Ostel Bay and Inverary Castle

 

Ostel Bay

Jittery Scottish weather took us past lovely coastal viewpoints to Ostel Bay. Cloudy, drizzly at times…. But as the writer of many hiking books, Alfred Wainwright, said “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”

Tighnabruaich

The journey to Ostel Bay went via Tighnabruaich, a village on the Cowal Peninsula where fewer than 700 people live. It’s not easy to imagine myself living day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year in such a remote spot. But there’s something elemental and profound about visiting parts of Britain that still contain the pre-industrial landscape of the natural world.

Ostel Bay

Far horizons

Ostel Bay itself was wild, windy and wrapped around, hidden from view, in dunes as far as the eye could see. The sea met the sky in a spot which seemed All Horizon. And of course the waves shushed in and shushed out again across the shingled sands.

Ferry to Bute (top right) and the magnificent Inverary Castle

Ferry to Bute

Across the car ferry to Bute included a memorable visit to Mount Stuart which I blogged about here. But first we visited Inverary Castle with its Disney-like exterior. The semi-gothic, semi-Palladian pile was inspired by a sketch by the ridiculously talented man who designed Castle Howard and Blenheim Palace as well as writing successful Restoration comedies: John Vanbrugh. The foundation stone was laid in 1746.

Turrets and Fires

The current building is what was raised and completed after a devastating fire in 1877 when the conical towers were added to give its current fairytale appearance.

Home of the Duke of Argyll

Parts of the interior, though awesome, are also homely and lived-in and the martial history of turbulent events in the history of Scotland are well displayed and explained by vivid guides.

Split walks

For some of the time on our holiday we divided for walks and the above and below collages are of the walk to the end of the Cowal Peninsula undertaken by Harriet and Chris.

Above two collages are photos taken by Harriet and Chris