Today started beautifully with sun and a breeze. We planned to visit standing stones and caves of kings, but misread the bus schedule and ended up in Whiting Bay. The bus driver said, "You must disembark, now." So we did.
Whiting Bay was in our plans, so we went with it, and we had a glorious, fun, relaxed and memorable day.
The first order of business was a hike up to Glenashdale Falls. The Scottish Forestry Commission is clearing forests here, so there was something of a detour; it was a beautiful walk along an easy "forest road." The falls were pretty, falling into a deep deep ravine.
From the falls we headed for some Neolithic Stone Cairns called the Giants Grave. The walk was beautiful as the mists had dissipated leaving a clear blue day. This is a view of Whiting Bay. You can see Holy Isle on the horizon, so we are only about 4 miles from Lamlash. (Read: Long bus ride, hee hee)
The stone cairns here are called "Clyde" cairns as they are constructed differently from those in Kilmartin. Built 5,500 years ago they feature standing stones at the foot and head of the cist, which held the bones and funerary bowls and pottery of the deceased. Like the cairns on Kintyre these would have been totally covered with stone, most of which has ben repurposed in fences and houses in the area.
Additionally these cairns included a semi-circular entrance area. See the above drawing of the Clyde cairns.
The second, smaller cairn situated at a right angle to the larger Giant's Grave.
After we climbed down to Whiting Bay we enjoyed a promenade along the ocean at high tide. We oohed and aahed at lovely art work on display and for sale at the Arran Art Gallery, then had tea for two at The Shore. Don't be fooled by the look; Blue loves scones and clotted cream.
At dinner tonight the waiter said to Blue, "You can get fish and chips anywhere, but you will only get a Lamlash Burger here." So Blue did. This is the before photo.
Here is the after photo. The waiter and Blue were having quite the party!