Seil Island and her neighbouring isles . Sept/Oct 2022
When you look out of your patio doors and see this- words are not enough.
So we set it to music:
Khachaturian – Adagio from Spartacus.
Used as the theme tune for The Onedin Line.
Totally blown away.
A month on Seil Island. Population of 551 (plus Allen and I).
Our humble abode -which is far from humble – the Old Brewery Cottage, sandwiched between the Atlantic and the Oyster Bar pub and restaurant in the quaint village of Ellenabeich. The perfect place to feed the body and soul.
Breathtaking views from our terrace. Even more so, since the arrival of ‘Storm Euan’ who we welcomed with outstretched, albeit cold, arms!
From the terrace
What a difference a day makes.
Beautiful, whether mild as a millpond or stormy.
A taste of island life
Enjoyable evening watching
film ‘Fisherman’s Friend’
at Seil Community Hall.
Popcorn during and an impromptu sea shanty at the end.
With the fate of the Drunken Sailor sealed, what’s not to love.
A minute from our cottage and 3 minutes on the ferry and we are on Easdale, drowning in the history of a small slate island.
We visited the Folk Museum, well worth the entrance fee and roamed around soaking up the atmosphere.
Easdale by night
A flying visit (on water) to the quaint Puffer Bar on Easdale.
The weather was atrocious, but as the worst of it was due later than anticipated the ferrryman deemed it safe enough for us to make the short crossing at 18:15. However, ‘due diligence’ dictated the time of our our return – 19:30 sharp.
Surreal travelling for a pint on what was virtually a small motor boat. But definitely worth it!
The Puffer Bar
Arrived shortly after opening, so had the place to ourselves for 20 minutes. Time to pick the brains of the friendly bar person – unfortunately, we didn’t get her name.
I hope we didn’t bombard her with too many questions about island life and ghosts.
For me, Easdale is a paranormal hotbed. A truly amazing island.
Isle of Kerrera
We took a water taxi from Oban for the ten minute journey to Kerrera.
Livestock on Kerrera
Goats, sheeps, bullocks, hens and geese are just a few of the charavters you encounter when visiting Kerrera.
Treated ourselves to rump steak from the farm shop. Delicious.
Ellenabeich
An Cala garden is part of the Scottish Garden Scheme. Well worth a visit. Although the home is a private residence and not open to the public, the art deco architecture can be admired from the extensive gardens.
An Cala stone carvings include one of garden designer, Thomas Mawson resting on his spade and a rather dishevelled nymph emrging from the water, her modesty just about in tact.
The garden also houses an impressive wooden structure. The decorative interior is made up of hundreds of pine cones, with a round stone in the centre of the floor with three sets of initials, which we assumed was a shrine/memorial to loved ones.
Ellenabeich
The waterfall was the icing on the cake, although with a surprise around every corner, it would be difficult to argue that every crumb was enjoyable.
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Mull – an afternoon in Tobermory. We found the perfect place to shelter from the rain and other tourists!
Fantastic night at The View in Oban. Dallahan were amazing.
Following day visited Mull Museum and discovered German composer, Felix Menelssohn lodged in Tobermory in 1829 while journeying to Staffa.
An excerpt from the 1st movement of his much loved Violin Concerto in E minor
Isle of Liung
10 minutes on the bus from Ellenabeich (5 minutes by car) takes you to Cuan Ferry. Half hourly trips across the water to the beautiful isle of Liung.
The Atlantic Visitors Centre is open all year round, but restricted hours out of season.