Autumn in the Highlands Day 3

Part of our morning walk along Neptune's Staircase

 I must admit, today was not one of our better days.  With it being off season, so many things are closed and I still can't really enjoy doing long hill walks, which is something Fort William has many to choose from.  So our options were quite limited.  

We started the day walking along Neptune's Staircase, which is a lovely way to begin a day.  I do wish there were boats travelling along it though.  It just is the wrong time of year....

This photo show where our room is. Look at the red bush and then the trees blocking the windows of the white building. One of those windows is our's!  We can see the canal, but not very well!

I had suggested going to Inverlochy, just because I had read about it in a book but it didn't sound like there was a whole lot to do there. Then I suggested going to Oban, but that was truly too far.  Alan suggested going to Glen Coe, but we were there 2 days ago and will drive through again tomorrow.. Oh what to do?

I had also suggested catching the little Corran Ferry, which crosses Loch Linnhe and goes to the Ardnamurchen Peninsula.  At first, Alan had said no and then changed his mind.  The ferry leaves every 20 minutes and we headed off to catch it.  We had to wait in the queue as one ferry left but were able to get on the next one.  It is a tiny ferry and the crossing only takes 5 minutes! This was Skye's first ferry crossing and it was obvious she knew something was odd about what was going on.

This peninsula is very remote and feels like an island.  Alan wanted to see the Ardnamurchan lighthouse, which is the westernmost point of the UK.  Since we have been to the southernmost point - The Lizard, the northernmost point - John O'Groats, it seemed to be right to head off to this destination.  Alan also likes lighthouses!

Looking at this map, you can see the circle we did.  We started at Fort William, took the Corran Ferry, drove to Ardnamurchan Point, went back turning at Salen and drove past Glenfinnan and on to Fort William.  A long hard drive, but interesting in its own way.

Looking down from the Lighthouse

Little did we know this drive to the Lighthouse would take us over 2 hours to get to!  The route planner said it was about 54 miles from where we docked.  Sadly this backs up something I always tell visitors to the UK, look at the mileage and double the time you expect it to take.  It is over 70 miles to drive the other way to get back to our hotel, without the ferry.  We went home that way.  

We did expect to not find many places to eat, but what we had not counted on was EVERYTHING was closed for the season!  So we went from breakfast at around 9, to lunch at about 3 when we finally found a cafe open on the way home. Ok, the Ardnamurchan Distillery was not closed, but there was no cafe there.  

As always, I enjoy the scenery in Scotland, but over 2 hours before getting to our destination was a bit too much scenery!  

The lighthouse was almost exactly like one we had seen in Dumfries and Galloway, and it was windy and cold!  So after the requisite photo, Skye and I waited in the car.  

The return was a bit different, but it still took a long time. 

We went to Morrison's to get dinner since I didn't want to eat at the hotel again. Their menu is very limited, probably due to staffing shortages, and I have exhausted what I would like to eat.  We have salad, cold chicken and dip to enjoy in our room.  (and it was delicious!)

It was a long, hard day, especially for Alan so eating in our room and probably heading down to the bar will be enough.  

As we were walking Skye this morning, we walked by the ferry master office, unmanned.  But there is a notice on the window.  It says during this season, these offices will be unmanned and if anyone needs to use the locks, there is a phone number to call to get a team to come help them.  I did wonder how the canals could be "closed" and now I know they are not.

Sad to say, tomorrow is our last day.  I know it will be more exciting than today was!