AUGUST HOLIDAY- PART 3

Couldn't resist another couple of scarecrows from Kettlewell!

The last two days at Cononley provided a return trip to Bolton Abbey, a spectacular 0ld ruin set in superb countryside. We wnt for a walk along the river and watched a couple of fly fishermen trying to catch a trout - no luck. As we walked back to the Abbey I ran into one of my old golfing mates from the Ramsey Golf Club which just goes to show what a small world it is.Inside the Priory (which adjoins the ruins) and has had continuous worship since the 13th century,we got talking to a lovely old fellow who, when he found oout we were from OZ started talking cricket, and then told us that Freddie Trueman had been a parishioner for many years and was buried in the Abbey grounds after dying a few months ago.
On the way back to Cononley we stopped in at a little garage to see if we could get the knocking noise at the back of the car sorted out. They put it up on a hoist and after some tiime found a loose nut on a sway bar, tightened it and all was well. The charge -10 quid. As Carol had spent the last actual cash that we had with us at the Bolton Abbey shop - we tried to pay by card. "Sorry we don't take cards. "Forget about it, have it on us and enjoy the rest of your trip to Scotland!!" was the response!!
On the day before we left we visited Skipton market which occupies both sides of the main street and has unusually good quality goods. Carol got her winter jerkin and I bought two long sleeved shirts getting ready for winter. Finally managed to drag Carol away, and we packed ready for an early start to Scotland the next morning, and then went to the local to have a meal. But the little pub was packed and we couldn't bear the thought of battling lots of noise and smoke so we opted for Chinese from across the road which was excellent.
So off at sparrows for Bonnie Scotland - just a wee few miles up the road. We thought about diverting iinto Glasgow City but the amount of traffic deterred us and we stayed on the super freeway which took us some 18 miles across the whole town at 60mph. Then it was up to Loch Lomond.

This is one of the great scenic drives, alongside the Lake, and then up into the mountains. We stopped in at the National Trust Glencoe museum and were lucky enough to get in on a half hour talk about the kilt and Scottish life from a dinkey die McTavish!!The real kilt doubles as a sleeping blanket and several yards of spare material hang around the back.

We came to the ferry at Corran - a short hop across the Loch and then a 25 mmile drive to catch the next ferry across to Fishnish on Mull.The road quickly changed from a normal highway to a one way track with passing spots which considerably reduced the speed of travel. But we made the ferry on time, and a 15 minute voyage across the Loch brought us to Mull. A few miles away we came to Salem where our cottage was. It was ideally situated with a general store and post office almost adjacent, a pub and fresh seafood outlet a few steps away. We were looking forward to exploring the island and nearby islands, and fortunately the weather was ideal.