Don't tempt him, lime green!!!
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Write Up there's a Storm on Bute, Kintyre and Arran July 24
- Thread starter Kate and rod
- Start date
Yes it's Scotland, Isle of Bute first stop. Day 1 York to Faugh, pronounced faff. String of Horses, 124 miles. Word of warning, A689 from Brampton to Alston and large parts of the B6277 Alston to Middleton in Teasdale have just been resurfaced and there's piles of gravel, 20mph, avoid for now. They will be excellent in a few weeks tho and are great roads. pub has 14 rooms loads of parking, good food and beer. 12oz tomahawk pork and award winning proper pie.
Day 2 String of Horses Faugh to Kingarth Hotel Isle of Bute. The Krankies used to stay here in Faugh, apparently!
Quick sprint up the M6, then A75 to Dumfries A76 to Kilmarnock, great twisty bits, over to Irvine A71, A78 to Wemyss ferry terminal. Robbie Burns memorial at Mauchline.
Looking across to Arran from Seamill
Super quiet on the roads, guess people were either at or watching Glasto or the Euros. Didn't have to wait long for the ferry.
did have to wait to dock tho as the only seagoing passenger paddlesteamer in the world, the PS Waverley, was ahead.
built in 1946 it ran from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long until 1973. Then moved to the Mumbles Swansea where a 3 year old little boy named Rodney took a day trip with his Mam and Grandma to Ilfracombe and back. On boarding said vessel he went into a metaphorical sh#tting of the pants and had to be calmed down by a big box of smarties from his Grandma. Off the ferry, full of smarties and with clean trousers....
checked in to hotel, then drive round the island, Ettrick bay above, view of Arran below
172 miles top down all the way. Food is cracking, here's my scallop starter, get a load of the huge roes! Staying 3 nights then guess where next? Clue it involves 3 ferry trips in one day! Don't worry am prepared bought a multipack of smarties!
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Day 3. Oh.....................bugger!!!!!
But the day ended well with some homegrown Isle of Bute venison!
But the day ended well with some homegrown Isle of Bute venison!
Day 4 on Rods phone. Bus to Rothesay, Victorians used to like it. Original toilets preserved on the old harbour
Womens weren't that impressive, Rod took these in the men's and didn't see him from some hours
Rothesay castle was occupied by Norwegians as Bute and other islands were used by them, then to Scots got it by treaty after lots of wars
Original pit jail
The Waverley made an appearance
last but not least, God they know how to eat around here
Womens weren't that impressive, Rod took these in the men's and didn't see him from some hours
Rothesay castle was occupied by Norwegians as Bute and other islands were used by them, then to Scots got it by treaty after lots of wars
Original pit jail
The Waverley made an appearance
last but not least, God they know how to eat around here
Day 5....... The day with 3 ferries
Left Kingarth hotel,excellent place, great ambience, friendly locals, superb food and Rod drank the Jarl dry
Ferry Rhubodack to Colintraive across the Kyle's of Bute.
Its very far!
Round a loch to the metropolis of Portavadie, check out those numbers!
.Fully expect the views would've gorgeous but mist and heavy rain hid them from us.
. On the ferry
Off the ferry in Tarbet, chicken schwarma wrap at a great deli that even sold tablet ice cream
On Kintyre over to the ferry for Arran, first in the queue.
First on the ferry and first off
Left Kingarth hotel,excellent place, great ambience, friendly locals, superb food and Rod drank the Jarl dry
Ferry Rhubodack to Colintraive across the Kyle's of Bute.
Its very far!
Round a loch to the metropolis of Portavadie, check out those numbers!
.Fully expect the views would've gorgeous but mist and heavy rain hid them from us.
Off the ferry in Tarbet, chicken schwarma wrap at a great deli that even sold tablet ice cream
On Kintyre over to the ferry for Arran, first in the queue.
First on the ferry and first off
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On to Arran turned right for Blackwaterfoot to the Kinloch hotel, beautiful coastal road.
Here we are in lovely sunshine for 2 night before last ferry Brodick to Troon.
A piffling 63 miles. View from our room over to Kintyre.
Here we are in lovely sunshine for 2 night before last ferry Brodick to Troon.
A piffling 63 miles. View from our room over to Kintyre.
I bet that was dear!
Day 6 south coast bus trip to Brodick.
Blackwaterfoot on the west coast quaint little seaside village with a huge harbour
and if Carlesburg made bus stops they'd probably ...
south coast views
Ailsa Craig to the right of the island
Brodick
And the Irish cattermaran setting off
Had a late lunch in Brodick so went for fine dining in the bar
And lovely views
Blackwaterfoot on the west coast quaint little seaside village with a huge harbour
south coast views
Ailsa Craig to the right of the island
Brodick
And the Irish cattermaran setting off
Had a late lunch in Brodick so went for fine dining in the bar
And lovely views
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You’re parked across from Kathleen’s shop in Tarbert and we’re in Stratford upon Avon 
Small world, watching the clouds screaming by in the distance on Arran.You’re parked across from Kathleen’s shop in Tarbet mins and we’re in Stratford upon Avon
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Day 7, Brodick to Troon ferry cancelled!! Right, thinking heads on, tell you tomorrow.
Hi Rod and Kate,
Despite the phone damage and the ferry cancellation I hope you are having a GREAT time. Really really like the tour you are doing and very envious - especially the stay in the small hotels/inns - the food looks very appetising and no doubt I think I would not stop until the scales groaned !!!!!
Perhaps when I get a bit more time and health permits I will try to emmulate your trip so keep the info coming !!!
Despite the phone damage and the ferry cancellation I hope you are having a GREAT time. Really really like the tour you are doing and very envious - especially the stay in the small hotels/inns - the food looks very appetising and no doubt I think I would not stop until the scales groaned !!!!!
Perhaps when I get a bit more time and health permits I will try to emmulate your trip so keep the info coming !!!
Great pics. 
The bus stop has a little table and chair at the far end - what's that about?
The bus stop has a little table and chair at the far end - what's that about?
Day 7 part 2 the one with more ferries than we were expecting. So the Alfred had a problem with the bow thruster and was cancelled. The other ferry to Arsedrossan was full, wacky races dash down the west coast to Lochranza, with god knows how many other people! Missed the first ferry by 8 cars so took some pics and kept calm.
this community pub with rooms looked nice looking into the Kilbrannan sound
this part of the island has golden eagles, red squirrels and deer, all hiding today
made it onto the 12 o'clock ferry packed in like sardines
Waved Bye to Arran
Waved Bye to Arran
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Day 7 part 4
Clanoig on Kintyre, more wacky races then straight into the ferry in Tarbet, jammy. Portavadie on loch Fyne. A8003 to Glendaruel, lovely views of Loch Ridden this time. Via temp road as bridge broken
Clanoig on Kintyre, more wacky races then straight into the ferry in Tarbet, jammy. Portavadie on loch Fyne. A8003 to Glendaruel, lovely views of Loch Ridden this time. Via temp road as bridge broken
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Holy loch
Day 7 part 6 lucky to book into String of Horses again. Total time in car 9 hours, total miles for the day 193.
Most bizarre, man unrolls 18 foot Burmese python skin in the bar and is the measured up for a waistcoat, no pics as the reluctant photographer had had enough. Pie for tea again
Most bizarre, man unrolls 18 foot Burmese python skin in the bar and is the measured up for a waistcoat, no pics as the reluctant photographer had had enough. Pie for tea again
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It's for your cup of tea or pint!Great pics.
The bus stop has a little table and chair at the far end - what's that about?