Active Family

Argyll Holidays Active Family

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Loch Awe - the gateway to the Scottish Islands

We were so excited and extremely proud to be runners up in the Argyll Holiday Active Family 2015 and have been eagerly awaiting our trip to the North.  In the build up to our trip we looked at the different parks that are owned by Argyll Holidays to decide which Park to base our visit.  After much deliberation, visiting the Highlands and the islands of Scotland was always high on our list so we decided to go with Loch Awe.  Loch Awe Holiday Park is perfectly located to allow day trips to lots of the activities and seemed the ideal choice for us.

We had visited Hunters Quay and there was so much for families to do onsite. Ashiq had a try at the wall climbing whilst the children burnt off their excess energy in Rusty’s playhouse.  Then the adults and Maya had a go at the archery.  We were really impressed with the activities available and the prices which are really reasonable and so much affordable then other holiday park holidays we have taken in the past.

The Loch Awe Holiday Park compared to the two main sites of Hunter’s Quay and Drimsynie is significantly quieter with no onsite entertainment. For us, having no onsite entertainment did not take away from our visit as we had planned on doing a number of activities in the nearby areas and we needed somewhere as a good base for these trips.  Plus, we always pack board games, have some evening family time of baking and means we spend lots of quality time together as a family so it ticked all of our boxes!  On site they have a small Spar convenience store and a petrol station (we recommend that you top up your petrol when you get the chance as petrol stations were few and far between) and a small playground for the children.  There are a number of static caravans and a few Log cabins which are available for booking.

Our stay was at the Premium caravan which sleeps 6 people.  The caravan was plenty spacious if you are travelling with children.  However, If there was 6 adults, i think the caravan may be a bit of a squeeze.  The caravan was in pristine condition (we felt we were making it dirty!) and had plates, cutlery and enough pans so its less things for you to pack.  The layout of the caravan had a really good sized master bedroom with a small ensuite bathroom, then two rooms with two single beds.  These rooms were perfect for the little adventurers, who slept like logs after very busy days.

Activities

Argyll is so beautiful and the drive to Loch Awe is in itself a lovely experience.  New Zealand is my favourite country in the word but the sweeping glens and stunning lochs of Argyll have won my heart.  I was totally enchanted by the scenery and could have spent days just taking it all in.  There are frequent stops along the drive, where you can have a break and just be in awe with the majesty of the stunning scenery of the area.

Kilchurn Castle

On the drive to Loch Awe you can see the stunning ruins of Kilchurn Castle and this should be on everyones visit list.  Entrance is free and I highly recommend spending some time taking in the castle and enjoying the views of the area from both the castle and on the walk up.  Our little adventurers loved running around the castle, exploring the passages, wondering up the staircases and being heroes on the stones.  You can easily spend a couple of hours in the area and its a lovely way to get children learning about history and some of the geography of the area.

Inveraray

Within a short driving distance of Loch Awe there is the gorgeous, quaint town of Inveraray.  We spent a day in the area, visiting Inveraray Jail in the morning.  The Jail is great family outing and it gives little adventurers an insight to some of the history, gruesome facts and life that a prisoner in Scotland would face.  They have a walkthrough exhibit at the starting, highlighting all the methods that were employed for punishing those breaking the law.  The information is pretty gruesome and our 6 year old who can now read was a little scared.  The jail has some interactive displays from the whipping table, to the wheel turner and lots of rooms where you can see what life would have been like for prisoners all those years ago.  The attraction is a great way to spend an hour and is very different from any of the other historical attractions that we have been to.  We love hands on history and this is great way of showcasing some British history to children.  We walked to the Inveraray Castle, enjoying the gorgeous bluebell lawns and looked at the gorgeous castle.

