FoxMog Scottish Holiday 2006

Day one (Saturday July 15th) saw us all driving north to Cumbria, and meeting for dinner at the Garden House Hotel in Kendal. As John and Lynne already have a place of their own in Cumbria, they did not join us till the Sunday. Some made the journey by motorway (M6) and some by other roads. We all arrived around the same time (mid afternoon) so we were all to be found going round the shops of Kendal before having our meal at the hotel. This was splendid, and the hotel comfortable enough.

The second day had only one intention - to arrive at the Loch Fyne Hotel in Inveraray in time for dinner, and this all six couples achieved. There had been some discussion about possible routes, and the secretary had mentioned that the Erskine Bridge, previously a toll, was now free. Whether it was the financial inducement, or for some other reason, one Morgan managed to cross the bridge twice!

The hotel immediately impressed. It has a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and hot tub for the use of residents. The rooms are a good three star standard, and the table d'hote dinner included in our group tariff even better. And breakfast was just fine too. So we could all relax straight away, knowing we would be well looked after.

Thus far the weather had been sunny and hot. Monday reminded us we were in Scotland: cloudy and the faintest hint of drizzle from time to time. Not enough to put the hood up for (the acid test of any weather for Morgans), so we did not let it dampen our spirits. We visited Glencoe, which is the most southerly part of what you could call the real highlands. The National Trust for Scotland visitors centre has a good eatery, and a magnificent exhibition, both historical and geological in emphasis. Different people did different things in the afternoon, the most energetic being a hike.

Tuesday was intentionally driving free. It was also the annual Highland Games at Inveraray, all in walking distance. The weather was really hot, almost too hot, but since this is Scotland, no one was complaining. The world renowned Inveraray Jail was visited by most, and the Maritime Museum, so together with the highland games, this was a very full day. One or two of us were even seen in the whisky shop, which is one of the best stocked you will find anywhere. All agreed that the games really made one realise how proud the Scots are to be a different sort of community than their English neighbours. Tossing the caber, throwing the hammer, crossed-swords dancing, are activities one will only find in Scotland, or where the Scots gather.

The itinerary for Wednesday had Oban as its furthest point from Inveraray, with optional visits suggested as the Cruachan Power Station visitors centre, and the Arduaine Gardens. Advice from the secretary had suggested that the Tesco car park was the best place to park while in Oban. They actually encourage you to park there, allowing customers three hours of free parking. The trouble is it is quite a challenge for complete strangers approaching from the north to find the place. It must be reported that three Morgans did not perfectly rise to this challenge, and unintentionally explored Oban a little further than necessary before securing their place. Oban Distillery was one attraction, and another couple went on a boat cruise from the harbour. The weather was scorching again. This run also had the longest stretch of single track road as a possible return route to Inveraray, and all agreed that this unique method of progress, using the passing places one gets regularly, was ideal for an open top Morgan.

Thursday saw us setting off for the ferry from Tarbert to Portavadie, and from there on to Dunoon. Because one couple needed, for business reasons, to be making this part of their return journey, we had a gathering while waiting for the ferry, and our chairman thanked the secretary for his organising of the holiday, and presented him with a lovely pair of crystal whisky tumblers, together with a bottle of the Oban single malt. The secretary was suitably embarrassed, and very grateful for this generosity.

This time it was the Somerfield car park where most of us gathered, and the returning couple were to take the ferry from Dunoon to Gouroch, while the rest went north to Benmore Gardens, and then on to St Catherine's, where the secretary has a holiday home. This allowed us gather for tea, cakes, and a sampling of the whisky kept on the premises.

The final act of this last day was a communal wheel changing exercise. We had all parked in a line at the front of the hotel, by invitation of the hotel management. One of the guests, eagle-eyed, noticed a small screw embedded in the rear passenger side tyre of the secretary's Morgan, and advised us of this while we were at dinner. The owner had already noticed a very slow loss of pressure, having checked his tyres in a garage in Oban. It was agreed that after dinner the offending wheel would be swapped with the spare. It does not actually take five men to change a tyre, but it can be done. It was a first time for some of us, and it took some small debate to recognise that if you have a luggage rack you actually need to take it off completely to get at the spare. All went well till a nut which secured the luggage rack was dropped into the overrider, and it needed a cocktail stick to get it out again.

We are now looking forward to seeing whether the Loch Fyne Hotel will offer us an attractive group discount for next year, because we have all thought that a return to this area would be highly desirable. There are still many places not yet visited, notably Iona, which one gets to by means of a ferry from Oban to Mull, and then another short ferry, having driven across Mull.