Showing posts with label Lochranza Hotel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lochranza Hotel. Show all posts

2012-08-13

120628 Skottland-Scotland , day 5 Thursday, Arran

Translate? See Google translation in the sidebar!
.
Click to enlarge All photos,  NF Photo 120628
.
120628 Thursday, day 5
.
Woke up 5.00. Checked my mail around 6.3o. It´s been heavy rain during the night. We were supposed to meet at 7.00 As it was till raining Ola did not want to go out and it was only me and Annevi and her husband at the door. The three of us took a stroll along the bay in Locrantza. We headed out to a ruin where we saw some Eurasian Oystercatchers (strandskata) with chicks. There seem to be a lot of them here in Scotland. We also saw two Black Guillemots (Tobisgrissla). That is a beautiful one. :)




After strolling at the shore for a while we turned and went north and out to the ferry berth.  It is just a small one here taking maybe 10 cars.
(tobisgrissla, strandskateungar,mås, hussvala, rödhake)

8.30, breakfast. And that took a long time as it was served by one and only one chef.
After breakfast we left at 9.15. Driving "The string road"





 First we went uphill to see if there was any eagles and deers. During the asent it started to rain. And momentarily very heavy. We did see some deers but just barely. It was to much rain to get to se them properly. Ola decided it to be a safety hazard so we turned a´round and went back to the main road by the sea. Ola does not drive today, his roommate does.

Back at the shore we was stoped by some bikers. They were looking at three otters swimming close to shore and then entering it. People were quite excited about it. Especially when it turned out to be a young among them. But that one was hard to spot.

We birded for a while a bit more south at Kilbrannan Sound on Arrans westcoast but the weather was still troublesome. But I did get some great shots. :)


Around 12.30 we came into a community and stoped to bird for a while as the rain had stoped. I think I heard a black cap but I AM NOT SURE. Then we headed into Killoch hotel  for lunch. I took sandwiches and it was not good.

We followed the coast to the southern part of Arran and there it stoped. More rain,  not fun at all. People started to doze off in the car. On the way back at the north coast of the island somebody spotted a whale, everyone was excited. Even the sun came out for a while.


At 17.10 we arrived at the local destillary, the smallest one in Scotland. Arran Destillery. But we were too late for a tour so we could only buy something. I bought two almanacks for next year and a whisky licour. The sun was now shining and we saw some trush on the lawn. I think it is a Song Trush.


Coming back to the hotel I took a new walk to the south. Passing the ruins looking for birds but did not find anything. I was back at the hotel in time for dinner at seven. Chicken as usual,  and now I write, checking the shots and getting dry.



120627-28 Lochranza Hotel, Lochranza Arran http://www.lochranzahotel.co.uk/
Tomorrow morning we leave early with the ferry. Luggage ready to load at 8.00. Then breakfast.

Middag ingår i resans pris.
Mer om Skottland på NF Photo  Fågelarter
More about Scotland on NF Photo  Bird species  
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

2012-08-10

120627 Skottland-Scotland , day 4 Wednesday crossing GB

Translate? See Google translation in the sidebar!
Click to enlarge All photos   NF Photo 120627
120627 Wednesday, day 4
Woke up at 6 first time and set the computer battery to charge. At 7 I went up. Wrote a bit on my diary, swedish version, and then started to pack. Now I am waiting for breakfast.


It is a rainy morning so spending most part of the day in the car is not bad. We are crossing the GB to the other coast today. It was not that easy to find the right way across country. There were several times when they missed turns and had to go back or take a different road. It was also raining most of the day so the three of us in the backseat was dozing off every now and then. And when you were alert... what you did see was sheep. The land was dotted with white sheep.

We made one stop for coffee, one photostop and then lunch in a restaurant. So much food my stomach protests.

We came to the site of the ferry in Ardrossan  at appointed time despite driving problems. Ola got all the tickets for comming ferry trips as well. So from now on we only had to be at the ferry in time for embarking them. At 17.55 the ferry was out on the water heading for Brodick on Arran. The trip took about an hour and we were birding most of the time.

