Easter 2001 - 30 trips and still Scotland beckons!
Area
Held in a large property in Kinlochmoidart. Loch Moidart is just to the north of the Ardnamurchan peninsular and about 20 miles due south of Mallaig. Eilean Shona largely fills the mouth of the Loch and the Kinlochmoidart estate is at the head of the Loch.
The Accommodation - Kinlochmoidart House
The house is situated within a 2000-acre estate and was accessed along a tree-lined drive of about ¼ mile.
The property was rented as four apartments and we booked all of them:
Kinlochmoidart House (sleeps 18)
The Turret (sleeps 4).
Leiper House (sleeps 9)
Glenfield (sleeps 2)
plus 2 other cottages in the grounds:
Dairy House (sleeps 2)
The Coach House (sleeps 2).
These 37 beds were booked from April 14th to April 21st.
We spent our week living like lords in a stately home (with butler Brough serving on). The entrance staircase was guarded by a large brown bear - fortunately stuffed. This lead into a massive entrance hall with a full sized (if sloping) billiard table. A huge and comfortable lounge was overshadowed in magnificence by the wood panelled dining room which was capable of seating all 37 for dinner. Some slight irritation to the cooks (and certain enthusiastic bathers) was the intermittent nature of the water supply. When this dried up it often took some time to get the attention of the owner in her part of the house.
2001 was the 30th consecutive Easter trip to Scotland - at least since Dave Wharton and I first joined Lockway at Ratagan in 1972 (we're too young to remember any further back!). This was celebrated by a short ceremony which gathered the original team members to jointly cut a massive cake thoughtfully provided by Mel and stylishly (if not artistically!) decorated by Richard with a recognisable icing sculpture of Stac Pollaidh.
Walking & Climbing
Despite being under the magic 3000', there are some excellent mountains and ridges in the area.
I especially fancied Garbh Bheinn which on a good day is reckoned to rival anywhere in Scotland for its setting and views, offers some interesting route finding and the odd scramble. However foot and mouth prevented access.
There was free access to Munros to the north so ascents were made of the Sgurr nan Coireachan to Sgur Thuilm ridge and later of Gulvain. Highlight of the week was Carole's traverse of Coireachan (on steep snow)!
The Carn Mor Dearg arrete was traversed in good snow by a large group which included Val, Liz, Clive and Di - a new experience for them all. This was followed later by a wonderful day climbing Aanoch Beag from Glen Nevis up the never-ending snow slope. The views behind to the Mamores (especially Sgurr a Mhaim) and of Ben Nevis from the top will not be forgotten.
The coast gave many opportunities for fine walks - the Singing Sands being very popular.
Quotes from the Brochure
"Where a tree-lined glen opens on to Loch Moidart and in countryside steeped with tales of Bonnie Prince Charlie, these fine properties are on the Kinlochmoidart Estate, within half a mile of the coast and 4 miles from the beach at Glenuig. Kinlochmoidart House, a Scottish baronial mansion with a superb Art Movement interior, is a substantial building within which the first two of these properties have been sensitively formed; the last is a careful conversion within an extensive service wing. All enjoy the benefits of this stunning location; the main house (part of which is still the owners’ home) stands in extensive shared gardens and the surrounding 2,000 acres of estate grant opportunities for excellent hill walking and fine (and varied) fishing — with fly fishing available by arrangement. Very comfortably furnished, well equipped and cosily heated throughout, these are perfect retreats from which to enjoy the abundance of interests and scenic splendour with which this area is blessed at all times of the year."
"Designed by William Leiper in 1884, Kinlochmoidart House is one of the finest examples of his work, and retains a wealth of intricate and interesting architectural features both inside and out. It occupies the site of a house which was once the resting place of Prince Charles Edward Stuart a connection commemorated in a nearby meadow, where seven beech trees symbolise the Seven Men of Moidart, the sum total of the army which he brought from France. Its location offers much to see, do and enjoy; Loch Moidart is a beautiful inlet which a; low tide consists mainly of wide expanses of sand, and at its seaward end the ruins of 14th-century Castle Tioram on their islet provide a focal point for gloriously scenic views. Between nearby Loch Shiel and Loch Sunart, a trail leads through the Ariundle Oakwoods Nature Reserve — a haven for wildlife — and southwards, the coast is punctuated by bays of white sand excellent for fishing and shell-collecting"
Kinlochmoidart House
"This is formed from some of the finest rooms of the main house. Its entrance is the main front door, leading via the main staircase to accommodation on the first, second and third floors. Comprising the middle portion of the house, it displays tiling, wallpapers, paint work, panelling and many architectural features which have been either painstakingly restored or copied from the originals under rigorous architect supervision. On the first floor is a spacious, elegant drawing room with open fire and rugs on wooden floor; a spacious dining-room with open fire and rugs on wooden floor; a billiard room with full-sire table and a spacious and well-equipped, farmhouse-style kitchen. The second floor has four double bedrooms, one with en-suite bathroom/W.C. and one with a splendid, panelled Victorian bath at one end; a twin-bedded room and a single bedroom. The third floor has two double bedrooms, a twin-bedded room and a single bedroom plus a large playroom with table tennis table and additional colour TV. There a two bathrooms with wc on both the second and third floors and a separate wc on the first."
Leiper House
"Set next to Kinlochmoidart House, but completely self-contained and with its own front door, this property also boasts a wealth of period features. On the ground floor it has a large, farmhouse-style kitchen/dining-room with Arga cooker, a single bedroom, cloakroom with wc and a utility room. On the first floor there is a spacious drawing room with open fire, a twin-bedded room and a bathroom with wc. The second floor has two double bedrooms a twin-bedded room and a bathroom with wc."
The Turret
"Created within part of the extensive former service wing, this charming and sensitive conversion has been attractively furnished throughout. Completely self-contained, with its own front door, it offers convenient ground floor accommodation. It has a spacious sitting-room with open fire, dining hall with rugs on terracotta-tiled floor, farmhouse-style kitchen, a. double bedroom, twin-bedded room and Bathroom with wc."