GRAND TOUR OF THE SCOTTISH COAST NC500. PART 3

By Anthony Osborne

Sunday 18th to The Inn at Ardgour on the banks of Loch Linne

We set off from the Inn after a hearty breakfast (no croissants Tosh) with the cars covered in the overnight rain water. However, before we could depart Gar had a problem with Betty’s front indicators and needed to replace a bulb, but he did have a spare. Super Enthusiast Man (aka Gus) was called into service and after removing the lens on both indicators there was a flashing indicator on the front on both sides of Betty. Unfortunately, it was not possible to superglue the lenses back on at the hotel so Betty proceeded with both the lenses missing!

Super Enthusiast Man gains access to Betty’s indicator bulbs!

We headed up the side of Loch Fyne, around the end and back down the other side through Inverary where we had a stop to let everyone catch up. It had been proposed to refill with E5 petrol there but being a Sunday the Renault Garage was closed. A convoy of six cars, we set off again along the loch side before heading away from the coast and up towards Oban.
We made it to Asknish Bay when we spotted a sign to a viewpoint. As a bonus the Loch Melford Hotel served tea and coffee overlooking the bay and Sarah was exceedingly excited as there were Hielan Coos in the grounds. It is rumoured that Sarah only came along so that she could meet up with some Hielan Coos such is her love for them!

Sarah photographs her first Hielan Coo of the holiday.

After refreshments and a visit to the loo (you only rent the coffee!) we headed off again towards Oban.
Once there we sought Tesco who promised to stock E5 Petrol in their advertising. However, this was not the case. Whilst there additional provisions were taken on board and we proceeded northwards finding E5 at a filling station at Dunbeg. The cars thirsts being quenched it was onwards and upwards for a few more miles until we spotted a parking area within view of the magnificent Connel Bridge. The bridge is near the entrance to Loch Etive, a sea loch almost 20 miles long, in places a mile wide and up to 500ft deep.

Connel Bridge

A picnic lunch was enjoyed with Coles Kitchen producing hot dogs, which were delicious. At the same time a second cooker in the back of Ian’s Granada was used to make most welcome tea and coffee.

​Whilst we enjoyed our lunch break some kayakers came ashore and soon disappeared with their boats on car roofs. They appeared to have enjoyed a brisque paddle on the loch.

Adjacent to all this activity, however, Gus was expressing concern about a clonk coming from his car, Henry, so out of his trailer came a pair of ramps and in no time Henry’s back end was up in the air and Gus was underneath in his overalls getting his hands dirty. When he emerged, not looking happy, he had decided that the universal joint at the front of the prop-shaft was worn and in need of replacement. After some discussion it was decided that Betty would tow Henry’s trailer leaving Henry on a light load and Gus would monitor the situation.

We set off northwards again and passed over the Connel Bridge, getting a better view of its engineering as we approached it. There must have been hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of rivets used in its construction.

The intricate structure of the Connel Bridge.

Having crossed Lock Etive we again proceeded up the coast with the next superstructure being the Ballachulish Bridge which was of a similar construction to the Connel Bridge, this time over the entrance to Loch Leven from Loch Linnhe.  ​

Ballachulish Bridge

As we were ahead of time it was decided to go on up the side of Loch Linnhe to Fort William instead of straight to the ferry taking us to our hotel for the night. The first car park visited was abandoned as there was nothing interesting to see, so we returned to a loch side car park with a good view of the other side of the loch, which we would be driving along tomorrow.

The cars lined up at the side of Loch Linnhe in Fort William

We then drove back to the Corran Ferry that took us across a narrow point on the Loch to our hotel which was, literally, opposite the ferry terminal.

Our cars packed like sardines in a tin!

Arriving at the other side of the Loch, we drove up the ramp, across the road and straight into the Inn at Ardgour car park. Gar had selected another nice hotel for us to stay in overnight. The food and beer were again good with the only downside being the noise that the ferry made every half hour or so as it arrived then departed from the slip way, fortunately it did not run all night!

To be continued ...

You tube video of day 3