Tag Archives: Loch Ness

Dores Inn

17 April 2019 billpaterson1@me.com 3 Comments

Here we are in the tiny village of Dores on the shores of Loch Ness and, not only that, we are still in the EU. After months of fever pitch Brexit guessing, the delay in leaving has left the media wallowing in a sea of nothingness. Thankfully, in order to give the hacks something to do, an invisible black hole has miraculously appeared voraciously sucking in the orbiting wreckage of political careers and credibility. Notre-Dame has also done the media a massive favour by simply burning down. Many years ago, Notre-Dame and its magnificent stone flying buttresses made us realise that maybe we are not as smart as we like to think these days. It’s all been done before even without the aid of modern technology. Anyway, we have gone from 24/7 coverage of Brexit to zero, it’s almost as if it was all just a bad dream.

External view of Dores Inn, Loch Ness — Dores Inn from the beach

Nessie

Does any of this matter in Dores when you have six miniature people to look after? Not a bit of it! In fact after a walk along the beach, keeping a close eye on the water for Nessie, we had nothing other than scones on our minds.

Unrecorded deaths

Dores Inn is a great wee pub/restaurant, very much at the center of this community. At one time, almost too much at the center of the community. Around here, in times gone by, it was common for deaths not to be recorded at all. Apparently funerals, especially for those of some importance, could become quite riotous … much food and drink was taken. People feared dying simply because of the cost. At the time it was said that it was dangerous to be ill, expensive to die, and ruinous to have a funeral.

However, today in the glorious sunshine we are all very much alive and our only expense will be lunch and a scone. Their beer garden is rather cleverly called the OutDores Inn. However, even though the sun was shining there was a cool breeze coming in off the loch. We were fortunate to get a table inside that could accommodate all fourteen of us. Service was great and we were soon all catered for and Pat and I were sharing a scone. No cream but the scone itself was very good. No topscone unfortunately but we thoroughly enjoyed our time at Dores and look forward to a repeat visit sometime soon.

Unbelievably, Nessie did not make an appearance … maybe tomorrow? An appearance would certainly have displaced black holes and Notre-Dame as headline news. We are ‘almost’ missing the horrendous wall to wall coverage of Brexit. If they keep this up perhaps the whole sorry mess will just be forgotten about? Or perhaps not!

IV2 6TR. tel: 01463 751203 Dores

///investors.nightlife.poet

Ordinary, Scones

Café Ecosse

2 April 2019 billpaterson1@me.com 3 Comments

“Hands up anyone who has the slightest inkling of what is going on in British politics.” After yet another farce in the House of Commons last night that would be a perfectly valid question to ask. “No, Theresa, put your hand down”.

Let us have a go at defining ‘farce’. The British people, voted to leave the EU. We disagree fundamentally but recognise it as a simple straight forward instruction – ‘leave, no deal’! The fact that they did so on the basis of fairy tales and lies is beside the point. However, almost all our politicians, including the PM, are promising to “deliver on that instruction from the British people” while, simultaneously, ruling out ‘no deal’. That’s the farce … all ‘deals’ are contrary to what the people voted for. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more farcical Theresa May announces, after all this time, that she is willing to speak to the opposition? Whatever next?

What’s in a name?

Today we are in the town of Invernevis .. or at least, that’s what it will most likely be called once Scotland gets its independence from ‘the farce’. Currently it’s called Fort William. Originally it got its name from William of Orange who built it in order to control the locals. It was then renamed Gordonsburgh, then Duncansburgh before eventually reverting to Fort William. However, this time the ‘William’ bit was after Prince William, Duke of Cumberland otherwise known fondly by Scots as “Butcher Cumberland”. Hopefully, when Scotland becomes independent it will rid itself of the name along with all other remnants of colonialism. Invernevis sounds good to us.

The second largest town in the Highlands after Inverness it sits at the foot of Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest hill. It therefore has it’s own weather system as the rain clouds sweep in from the Atlantic. Annual rainfall is three times that of Edinburgh. It rains a lot and today is no exception. It also sits at the northern end of the West Highland Way and the southern end of the Great Glen Way so there are always a lot of wet walkers around. This place, Café Ecosse, is just the sort of place you might find them … it’s pretty basic. Nothing wrong with that as long as the scones are good!

Rescued hat

We were served by a young lady of indeterminate eastern european origin who seemed to be running the place single handedly. They have a very elaborate customer service notice on every table which we felt was a bit OTT. We didn’t bother using it because the list of things in need of improvement would have been too long. We had a couple of sandwiches which were okay then we shared a scone. No cream but with plenty of fruit, it was okay … no topscone but okay. At least we were in out of the rain. When we left Café Ecosse the rain had gone off and the young lady who had provide our scone came running after us with my hat. I think Pat wished she hadn’t bothered. There’s nothing wrong with my hat so at least I was grateful!

