Loch Leven Holidays Blog

Last Day of Winter

2010-03-24T13:40:00.004Z

Sunday 21st March was officially the last day of winter, and what a winter we had! Very bright and sunny but extremely cold. Well all the snow is just about gone now and the temperatures have risen to a balmy 9 & 10 degrees!! With the warmer temps has brought some rain, the first heavy rain we have had for a while, hopefully it won't last too long and we may get some Spring sunshine.
The cold weather has had an impact on the grounds and plants with the grass very mushy and brown and no sign of the daffodils blooming just yet. This time last year we were enjoying warm, sunny weather and the daffodils were out in force.
Ian took a trip up to Blackwater Dam on Sunday and as you can see by these pictures the sky is very grey and the snow is all but gone. This area just above Kinlochleven is lovely for a walk, the circuit explores the very beautiful and peaceful Glen Leven, including a visit to the bleak Blackwater Dam.
Good paths and tracks for most of the walk. There are a few boggy sections and the section of the walk below the dam is pathless and rough. www.walkhighlands.co.uk/fortwilliam There are several walks close by, varying in difficulty have a look at the Walk Highlands website for lots of ideas.

The area is slowly starting to get busier and over the next week we expect to see more people out and about. We are very busy over Easter with only 1 chalet left www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk take a look at our website for full details.
There is loads going on in the area if you are planning a trip up, from The Annual Easter Ale Festival at the Grog & Gruel Pub in Fort William to an Easter Egg Hunt in Glencoe to live music in the Clachaig in Glencoe. Have a look at all the details on the Outdoor Capital website www.outdoorcapital.co.uk/events There is something for everyone!

Half Term Holidays

2010-02-25T15:45:00.004Z

All our guests who stayed last week for half term had a fantastic week of weather. The skies were clear and very sunny with lots of snow still around. Several people visited the ski slopes and 2 of our guests learned to ski at Anoch Mor in perfect conditions.www.nevisrange.co.uk Glencoe ski centre is also having a good year after worries it may have to close down due to lack of visitors.www.glencoemountain.co.uk It's great to visit the ski centres, even if you don't want to go skiing, both centres have great cafes and the views are stunning!!

The temperatures reached -9 on Thursday night which led to one of our main water pipes freezing!! So we had no water on Thurs. night/Fri. morning. Ian spent the whole day on Friday trying to find the problem and unfreeze the pipe, which he did. Thanks to all our guests who were very patient and understanding. The joys of a private water supply!!

We took the Corran ferry across to Ardgour on Sunday for a bike ride. the weather was gorgeous so we thought we would make the most of it. We rode for about 6 miles along Loch Linnhe and then turned up to Cona glen, a beautiful track which runs for about 8 miles. We took the following picture of the river Scaddle, which you can see is completely frozen.
The sun was bright in the sky but it was very cold as we followed the River Cona up the Glen, many of the burns running into the river were frozen solid! We saw 4 Hinds grazing near the river, they come down low at this time of year, as the sub zero temperatures are even too cold for them!!

There are some pictures here, looking back over to Ben Nevis from Ardgour. It looks absolutely stunning!

Re-opening 2010

2010-02-02T12:23:00.005Z

Well it's not long now until we re-open for the new 2010 season (Sat.13th Feb.)! We have had an eventful winter so far, as lots of people have. The water seems to be fine now after it freezing up in the stream and in the pipes to the chalets. Hopefully no more really cold weather!! Although the skiing is still doing well with fresh snow falls yesterday and Sunday. www.nevisrange.co.uk/ It is a bright and sunny day today, so ideal conditions!

We went out for a bike ride on Sunday around the shores of Loch Linnhe, we started out in blue sky at lunch time and ended up in a blizzard in the afternoon,just shows how quickly the weather can change.

It was a beautiful afternoon and the views to the mountains and over to the Ben was just breath taking.

Bishops Bay just down the road at North Ballachulish, the tide was well out and its not often you can walk out to the small island, this is due to the spring tides brought on by the full moon. This picture shows the view over the bay to Glencoe.