Scottish Sea Life Centre, Oban

We visited the sea life centre and had a lovely morning at the centre.  The Oban Sea Life centre is set very different from the others we have visited in the UK.  With its location, there is a lot of emphasis on the outdoors as well as educating visitors about the sea creatures on display.  The centre had a number of shows and hands on sessions but be warned these can be very busy so get to them early to be able to have a go.  I have visited a number of sea life centres and loved the way in which this centre strived to engage with younger children as they had a number of medals that the children could work towards by doing various activities in the centre.  It was a great way to get families to learn facts, try out the walks etc that the centre have to offer visitors.  We loved that the centre had so much outdoor activities and trails for the children to do.  We unfortunately visited on a miserable, wet day so didn't get to enjoy the activities as much as we would have liked.

Mountains and Monsters

We looked at the activities from island hopping to visiting Ben Nevis.  For this trip we we decided to spend one of the days making the journey to Ben Nevis and onto hunting for Nessie.  4 days is not enough to see this great part of the country so we will be returning to give island hopping a try.  Given the weather and the ages of the children we decided that walking to the peak of Ben Nevis would need to be for another day (in a few years time) but we decided to take the skyride.  Remember to dress and wrap up warm as it was freezing at the top station.  The children had a try and loved the tubing and we went for a walk taking in the views and the area.  On a sunny day, the experience would have been amazing but it was cold when we visited and after a couple of hours the children were ready to go back down which was a shame as it is quite expensive for the time we spent there.  We then set off to Loch Ness in search of Nessie.  The little adventurers loved looking to see if they could find a monster but on this occasion our attempts failed!  We finished the night by watching The Water Horse which was a great way to bring the information that the children had learnt during the day to life in a different form.

Overall, we had a fantastic week in the gorgeous area of Argyll.  We decided to take our time enjoying the few activities we had chosen but visitors to the area are literally spoilt with so many choices available to them, you will struggle to choose what to do.  We recommend Argyll Holidays and Argyll itself to families seeking a fantastic holiday in a part of Great Britain which has so much on offer.  Its truly a place where family memories will be made!

[activefamily2015]

Drimsynie Estate Holiday Village Pt2

What a fun packed weekend we had when we stayed at Drymsinie!  Food, ale, seeing how the aristocracy live and getting out on Loch Goil…we almost need a holiday to recover from our holiday, but we loved every minute.

Inveraray Castle

Our adventure kicked off with us exploring Inveraray Castle, a building beautiful inside and out.  If you asked someone to draw a Scottish castle, they would probably draw you something that looks just like Inveraray!  And the inside perfectly matched the outside.  We all had a generous slice of cake in the tearoom before exploring the wing of the castle which is open to the public.  We really liked the armoury and kitchens best, with the weapons and armour  displayed like artwork and all the old stoves and equipment.  Even Rhys was kept amused by all the clocks chiming the hour and the scratch-off quiz card guiding us through the rooms.  We even managed a wander around the garden to see the beautiful flowers before the rain chased us on to our next destination.

Loch Fyne Oyster Bar

For lunch it was back down the lochside to Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, which we were all really excited about as we’re all big seafood fans.  The restaurant has had a recent refurb and is a bright and airy place but still keeps the cosy feel of a bothy with it's thick stone walls. We had our eyes on one of the incredible platters crammed full of crustaceans, but made our choice based on the mood and the attention span of our youngest family member and opted for kids meals and the lunch menu instead!  Maybe next time we’ll get to indulge, but the food we did order did not disappoint.  The kids menu really impressed us as there were child portions of the adult menu items, so we ordered mini Cullen Skink and salmon and cod burgers for the smalls, whilst Dad went for the grown-up size version of the burger and Mum went for good old haddock and chips.  It was delicious, so much so that we were too busy eating to take many photos!  We managed to squeeze in some desserts too, but only just!

Loch Fyne Ales

We topped off our day with a visit to the Loch Fyne Ales brewery for a tour and a complimentary half of our choice (orange juice for the kids!) in the little suntrap courtyard.  The tour was interesting and moved at a good enough pace that the kids didn’t get bored, and we got to see both the old and new production facilities which show just how much the business has grown.  The kids liked the story about the tipsy cows the best!

