Thursday 29 November 2012

Walking in Spean Bridge, Fort William area

If you are coming to Scotland for walking have a look at the Walk Highland website http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ for routes and info.

Once you are here the Glen Nevis Visitors Centre has information about current weather conditions, they
know the mountains, and they can also help people find a guide and match to their abilities.

You could also attend the Mountain Safety Lectures run by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland at the Claichaig in Glencoe. 
 
Alternatively outdoor gear shops, Ellis Brigham and Nevis Sport have informative staff and weather and avalanche forecasts.

Saturday 29 September 2012

Photography holiday package in the Highlands



Just a wee reminder that our Photography Holiday Package is coming up from the 2nd to the 6th of November. We will take care of all the arranging and transporting you to the best locations and you just have to take great pictures.

There are a maximum of six spaces on this package to allow our professional photographer Ian MacLeod to give you his personal attention.
Full details here http://www.nevispix.com/Photography%20tours.htm reply to this email or give us a call on 01397 712452 (+44 1397 712452 from outside UK)

Looking ahead to December we will be open on the 19th to the 23rd inclusive which might be of help to anyone travelling up to the Islands for Christmas.

This year we will be open at New Year.
Open from the 28th of December until the 6thof January.

Tuesday 7 August 2012

Photography Holiday here in the Scottish Highlands

Hello

Just a reminder that our photography holiday package is coming up in November. We have teamed up with professional photographer Ian MacLeod of Nevispix to provide a hassle free all in one package of photography, accommodation and food.

Ian will drive you to all the best sites in Lochaber including Glen Coe, Rannoch Moor, Ben Nevis and the Road to the Isles.

Have a look at Ian's website for more information including dates and prices
http://www.nevispix.com/Photography%20tours.htm

Thursday 5 April 2012

Distant Hills Guest House, Spean Bridge has a day out to Plockton

Hello

Not much time to say anything today as lots to do but we had a great day out yesterday up to Plockton and back. Its about a 1.5 to 2 hour drive to get there especially if you are stopping for photographs from time to time.
It was so peaceful in Plockton and I would suggest you go there before it gets really busy later in the year.
Lunch was at the Plockton Inn. Two starters - trio of salmon and spicy sea food chowder followed by a seafood platter to share. All delicious and very filling and really friendly staff.
Coffee on the way back at Eilean Donan Castle - you know the castle in the adverts. They seem to make their own scones and cakes and they are great and the Latte was good as well.
Here are my photos including some from my hopeless mobile phone.
Duirinish a wee township on the way from Kyle to Plockton

Rab C would love this boat


Plockton bay


Plcokton Bay

Open Day Easter weekend looks interesting






Eilean Donan castle (and tea and cakes)

Thursday 22 March 2012

The Great Glen Way - Day One from Fort William to Spean Bridge

Hello

Running a guesthouse in Spean Bridge we get lots of people staying with us at the end of the first day on the Great Glen Way. Whilst of course I have driven both the main road and the back road from Fort William to Spean Bridge a million times I have never walked the walk.

So today I caught a lift from my daughter into Fort William at 6:45am (because she starts work at 7) and started the walk.

The first thing I saw of interest was a red deer doe in the middle of Fort William in some wild ground. Not long after that a few more deer on the outskirts area called Black Parks.
I arrived in the village of Caol at 7:45 to pick up my father in law and from there we set off again at 8:15. Having been to Corpach Sea Lock numerous times we took a shortcut straight to Banavie and Neptunes Staircase on the canal. Here we came upon this friendly wee Westie dog.







 Just leaving Neptunes Staircase we saw the familiar sight of Fingals activity holiday barge all ready for the season.
 The reflections in the glassy smooth canal were amazing today.
This is Moy Bridge taken from a little mooring in the water and then from a little hillock at the the side of the canal

We arrived at Gairlochy at 11 and had an early lunch sitting on the banks of the River Lochy in glorious sunshine.
Heading off again at 11:30 we reached Spean Bridge at 1pm . So it probably took about 5 and a half  hours all together. Its about 10 miles from Fort William to Gairlochy and 3.7 miles to our guesthouse Distant Hills in Spean Bridge.

I really enjoyed the walk and found the scenery and history very interesting.

My top tips for the Great Glen Way are:
  • Take clothing for all weathers
  • Walking shoes should be sufficient rather than hill walking boots. To my knowledge there are no rough walking sections and boots may be too hard on your feet when walking on canal towpaths and tarmac road sections
  • Book a toilet key from British Waterways which you can pick up from the office at Corpach Sea Lock. Toilets are dotted along the Way at the canal locks
  • There is nowhere selling food and drink after Banavie until you reach the Old Pines Hotel just before the Commando monument about 2 miles from Spean Bridge
  • If you are walking during peak season and especially weekends book your accommodation and evening restaurant in advance
If you have any questions I would be happy to answer them.