We are fully booked for the week beg.Sat.13th Feb.2010 but have plenty of availability after then. Easter is nearly full so if you are thinking of taking a trip then, get in touch for availability www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk

Hogmany in the Highlands!

2010-01-07T15:29:00.002Z

Happy New Year to everyone! We hope you have a very Happy & Healthy 2010!

Our guests who stayed with us over Hogmany and into the New Year had some stunning weather, bright blue skies and snow covered mountains. Here are some pictures of some guests actually fishing in the Loch.

As you can see by these pictures it is very clear but very cold! The temperatures haven't got above freezing for about 3 weeks now and we are starting to see the consequences with frozen pipes and the risk of running out of water is getting closer. The stream where we get our water from is freezing up, most of our neighbours who are on a private water supply have also ran out! It is not expected to get any better over the next few weeks.
Everyone around the country seems to be suffering and I think compared to some areas, particularly the East coast we have come off quite lightly. Although there is a lot of snow on the ground most of that has been frozen for a couple of weeks and we have not had much new snow, so the main roads are clear.

Some people very happy about the weather conditions are the Ski centres, Nevis Range reporting a great ski season so far www.nevisrange.co.uk Have a look at their site for all the details of the conditions and various runs.

Hope everyone keeps warm and we look forward to seeing many of you in the coming year.

Christmas Greetings!

2009-12-20T10:50:00.005Z

Hello Everyone!
Hope things aren't too stressful in the run up to Christmas! We re-open the chalets today (20th Dec.) for the Festive period. We have been closed for 6 weeks and managed to get a little holiday ourselves within that time but it was soon time to come home and get organised for our guests arriving.

Here are some pictures taken last night at dusk and then some from behind the chalets taken this morning. It just looks stunning!

Well for those making the journey to the West coast today it will be a cold and snowy one, so take it easy! We woke up this morning to several inches of "white stuff" and nice blue skies. Ian is outside as I type this, clearing the drive and chalet paths.

If you fancy doing some skiing when you are up, go to the Nevis Range website for all the details and what runs are open. We expect more snow over the next few days and they say some of the runs should be open tomorrow www.nevisrange.co.uk

It's been a fairly busy year at Loch Leven Holidays, with the wet summer not putting too many people off! We would like to thank everyone who has stayed with us in 2009 and look forward to seeing many of you next year. We wish all our guests a very Happy Christmas and Healthy 2010!

We close the chalets on Sun.3rd Jan.2010 and re-open on Sat.13th Feb.2010, give us a ring if you fancy a winter break away next Feb/March 01855 821272. www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk

Fisher Family Photos

2009-11-05T10:09:00.003Z

We had the Fisher and Reed famililies from Sussex staying in the chalets last week, it is there 2nd visit and they said they would be back next year! They had a great week and they took some photographs for us to display. These 2 are of Glen Etive, showing very moody skies.

These are of Loch Leven, with the chalet park in the distance.

The next picture is of Signal rock forest in Glencoe and some cheeky Pinemarten on the chalet balcony!

The final picture is of Glencoe Lochan, showing stunning views and clear skies.

Thanks to Lewis Fisher for taking these pictures, they are fantastic and show the area at its best. Whether its sunny, wet, dull or bright, the scenery is spectacular
and there is always plenty to do and see.

Give us a ring (01855 821272) or check or website for information www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk

A Day Out To Mull

2009-10-22T10:55:00.005+01:00

Now that the area is getting quieter we decided to have a day out to Mull, we love going to Mull, it's easy to get to and lovely for a walk and a bit of Eagle watching. We set off on Monday morning and the weather was fantastic, bright and cold! We caught the Corran Ferry across to Ardgour http://www.lochabertransport.org.uk and then travelled to Lochaline on Ardnamurchan, this takes about 45 mins from Ardgour. This is an easier and cheaper option than going from Oban, the ferry then only takes about 15 mins to get to Fishnish on Mull. www.calmac.co.uk

When we arrived it was nearly lunch time so we thought we would visit Mull Pottery http://www.mullpottery.com/ which has a lovely cafe just outside Tobermory. Fishnish is about 20 mins from Tobermory. We enjoyed a fabulous homemade bowl of soup which set us up for the afternoon. We then had a walk around Tobermory watching the boats come in and out of the harbour. The weather had changed a bit and was cold and wet but this didn't put us off.

