AUGUST HOLIDAYS -PART 4

The first day on Mull we drove along the coast to the main town (Only town) Tobermorey.Reminiscent of Cornwall but with it's own Malt Whiskey distillery.
We found out that there was a coastal walk along to the Lighthouse so we set of full of energy. The track wound through very wooded cliffs with great views of the Loch every now and again. After half an hour we passed a couple of people coming the other way, and asked them how much further to the Lighthouse to which they replied "you are nearly halfway!" As Carol didn't have her walking shoes on and the track was becoming very muddy we decided enough was enough the Photo of Len resting says it all! Then two blokes came past with buckets full of Winkles - still haven't found oout what you do to them!
Back in the town, we bought a roll and a piece of Ham and Veal Pie and sat on the beach watching young Scots splashing in the water.
We drove back to Salem via Laggunulva where the ferry goes the short trip across Loch Tuath to the Isle of Ulva. There were two guys unloading nets full of Scallops which they had been diving for. They offered to sell us a dozen for ten quid, and as they were big and fresh we snapped up the offer.
Opening scallop shells is a bit tricky but we managed and that night Carol cooked 8 of them with a leek and white wine sauce and the ten quid purchase price was suddenly very cheap.I have not had scallops like them.

The next day we drove to Craigmure,the village where the Oban ferry operates from.There is little else there, but we did visit Toorosay Castle which is home to a family who have lived there for many years. The gardens are magnificent and the house contains stacks of family memorabillia. In WW2 the patron of the family escaped from a German POW camp and later wwrote a book about his adventures. The Caastle is pictured above right.

Then it was over to Duart Castle which sits on a clifftop guarding the Sound of Mull. It is a 13th century fortress brought back to life 100 years ago by Sir Fitzroy Maclean chief of the Clan Maclean. Wonderfully presented, the history of the Maclean Clan is laid out in detail. Carol was looking at one of the exhibits when a bloke wandered up to her. He was wearing a kilt and a tatty sort of shirt -introduced himself as the Chief of the Clan Maclean. He said he did not reside there full time because it was a bit rugged particulalry in the winter! They have one function a week - Maclean Clan descendants want to get married there, some want to renew their wedding vows and others just visit their clan home. Photo top left.

We were a bit distracted by RAF Tornados practising their low level flying across the Sound of Mull - wave top flying at 600 mph was a thrilling sight.

Just acr