Arran

[xoxoxoBruce]

Fantastic job of;
1- documenting your trip with excellent pictures,
2- letting us share not only the look, but feel, of Arran,
3- giving us a glimpse of the Limeys, and their cozy home,
4- the lovely Collie.

It's funny, I noticed the safe under snacks at the end of the bar, a couple of pictures before you showed the two safes. I love the look of old safes, but it made me wonder why Arran has a surplus to donate to the club. Are people upgrading to bigger/stronger safes, or is the island getting safer(no pun).

It appears the Limeys have settled into the type of community I remember from my youth, where everyone knows everyone, and are willing to share what they can. It's nice when that's the norm rather than the exception.

[Sundae]

My main trek with Limey.
Apart from the Bri trek I mean. But this was was more about exercise and less about emotion.

Limes says the initial part of the route is a little tricky.
Yeah right. Like hell is warm.
Scared the life outta me!
I think I forgot to tell her how much I was spooked by heights.
Poor Limes had to climb around me on the rock-scrambling part of the walk, and physically pull me up. I was honestly frozen, and not by cold.

We then went around the hill on a rackety sheep track. Again I was terrified. One slip and I would have my cheek flayed open by the wire fencing, or skid down a hill in brokenness and no mobile signal to save me. Remember I still had the muscle memory of falling from the day before.

Limey strode ahead like Good Kind Wenceslas. I followed. She's a bonny lass to follow.

[Sundae]

Once we were after the sheep track, we were on a very well maintained rough stone road. It dipped and peaked, but despite the snow I could have walked on it forever. Just one foot in front of the other, head down girls, on we go.

Snow? Oh yes. I asked for it and it came.
Snow and wind, flurries in our faces all the way there.

Trouble.
Yes, sadly there was trouble.
Got 2/3 of way there (we think) only to find the burn is running across the track.
And when I say running across, I don't mean the little streams I've forded before. I mean a dirty great river with a fair amount of power behing it. And Limey's boots are only showerproof.

There is a potential crossing a little further up, but the rocks look very slippy, and some are actually underwater. Limes and I agree that it's really not worth the risk. Saying that, we check two or three times and walk up through the wet grass to the potential crossing anyway. No. It really isn't worth the risk.

So what do you do if you're English, halfway up a mountain, in the snow?
PICNIC TIME!

[Griff]

Island culture seems to preserve a little of that community feel. I guess its the semi-isolation.

[Sundae]

Limey who is generous is every respect, bought the rolls in Brodick.
She understands the importance of supporting local businesses.
So she chose a ham, brie and mango chutney roll. Which I coveted. The closest was a bacon, brie and chutney roll, but I am always wary of the bacon other people cook. Especially when they leave the rind on.

Guess what?
Limes said I could have the ham one and she had the bacon one.
She's a lady.

Also bought me two white cobs for the journey home.
I filled them with corned beef and hot beetroot chutney.
Om nomnomnom.
Et them both within half an hour of leaving Glasgow...

Limey in the invisible snow.
The stairs to Mordor.

[Sundae]

Photo-wise, tis done.
I had a problem free journey back.
Midday, mid-week, got a double-seat.

Only detour was Preston, which I esteem anyway as the birthplace of Steve Pemberton.
And I got the Sheldon photo.

I could not have had a better time on Arran if I'd won the Lottery. I was so well looked after. The household was so calm and welcoming. The cats were too. And although it might look like I explored, in truth I barely scratched the surface. Do go if you can.

Arran always meant Mr & Mrs Limey to me anyway.
Now it also means Brianna.
I carry them all in my belly like some big pre-historic carving.

[richlevy]

Nice pictures. I was intrigued by the fact that the local hotel was a Best Western. Are they everywhere? It looks like Arran is not as isolated as I thought after looking at the tourism website.

[Sundae]

It's true - it's not really isolated, but it feels a world away from Scotland.
And further from England.

You can see Northern Island from Arran.

[footfootfoot]

Wow Sundae, I've got to say despite your ever increasing radiance, Arran certainly does agree with you. Maybe you could move there. What the hell do people do for a living there? Besides soak in all the beauty?

[Sundae]

Well they do soak up my reflected beauty, it's true. A job in itself.
And do normal things like work in shops and banks and drive buses and clean rooms in hotels.

Nice people also teach music to childer and work online as translators. But that gets buggered up when there is a power cut, and the cats worry about whether they are going to get fed. Nice people are used to the weather and are well-provisioned of course.

And other people just visit and dream of the day when they can finally write their magnum opus, even though their co-author has checked out.

[glatt]

I finally got a chance to read the rest of this thread on a proper computer screen. My little phone screen didn't do it justice.

It's simply outstanding. From beginning to end. Thanks for documenting your trip so well. Almost as good as being there.

I'm struck by all the pictures of forest on Arran. I thought Arran was more, well barren. I'm not sure why I thought that. Maybe because Arran rhymes with barren. And I didn't expect it to be so treacherous!

It's a spectacular place, and I'm really glad you shared it with us.

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

It's funny, I noticed the safe under snacks at the end of the bar, a couple of pictures before you showed the two safes. I love the look of old safes, but it made me wonder why Arran has a surplus to donate to the club. Are people upgrading to bigger/stronger safes, or is the island getting safer(no pun).

Honest answer is that people have higher tech ways of storing money/ valuables these days. Whimsical answer is that they know in a small community someone will notice sudden wealth and they'll find themselves burned in the next Wicker Man festival.

It appears the Limeys have settled into the type of community I remember from my youth, where everyone knows everyone, and are willing to share what they can. It's nice when that's the norm rather than the exception.

It is wonderful, but the Limeys put in the work too. You can't just luck into a place like that - Limey has given time and expertise and her training in finance free of chrage. She is a very good organiser it's true, so it may come naturally, but she has made the effort all the same. Also true of Mr Limey.

Many of you will know or guess what he does, but Arran being a small place it's important to me to respect their privacy. He is a known face and deservedly so. Limey is also known online, which is why she is very careful to keep her name private, or at least not on record here.

Glatt, I may be partly responsible for your view of Arran!
The few photos I have taken have been in December or January, and I have never ventured further than the coast road, usually after dark. I knew Arran was forested of course, but it's hard to get the full picture if you only see it travelling at just under the legal speed limit

Gosh I have to go in summer. The place is like an Enid Blyton setting. It cries out for long skirts and plimsolls and drinks on the terrace. Oh, scratch that. I'll have lashings of ginger beer instead. And while we're at it I'll skip the casual racism too (a ref to Ms Blyton, not to anyone on the Cellar)

[Pete Zicato]

Originally Posted by DanaC

Taken together it reads like the very best travel literature.

At the risk of repeating myself, Sundae has a knack, one that could be a profitable career, I think.

Really, Sundae. Think about it.

[orthodoc]

Originally Posted by Pete Zicato

At the risk of repeating myself, Sundae has a knack, one that could be a profitable career, I think.

Really, Sundae. Think about it.

I agree; I think you should consider it, Sundae. And thank you again for the wonderful virtual tour. It was the next best thing to being there.

[Sundae]

About a year ago I entered a competition to tour Denmark and write up the experience as a real person, not a travel journalist. You had to submit an article (not published anywhere else) and there was a sliding scale of prizes.

I submitted.
I never heard from them again.

I guess us Dwellars have similar mindsets, so enjoy eachother's commentrries.
The rest of the world might not think so (clumsy House of Cards ref.)
Bill Bryson (who I adore) doesn't need to worry just yet. Maybe I'll make it to being an octogenarian and find a niche travel market.

Sigh. The way things are going I'll be lucky to reach 41. But that's a whole other story.