We headed North West through Dervaig onto the rugged West Coast where there are magnificent views looking out to The Trishnish Islands, Coll and Staffa. The road hugs the coastline and the scenery is fantastic. We drove through Calgary where there is a superb picnic spot on a sandy beach, to the right you can see Gometra and the Ulva Islands.
A stop at Eas Fors waterfall is a must, the water plummets 100s of feet and is only a short walk from the road. Continuing on to Grulin and then to Salen takes you back to the ferry at Fishnish.
This route is ideal for spotting the Sea Eagles, unfortunately this time we didn't spot any, although we did see a pair of Eagles on our way back to the ferry. They are stunning birds and we watched the for ages!!

We had a lovely day and Mull is well worth a visit if you are ever in the area.

Recent Pictures

2009-09-21T13:05:00.003+01:00

There is always something to photograph in and around Loch Leven Holidays, so here are a few recent ones.

We had a lovely walk around the Glencoe Lochan one evening last week, the day had been bright and sunny and the sun was just starting to go down, as you can see from these pictures. The water was flat calm and there was a lovely reflection of the Pap of Glencoe mountain.
The pictures of Loch Leven and Tiranui Cottage were also taken that evening as the sun was setting.

The pinemarten pictures were taken by one of our guests from inside the chalet, they said the pinemarten was very tame and even ate some bread from his hand. As you can see in one picture it is enjoying some cornflakes and in another some jam & bread!

The weather has become more Autumnil in the last few days and the light for photographs is fantastic. We are starting to see the leaves come off the trees and its getting darker earlier in the evening. It is a lovely time to visit the area, with the children back at school it is quieter round and about.
Why not give us a ring if you fancy a short break 01855 821272 www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk

The Weather!!!

2009-09-07T12:35:00.005+01:00

What would us Brits do if we didn't have the weather to talk and moan about?? Is the weather in the UK and particularly the West Coast of Scotland as bad as we are lead to believe.

Well in a word YES, it has been the last couple of months.
Here are a few of the statistics we collected at Loch Leven Holidays from our "very professional" weather monitoring station!!!

The monthly rainfall from last October to the end of August is as follows in millimetres:

Oct.08 - 282mm
Nov.08 - 168mm
Dec.08 - 172mm
Jan.09 - 101mm
Feb.09 - 155mm
Mar.09 - 138mm
Apr.09 - 151mm
May 09 - 107mm
Jun.09 - 101mm
Jul.09 - 166mm
Aug.09 - 282mm !!!!!!!!!

Well as you can see August was very wet and July wasn't great either. The August figure is double what it was for last August. May & June were lovely months with not much rain and some glorious sunny days.

The 30th of June 09 gave us our hottest day of the year with the temperatures reaching a scorching 30.1 degrees.
In comparison, the average day time temperature in August was only 16 degrees and the night time temp dropped to 11.8 degrees.
The average for the summer (June/July & August) only reached a very poor 15.2 degrees!!

The coldest day in the last 12 months was on the 30th November 2008 and tempertures dropped to -5.9 degrees. A bit of a surprise to us, as we expected it to be colder in Jan or Feb.

And so what about the winds!!!

Based on the Beaufort Scale 1 = 0 - 4.6 miles per hour
2 = 4.6- 8.1 mph
3 = 8.1-12.7 mph
4 = 12.7-18.4 mph
5 = 18.4-25.3 mph

48.9% of the winds from Oct.08 to Aug.09 were a 1 (0-4.6 mph)
19.4% were a 2
7.6% were a 3
3.1% were a 4
0.6% were a 5

So is it true the Seasons are changing and we are getting much wetter and warmer weather. Not sure about the warmer but certainly wetter this summer! The good weather seems to be arriving earlier in the year April/May June and we are getting more Autumnial weather in the traditional summer months. So it may be we need to take our holidays a bit earlier www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk

It will be interesting to see what the next few months bring, and wether we get an Indian summer!!

