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Highland Day Trip – Hairy Coo 2

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Last May (2012) a few like minded souls who shared a similar interest arranged to share a bus trip run by Hairy Coo bus tours.  We took the standard tour which covered the Central Lowland/Highland route.  All had a great day out despite the rain showers.   AT the beginning of June this year (2013) one of the participants put forward the suggestion that we should meet up again and go on another bus trip. However, it was suggested that we hire a little bus and make our own route – thus was born the Hairy Coo 2 Crew.   Initially 18 people said they would chip in for the hire of the bus etc and we would agree a route.  As all were users of Facebook the proposed driver George asked for suggestions of route.  After a flurry of discussion it was agreed by majorityImage may be NSFW.
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that the day out would go right into the Highlands in a circular tour starting and finishing at from the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow.  The date of the trip drew ever nearer several people dropped out. On the day, Saturday 20th July  at 08:15 11 people met at the embarkation point, (George, Elaine, Alexis, Davy, Jock, Carol, Godon, Susan, Angela and yours truly) and boarded the bus to head out on our great adventure.  The weather was great – sunny and blue skies were the order of the day.  From Linlithgow we headed north to Balquhidder  the final resting place of the famous or infamous Rob Roy MacGregor, his wife and two of his sons.  A word of caution folks for those considering following this route, the road to Balquhidder is single track, there are passing places. After a 30 min photo stop we made our way back to the main road for our 10 minute drive to Balquhidder Station (so named as it was once the local railway station for Balquhidder) and our first pits stop (rest stop) just in time for bacon rolls and tea/coffee at one of my favourite en route café/restaurant The Golden Larches.  Suitably refreshed we boarded our chariot of adventure and headed off our next stop, the Glencoe Mountain Resort and a chair lift ride up to the first level. However a photostop was made at the top of Glen Ogle for all to get shots of the Glen Ogle viaduct, Image may be NSFW.
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once a vital line between Callendar and Oban, now part of a national cycle track/walk. (well worth a walk over).  Continuing on we passed Tyndrum, Bridge of Orchy and started the climb up to Rannoch Moor, a quick photo stop at the top of the climb and we headed off to the Glencoe Mountain Resort and a chair lift. A trip on the chairlift takes you from the valley floor up to 2200ft   in around 12minutes. On a day like we had just sit back and enjoy the view and tranquillity of the ride up.   At the top there are magnificent views across Rannoch Moor and on a clear day like our day you can see across to Rannoch Moor Station.Image may be NSFW.
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Back down to base we had a restful pit stop and chatted with an old friend who had originally planned to come on the trip, but for family reasons had to dropout.  She and her husband made the trip to tack us down and have a wee blether – it was nice meeting Judy and Alan – glad you stopped by folks.   onwards and upwards was the cry, in our case it was onwards to Ballachulish and a very quick photo stop before we made our way to Appin and the Castle Stalker View Point Café, which overlooks Castle Image may be NSFW.
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Stalker
.  In modern days it is famous for appearing in two films.  However, it has a bloody history itself.  The two films were Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Highlander – The End Game.  Its history follows the course of Scottish History,  MacDougalls, Stewarts and Campbells – Many of the Stewarts of Appin died at Culloden. After a very nice tea of Venison and Bacon burger and salad and a rest to gather out thoughts we set forth again this time heading for the village of Loch Awe our final photo stop for shots across Loch Awe of Kilchurn Castle.  Once again we had a nice drive from Appin alongside Loch Linnhe then Loch Etive  then to Loch Awe itself. The best vantage point for gettinga good shot of Kilchurn Castle is from a boat. However, a good shot can be taken from the passenger footbridge at the station:  Image may be NSFW.
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When all had their photos we returned the coach to being the penultimate leg home – heading to Tyndrum were we would have our last rest stop before the 100 mile trip back to our starting point Linlithgow.

We had set out at 08:15 – well 08:30 to be precise arriving back at 22:20 having covered 250 miles through some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland. As well as the miles we also time travelled back into our history, even allowing for the romance of Sir Walter Scott, Rob Roy was a legend in his own lifetime.  Then Glencoe, the site of the Massacre of the MacDonalds, off to Appin – where the Stewarts of Appin  originated and the site of the Murder of the Red Fox with the political trial and hanging of the half brother of the Chief of the Stewart Clan.

Thanks to George for doing the driving, I know I enjoyed my day out with the Hairy Coo 2 Motley Crew, as Wallace said to Gromit – “It were a grand day out lad”.  Now my final questions are When do we venture forth again?  Will they ever allow us back in the Highlands?


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Image may be NSFW.
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