As my plain was scheduled at 18.35 I had a big part of the day to do some touring. As Cairndow is at the Loch Fyne, going to Inveraray is a perfect option.
Great town, beautifully located at the Loch and has a great castle, the Inveraray Castle from the Campbells. In the plain I was sitting next one Campbell of the clan, but more about that later.
Just one more :-)
About the castle:
Inveraray Castle is a remarkable and unique piece of architecture incorporating Baroque, Palladian and Gothic.
Featuring four imposing French influenced conical spires surmounting the stone castelated towers, this unmistakably Scottish Castle was the first of its size and type to be built (at the time of construction) in an extremely remote part of Scotland.
The complicated story of the design and construction of the castle began in 1720 with a sketch prepared by Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard, for the 2nd Duke of Argyll.
Vanbrugh died six years later and the design was sympathetically developed by Roger Morris who saw the start of construction in 1746 and worked with William Adam, then the most distinguished architect in Scotland. Both Morris and Adam died in 1748 after completion of the designs and it was Adam's sons John and Robert who saw the project to completion for the 5th Duke of Argyll in 1789.
Inveraray Castle is a remarkable and unique piece of architecture incorporating Baroque, Palladian and Gothic.
Featuring four imposing French influenced conical spires surmounting the stone castelated towers, this unmistakably Scottish Castle was the first of its size and type to be built (at the time of construction) in an extremely remote part of Scotland.
The complicated story of the design and construction of the castle began in 1720 with a sketch prepared by Sir John Vanbrugh, the architect of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard, for the 2nd Duke of Argyll.
Vanbrugh died six years later and the design was sympathetically developed by Roger Morris who saw the start of construction in 1746 and worked with William Adam, then the most distinguished architect in Scotland. Both Morris and Adam died in 1748 after completion of the designs and it was Adam's sons John and Robert who saw the project to completion for the 5th Duke of Argyll in 1789.
About The Campbell Clan:
The Campbells arrived in Argyll as part of a royal expedition in c.1220. They settled on Lochaweside where they were placed in charge of the King's lands in the area.
The Chief of Clan Campbell takes his Gaelic title of 'MacCailein Mor' from Colin Mor Campbell - 'Colin the Great' who was killled in 1296, and was succeeded by his son Sir Neil Campbell, companion and brother-in-law of King Robert the Bruce.
From Bruce's time, the family headquarters had been the great castle at Innischonnell on Loch Awe, and remained so until the 1400's when Sir Duncan Campbell (great grandson of Sir Colin) moved to to Inveraray. He was created Lord Campbell and thereafter a steady string of titles were awarded to the family. His grandson was created Earl of Argyll in 1457.
Archibald, the 2nd Earl was killed at Flodden in 1513 and was the first of the family to be granted the appointment of Master of the Royal Household in Scotland, a priveledge still held by the Duke today. The 5th Duke was another military hero commanding a force of his own people which exceeded in strength the existing armies of France and England; he was power of international importance and only fell in defeat when in command of the army of Mary Queen of Scots in 1568.
The 8th Earl was thrown in the tower and subsequently executed for taking the side of Oliver Cromwell over Charles 2nd and the fortunes of the House of Argyll were down until the Glorious Revolution in 1688.
The 10th Earl was granted the Dukedom in 1701 due to the regiment he raised for the crown, known as the Earl of Argyle's Regiment of Foot. This was the unit tasked with carrying out the notorious Massacre of Glencoe, an episode inaccurately classed as an act of clan vengeance by the Campbells.
The 2nd Duke was a famous soldier who commanded the Government Army at the Battle of Sheriffmuir which ended the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715 and was one of the first two officers in the British Army to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshall. He was created the Duke of Greenwich but the title lapsed without a direct male heir. His successor was his brother who became the 3rd Duke of Argyll, another distinguished soldier who subsequently became Lord Justice General of Scotland.
The 4th and 5th Dukes were both renown soldiers and the far seeing efforts of the 5th Duke were almost destroyed by the 6th, a charming but dissolute playboy who left a string of debts and illegitimate children. His brother, the 7th Duke fought hard to avoid disaster and the family fortunes were, to an extent, restored by the time of the 8th Duke, who was a successful politician, a Cabinet Minister and Renaissance Man.
It was the 8th Duke's son and heir who married Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Louise, thereafter serving as Govener General of Canada before succeeding as 9th Duke. They had no children and the title went to a nephew, Niall, 10th Duke, a scholarly recluse. He never married and the title passed to his cousin.
The 11th Duke, Ian, was a gallant officer taken prisoner with most of the Highland Division in France in 1940. He was married 4 times, with the infamous Margaret Argyll as his third wife.
His son, also Ian, succeeded him and became the 12th Duke, the present Duke's late father. The 12th Duke laboured hard to restore the Argyll name and became the Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute as well as meticulously carrying out the traditional duties of the Clan Chief of the Campbells. His passion for the family and clan meant that he worked tirelessly following the terrible castle fire in the early 1970's to restore the castle to the high standard it is in today.