Beira

Let us tell you about Beira, mother of all gods and goddesses. She was a giantess who had blue skin, rust coloured teeth and one eye. Hand down Theresa!! Beira built Scotland’s mountains with a magic hammer and when her maid Nessa was naughty she transformed her into a river which eventually formed Loch Ness. Ben Nevis was Beira’s mountain throne. Now, if you think this might be a little far fetched, can we refer you back to ‘the farce’ at the beginning of this post. Beira, suddenly seems quite plausible.

PH33 6AT tel: 01397 705751 EcosseFB

///obeyed.spurring.revised

Ordinary, Scones

Bobby’s at Duck Bay

12 February 2019 billpaterson1@me.com 1 Comment

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Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond

Where me and my true love were ever wont to gae

On the bonnie, bonnie banks o’ Loch Lomond

That’s what I was singing to Pat as we arrived here on a beautiful warm February day. She didn’t have her fingers in her ears but perhaps a slightly better rendition is by Runrig and The Tartan Army. You can hear it by clicking here. We recommend letting it run in the background as you read. By the end you’ll feel completely Scottish and will probably be dancing on the nearest table. Be careful though, we don’t want to cause any accidents!

Although it has become a kind of Scottish anthem it is, of course, a rather sad song. A captured Jacobite Highlander bemoaning the fact that he will never again see his true love on the bonnie bonnie banks. Not for me though because I am here and I have my true love with me …

Where in deep purple hue, the hieland hills we view

Okay!!! Enough, we hear you cry! Is there a scone somewhere here? Well, of course, there is!

View from Bobby's at Duck Bay Marina, Loch Lomond — Snow capped Ben Lomond in the middle distance from the beach at Duck Bay

Loch Lomond is Britain’s biggest loch/lake and we are fortunate indeed to have it on our doorstep. After a short but beautiful drive we ended up here, Bobby’s at Duck Bay. We go up and down the loch side a lot but this is the first time in quite a few years we have stopped off here. It’s reputation never used to be that great. Now, however, it has been taken over by Cawley Hotels and Restaurants and it’s much improved. Turns out, unbeknown to us, they also have a place at home in Falkirk. Watch this space!

Main restaurant at Bobby's at Duck Bay Marina, Loch Lomond — The main restaurant overlooking the loch

Weekday revellers?

There is a large restaurant that looks out over the loch and this place Bobby’s which is more for snacks and refreshments. It was busy! How come all these people can be here on a weekday afternoon? Shouldn’t they be at work or doing something useful to aid the floundering UK economy? What about us? Well, what about us … that’s different! The afternoon tea looked fantastic but we weren’t feeling quite so indulgent. Another time maybe. A scone to share and some lunch was our order. We were served by a young girl who looked as though she just wanted to be somewhere else … anywhere else! Why do people not just decide to enjoy their work. It’s easily done and it makes a massive difference for everyone concerned.

Tarts

Anyway, in spite of the surly service our food arrived quite promptly and it was all delicious. That applied to the scone as well. It came with a little jar of jam (English) and a pot of whipped cream. Nice texture and plenty fruit but not quite a topscone. You can’t really help but have a good time here, especially on a gorgeous day like today. Next time we might come for some of these strawberry tarts and meringues.

Is Runrig still playing? Are you on a table? Careful how you get down! If that wasn’t floating your boat there is another version by Bill Haley and the Comets.

The terrace at Bobby's at Duck Bay Marina, Loch Lomond — The terrace at Duck Bay

Far fetched

Loch Lomond has 92,800 million cubic feet of water however that is a mere drop in the ocean compared to Loch Ness which, being much deeper, holds more water than all Britain’s lakes and lochs put together. It also holds a monster, of course and some would have it that there is also one here in Loch Lomond. Sightings have been few and far between so we think the Loch Lomond monster may be a wee bit far fetched. However, not as far fetched as Brexit negotiations or Trump’s claims about the Mexican border. Does anyone, anywhere have a clue what is happening with either?

‘The Plan’ proposed in our previous post Offshore seems to have met with some opposition. Obviously, getting the voters to cast their vote sensibly was never going to be easy. The Plan is therefore, by necessity, a tad radical. We would, however, simply ask those opposed to just be a little more public spirited. Thank you!

G83 8QZ tel: 01389 751234 Bobby’s

Scones, history and a dollop of politics