SCOTLAND IN SEPTEMBER: Tobemory and Glengorm Castle

We left Oban by ferry, crossed Loch Linnhe, docked at Craignure on the Isle of Mull, and motored in the rain along A848, which parallels the Sound of Mull. We stopped in the quaint coastal town of Tobemory where it was, well, you probably guessed it--still raining! Actually, it was pouring.Remember to click on pictures to enlarge.

Hungry, we ducked in the Mishdish for lunch. Their soup was splendid. (I said splendid because the Scots used the word often and I'm a Scot on my mother's side.) I remember saying the soup tasted so good that I could eat there again. And you know what? We did, but I'll tell you about that later.

View from inside the Mishdish. Note the raindrops 
on the window.

After filling our stomachs, we popped in many of the shops and an interesting museum that had information on the Ross family (my maternal grandfather's lineage).There is actually a type of rock called a Ross rock; I saw it in the museum.

We left Tobemory and headed down a one-track road to Glengorm Castle, four miles north of Tobemory. Larry stopped the car so I could snap a picture of the sheep below.

We saw lots of Blackface sheep like this one. 

The lavendar flower is heather, which grows wild in Scotland.

We rounded a curve and caught our first view of Glengorm Castle, where we spent the night.

I snapped this photo through the front windshield

from the back seat. Note the puddle in the road.

Construction of the castle began in 1850, was finished in 1863. The castle has passed through several owners, and is now owned by a family with small children. On the northernmost tip of the Isle of Mull, Glengorm Castle looks out over the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes you can see the Outer Hebrides (a string of islands) 80 miles further north. Views from the castle are breathtaking.

Glengorm Castle and a tenant cottage. We walked 

from the castle to this spot where I took the picture.

Joyce, Larry and Ron on a trail. The Atlantic 

Ocean makes the perfect backdrop.

Ron, Larry, Joyce and I walked some of the moors and trails on this 5,000 acre estate. This was the most gorgeous place I've ever seen. I could live here except for one thing--I can't afford  a castle!

Another breath-taking view.

Still another view. Note the Blackface sheep grazing. 

Glengorm has about 750 breeding Blackface ewes. 

Also on the estate are Highland cattle.

A view of the Atlantic from the castle lawn.

Glengorm Castle again. If you click on the picture, 

you'll see heather growing atop the stone wall.

The castle doesn't serve supper, so they had a driver take us back to Tobermory--and the Mishdish. Joyce and I feasted on fresh-caught salmon. Ron and Larry chose mussels, which they said were splendid.

Ron enjoying his mussels.

After dinner, we returned to Glengorm and relaxed with a glass of wine in the room below. Guests have full use of the main hall, library and dining room. This room was off the main hall, and came with a chair-loving lap-friendly dog.

 

 

I hated to leave Glengorm Castle, could have stayed there a week, but the Isle of Skye beckoned. I'd like to return to Glengorm one day, stay for a month, soak in the culture and the ambience, work on a book. Who knows? Maybe I will.