Loch Sween & Tayvallich

Hi all,
after our long journey up to our rented lodge, (Photo on the right) situated on the bank of Loch Sween we were dissapointed to find that the weather wasn't as good as we'd hoped for. However, it wasn't raining cats and dogs so perhaps it would get better. We decided that we'd have a quiet day out on our first treck around the area and have a run (in the car)down the narrow Craignish penisular. A nice trip along the other side of Loch Sween, opposite our cottage, looked like a good plan. Hopefully we'd find somewhere to eat and a relaxing day would be on the cards. We started off by retracing our journey back to the top of Loch Sween, taking our time to admire the scenary and take in views with pretty, but deserted boats bobbing about on the water. I alway think it is strange that whenever I go where boats are mooored, they are always deserted. Why did their owners buy them?
Going down the other side of Loch Sween we found the scenary much to our liking. There were views of the water and lots of trees underneath which grew carpets of bluebells. Bluebells are my favourite flower and there isn't a better view anywhere in the world than a British bluebell wood in spring. There are times when we moan about this country, but the fact that we have most of the world's population of bluebells counts for something. This year, the warm spring has been very nice, but the bluebells came and went too quickly, and the may flowers on the hawthorn bushes have also gone when they should just be coming out.Anyway, we carried on with our drive down the peninsular and we were pleased that although it was still cloudy the rain seemed to have stopped. I guess we must've travelled about twenty miles when we found civilisation, as we rounded a sharp corner on the side of the Loch, the harour of Tayvallich came into view. This is the only settlement on the Craignish peninsular with around 142 dwellings in which live a population of just over 200 people.

Tayvallich, is in fact a fishing village with a well situated and sheltered harbour. On Sundays, it is supposed to be very busy when the bay is full of week-end sailors. However, we arrived on a Sunday and there was hardly a soul to be seen. Perhaps the dull weather had put them off. The one thing we did see when we were walking through the village was a harbour-side cafe. This meant it was decision time, did we eat here or look for something else? Actually, and I hate using the term, but it was a no brainer. I'd looked at the map a couple of times that morning and knew this was the only community on the penisular, so if we didn't eat here we'd probably have to go hungry.
Anyway, we were very glad we gave it a try and ate one of the most memorable breakfasts we've ever had. A delicious full Scottish is what we devoured, while sitting at a table by a big window overlooking the gorgeous loch. Our holiday had started very well, and we both hoped it would carry on in the same way because if it did, it would be just grand.
In my next post we will carry on down the penisular to the tip at Keillmore.
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