Since there are a number of posts floating around about people taking the odd week in the West, I thought I'd illustrate the essential difference in approach.

At the start of August, my spouse and I are taking 8 nights in the west, We will leave Aberdeen after work on the Friday night, and take a pretty long drive over to Port Appin and spend 3 nights in the Pierhouse.

We then go to Mull for 2 nights in the Western Isles. I mean to get him to take me to Iona for the first time since my childhood.

Then back to Oban on the morning boat to catch the evening boat to Islay, for two nights in the Port Charlotte, then finishing off on the way home with a night in the Ardanaiseig.

I think, myself there's too much travelling in that, but there's 2 of us to please

But please note the distances covered in a week, between hotels. It's only about 100 miles. We'll cover a lot more from those bases, but....

Try, my sweets, to see a little of my lovely country in depth. You can always come back

Sheila, I hope it's a lovely trip. I know I didn't see a lot of your country, but God, 'twas truly beautiful!

All the best,
BC

Sheila,

I can hardly wait to see more than a little of your country next year! We are staying near Stirling (Arnprior), so a trip to Stirling Castle and Bannockburn are of course part of the plans. We'd also like to travel to Glencoe, Kelso and Edinburgh each for a day. Is there anything that's a "can't miss" that we should plan to see? While we are attempting to avoid getting to the point of having the husbands in our group say, "If I see one more castle I'm going to be ill" stage, my friend says she'll be very upset if we get home and find out we were 15 miles from something REALLY special! Enjoy your holiday in the West and thanks!

Sheila...have a lovely time exploring the new and re-exploring the old. I can't wait to hear about Ardanaiseig.

Sheila,

Have you stayed at the Ardanaiseig before? We stayed there for 2 nights last April - the food was so good we were practically running down the stairs the second evening to see the dinner menu. Would love to hear what you think of it on your return. Hope it's still as good as I remember. Do you know which room you're staying in?

We've not stayed there before. It's really out of our price range normally, but it has a great reputation and it's a special trip.

OTOH, I've just opened the confirmation to check the room name (not given) and it's DOUBLE what I thought.

Oh Good grief!

How will I tell my huband?

sheila: Tell your "huband", "oh good grief", "OTOH"(?).
Seriously, we have good friends at Largs and have had the good fortune to visit your wonderful country every two or three years. They come to the States in between. We've attended weddings, family functions and, sadly, funerals and sometimes we just go to visit. We have had no greater pleasure anywhere in the world.
Have a great trip.

You're headed to one of my favorite places on earth! Enjoy the Hebrides, land of great beauty and good cheer! A wee time in Tobermory would do your soul good as well!

Sheila, we stayed at the Pierhouse in May based on your recommendation. I told Liz that you were the reason we were there and I said she needed to comp you a free meal for all the business you send their way. She had me write down my name and said she was going to send you a voucher. Did she?

No she didn't. And don't you DARE do anything about it.

I mean it.

I won't. I was just curious. I'm sure she intended to, but she seemed to have her hands full! (The evening we were there, one of the chefs was sick. There was some type of virus going around the village and a few of their staff had been ill.)

It really was one of our favorite stops and the food was divine!

Sheila

Where are you staying in Mull? We so loved the small part of Scotland that we saw, especially Iona and Ulva.

Hi, Clousie cat. How are you?

It's a special "do" so we bypassed the Harbour B&B- my last Tobermory stopping off point- for the Western Isles.

I haven't been to Iona since I was a sprog- on the King George V, no less, so I want to go there. I haven't quite broken that to Keith yet. He probably thinks two islands is enough (and tha's without Lismore or Gigha)

Sheila,

Don't tell your husband until after your trip - he'll then realise it was worth every penny!

He's PAYING!!

Hi Sheila,

I've never been lucky enough to stay at the Ardanaiseig but I have visited for drinks & a nosey around - very impressive & in a lovely location. From what I remember it's a just short walk to a beautiful view across Loch Awe to Portsonachan.

Oh.....and if your husband does have a fit about the money you can get a nice meal at the more modest Kilchrenan Inn down the road!

Jim

It probably wouldn't have mattered had I not (inadvertantly; honest) misled him.

I think it may not matter anyway. I hope.

I'm just looking at the Western isles web site. What a fantastic view. I think I may not move off the terrace (assuming the rain goes off)

I'm sure your hubby will be ok - just keep telling him what a good place it is.

I'm going to Mull with a friend and her 8 yr old daughter a week on Sat for whale/dolphin watching trip. I looked at The Western Isles website - it looked lovely and yes, that terrace view was spectacular but I wondered if it might not be very child friendly for dining at night. So, I've booked The Tobermory Hotel instead - have you been there or heard anything about it?

I know it from the outside. It's on the Harbour and at the near end. It looks like a quietish place with OK food. Location is very good and central.

Shops I love in Tobemory? The Chandlery and book shop; Mull Silver; the bakery/deli; the craft fair in the hall.

Hi Sheila,

We are finalising our trip from Dublin in August. We got a B&B in Edinburgh for the tattoo and now we decided to take the ferry over from Belfast to have the car.

We are thinking of Oban and Mull per your suggestions any websites you could reccommend. We may just wing a day or too and go further north. He wants to get me out of Edinburgh because I want to go to Ikea and he is afraid I am going to fill up the car (WIll try my best!).

Also I wanted to see the Roslyn Church...is this a long drive from Edinburgh? I am curious to see all the carvings in the church, it sound lovely.