Another 120 miles ahead of us today as we set off from Greenock to loop around the mainland, and end up only a few miles away across the Firth of Clyde at Dunoon.
Photo of the day
Loch Long.
Port Glasgow
Our first castle of the day, Newark Castle. Quite a rabbits warren of rooms… it went on and on.Jarno picking a fight with the lovely lady working in the Historic Scotland castle shop.
Dumbarton
And on to our next castle, Dumbarton Castle. The heavens opened at this point, but still we scrabbled up the many steps to the top of the castle hill. But took the best picture back down at the bottom of this cannon pointing out across the Firth of Clyde to where we’d just come from earlier in the morning.
Helensburgh
One of the highlights of the day were the unmistakably Charles Rennie Mackintosh interiors of Hill House. BTW, a correction, we call it Hill Top House by mistake in the daily video (should be just Hill House) – thanks Julian’s Mum & Dad for pointing that out 😉 Living room table and chairs.Bedroom furniture and window. Perfect complimenting each other.The hall stair lighting with its rich deep purple glass.The entrance, every element Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Gare Loch
A solitary yellow boat on Gare Loch.
Loch Long
We slowed down…Views up Loch Long with the mountains fading into fifty shades of grey.The sun reemerged as we reached the head of the Loch near Arrochar.And the remainders of the old Pier at Arrochar.
Glen Croe
The bright evening sunlight highlighting the uneveness of Glen Croe.
Lochgoilhead
Lochgoilhead, not surprisingly at the head of Loch Goil.
Loch Fyne
Loch Fyne looking mysterious as the rain sets in again.
Dunoon
The view from our B&B bedroom window, overlooking the small ferry terminal at Hunter’s Quay.
Day twelve already! Getting deeper in to Scotland as we head for Greenock (just west of Glasgow).
Photo of the day
Ardrossan
Stranraer
A small lighthouse peeping over the shorline between the ferry terminals on Loch Ryan.
Ballantree
Scottish pirates? Unlikely today in the quiet (almost empty) and the slightly smelly harbor of Ballantree.
Lendalfoot
Impressive views north along the coastal A77 road just before Lendalfoot.
Girvan
What a great backdrop to Girvan. A few miles further on we tried to get close to Turnberry Lighthouse, unfortunately it’s now surrounded by a luxury Trump hotel and golf course, so we gave up…
Culzean Castle
The super impressive Culzean Castle, both inside and out. National Trust Scotland have clearly invested in the property and the facilities.One way to show off the Kennedy family arms.
Denure
The remains of the small castle just as you enter Denure.
Alloway
Just before Ayr, we arrived at the birthplace of the Scottish poet Robert Burns (this cottage).A sculpture of Maggpie the horse and Tam, from the Burns poem Tam o’ Shanter.
Ardrossan
Lovely flower displays on the seafront brightening up a rather dull Ardrossan.
Portencross
Hourglass figured trees on the road to Portencross Castle.Portencross Castle, and it started to absolutely pour down with rain, so surprised we managed to get any pictures at all of this 1300s castle.
Hunterston
Looking back from Fairlie to the silhouette of the cranes at the coal handling port of Hunterston Terminal.
Largs
As the rains cleared and the evening sun burst through the clouds, a huge rainbow appeared over Largs, which seemed a surprisingly busy holiday town.
Cloch Point
Just before arriving at Greenock for the night, we made a quick stop at Cloch Point Lighthouse overlooking the Firth of Clyde, and now someones home.