Poem by Katie Unsworth

2009-08-10T10:54:00.002+01:00

This is a poem written by 12 year old Katie who stayed with us last week. Her and her family are regular visitors.

To Ian & Sharon,
I have written you a poem to tell you what a good holiday I had!!

Thank you, thank you very much,
here to stay and that's for good,

With the Pinemartens scary to touch,
nipping in and out of the wood,
keeping look out day and night,
you never know what you will see,
oh thank goodness they didn't fight
under the stone there is their tea.

Ian is a busy bee,
and when it is raining he works away,
new places to go and people to see
all day working and no time to play,

Night is quiet and very calm,
do watch out when the midges bite.
Sharon kind and never harms,
home from home is the sight,
and there is Bill he is my friend,

Round the roads I will miss,
oh I drive you all round the bend,
Never ever had a holiday like this!!!

Thank you very much
Katie xxx

Upgrades to Kinlochleven Village Centre

2009-07-21T10:45:00.004+01:00

The picture shows the pipeline in Kinlochleven.

You may start to see a difference the next time you visit us and venture down to Kinlochleven.
Kinlochleven Community Trust are extremely pleased to announce that funding application was recently approved on 22nd June 2009 which means that the centre of Kinlochleven will be transformed.
The start date of 17th August 2009 has been confirmed with the contractors and you will see a bit of activity early that week when the contractors put up the security/safety fencing on site. The work is expected to last 12/14 weeks.

Funding was sought to carry out landscaping works and regeneration of a large piece of derelict land within the centre of Kinlochleven. The overall aim is to provide a community space available to all which will create a welcoming space in the village centre which will promote the village and its facilities.

The area will provide a focal point for community activity and present a better impression for residents and visitors.

The KCT have been working hard to improve the village, many business and locals have also been supporting the Hanging Basket Scheme. Special thanks are due to all of the children in Kinlochleven Primary and Nursery for planting the hanging baskets and planters for the 2009 season. The children worked really hard and were really pleased with their results! www.kinlochleven.co.uk

If you are planning to visit the area and fancy going to one of the many Highland Games, there are several on just in Lochaber. Highland Games are a great day out. With activities ranging from Highland Dancing, Athletics - including several "heavyweight events", Piping competitions and marching, stalls and guest appearances make it a memorable day.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Glengarry Highland Games - Saturday 4 July 2009
Arisaig Highland Games - Wednesday 29 July 2009
The Lochaber Highland Games (Fort William) - Saturday 25 July 2009
Mallaig & Morar Highland Games - Sunday 2th August 2009
Glenfinnan Highland Games - Saturday 15 August 2009

More info can be found at Lochaber.com website www.lochaber.com/whatson/index.htm

Many local businesses have been saying how it has been a busy year so far for visitors and here at Loch Leven Holidays we have found the same. We have no chalets available until Sat.29th August, although we still have some rooms available in our Bed & Breakfast, and it is filling up fast for Sept. and Oct. If you usually come to stay with us at this time of year it might be worth giving us a ring to check availability, especially if you have a preferred chalet.
The same goes for the popular weeks next year, these seem to be getting booked up quickly also. www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk

Local Networking Site

2009-06-24T13:19:00.002+01:00

In a world that now seems obsessed with blogs, social network sites, review sites etc we here in Glencoe are not to be outdone. The people at The Clachaig Inn in Glencoe have come up with the Glencoe Scotland Social Network http://glencoescotland.ning.com this is a networking site for all those who are interested in the famous Glen. Whether you are a regular visitor, live here or dream of visiting one day, it is an ideal place to post your comments, pictures or just talk to others who share you interest in the stunning surroundings.
Why not go on the site and sign up and find out what's going on!!

