The Machrie, Machrahanish and Machrahanish Dunes Early Autumn 2020

[IanM]

Calm down.... if this gets cancelled you'll need medication!

Just spotted a little Guest Hooose , sorry House in Bowmore for pre Machrie stage... My contract ends in March, I may need to work the summer to pay for it - or get my missus to pay her share!

 

[IanM]

This is blooming consuming my week! Off work with the lurgy, but sat on the blooming laptop!!

Final questions:
1) Did you get anywhere talking to the Machrie about better rates before the official Thursday Glyn? (I got nowhere, sorry to ask if you havent had time to try)

Everyone else....

2) I panicked when I went to book the ferry!! I see you get them from Kennacraig - but they go to/from Port Askaig and / or Port Ellen - which are folk booked on? Ellen is closer to the Course - is that where the 18:00 one folk mentioned goes from?

3) The map has a ferry route from Cambeltown to Ardrossan marked - Edit - just been told by a lovely lady at the Ferry Co that this route stops in late Sept. (But she mentioned an unbookable route via Arran back to Ardrossan! Will check that out)

Edit: - and you can avoid a long drive by getting Ferries from Claonaig/Lochranza - then Brodick/Ardrossan - I think these are not bookable and it's turn up and wait. (Weather permitting)

Will stop asking now, got to pay my blooming tax bill! eeeeeeeeeeek

 

[PhilTheFragger]

This is blooming consuming my week! Off work with the lurgy, but sat on the blooming laptop!!

Final questions:
1) Did you get anywhere talking to the Machrie about better rates before the official Thursday Glyn? (I got nowhere, sorry to ask if you havent had time to try)

Everyone else....

2) I panicked when I went to book the ferry!! I see you get them from Kennacraig - but they go to/from Port Askaig and / or Port Ellen - which are folk booked on? Ellen is closer to the Course - is that where the 18:00 one folk mentioned goes from?

3) The map has a ferry route from Cambeltown to Ardrossan marked - Edit - just been told by a lovely lady at the Ferry Co that this route stops in late Sept. (But she mentioned an unbookable route via Arran back to Ardrossan! Will check that out)

Edit: - and you can avoid a long drive by getting Ferries from Claonaig/Lochranza - then Brodick/Ardrossan - I think these are not bookable and it's turn up and wait. (Weather permitting)

Will stop asking now, got to pay my blooming tax bill! eeeeeeeeeeek

re the ferry from Kennacraig:
The 7am ferry goes to Port Ellen
The 18.00 ferry back on the Friday goes from Port Askaig

You can book both on the same ticket
£70 per car plus £14 per body inc driver ?

 

[Deleted member 17920]

This is blooming consuming my week! Off work with the lurgy, but sat on the blooming laptop!!

Final questions:
1) Did you get anywhere talking to the Machrie about better rates before the official Thursday Glyn? (I got nowhere, sorry to ask if you havent had time to try)

Everyone else....

2) I panicked when I went to book the ferry!! I see you get them from Kennacraig - but they go to/from Port Askaig and / or Port Ellen - which are folk booked on? Ellen is closer to the Course - is that where the 18:00 one folk mentioned goes from?

3) The map has a ferry route from Cambeltown to Ardrossan marked - Edit - just been told by a lovely lady at the Ferry Co that this route stops in late Sept. (But she mentioned an unbookable route via Arran back to Ardrossan! Will check that out)

Edit: - and you can avoid a long drive by getting Ferries from Claonaig/Lochranza - then Brodick/Ardrossan - I think these are not bookable and it's turn up and wait. (Weather permitting)

Will stop asking now, got to pay my blooming tax bill! eeeeeeeeeeek

Ian

My contact has been away. Think they are back next week. Will chase for you.

 

[chellie]

I'm not booking anything else up yet until after Glynn posts some more about what he's got planned for us all. No pressure there then

 

[Liverbirdie]

Islay is absolutely stunning Pete, stayed there for a month a few years back doing what the Military call MACC (Military Aid to the Civil Community) tasks, refurbishing school rooms, fixing paths to national monuments for disabled access etc, also has something like 8 Distilleries to visit

Loads to see and do, the American Monument at the Mull of OA Peninsula is worth a visit and a nice trek, worth googling prior to your visit, it’s all based around a WW1 shipping disaster, really moving and heroic stories around it.

Beaches that are beautiful and go for miles and miles,

Loads of walks, Jura just off the coast, another distillery and a decent trek up either of the Paps.
Bowmore is the main town, not very big, but a nice little selection of restaurants, especially the seafood ones.

Also worth a drive out to Portnahaven if wanting to see the seal colony.

Plenty of archaeological sites, if that floats your boat etc.

Absolutely love the place, people friendly, nice pace of life and 3-4 days you’ll fill very easily.

So, tell me about your paps......

Ive had a look at the pictures, and me and the missus love a good long walk. 5 miles is ideal, 7 if worth it, 10 at a push. 400mtr ascent, no problem, 700mtr can do, above that if it really worth it. Did this one a few months back, still had a bit left in the tank:- https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/borders/eildon-hills.shtml - cracking walk btw.

BUT.....I'm scared of heights.

I'll go up a large hill, have even walked up Snowdon. Its not so much how high you are, but more cant go near sheer cliffs or edges. I'll scramble a little bit, but if anything feels dangerous or has large drops, loose ground, its not for me. Going on the pictures some of these look like that (if not all).

We all know that to get the views, you have to go up, and I really fancy going up at least one of them, maybe even 2 of them. So the question is can you do 1 or 2 of them, but up a more gentle/safre incline, even if slower or more circuitous to get up 1 or 2, and if so which one or two.