Peter

Sunday 19 February 2012

Accommodation provider in Spean Bridge takes a trip to Ardnamurchan

Hello

Lovely day today and fantastic views from the West end of the Ardnamurchan route towards Eigg and Skye. Eigg was so well defined - I have never seen the features of the island so clearly. Behind it loomed the snow capped mountains of the Cuillins on Skye.

We eventually stopped for lunch at Kilcamb Lodge in Strontian and it was delightful. Its a beautiful setting and the interior of the hotel is comfortable and relaxing with bags of character. The meal was light with great flavours and superb presentation. Service was spot on. Value is outstanding - £18 for three courses and coffee!

Turning to go home we stopped to take this photograph looking across Loch Linnhe towards the Pap of Glencoe.

Saturday 18 February 2012

Hydro electric scheme near the Great Glen Way - this Spean Bridge accommodation provider has a look

Hello
Scottish and Southern Energy has submitted an application for consent to the Scottish Government to construct the largest hydro project to be built in Scotland and the first brand new pumped storage scheme to be developed in Great Britain since work began on the Dinorwig scheme in Wales in 1974.

It would be located high above Loch Lochy  about 10 miles North of Spean Bridge. If you have walked the Great Glen Way think of it being on your left as you walked North from Gairlochy along the shore of Loch Lochy. This is a link to a Bing map showing the high coire and the stream flowing from it and it must be along the route of the stream that the dam will be constructed Sron a'Choire Ghairbh. There is a rocky stream that cuts across the Great Glen Way at Kilfinnan farm which I presume is the stream in question as it prepares to enter Loch Lochy.

If you are walking the Great Glen Way in the near future do not be concerned as even if consent is granted for the works it will not commence until 2014 at the earliest. It is interesting however that they have planned to reroute the walk even at this stage in their plans.

As people and a business that likes to do the right environmental things we appreciate the need for more low carbon energy sources but this project will surely have a massive impact on the natural environment. From my laymans understanding the project will be a larger version of the Cruachan Hydro scheme near Oban http://www.visitcruachan.co.uk/ which is actually an interesting place to visit when your are in this area. From memory this hydro scheme has little visual impact.

If it does go ahead it would be good to see more UK based contractors involved than seems to have been the case at the recent scheme above Fort Augustus.

Two final links. SSE's own press announcement http://www.sse.com/PressReleases2012/CoireGlasPlanningApplication/ and Power Engineerings news article
http://www.power-eng.com/news/2012/02/17/energy-giant-s-gbp800m-vision-for-hydro-dam-in-great-glen.html

The picture below is of the Caledonian Canal looking South with the hills high above Loch Lochy to the right. The proposed scheme would be in behind those hills and flowing out into Loch Lochy near the canal

Wednesday 15 February 2012

Running the washing machines for free - Accommodation in Spean Bridge is getting a little greener

Hello


The solar panel installers arrived today and although still working at 7pm in the dark the work is largely done. Just need the sparkies (good Scottish word for electricians) to come back at the weekend to finish off their work and we will start generating lovely free electricity.

As we are at home all day everyday and running two washing machines, two tumble dryers, an industrial iron for the sheets, four freezers, three fridges and Lesley's hair straightners (:-), we thought it made sense.

And maybe when you come to stay you can feel like you are doing a little bit for the enviroment even when on your holidays by staying at Distant Hills! (hope that was not too sickly but its true)

Sunday 12 February 2012

Photography holiday package

Hello

Just three spaces left on our photography holiday starting on the 16th of March and finishing on the morning of the 20th. £685 for all meals, accommodation, professional photography guide and transport for the period.
See our website under "Whats New" for details.
http://www.distanthillsspeanbridge.co.uk/index.php#special

Sunday 5 February 2012

Glen Affric - the most beautiful glen in Scotland? This Spean Bridge accommodation provider has a look

Another Sunday and another outing to find the best places for you to visit on your holiday in Spean Bridge.

Its 65 miles from Spean Bridge to the end of the road in Glen Affic but it was well worth it. First of all the Strathglass glen is amazing to see as it opens out before your eyes. A long flat valley bottom high in the hills and stretching out as far as you can see.

After passing through the village of Cannich you head towards Glen Affric itself. I particularly liked the Scots pine trees and the islands in the loch. Mullardoch hydro dam is very impressive plus you can walk along the top of it.

Still lots of ice up the Glen as you will see from the pictures.





 Whilst in this glen do not miss Tomich village. Beautiful old houses, post office and hotel.

For more information on this area click here http://www.glenaffric.org/glen_cannich.html