Another new site that we here at Loch Leven Holidays have signed up for is http://mycottageholiday.co.uk this is a review site like Tripadvisor for self catering accommodation. It lets guests post their comments on places they have stayed and also look for holiday accommodation. It is still quite new so there aren't that many places on it yet, but it is getting more popular all the time. So if you have stayed with us in the past www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk
and we like to air your views, good or bad, please do. We would love to hear what you had to say about us and it may help others decide where to stay in the future.

We are getting very technical here at Loch Leven Holidays, we now have a Wi-Fi hotspot on site. So for those who can't live without checking their emails or those who just have no choice and need to check them, then you can now do it here!! The Wi-Fi facility is not available in all the chalets so to make it easier we have designated a hotspot in the laundry area. You can go in there at any time and get online. Because of where we are situated here, we are miles away from the exchange, so our connection speed is not always great, so we ask that our guests respect that and don't spend hours surfing the net. The more people that use it at once the slower it will get! A small price to pay for living and holidaying in such a fantastic place!

Also, next week we should be getting our digital televison system fitted, this will give us a much better TV picture and also several more channels. Unfortunately, for those mad on sport it is simply Freeview and not Sky so no Sky Sports I am afraid, but a much better system than we have currently.

Day Out to Ardnamurchan!

2009-06-02T11:10:00.004+01:00

With the weather being so good we decided the painting and bookwork could wait!!!!

We would take advantage of the glorious weather and take a trip over to Ardtoe Beach on Ardnamurchan.
Arnamurchan Penisular, for those who have never visited, is situated on the remote West Coast of Scotland due west of Fort William. Ardnamurchan is a long, narrow peninsula along the shores of Loch Sunart and marks the most westerly tip of the British Mainland. It has some of the best beaches in the country, with clear blue water and white sand.
So we packed a picnic and a little disposable BBQ and headed off. We decided to go the long way round through Fort William to get some shopping in town. We headed to Fort William and then on to Glenfinnan on the A830, the road to the isles,(you can stop here for a coffee and a comfort break, if necessary!!) www.nts.org.uk
Follow the road until you come to a sign for the A861 and this takes you onto Ardnamurchan and towards Acharacle round Loch Moidart and Loch Ailert. You will go throught some of the best scenery in Scotland. There really isn't much in the way of cafes etc before you get to Acharacle so you are best to pack some food to take with you.

Near Kinlochmoidart you will see "The Seven Men of Moidart" These are 5 beech trees (originally 7) planted about 200 years ago to commemorate the seven men who accompanied Bonnie Prince Charlie on his way to raise his standard at Glenfinnan in 1745.www.moidart.org.uk
Carryin on we headed for Acharacle where there is a shop, tea room, hotel and public toilets. The turning for Ardtoe is just before the village centre signposted to Kentra (B8044), carry on this single track road for about 3 1/2 miles and you will come to the end of the road. There is a tiny little car park which costs 50p and you can park there.
We stayed there for several hours enjoying the sunshine and even had a swim in the sea, very cold as it was!!!!

Heading home we decided to go back the other way, which takes you through Acharacle towards Strontian about 12 miles. A lovely place to stop, just before Strontian, is Sunart Woodland,you can take in the breathtaking views of the loch and watch for seals and otters. www.forestry.gov.uk

We stopped again a bit further on at the Strontian hotel www.strontianhotel.co.uk for a refreshing drink and decided although the menu looked nice we were still full from our BBQ!!! Heading to Ardgour we picked up the Corran Ferry which takes you over Loch Linnhe (costs £6.40 for a car and only takes 5 minutes). You are then back on the A82 and you can go left to Fort William or right for us, home! www.lochabertransport.org.uk/corranferry

We had a fantastic day and arrived back about 8pm, having seen some great views, stunning weather and lots of wildlife!!

Six Day Trial!

2009-05-13T14:32:00.003+01:00

Well done to Dougie Lampkin, who won the 2009 Scottish 6 Day motorbike Trials. It was a great achievment considering the weather was so bad. It was wet and windy all week even resulting in fresh snow on the hills. The trial route had to be changed last Thurs. because the ground was so wet!!!! And well done to all the people who stood and cheered the riders on, that can't have been very pleasant in those conditions.