The present Duke, Torquhil Ian, inherited the title on the death of his father in 2001. He combines his duties as Duke, Clan Chief and Landowner with a consultant role with Pernod Ricard, promoting Scotch Whiskies including Chivas Regal and Glenlivet. He captained Scotland to victory in 2004 and 2005 in the World Elephant Polo Championships.
Ok, time to go to the airport. Nearing Glasgow and nearing the Clyde Bridge I saw it was closed, meaning you have to drive all around Glasgow and that is not very pleasant, as partly there is no motorway. It took me all together 1,5 hours, to drive what should have been done in 5 minutes over the bridge. But as always I was way to early, and I wanted to, so I could see the match of the Netherlands against Brazil, luckily I saw most of it ... regretfully I missed the two Dutch goals as that was during the check-in.
As written earlier I was sitting next to a member of the Campbell Clan, I think the poor part as he was not invited for one of the big parties, but was a very nice conversation, till .... I am not sure what happened and the captain said this will only last for a short while ... but for me it was like the motors stopped and did not get enough kerosine, or at least on and off ... not very pleasant .... it felt like it could stop ...
But fast flight all together and nothing serious happened, so I am back. Great holiday, will end with an epilogue later.
BTW the Cairndow Stagecoach Inn from the other side of Loch Fyne.
The Campbells arrived in Argyll as part of a royal expedition in c.1220. They settled on Lochaweside where they were placed in charge of the King's lands in the area.
The Chief of Clan Campbell takes his Gaelic title of 'MacCailein Mor' from Colin Mor Campbell - 'Colin the Great' who was killled in 1296, and was succeeded by his son Sir Neil Campbell, companion and brother-in-law of King Robert the Bruce.
From Bruce's time, the family headquarters had been the great castle at Innischonnell on Loch Awe, and remained so until the 1400's when Sir Duncan Campbell (great grandson of Sir Colin) moved to to Inveraray. He was created Lord Campbell and thereafter a steady string of titles were awarded to the family. His grandson was created Earl of Argyll in 1457.
Archibald, the 2nd Earl was killed at Flodden in 1513 and was the first of the family to be granted the appointment of Master of the Royal Household in Scotland, a priveledge still held by the Duke today. The 5th Duke was another military hero commanding a force of his own people which exceeded in strength the existing armies of France and England; he was power of international importance and only fell in defeat when in command of the army of Mary Queen of Scots in 1568.
The 8th Earl was thrown in the tower and subsequently executed for taking the side of Oliver Cromwell over Charles 2nd and the fortunes of the House of Argyll were down until the Glorious Revolution in 1688.
The 10th Earl was granted the Dukedom in 1701 due to the regiment he raised for the crown, known as the Earl of Argyle's Regiment of Foot. This was the unit tasked with carrying out the notorious Massacre of Glencoe, an episode inaccurately classed as an act of clan vengeance by the Campbells.
The 2nd Duke was a famous soldier who commanded the Government Army at the Battle of Sheriffmuir which ended the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715 and was one of the first two officers in the British Army to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshall. He was created the Duke of Greenwich but the title lapsed without a direct male heir. His successor was his brother who became the 3rd Duke of Argyll, another distinguished soldier who subsequently became Lord Justice General of Scotland.
The 4th and 5th Dukes were both renown soldiers and the far seeing efforts of the 5th Duke were almost destroyed by the 6th, a charming but dissolute playboy who left a string of debts and illegitimate children. His brother, the 7th Duke fought hard to avoid disaster and the family fortunes were, to an extent, restored by the time of the 8th Duke, who was a successful politician, a Cabinet Minister and Renaissance Man.
It was the 8th Duke's son and heir who married Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Louise, thereafter serving as Govener General of Canada before succeeding as 9th Duke. They had no children and the title went to a nephew, Niall, 10th Duke, a scholarly recluse. He never married and the title passed to his cousin.
The 11th Duke, Ian, was a gallant officer taken prisoner with most of the Highland Division in France in 1940. He was married 4 times, with the infamous Margaret Argyll as his third wife.
His son, also Ian, succeeded him and became the 12th Duke, the present Duke's late father. The 12th Duke laboured hard to restore the Argyll name and became the Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute as well as meticulously carrying out the traditional duties of the Clan Chief of the Campbells. His passion for the family and clan meant that he worked tirelessly following the terrible castle fire in the early 1970's to restore the castle to the high standard it is in today.
The present Duke, Torquhil Ian, inherited the title on the death of his father in 2001. He combines his duties as Duke, Clan Chief and Landowner with a consultant role with Pernod Ricard, promoting Scotch Whiskies including Chivas Regal and Glenlivet. He captained Scotland to victory in 2004 and 2005 in the World Elephant Polo Championships.
