Dies felices 'happy days': Loch Lomond

29th Sept - 5th Oct

"Let's snuggle up and enjoy the view"

Leaving grey skies and torrential showers behind us in Onich, we motored into much brighter weather in Loch Lomond. We were so happy there our planned 2 day stay stretched to 5. We had the quiet lapping waters beside us where we were pitched - it was such a restful, peaceful place to be. There were very few of us campers around by now - certainly in this part of the world, many having admitted defeat and headed back home down south! Having had around 7 months of constant rain the ground was so drenched we were literally squelching underfoot - we were certainly outnumbered by the ducks who found the environment most conducive!! We began to feel we were the last of the intrepid voyagers - or just crackpots?! We found the best showers yet though - lovely and warm with showers that belched hot steamy water - yay!!!

They're even issuing life jackets!

Can't beat these views right outside our 'back door' .......

we even had our own private access!

The site was a few yards from Luss which nestles under the hills, beside the long sandy beach of Loch Lomond surrounded by oak woodlands. It's a picture postcard village with its tiny cottages (built around 150 years ago to house the workers in the slate quarries and mills) bedecked with flowers even this time of the year, its ancient graveyard and the Glebe. We've enjoyed many a cream tea during the last 3 months but 'The Rest' get the top award from the Wilde's!! - and we told them so - didn't earn us that freebie!

enjoying coffee in the sunshine after Sunday lunch

In 510 St Kessog came to Luss to begin a Christian presence and there has been a church on this site ever since.

Luss has been a place of pilgrimage since Saint Kessog was martyred here in 520. Luss Glebe, a place of pilgrimage, prayer and remembering, is set in an open area of 25 acres nestling by the river behind the church. There are poems along the pilgrim pathway and plaques telling all that is known of Kessog, the Celtic Bishop. The 12 stations of the Cross mark the way along the perimeter pathway.

The entire area offers a place of peace, tranquility and reflection - it put me in mind of an open air church - after all what is a church? - a place where folks gather to worship God.

meadowland of The Glebe with backdrop of mountains

At the start of the pilgrimage pathway, The Cross of Light:

the upper section contains Christian symbols: dove of peace; grain of wheat; fish - the symbol of the early Church; chalice and candle of hope.

Sculpture of St Kessog

The rather water-logged pathway - and I didn't have my cute wellies on either!!

We spent such a pleasant relaxing few days enjoying the lochside walks, just gazing across the water and listening as the waves lapped gently against the rocks on the shore, consuming the yummiest cream teas, a Sunday lunch. It was just such a pretty quiet little village to while away a few days and everyone was so friendly - we just felt so at home there. The morning we had planned on leaving the sun showed itself and it didn't take us long to add an extra day to our stay - so loathe we were to leave this place!

Happy, contented souls

'Ripples'

We had a couple of nights in Ayr where my Dad asked me to photograph the Wallace monument in the town and we visited Dumbarton castle, known as The Rock.

This one's for you Dad - sorry about the rather garish 'Vodafone' !