂🏴
Tunnocks teacakes consist of a thin biscuit layer topped with whipped marshmallow and covered in chocolate 😋 They are wrapped in iconic red and silver foil packaging and sold all over the country, in supermarkets and often in cafes. They are a taste sensation, and the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea. Be sure to try one if you’re visiting this summer!
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
*If you’re travelling in the Highlands just now please be advised to avoid the Glenmore / Loch Morlich area due to wildfire 🥲**UPDATE - 14:15 on 16 July
Emergency services and partners continue to tackle a large-scale fire near Ryvoan Bothy. The emergency response is being coordinated at a national level involving the Scottish Government, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Police Scotland, RSPB Scotland, Forestry and Land Scotland, the Park Authority and multiple other partners.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have shared that the fire is currently affecting an area of approximately six squared kilometres. We are asking the public to follow the following guidance:
- Please do not travel to the area or attempt to access Glenmore Forest Park, Loch Morlich or the surrounding area while firefighting operations are ongoing. A strict cordon remains in place and road closures continue to support the emergency response.
- Those impacted by evacuations will have been contacted and we would ask everyone to cooperate fully with Police Scotland and other relevant authorities for their safety.
- Residents in Aviemore and surrounding areas are asked to close windows and doors to prevent smoke entering.
-Anyone with known respiratory conditions nearby is encouraged to contact 111 if they experience any difficulties. Contact 999 in an emergency.
Thermal drone footage captured by Park Authority staff last night has helped inform fire fighting efforts and highlight the scale of the fire, but the extent of the damage and the cause is not yet known.
Overnight emergency services, gamekeepers, NGO and estate staff were on the scene working tirelessly to control the fire. We are deeply grateful for their efforts, and those of the businesses and local community providing support to those affected.
We will provide further updates when we have them.
1 CommentsComment on Facebook