Ok, time to go to the airport. Nearing Glasgow and nearing the Clyde Bridge I saw it was closed, meaning you have to drive all around Glasgow and that is not very pleasant, as partly there is no motorway. It took me all together 1,5 hours, to drive what should have been done in 5 minutes over the bridge. But as always I was way to early, and I wanted to, so I could see the match of the Netherlands against Brazil, luckily I saw most of it ... regretfully I missed the two Dutch goals as that was during the check-in.
As written earlier I was sitting next to a member of the Campbell Clan, I think the poor part as he was not invited for one of the big parties, but was a very nice conversation, till .... I am not sure what happened and the captain said this will only last for a short while ... but for me it was like the motors stopped and did not get enough kerosine, or at least on and off ... not very pleasant .... it felt like it could stop ...
But fast flight all together and nothing serious happened, so I am back. Great holiday, will end with an epilogue later.
BTW the Cairndow Stagecoach Inn from the other side of Loch Fyne.
About Loch Fyne:
Loch Fyne (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Fìne, pronounced [lˠ̪ɔx fiːnə], meaning Loch of the Vine or Wine, although there is no evidence for grapes growing there - it was more metaphorical, such as meaning that the River, 'Abhainn Fìne', was a well respected river) is a sea loch on the west coast of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It extends 65 kilometres (40 miles) inland from the Sound of Bute, making it the longest of the sea lochs. It is connected to the Sound of Jura by the Crinan Canal.
Loch Fyne is notable for its oyster fishery, and as a consequence the loch has given its name to the locally owned Loch Fyne Oysters, and the associated Loch Fyne Restaurants. It is also notable for its herring fishing industry, originally using the drift-net method. In the mid 1800s, Loch Fyne was the centre of the battle between the traditional drift-net fishermen and the new trawl-net fishermen who sprung up around Tarbert and Campbelltown in 1833.
Loch Fyne is a popular area for sport diving and fishing. It is also a popular tourist destination with attractions such as Inveraray Castle and the nearby ruins of Castle MacEwan and Castle Lachlan.
The village of Portavadie is on the east shore of the loch. A passenger ferry traverses the loch from the quay here.
Dolphins, seals and otters inhabit the loch, and basking sharks can be found in its waters during the summer months. A Ross's Gull was present at the loch in early 2007.
Over half a million troops were trained in amphibious landing techniques on the shores of Loch Fyne prior to the D-day landings.
In the north it is mountainous with the Arrochar Alps, Beinn Bhuidhe, Glen Shira, Glen Fyne, Glen Croe, Arrochar, Tyndrum and Loch Lomond nearby.
Loch Fyne (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Fìne, pronounced [lˠ̪ɔx fiːnə], meaning Loch of the Vine or Wine, although there is no evidence for grapes growing there - it was more metaphorical, such as meaning that the River, 'Abhainn Fìne', was a well respected river) is a sea loch on the west coast of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It extends 65 kilometres (40 miles) inland from the Sound of Bute, making it the longest of the sea lochs. It is connected to the Sound of Jura by the Crinan Canal.
Loch Fyne is notable for its oyster fishery, and as a consequence the loch has given its name to the locally owned Loch Fyne Oysters, and the associated Loch Fyne Restaurants. It is also notable for its herring fishing industry, originally using the drift-net method. In the mid 1800s, Loch Fyne was the centre of the battle between the traditional drift-net fishermen and the new trawl-net fishermen who sprung up around Tarbert and Campbelltown in 1833.
Loch Fyne is a popular area for sport diving and fishing. It is also a popular tourist destination with attractions such as Inveraray Castle and the nearby ruins of Castle MacEwan and Castle Lachlan.
The village of Portavadie is on the east shore of the loch. A passenger ferry traverses the loch from the quay here.
Dolphins, seals and otters inhabit the loch, and basking sharks can be found in its waters during the summer months. A Ross's Gull was present at the loch in early 2007.
Over half a million troops were trained in amphibious landing techniques on the shores of Loch Fyne prior to the D-day landings.
In the north it is mountainous with the Arrochar Alps, Beinn Bhuidhe, Glen Shira, Glen Fyne, Glen Croe, Arrochar, Tyndrum and Loch Lomond nearby.
The Trip
- Epilogue Scotland
- Just one more :-)
- Leaving Skye
- Great Night Out
- Overwhelming beauty
- Summer Islands
- Scenery Drive
- Mainland again
- Bagpipe music
- Orkney
- Noss
- Yell and Unst
- Sumburgh and Mousa
- Added pictures
- Mia and Sandy
- Glenfiddich
- Loch Ness
- What a day, almost perfect
- St. Andrews
- Alloa
- One day to go
- Almost
- Inss and Lodges
- Scotland Final Route
- Possible new plan
- Bad behavior
- Working on next Holiday