Typically the weather has been fabulous this week and we have had glorious sunshine and warm temperatures, here's hoping it continues for a while!!

Sticking to 2 wheels, the UCI mountain Bike World Cup comes to Fort William and the scenic Scottish Highlands on the 6th-7th June.

In addition to the ‘Gravity Gathering’, a showcase of world-class Downhill and 4Cross biking competition, this year’s event also features two brand new elements set to wow the crowds and give them a taste of the action.

Now in its eighth year, the event is expected to attract more than 400 competitors and up to 20,000 spectators, and has been voted best mountain bike event in the world three years running. It is a great weeked away for those who love bikes or just love the thrill of watching people do amazing things on bikes!!

Tickets for the event go on sale on the 23rd March. For more information on this year’s programme, tickets, the course and competitors as well as travelling to the event and accommodation in the local area please visit: www.fortwilliamworldcup.co.uk

Other news from the area: Dragons Tooth Golf Course, Ballachulish is up and running again, the lovely 9 hole course is just on the edge of Loch Linnhe and it enjoys stunning views. You can simply go along and pay and play, it opens at 8am till 10pm. you can enjoy a great game of golf in fantastic surroundings then enjoy a meal or just a drink in The Gathering Place Cafe. It's well worth a visit!! email: dragonstooth@live.co.uk for more details.

What's Happening??

2009-04-16T11:50:00.012+01:00

Well, with just about all of the snow gone from the hills, Nevis Ski Resort are reporting an increase of 5757 visitors to the slopes just in the month of February. So that must be good news for the area, you might not be able to ski now but you can visit Nevis range and have a go on the gondola and take in the breath taking views from the top. http://www.nevisrange.co.uk

This week our guests have been enjoying lovely bright sunny weather with some of the kids even venturing into the Loch!!!! Very brave!! Or temperatures have hit a mighty 18 degrees, not bad for April.

Not only are the guests out and about but the wildlife seems to be making an appearance, the Pinemarten has been seeking out his favourite jam and bread and was photographed on the balconies just the other night, he has also been in our wheelie bins, scattering rubbish everywhere!
The red squirrel has been enjoying the warmer weather and feasting on our nut feeders.

The area is starting to get busy now and we are well and truly up and running for the season. There is plenty going on in and around Loch Leven Holidays
http://www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk

Dragons Tooth Golf Course is re-opening, after being bought over, with an open day on Sun.19th April. You can have a game of golf and then enjoy the free BBQ on offer. The golf course which is in an amazing setting is perfect to while away a few houres email them at dragonstooth@live.co.uk for more info.

We also have the Scottish Six Day trials in a couple of weeks which is on in and around Fort William with a couple of days in Kinlochleven. Even if you aren't into Motor Bikes it is a great day out and you will be amazed at what can be done on those bikes. This takes place from Monday 4th May to Saturday 9th May, starting and finishing in Fort William's West End Car Park each day.
There is also the Pre 65 event which takes place on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd May 2009, based in and around Kinlochleven. This features older bikes and is equally exciting. Check out the website for more details
http://www.ssdt.org

We still have availability for the week beg. Sat.2nd May so give us a ring 01855 821272 or email enquiries@glencoeselfcatering.co.uk for more information.

Spring has Sprung!!!

2009-03-23T15:38:00.002Z

Well what a week of weather we had last week, the first day of Spring was certainly a good one! We had several days of clear blue skies and sunshine and it actually got quite warm
The daffodils are coming out in force and we have even seen some lambs in the area.

The following pictures were taken round the site and as you can see lots of the plants coming alive after a cold winter, we will need to start cutting the grass soon!!!!!!

It has dropped a bit colder again this week and we have even had some snowy showers, so perhaps it was to early to celebrate the coming of Spring!!

Whats going on at Loch Leven Holidays?

2009-03-09T11:27:00.005Z

Well we now have our very own "Brokeback Mountain"!!!!! Unfortunately Ian had an accident 4 weeks ago and has broken his back, he was up the back of the chalets when a tree was felled on his head, he was on a slight hill (not quite a mountain!!!!!!). He was very lucky, in that he had all his safety equipment on and his helmet took a lot of the impact, however he has broken a bone in his back and will be out of action for at least 12 weeks!

