Lochs & Glens ; Boats Old & Newer

Ardgartan Article Dateline Wednesday 19th

It seems a world away now , but it is only just over a week ago that the fbbs completed their holiday at Ardgartan hotel with Lochs and Glens. And it was a final day that was truly replete with lochs (above) and glens (below).

The tour took us north from Ardgartan (off map bottpm right) to Crianlarich: west to Dalmally (GREEN road) and south to Inveraray (RED road).

The dominant building at Inveraray is its Castle ...

... seat of the Duke of Argyll. And the current duke, Torquhil Campbell ...

 ... sits there in his private apartments whilst the body of the mansion is open to the public. Torquhil (yes, really) looks quite normal in civvies!

Because the Campbells are bosses of the area (The Laird) the small community of Inveraray is designed to be pleasing to the eye ...

... with the main street providing all the traditional trades of a Scottish loch side "toon". Here ...

... you will find ancient whisky shops, ancient tartan shops, traditional coffee shops and all the necessitous ancient tourist tat shops. The supermarket (not at all ancient) is round the back by the coach park.

SIX Lochs and Glans coaches occupied the coach park on the morning of the fbb's visit, contributing substantially to the economy of the town. The fbbs chose the Woollen Mill ...

... which of course doesn't (indeed has never) milled any wool.  They eschewed the sales counters but did enjoy a pleasing cup of coffee and a visit to the necessaries.

One possible visit might have been to the town's Jail ...

... now an "immersive experience" rather than just a static museum. Those from the coach who visited,  enjoyed their immersion. Here you can be tried, found guilty ...

.. and locked in a cell. Such fun!

You are, thankfully, released in time to catch the coach! Also, happily, you don't have to look like this.

The fbbs decided that the views were more pleasing than a jail and repaired to the loch side ...

... to consume their Londis sarnies and enjoy the mirror smoothe surface of Loch Fyne.

This is Neul Munro (1863 to 1930) ...

... who was born and lived for many years in Inveraray. He is famed for an (alleged) dalliance with the then Countess of Argyll who (allegedly) was quite prolific at dalliancing; and for his stories about a Clyde Puffer and its crew. Older readers may remember one or more of the three televised series; the most memorable being portrayed by these actors.

Look them up; it is all on line.

The Clyde Puffers were the "White Van Man" of the river, its estuary and its sea lochs, delivering and carrying anything that would earn them a few quid. One day it would be coal, then next it might be highland cattle and the next a new tractor. Their steam derrick meant that thay could handle almost anything.

Para Handy's boat was the fictional "Vital Spark" a version of which is moored at Inveraray.

This is appropriate for Neil Monro and also for one of the running themes of the stories. Dan McPhail, the engineer, had but one desire in life; namely to spend a night in what he considered the poshest ever hotel at Inveraray. He never got there! The closest he ever got was to be moored there where he donned his best togs and, just as he was about to escape from the engine, it "blew back", covering him with soot and grime. He never got into the hotel.

After a pleasant time doing nothing the fbbs and their party returned to Loch Lomond side (lower right) ...

... for a cruise on the Loch.

The sun still shone and the views were simply gorgeous, hard to capture in pictures as you cannot always grasp how big the mountains (bens) are in reality.

Sadly the open top deck was fully occupied when the coach arrived, but inside was  a good second best with comfy seats and a tartan carpet ...

... of course!

There was even a little caff manned by driver's assistant.

And did fbb say something about the views?

It was just a wee cruise, but there was one stop to pick up a couple of passengers ...

...  and it is that stop which will provide the oft postponed answer to a recent puzzle picture.

But that answer is further postponed until tomorrow's blog when all will be revealed.

Blame Hulleys collapse for the delay!

Fathers' Day Soon ...

... and a model every OO gauge branch line layout needs for absolute accuracy and authenticity. What could be more appropriate for your little tank engine to haul around your sweet country branch line?

Yep, a so-called Boche Buster WW2 gun! It would look nice amongst the milk churns at a sleepy branch line station.

Cynical, Moi?

And ONLY £56.05 on offer from Rails of Sheffield.

No, fbb will not!

Talking Of Hulleys ...

It is reported that an application for an operators' licence has been lodged with the Traffic Commissioners for a company called Barlow Transport Services. The application is for 20 vehicles.

Two items of interest. BaRlow is just along the road from BaSlow, the home of the defunct Hulleys.

More significantly, the MD of the (proposed) Barlow Travel Services is a Mr Alf Crofts.

Now where have be heard that name before?

It's A Shambles

STOP P.RESS 

High Peak bus compnay withdraws from the 170 leaving the route to Stagecoach. The Stagecoach route represents a reduction of service as buses will not serve the hospital at Chesterfield.

To make matters worse, Hulleys ran their last buses on Tuesday, a day earlier than the company had announced, leaving most of their routes unserved on Wednesdday.

 

Limburg has5NOT taken on the tender for the 257 : now with Andrews of Tideswell..

And no mention, yet, of what is happening with service 55, still shown as Hulleys in Derbyshire's timetable list.

Next Variety blog : Saturday 29th Match