Argyll Voyageur Canoes

On the Sunday we did what we all agree has been one of the best activities so far as the Active Family 2015 – Argyll Voyageur Canoes.  The very friendly and knowledgeable Ian took us out in his ten-man canoe, and we paddled our way round a good part of Loch Goil.  After a short instruction and safety brief which told us all we needed to know (and reassured Mum about taking a toddler on an open boat without seatbelts!), we strapped on our life jackets and climbed aboard.  It wasn’t long before we were paddling our way down the loch, working our muscles and listening to Iain’s stories and information about the surrounding area.  We stopped at a beach to go all Ray Mears and learn to build a fire, and Half Pint loved the chance to use a bit of Army kit – a steel and flint.  We got it lit, but then the weather turned on us and wiped our efforts out.  Thankfully, Iain had set up a shelter so we could keep dry to eat our lunch!   We did a bit of exploring, and Iain shared a lot of knowledge about the local wildlife – it was really great to spend time with someone who clearly loves what they do.  We even learned how to use an empty periwinkle shell as an incredibly loud whistle!  We washed down chocolate biscuits with cuppas made on the stove (our fire was a goner!) and climbed back in the boat.  We paddled further that time, and got to see some very shy seals, a heron, gannets and of course all the weather!  At points we even managed to paddle in time, with Rhys singing to keep us going. 

By the end of our afternoon, we felt like true Voyageurs…and more than a little bit tired!

Thanks Argyll Holidays and all the wonderful Active Family Partners for a wonderful weekend escape!

[activefamily2015]

Loch Lomond Holiday Park pt1

Our first blog as the Argyll Holidays Active Family for 2015! We're so excited about our year of experiencing all that Argyll Holidays can throw at us, but we also didn't know what to expect when we turned up for our first Active Family holiday.

We had our first stay at the end of April, at the Loch Lomond Holiday Park, and we needn't have worried about what was in store. As soon as we were shown to our lodge, we felt right at home. The lodge was cosy, comfy and had plenty of space for all five of us (and the dog). It really was like a home-from-home, which we think is what you need if you're away with young children like our toddler Rhys. The lodge even had a washing machine, though thankfully we didn't need to ruin the holiday vibe with laundry!

There was one thing the lodge had that we don't have at home though...a sauna! Mum and Dad took turns in escaping for some time to crank up the heat and chill out.

And chilling out is what we think the Loch Lomond Holiday Park is all about. How can you not be relaxed when this view is right outside your lodge? 

We made the most of the chance to spend family time enjoying a DVD and playing board games, as well as checking out the adventure playground.

Our favourite thing about the park was that it was right on the banks of the Loch, so it has it's own beach. Our dog Darcy loved the chance to swim, and Rhys got to feed the ducks. Big brother Ryan wanted to throw on his trunks, but we managed to talk him into waiting until the water gets warmer!

We got out and about during our stay at the holiday park too, look out for our next blog about what there is to do around Loch Lomond!

[activefamily2015]

Hunters Quay October 2014

October Week at Hunters Quay 

For our fifth holiday we returned to Hunters Quay at Dunoon. This was a week of relaxation, reflection and celebration as we were marking our 1st wedding anniversary back where it all started.

Our first two days were spent enjoying the facilities at Hunters Quay and relaxing in our very nice lodge.

   It was time to go out and about and see what the great outdoors had to offer. We paid a visit to the Benmore Botanic Gardens only 10 minutes from the site. It has plants from all over the world and a great experience even though the weather wasn’t great. As the weather picked up we made our way to the near-by pucks glen for an adventure walk through the woods! 

Next, we went along to the Dunoon Castle House museum, where were married only a year ago! It was great to see it again and enjoyed finding out all about Highland Mary a former resident of Dunoon.

The girls went a wander down Dunoon high street and the boys took on the crazy golf by the river clyde!