We managed to get some of the painting we had planned done before his accident, so
Tiranui Cottage bathroom is finished and one of the chalet bathrooms has been done and the laundry has been re-decorated with new flooring and worktops.

We had a quite a busy February with several repeat customers visiting and enjoying the snow, which there was plenty of! However, the cold weather has not put off the wildlife with the Pinemarten making a few visits to the chalets for his bread and honey.
The Woodpecker, although very shy, has been seen on several occasions on some of the nut feeders which are dotted about the site. A beautiful bird with amazing colours, it commands a lot of respect from other birds. They all disappear when he arrives!

The Red Squirrel has been less obvious, only really windy, cold or wet weather keeps the squirrels tucked away in their nests, but if the weather stays bad for a few days they will have to come out and search for food anyway. So they must have been out and about but we have missed them. Squirrels are most active first thing in the morning - one or two hours after dawn is the best time to see them!

The days are starting to get a bit lighter so you have more chance of seeing the fabulous wildlife that is about the site. Take a look at our website there is a wildlife page which tells you more about what you can find when you visit www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk

Snow in the Highlands

2009-02-06T13:23:00.003Z

Here are some pictures taken over the last few days, the 1st one is the grave yard at Blackwater dam where it was -5 degrees.
The 2nd picture is looking over the frozen loch to Caolsnacon narrows near Kinlochleven and the 3rd picture was taken just today of the chalets after a heavy snow fall.

I am sure most people are sick of hearing about the weather and all wishing for Spring to arrive. Well we haven't escaped the snow up here in the Western Highlands, although I don't think it has been as bad as other parts of the country.

The only consolation is our ski slopes have been having a great season and it looks to continue for a while yet! If skiing is not something you have tried it is great fun and the scenery from the tops at Anoch Mor & Glencoe are stunning. Have a look at their websites for weather conditions, prices etc. http://www.nevisrange.co.uk http://www.glencoemountain.com Here at Loch Leven Holidays we are situated just about in the middle of both ski ranges approx. 25 minutes driving time from each. With the schools off next week the area will get a bit busier with lots of people taking the chance to ski, ice climb, walk etc in the wintery conditions. It is a beautiful time of year to visit the area, with lots of bright , cold, sunny days!!!

Happy New Year 2009

2009-01-07T16:32:00.003Z

Happy New Year to all our past and future guests to Loch Leven Holidays, we hope 2009 is a very happy and healthy one!

So did you all have a good Christmas or did the credit crunch put a dampner on things! We had a busy festive fortnight with several guests commenting on the fact they normally go abroad but decided to stay at home this year because it was cheaper. Although we have noticed not many of our guests went out for meals etc. deciding to cook in the chalets and save some money - the benefit of self catering!!!
With the pound doing so badly against the Euro and Dollar it may make more people think the same in this coming year and it may bring more foreign visitors to the country - here's hoping!!

We had a great time here at Loch Leven Holidays with our guests making the most of the great weather, we had nearly 2 weeks of dry sunny weather, if not a bit chilly. There was quite a bit of snow on the tops so the hardy amongst our guests could do a bit of ice climbing Many of them taking the chance to do a bit of walking, biking and general exploring. A great time to visit Anoch Mor and have a go on the gondola www.nevisrange.co.uk The views are stunning from up there and you can also enjoy a nice warm cup of coffee if it gets too cold!

We celebrated Hogmany and welcomed in 2009 with several of our guests letting off fireworks on the shore, it was a great night and everyone had fun. It is an ideal spot to bring the family over the festive season, you can eat, drink and be merry in fantastic surroundings and if you do feel like treating yourselves to a meal out, we have the delicious Loch Leven Seafood cafe www.lochlevenseafoodcafe.co.uk just next door, so no need to drive!!!
Give us a ring 01855 821272, email enquiries@glencoeselfcatering.co.uk or have a look at our website www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk for full details on breaks any time of the year.

