Tarbert

The early forecast was for an overcast day, but the morning was clear and cool with blue sky. We decided to head South to Tarbert and have a walk along the harbour towards the ferry terminal where the Cal Mac boat 'Isle of Cumbrae' goes across East Loch Tarbert and Loch Fyne to Portavadie at the end of the Cowal peninsula, which is a crossing we have made on previous trips but not today. Maeve never knows we have been on the ferry as she can stay in the car for the half hour crossing. As we reached the ferry slip we could see the ferry approaching, so we waited the few minutes for it to arrive and got a few shots of its approach.

Tarbert was at its most photogenic in the clear air and the busy harbour provided some good blip opportunities. The tide was out and that leave the harbour floor visible right in at the town centre but the was still plenty of water to give blue in the photographs of the yachts at the marina and working boats moored at the piers. We had a visit to the craft shop on the pier and also to 'Loch Fyne Gallery' where we began the annual hunt for calendars for next year.

The next part of our day was a trip round the loop of single track road that starts South of Tarbert and takes us alongside West Loch Tarbert, where the ferry for Islay can often be seen, the out to Kilberry. On the way we stopped to look at some standing stones then at Kilberry itself we stopped to have a look at the Kilberry Sculptured Stones. These are carved grave slabs and other Celtic carvings and are really worth the trip if you like this sort of historical artefact. Further on as the road skirts the East side of the sound of Jura the views across to the Isle of Jura are spectacular with the Paps easily visible and the full length of the island on display. The as the road turned back towards the East side of Kintyre and we drove along beside the shore at sea level we had the added treat of seeing some common seals hauled out on the big rocks along the edge of the water.

Late lunch at the splendid Smiddy Bistro in Lochgilphead and a stop top buy things for dinner then we came back to our holiday home. To end another wonderful dry day, with the thin layer of cloud now coming and taking the edge of the brightness, we decided to walk along the canal bank towards Crinan. We didn't go right along to Crinan today but just far enough to enjoy the views across towards Dunadd and to Crinan Ferry. We turned around at Bellanoch swing bridge and returned the way we came in time for tea and to have a look at the day's pictures before thinking about dinner :-)