  The rest of week included our anniversary celebrations by the fire at Loch Fyne hotel in Inveraray, a visit from Gran and Papa Murray and some more time in the pool back at Hunters Quay.

A great week was had by all and we are looking forward to our final holiday in November at Strath Eck!!!

[activefamily2015]

Drimsynie 2014 - The Ballantynes

Drimsynie 2014 – fun and freedom – Bring It On !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  We enjoyed playing a round of golf ............ and Daisy enjoyed   just playing around

Loved the archery – even got some bullseyes.  Games such as the pizza game made it even more fun (Red  = the sauce, Gold = cheese topping , Black = burnt pizza and have to start again) .

All that hard work certainly gave us an appetite. No prizes for guessing what we had for dinner that night........

Getting into the swing of things now:

Dad says his only previous experiences of fencing involved jewellery...................

  Talking of jewellery Dad told us this awful joke en route to our visit to Inverary Jail the next day:

“What is the difference between a jailer and a jeweller?”

“One sells watches and the other watches cells..........”

  Inverary Jail – Step back in time – Daisy the Doodle states her case

“I put it to you m’lud that dogs are better than cats and should get free biscuits... Woof!”

Wait a minute – why are we the ones in jail when it is Dad’s jokes which are criminal?

This is not a good fashion look – vertical stripes are so last year

  Escaped at last.

Now it’s time for more monkey business:

Either this was a selfie on our Walk In The Woods or Daisy has become a dab hand paw with the camera.........................

  Thanks to Argyll Holidays and Inveraray Jail

We had fun in the sun and a top time this summer at Drimsynie

Many thanks from the Ballantynes

  As Joan said to Sam at Inverary Jail.

“Ye cannae BEAT it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

[activefamily2015]

A wee video from our stay at Drimsynie July 2014

[activefamily2015]

Holiday number 2

All very excited about our trip to Loch Awe tomorrow. Let the packing commence!!

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Some photos from this morning’s walk up to Loch Leacann and the hilltop just above it. Started from forestry road just by Miller’s Falls, near Auchindrain. Walk took two hours up and back. A beautiful morning. I saw two deer, and wish I could have gotten a better photo of them. The buck barked when they saw me and they ran away. 

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The final three miles were full of archaeological wonders like standing stones and cairns. I knew I was nearly there when I saw Carnasserie Castle up ahead. I then turned left, through a cow pasture (this was a mistake, as the ground was very churned up), and finally to Kilmartin. I took a few minutes to photograph the famous crosses and grave slabs at the church, and then headed into the pub for a few pints of Stella and a big dinner. David very cheerfully came to get me. After sitting down for a couple of hours, I could barely hobble to the car! 

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#lochgoilhead #Scotland #scenery #LoVe #pretty #outdoors #boats

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Loch Goil

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Lochgoilhead (by carryfiasco)

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lochgoilhead and loch goil by stanton imaging on Flickr.

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Carrick Castle, which dates from the 15th century, is built on a rock jutting into Loch Goil. Though ruinous, the oblong building is still in a fair state of preservation, standing four stories high.

The present ruin is possibly the third structure to occupy this location. The first may have been a Viking fort.The second structure, and first castle, is believed to have been built in the 12th century. Allegedly a hunting seat of the Scots kings, Carrick was originally a Lamont stronghold.

In the spring of 1307, Robert the Bruce drove Henry Percy from the Castle before conducting a guerrilla war against Edward I of England. Edward had given the castle, which belonged to Robert, to Percy. In 1368 it then passed on to the Campbell Earls of Argyll.

The third structure, the late 15th century castle, was a royal stronghold, held by the Earls of Argyll as hereditary keepers, and was the symbol and source of their power in South Argyll. It was one of their three chief castles, the other two being Duart and Fincharn.

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Loch Achray, Scotland by Andy Wellings

[livingwildlivingfree]

Scan 13 by Ben Giesbrecht on Flickr.