The weather changed again when we were on our way out to the islands. Lots of mists and clouds hiding the island. We spotted several spieces of birds. Many of them the same as yesterday and a few new ones. Like Manx Shearwater, hm strange name,  (Mindre Lira) and Black Guillemot (Tobisgrissla).
Fishingboats with lots of birds surrounding it. Hardly seen because of the msit.

Not much is seen but that was the destination. Brodick on Arran. A gannet luckily passed by.

120627-28 Lochranza Hotel, Lochranza Arran 
We arrived at the hotel, located on the northern part of the island, at 19.30 so we were assigned our rooms and then headed for the dining room. I got a great room today. First floor and I have 4 beds. All by myself. :)

For dinner I had some sirloin steak. Really great food. But of course, too much for me so I had to leave some. Dinner included today. Didn´t help, still too much on the plates. But I did take an icecream dessert.

This hotel has a working shower so I freshened me up. Then uploaded todays shots of course. It sounds like rain outside so it does not seem good for tomorrow. We shall meet at 7 for a morningwalk. Breakfast is 8.30.


Crossing Scotland,GB  to Ardrossan ferry (220km)
.
Mer om Skottland på NF Photo  Fågelarter
More about Scotland on NF Photo  Bird species Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  , , , , , , , , , , ,

2012-06-17

Scotland 120624-120708 Travel data

Translate? See Google translation in the sidebar!

Scotland 120624-120708
Some links and data for my trip to Scotland

Rese beskrivning på AviFauna   http://www.avifauna.se/avifauna/program/europa/skottland-2012/


Under  "I Blickfånget" brukar de lägga ut dagliga snuttar om någon vill följa resan.
http://www.avifauna.se/avifauna/rapporter-arkiv/i-blickfanget/
 .
120624 Flight  Arlanda - Edingburgh,  11.25 - 11.45 ( Flight SK 2541) latest check in 9.45
120708 Flight Edingburgh - Arlanda,  12.40 - 15.50 ( Flight SK 2542) latesat check in 11.55
Guide: Ola.bondesson@tele2.se

Whisky destillerier:
Classic Malt   http://www.malts.com/index.php/Gateway-en
http://www.arranwhisky.com/Home/
http://www.springbankdistillers.com/
http://www.isleofjura.com/home.aspx
http://www.isleofjura.com/communityspirit/   fototävling

http://whiskyguiden.se/index2.html
http://peat.se/
http://lfw.co.uk/
http://wmcadenhead.com/

Hotell
120624      Open Arms, Dirleton               http://www.openarmshotel.com/
120625-26 Bamburgh Castle Inn, Seahouses  http://www.bamburghcastlehotel.co.uk/
120627-28 Lochranza Hotel, Lochranza Arran  http://www.lochranzahotel.co.uk/
120629-30 Craigard House Hotel, Campbeltown  http://www.craigard-house.co.uk/
120701-04 Harbour Inn, Bowmore Islay      http://www.harbour-inn.com/
120705-06 The George Hotel, Inveraray    http://www.thegeorgehotel.co.uk/
120707      Bonsyde House Hotel, Linlithgow   http://www.bonsydehouse.co.uk/
120708      Hemresa

120623, 05,00 Checking routes to Arlanda:
K - Björkvik-s of Nyköping- E4 to Arlanda.         Estimated time 2h 10 min.   201km
K - Vrena-Nyköping- E4 to Arlanda.                   Estimated time 2h 16min.   196 km
K - Gnesta- Järna - E4 to Arlanda                       Estimated time 2h 20min.   174,8 km
K - Strängnäs - Enköping - Arlanda                     Estimated time 2h 51min.   169,3km
SO, BETWEEN THE FIRST THREE IT IS REALLY DOWN TO PETROL.

Checkpoints time:
Plane leaves:                    10:25
Latest incheck:                 9:45, preferred 8:45
Latest arrival Parkinglot:    7:45
Departure K                      4:45      

Scotland is Swedish time -1h
http://www.lundberg-lagerstedt.se/time/
Utsikter i Edingourgh, Holyrood park.
http://www.panoramicearth.com/4346/Edinburgh/Salisbury_Crags
http://www.scottishsport.co.uk/walking/arthurseat.htm
Mer om Skottland här:
Skottland
http://www.machrihanishbirds.org.uk/news/index.htm
Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,