Ardlamont Beach (view to Arran)

Thurs 16th
The weather looked to be dry and bright, so after breakfast outdoors we decided to go for a walk to the beach on the estate. We walked along the road towards the Coach House Square where the cafe is and the turned down through the grand black gates towards the 'big house'. The road went as far as the house itself which sits about a quater of a mile back from the shore and has a fine vista over the water towards Arran. At the side of the house the road turned to an unpaved road/track and sloped downhill through trees to the beach.

The beach is bigger than we thought it might be. Perhaps quarter of a mile in length and mostly pebbles with some sand areas revealed at low tide. Maeve the Deerhound wanted to run on the firm sand but settled for a wander about. I didn't want her zooming off onto large rocks and pebbles and spoiling her holiday by getting hurt. From the beach the views over to Arran and Kintyre were breathtaking. We stayed for a while wandering along the shoreline. I enjoyed picking up litle dry bits of driftwood and collecting them up to take back for lighting the fire. It reminded me of collecting driftwood on a pebble beach when we lived on the Isle of Lewis. I used to stop on the way home from golf once or twice a month and collect enough to help light the coal and peat fire we had in our living room.

We went back to the cottage and drove up to Millhouse and went to The Barn for lunch. Since we last enjoyed a visit the building has had new windows and patio doors added and it is all painted bright white with blue window frames and looks very inviting. We had a very nice lunch and a blether with the waitress and the owner.

We drove round to Tighnabruaich and visited the Tighnabruaich Gallery. We always like to see what paintings they have. It is a good gallery with excellent quality artwork, often by Scottish artists.

The latter half of the afternoon was spent sitting in the sun in the garden at the cottage. Maeve the Deerhound can wander about in the garden much like she does at home so we can relax and read and look at the view. The time goes by as slowly as the ferry to Lochranza seems to be going in the distance. Time spent in just being here.

Dinner in the bar at the Kames Hotel. Excellent.