Seal colony sounds good, and deffo fancy that distillery walk from Port Ellen, looks like a nice little 3 km walk there and back calling in on the 3 famous distilleries and having a snifter in each (wife will have to drive that day).

 

[USER1999]

From my experience on Arran, you do need to book the Brodick / Ardrossan ferry. The Lochranza one you can't book. I have used this one when the Ardrossan one was fully booked.

Claonaig did not appear in my Sat Nav either, and if you go there you will realise why.

 

[Crow]

A few people seem to be looking at Arran as a possible staging post, I thoroughly recommend all seven courses and below is a link to my review of them from 2018 along with a few pictures of each one.

https://forums.golf-monthly.co.uk/threads/vintage-golf.93646/post-1873704

 

[Liverbirdie]

Oh yes, you're getting to have a good look at some very special places in the Western Isles. I have books & maps you can borrow that will enhance an even, brief trip..... will get them to you some how or other.
Just one or two mentions for now.
Iona is stunning & holds this man's grave that they had to tastefully 'partition off' as it has so many visitors. Also I suggest the short walk through to Iona's western shell-beaches.... gleaming white on a nice day, which you may have, even in Oct.

Enjoy your day on Iona & don't be tempted to drive up the western side of Mull as you head up to the very special, Tobermoray (OK but not worth a full following day there) as you'll sample some of those tedious, winding, single-track roads the following day as I'd suggest you head down that western side to Ulva Ferry for a boat trip out to Fingel's Cave on Staffa..... book early with Turus Mara if the weather permits..... especially in Oct. WARM CLOTHES if you do!!
If weather no good then there's an interesting walk on the Isle of Ulva itself (birthplace of Dr David Livingston's Grandfather) or another, longer 6 mile, walk, along raised beaches with brilliant views to the west & then heads on to see Crackaig a 'Clearance village' & a Whisky cave (if you can find it) ... https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/mull/treshnish.shtml ...... this goes past the Treshnish Cottages that our family have stayed at many, many times.
Leaving Mull I'd suggest taking the shorter & cheaper, ferry from Fishnish to Lochaline which gives an interesting & natural drive via Fort William to Glencoe. Google for local walks as otherwise its serious mountain tops.. hahaha.
As Paul says, lots to do on Islay & Jura is defo worth a visit. I did one of the Paps many years back walking from the ferry but remember it being fairly demanding.
One of the world's biggest maelstroms, Corryvreckan, is just to the north but probs not worth a visit unless you happen on Spring tides, when you may hear it from a distance anyway.
The Islay distilleries are special but can worth out a little pricey, though some of the Whiskies can only be obtained there or by post.
Anyway loads of info on-line & these books if I can get them to you.
Great that you've decided to make a full trip of it..... hope it goes well.

Some good stuff in there Dave. I fancy the clearance village if it has stuff to read up on, as well. I think there are boat trips that do fingals, Corryvreckan and maybe another visit, and may have to see if its the right time of year to see dolphins and whales.

Yep, I originally thought go back to Oban then drive up to Glencoe, but your route looks best, as we can get the other small ferry across Loch Linnhe by Onich where we stayed a few years ago.

 

[Liverbirdie]

BTW, in case anyone from Northern Ireland, or Ireland were interested, you can get a ferry across to Islay as well as Campbeltown (passenger only, no car):-

http://www.kintyreexpress.com/

That gets you to all of the courses on this trip, BTW.

I'm sure some of the guys (including myself) may be able to help with getting you to the golf courses, between us.

Would be good to see some of the forummers from the emerald isle come - yes I'm looking at you GARY FROM DERRY!!!!!!!! Brendy, Smange etc.....

 

[IanM]

Ian

My contact has been away. Think they are back next week. Will chase for you.

I assume they haven't got back to you... will start to source the accommodation on Islay tomorrow. There isn't much on there...

 

[IanM]

Possibly and I feel guilty for asking!

 

[Deleted member 17920]

I assume they haven't got back to you... will start to source the accommodation on Islay tomorrow. There isn't much on there...

Probably busy with the Paris trip as that's April and a lot closer.

Jon is correct, the spare time I have had has been on that sorting tunnel and accommodation plus I have had actual proper work to do chasing subs ?

The Machrie have come back to me and I need to send them some info that hopefully I will get chance at the weekend.

Tomorrow I have a funeral to go to ?

 

[IanM]

....hope it goes ok tomorrow.....

 

[IanM]

All sorted now... apart from getting home from Machrahanish on the Sunday!

Drive to Carlisle, one night there, then 5 nights near Ardfern, then 3 nights on Islay in a little hotel, see you lot for lunch at The Machrie !! You know the rest!! Just got Ferries to book now!

Just added up the cost so far......eeeeeeeeeeeek!!

Anyone on the island before the main do wants to meet for dinner.... talk nearer the time!

 

[Liverbirdie]

Yep a car load of us from the south east all sorted.
Arran first for a knock at Badgers place.
All the ferries booked plus accommodation on Arran.

Only thing left to sort 9 but Im on it) is a hotel south of Glasgow Sunday night to break the journey up back to Surrey.

Whose the crew, John?

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Hi Pete

Its a long way, so we thought three in a car was plenty.

Richard - Blue in Munich
Steve - Bafger
And myself

We arrive to Arran on the Wednesday and back home the following Monday.

Hope it’s a big car

 

[Captainron]

Needs to be, two giants and a chubster

Let’s hope there are no whaling fleets about when you’re on those ferries

 

[Liverbirdie]

Hope it’s a big car

I think we're gonna need a bigger boat.....

 

[Liverbirdie]

Hi Pete

Its a long way, so we thought three in a car was plenty.

Richard - Blue in Munich
Steve - Bafger
And myself

We arrive to Arran on the Wednesday and back home the following Monday.

All good lads you've got there.