Last weekend, I headed up to the small town of Ardfern, situated about 20 minutes outside of Oban for a family trip away with Ryan’s family, courtesy of Ryan’s mum! It was a well-needed restful few days of relaxing in a hot tub, enjoying nature and exploring Oban.
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| Chillin’ with the fire pit, ready for a Jacuzzi dip! |
The drive from Edinburgh is exhausting to be honest, and while Oban itself is only a couple of hours away, to get to where we were staying is about 3-4 hours (depending on traffic) as you have to wind around different bodies of water. But the views definitely lightened up the journey and made up for the slog, so it’s important you embrace it. We stopped off in Inverary for a toilet/snack break, and the views were incredible. (Unfortunately I’d used all my phone battery on SatNav otherwise I would share a photo of this beauty with you! Use your imagination folks!)
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| Ardfern Harbour |
The town of Ardfern itself is dainty and quiet, with a huge harbour filled with fishing and sailing boats that runs various boat trips. We didn’t embark on any of these trips, but it’s worth noting if you will be going through the area. If you’re heading out for dinner, have a nosey at The Galley of Lorne a lovely pub-style restaurant with panoramic views over the loch. The bar area has live music on at the weekends too, and it’s a great opportunity to mix in with the locals.
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| Tigh-A-Vullin cottage + gate |
The cottage we stayed in was Tight-A-Vullin, and I cannot recommend it enough. If you’re staying here, be sure to bring your swimwear! The eco-friendly Canadian-style hot tub is a perfect relaxing way to end a day of walking, or simply to spend the entire day and night in! While it’s raining outside, it’s comforting to watch the weather from a roasting Jacuzzi with a prosecco in hand. There is also a pond filled with rainbow trout if you are a fisher, and use of it comes with the hire of the cottage, so make sure to bring your rod! And to top if off there’s a game room for rainy days, which includes a piano for those musically-minded. The owners stay next door and are great for advice on what to do during your stay.
On the Thursday, since we had the full day, we took a drive into the town of Oban, approximately 20 minutes away, down picturesque highland roads. Oban itself is a lovely seaside village, filled with classic Celtic stores, fish and chip shops and traditional cafes selling tea and scones. It is also widely known for it’s ferry port. If you will be travelling for a while, I recommend spending a few days in the isles. You can get the ferry from Oban to the likes of Tiree and Mull, and you can even simply have a fay trip to some of the isles. Check out the CalMac Ferry website for more information.
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| Oban |
On the way back from Oban, we did a bit of “Road Roulette”, (taking turnings as and when, with no plan), and ended up in a tiny village. Though there wasn’t much there, the scenery was gorgeous, and there was a small shop selling postcards, with an honesty box. Something you don’t get in cities, and something I always admire about being in a rural area.
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| Mystery town! |
It was a well-needed break from the city, and provided plenty of relaxation. If you are interested in renting this cottage, check out this link: http://www.hoseasons.co.uk/cottages/tigh-a-vullin-s4628
