Tuesday September 17th, 2019 – Greenock, Scotland (for Glasgow) & The Scottish Lochs
After docking, (port to dock) we boarded the coach (5) for the tour today of the Panoramic Scottish Lochs. (LHS drive, Guide Douglas Norris, Driver Donald).
We set out along the Clyde Estuary which was one of the busiest ship building areas of the world in the late 1800’s / Early 1900’s, but now very few shipyards remain. The coach boarded the ferry for the 20 minute sail across the Firth of Clyde. (Note – Firth = Estuary; Loch = Lake; Strath = Valley).
The first Loch was the Holy Loch where a US marine base used to be stationed during the Cold War. We continued up the Strath Eck Valley to Loch Eck (fresh water, 8 miles long. 1/2 mile wide), and the epitome of Scottish beauty, tranquility and solitude. During the travels the guide (whose wife was the guide in the other Cunard Coach doing the same tour), told us many stories about Scotland and the area.
- Population Scotland 5.25 MM.
- Sheep Introduced 250 years ago to satisfy the wool needs.
- 30,000 Lochs in Scotland
- Benmore Botanic Gardens on the West Coast of Scotland has such a mild winter that it has an Allé of Redwood trees.
- The local Rowan tree with red berries is purported to have special powers to ward off the evil spirits.
- The local tradition indicates that the Irish invented Whiskey and brought it to Scotland to perfect it!
- This was the last tour of the season. No more cruise liners stop there after today.
- There are 282 mountains in Scotland that are over 3,000 feet (915 meters) high.
- Geologically Scotland is divided by a diagonal line / mountains going from North / East to South / West.
We passed Strathclear town to Loch Fyne (Sea water Loch) home to the famous Campbell clan, is 30-40 miles long and flows into the Firth if Clyde. Invererie is the seat of and site of the castle of Clan Campbell. The village of Tarbort on Loch Fyne is the place where the summer sailing races start. It is also famous for it’s chain of fine seafood restaurants (which started here) around the country (one in Wokingham) and the seafood (mainly oysters and salmon) sold in these restaurants comes from this Loch.
The next Loch was the smallest – Loch Resto. However it led to the “Rest and be Thankful” photo stop which overlooks both valleys and is located in the Argyle Forest Park. It was truly a spectacular sight to behold, the gorgeous site of Mother Earth at it’s best.
It was interesting to note that we Overlooked Glen Crowe which was the site of a major battle between the English and the Scots (Charles Edward Stuart), with the former winning and having to set up military roads to subdue the Scots. These are the basis of the current roads.
Our next Loch was Loch Long (seawater) which used to be used as a torpedo firing range as there is a trident submarine naval base on the Loch.
The next was the largest lake in surface of any UK lake (30 miles long and 4-5 miles wide) – The well known Loch Lomond. There are some 20+ islands in the lake, mostly privately held. We stopped at the charming town if Luss on the lake. There is a pub, general store, church and a few other establishments. We had some time to wander around, visit the pier on the lake (which had metal name plaques screwed into the wood of those that have perished on the lake) as well as wandered through the town. A stop at the General Store led to the purchase of local whiskey which we then tried at the local pub together with the local beer. As I write this, I am trying to read my notes and the handwriting is more difficult to read after the pub stop – No idea why!!!
We then drove through the town of Dumbarton known for various things – it’s whiskey, it’s rock, the home of Jackie Stuart (the race car driver) and the castle.
On the way back to the ship we heard of the origin of the song Loch Lomond. It refers to two men that love a girl, get sent away and one is killed. Thus the “You’ll take the high road and I’ll take the low road, and I’ll be in Scotland before you but me and my true love will never meet again on the Bonnie Bonnie banks of Loch Lomond”.
Back on the ship, we went to see the premier production of “Top Hat” – A fantastic Production.
Roger & Anne Travels 