Easter 2003 - Bonawe

Mountiains

Bonawe Iron Furnace

Loch Etive

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Area

The week ran from Saturday 19th April to Saturday 26th April 2003. Bonawe is on the south shore of Loch Etive about 10 miles east of Oban and we stayed in 6 lettings arranged around a private courtyard Two of these were within Bonawe House whilst 4 other cottages were in a variety of smaller buildings. Bonawe house was originally the mansion / home of the manager of the near-by iron furnaces. Visit the following site for information about the area: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/areaoban/index.html

Accommodation

The accommodation was good and ideal in that we were on one site and also able to eat together in the largest of the apartments in the big house (Edwardian), though we were split between the kitchen and dining room. This involved some furniture juggling including the use of rather rickety garden furniture and at one point heated debate about the wisdom of moving the kitchen table into the dining room – it didn’t get moved. On the final night, reducing numbers allowed us all to fit in the dining room though an improvised table using an ironing board was rather less stable than desired!

Bonawe House

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Bonawe House is an eighteenth century Scottish country house set in its own beautiful and secluded grounds, surrounded by mature beech trees and gardens. Situated between the stunning Loch Etive and mighty Ben Cruachan, on the edge of the village of Taynuilt, Bonawe House has a secluded rural setting with all the convenience of shops, hotels and tearooms within 10 minutes quiet walk.

Dinners were again excellent – superb meals which no hotel can hope to equal. Despite this a meal out on one night allows everyone to relax without worrying about having to cook, which pots are theirs, or washing up. This year we were able to walk across the fields (and back in the dark) to the hotel down by the Loch, which catered very well for our large group.

Walking & Climbing

The weather was good for the whole week (except if you went to do the Crianlarich hills!).

Cruachan was literally on the doorstep so early in the week a large number traversed the range from east to west and then walked via the smokery and some lovely private gardens back to the house. This was a superb (if long) day with lots of views and sunshine. The traverse party included Carole (despite the dramatic appearance of the 2^nd top!) and all of Lockway. The route up from the western end was new to everyone – pleasant but fairly long.

Mull was visited by nearly all the group, spread across 2 days. An early start to bag the few unreserved places on the ferry allowed either a leisurely appreciation of Ben More or a gallop round it in order to visit Iona as well. Taking the option of more leisurely start John, Val, Jean P and Janet enjoyed the sunshine and atmosphere of Iona.

Other mountain days included Ben Lui / Ben Oss, Ben Dorrain group, and the hills above Crianlarich..

The iron furnace was well presented and being on the doorstep offered a fascinating wander during the odd spare hour.

Taking the regular ferries to the small islands of Kerrera and Easedale revealed some fine scenery. The Kerrera teashop proved popular – possibly the reason only a few folk walked around the island. The quarries on Easdale were fascinating and the basaltic dike standing like a fin up the middle gave an airy traverse with good views. The small folk museum was very good – even allowing some of us to wallow in youthful memories of £sd sums.