Glencoe news page 2

Pretty little holiday cottage near Glencoe on the lochside for self-catering next to Fort William and Oban cottages. Coastal cottage in Appin on the West of Scotland. Not far from Nevis in the Scottish highlands. E-mail us please

Ballachulish slate quarries to open again? Not likely, say locals.
Ballachulish slate was first quarried just over 300 years ago. It once covered Glasgow roofs. It was more durable than other slates, but it did not split well. The mine was started one year after the Massacre. But the slate was tough to quarry, and very dangerous.

But it might come back. Historic houses need new roofs sooner or later, and they should be in the same slate as the original. Second hand Ballachulish slates are running out. Now it appears that Historic Scotland and the Lochaber planners are seriously thinking of opening up the quarry again. But it will be over the dead bodies of local protesters.

Queen Victoria visited the quarries in 1860, staying at Ballachulish House. She noted that Ballachulish was "a very tidy and pretty place."

Forgotten village found at Fort William
150 years ago an outbreak of Cholera wiped out a little
community above the town. Tollie, quite high in the hills above Ben Nevis, goes back at least to 1800 and possibly even further to the Bronze Age.

They've found the outline of the houses there amongst the trees. They are discussing how to restore the village.

CalMac mucks about with Muck

The ferry to Muck, a tiny, lovely little inner isle with the most wonderful name, keeps missing the island. Out of 24 landings, it made only 13. Bit much when you are waiting for all your junk mail to arrive.

That's Calmac for you, they say it is because their ship is hard to control at the little harbour in a beam swell.

Knowing this awesome company it is more likely that carrying few passengers means that their own finance officer is difficult to control.

I'm not too sure of the meaning of the word awesome. Prizes are offered for alternative adjectives.

Waterfront plan for Fort William, with Marina. We hope

The deep water dock isn't built yet, the marina is not there, nor is the top class hotel, but they may be one day. That is, if the plans are approved for the Fort William waterfront
Let's hope it is not a pipe dream once more.
It could be the Cannes of the North. It needs a couple of access tunnels to the waterside, the backs of all the buildings cleaned up. Some planted palms would be nice. Cheap, easy to do.
The view down Loch Linnhe from the proposed dock. By our guest Libby Higgins

The Holly Tree is best for food now.
You can walk the 400 yards to the best bar meal in the entire region, and at a sensible price. It was not always so, but the new chef at the Holly Tree Hotel near us has got it right. And you’ll not lose your licence going home again. You’ll be walking.