Storm clouds gathering ...

The island of Kerrera sits protectively across the mouth of Oban bay, and has Oban marina on its east side. The small tidal island you can see on the left is privately owned Rubh'a Chruidh, while most of Kerrera is owned by the Mc Dougalls of Dunollie. The McDougalls take great pride in tracing their ancestry back to the great Lord of the Isles, Somerled, but have had varying fortunes, and Kerrera has been in and out of their hands over the years. At the moment they are preparing to open the 1745 house in Spring, having had a trial run end of last year with delicious cream teas on offer. They also had the first re-weaving of an ancient tartan they came across in the form of curtains - a cheery and joyous red. Hope their endeavours come to fruition, their history deserves to be told.

This picture was taken from Dunollie Castle as we watched storm clouds rolling in from the south.