Torosay Castle and Oban

It was pouring rain at 6:30 am when I woke up, but a half-hour later the sun was shining and all was well with the world. Today we spent the morning visiting Torosay Castle, inside and out. Access to the Castle from Craignure, where the ship was berthed, is easy. A mile-long forest path leads from the small village to the castle grounds, and folks took advantage of it both ways.

Chris James, the son of the owner, gave us a personalized tour of their home – elegant, yet inviting. Here is a place one can actually sit down on the sofas and chairs, touch the books, get close and peer at paintings. The grounds are equally delightful with both a formal and informal portion of the gardens dedicated to flowering plants, exotics and natives. Down the entrance drive a small herd of highland cattle were awaiting their morning feed, and so close to the gate! They were irresistible subjects for my camera. I just had to have my cow “fix”.

The return journey to the Lord of the Glens was taken by foot along the path, by bus or by the Mull Railroad – my favorite. I’ve always enjoyed trains, and this is a miniature railroad (excuse me – “narrow-gauge”) which runs a fifteen-minute track between Torosay Castle and the town of Criagnure. It takes 15 minutes because it includes the short chat between one conductor to the other half-way down the track. Small signs along the way indicate we have just passed over “Bob’s Wallow”, “Bob’s Big Ditch” and when to “Whistle”.

By lunchtime we were well on our way to Oban, a main hub for transportation on the mainland, and a shopping haven for many. I lost track of the shopping bags returning to the ship, and certainly the whiskey-tasting after the distillery tour may have helped this spread of good-will in town. Late afternoon we made it to the top of the hill behind Oban to take advantage of the beautiful garden which inhabits the interior of McCaig’s Folly or Tower. It provides the ideal location for an overlook, and grand indeed was the view. Sunny skies had besieged us all day (what to do? Layers are the answer), and with a setting sun to the west behind the isle of Mull, sailing boats at anchor glistened off the sea.

Our collective karma seems to be working its positive magic…