Arran and Blackwaterfoot...

(Thursday, 14th April - Catch-up)

The crossing to Arran (pronounced are-an), was cool and a bit breezy so we stayed inside most of the way. It takes about an hour and crosses from Ardrossan to Brodick. No trouble getting off the ferry as the staff manage everything really well. (Tip for ferries: if you are one of the first on, and they indicate you put your car to the side, you well may be last off, after all the middle rows are cleared.)

Brodick is a nice little town, and is well patronised on day trips from the mainland, but now it has come under control of a different shire council, there may well be lots of changes to parking and other things, which the locals are not happy about. It had that nice unassuming country/island feel, and they fear that will go. We agree.
So, after a bad coffee, we set off around the bottom of the island, which runs around to our destination of Blackwaterfoot. Not a good idea, the road is VERY narrow, and twisty, but with scenery you can't take in because the fear of something coming around the next bend takes over and we both had to concentrate!

Blackwaterfoot itself is very nice, set on the west side of the island, facing out into Kilbrannan Sound, across which you can see Kintyre. Had nice vegetable soup in the local pub, which seemed to help my cough, which was starting to annoy both Lee and myself. Then up to the B & B, to meet two charming people. Ann is originally from Canada, and her husband is English, and they have been doing this for 12 years.
Superbly decorated, with many lovely paintings on all the walls, plus some other prints, antiques, etc.
Our room was up on the first floor and was great. We did feel at home, because the curtains were the same as in our family room at home. Lovely long room, but I would have arranged it differently, but that's just me.

We met a young man who comes from Lithuania every year to work for them. His name is Arturus, and his girlfriend is Edita, (Arthur and Edith), and he was extrememely efficient and pleasant and cheeky, so we enjoyed it when he was around. He waits tables and fixes things, and I guess Edita cooks breakfasts and helps with whatever else needs doing.
Ann asked if we wanted to eat in, and we accepted and she produced a wonderful meal of smoked salmon as entree, then either Coq au Vin or Lamb Shanks, and puddings later.

Sunset over Kintyre

Yummo, all of it, but the start of what would be a week or so of having eaten too much, so we took a walk as the sun set.

Breakfast was in a beautiful conservatory, and these appear all over the place in sizes ranging from a space for two people, up to huge areas. They mostly face the south to take advantage of the winter sun, but I think they can be very expensive, depending on the style and finish.