Travelling days - Loch Lomond to Isle of Mull

From Belfast we head across the Irish Sea to Scotland. We arrive very early for the ferry and it is very foggy at the terminal. We get onto the ferry and it isn't the same as the previous couple but that's ok as I have plenty to do and spend my time doing some blog.

We arrive in Loch Lomond and as we have done a couple of times before we get lost but thankfully Doris comes through for us again. We arrived in Loch Lomond around lunchtime so we made our way to the local pub which also happens to be where we have to check in for our accommodation as there isn't much else in Loch Lomond that we can see. We have a very yummy ploughman's lunch and then make our way to the local national parks centre.

Forgot to turn this one but you get the idea.

We have a look around and think we might go for a walk. There are lots of hikers around and we can see why when we do our very short walk as the area is beautiful. But we have both hit the wall today as we have been travelling for quite a few weeks now so we decide to check into our accommodation and take it easy. This is only a one night stop so we feel it would be better to enjoy the next couple of days than bust a gut now. 

Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond

Our accommodation is quite new and has a view across to the loch although it is very hazy and not a very clear view but a view nonetheless. Peter has a rest and I sit and do some more of the blog which is very behind!

View from our room

We go back to the pub for dinner which is quite good except of the slowness of the service for which we receive a discount on our bill, so that makes up for it.

We get up early to make the journey to Oban to catch the ferry to the Isle of Mull which I am looking forward to a great deal. On the way we pass a beautiful church St Conan's Kirk which is on the banks of Loch Awe so we stop to have a closer look. It was built by Walter Campbell for his mother as she found the journey to a church in Dalmally too long. It looks quite old but in fact was only dedicated to worship in 1930. It is a beautiful church which has several different areas which are amazing. We don't have long to spend there but it was a lovely stop in our journey.

St Conan's Kirk Church

Loch Awe

War Memorial near St Conan's Kirk Church

We arrive at the ferry terminal and book in then have some lunch. We don't go far as we are meant to be back to board at 1pm or so we thought but clearly we have it wrong and end up sitting waiting for about 45 minutes. This is only a short trip so not really worth getting trying to do too much just sit and watch the view. It is another gorgeous day and we arrive on the Isle of Mull around 2.45. We find our hotel and get settled in. We are informed on our arrival that apart from a tour group we are the only people booked in tomorrow night except for a wedding party. We think that's ok and the receptionist tells us how this might impact our stay as the restaurant won't be operating as that is where the wedding is but we are still able to get something from the bar and lounge menu. We tell her that we can deal with that. Little did we know that this wasn't entirely correct but we don't find that out until the  next day.

We decide we might go for a bit of a drive even though it is already quite late but we have had another day of travelling so don't want to go too far. The Isle of Mull has a lot of single track roads which means that there is only room for one car in places and you have to move to a "passing place" to let the other car get by. We didn't think this would be a problem but as we drive down one we realise that there are some people who drive like maniacs down these roads and it is quite scary. The little drive we did prepared for tomorrow's adventure. 

We get back to the hotel and freshen up for dinner which we have in the restaurant at the hotel. Another nice dinner with local produce. I am loving the smoked salmon here in Scotland as it just melts in your mouth. 

We come back up to the lounge with our computers as this is the on

Y place the wifi works to do some blogging and investigating a couple of things for our forward journey but the signal isn't strong so it is very frustrating so it's off to bed ready for tomorrow.