First Snow of the Year!

2008-10-22T13:04:00.005+01:00

Well it seems to come round quicker and quicker each year, we have had the first snow fall and I am sure there will be much more to come. As you can see from the picture, which was taken from the shoreline just in front of the chalets, we have a small covering on the top of the hills at Glenachullish, which means there will be much more on top of the Ben in Fort William!!
The temperature over the last few days has certainly dropped and we are well and truly into Autumn. All the leaves are changing colour and looking fabulous, with many of them beng blown off all together. The area has quiten down considerably and we all now go into hibernation (only kidding it just feels like that sometimes)!! We hope to have a good winter with plenty of snow to bring all the skiiers to the area and keep us going until next year.

We close the chalets on the 1st November and re-open on the 20th December for Christmas and New Year. We the close again and re-open on the 7th February 2009.
We still have chalets available for Christmas and New Year so please give us a phone 01855 821272 or email enquiries@glencoeselfcatering.co.uk for details. www.glenoceselfcatering.co.uk

It has been quite a good year for us at Loch Leven Holidays, we have been fairly busy with only a short lull at the end of September. The credit crunch hasn't really affected us so far, so fingers crossed that will continue. Hopefully people will decide just to holiday at home next year and with the price of petrol finally coming down this may make a difference.

We have been busy re-roofing the chalets, which has been a big job and taken several months but it is finally finished and the roofs will probably outlast us now!!!!
Ian has been busy outside doing some new rockeries and heather beds so we may see those taking next year and he will continue to manage the trees so all the chalets have great views.

We are just waiting for the bits to replace the jetty which, as some of our regular customers know, has been out of action due to bad storms at the beginning of the year, so it should be fixed soon and our guests can enjoy fishing again.

Some of our plans for next January are to upgrade the 2 bathrooms in Tiranui Cottage, putting a new shower cubicle upstairs. We also hope to decorate the chalet bathrooms, paintng them and putting some new lighting and cabinets etc in. The laundrette will get a bit of a face lift too, with a paint and some new carpet and counter top. There is always plenty to do and we really appreciate all the comments and suggestions from our guests and try to act on points they bring to our attention.

We thank all our customers who have stayed with us this year ad we look forward to welcoming some of them back again next year and look forward to meeting some new ones!

Fishing in the area !

2008-09-24T11:03:00.006+01:00

If fishing either Sea or Fresh Water is your thing then in and around Loch Leven Holidays (www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk) is the place to be!

Only a couple of hundred yards from the chalets and you are on the edge of Loch Leven a sea loch, where you can find Mackerel, Sea trout and amongst other things Conger Eels!
One of our regular guests who comes fishing to the area for 2 weeks every year caught several congers from Loch Leven, many into double figure size.

One of the best places to find them is at the slipway just under the Ballachulish Bridge on the Oban road. This is where Loch Leven meets the sea, the narrow area is highly tidal and very shallow, there are some good fish living in the kelp.

He uses fish bait like mackerel and squid and a strong beachcaster or even better a 30lb class boat rod. You may have quite a fight on your hands to get it landed but it is worth it! The above picture is Kelvin with his prize catch!

If Fresh water fishing is more your thing then you don't need to go far, Glencoe Lochan in Glencoe is an ideal spot, particularly for Trout fishing. You can get all the tackle and permits you require from the Hardware store (www.glencoetourism.co.uk) in Ballachulish, where Simon will be able to give you lots of help and tips on the best place to go.

The local rivers are popular for fly fishing and hold stocks of salmon and sea trout. Loch fishing takes place in hill and forestry lochs, like the Glencoe Lochan, for brown trout, char, and pike. Sea angling charters can be arranged and large skate, mackerel and conger eel are often caught.
The other picture above shows our friend Kelvin with a Skate.

No matter what your level of expertise there is some fishing for everyone and you know you can enjoy it in fantastic surroundings with amazing scenery!!

Fisher Family Diary 2nd-15th August 2008

2008-08-15T15:13:00.004+01:00

Here is the diary of the Fisher family who stayed with us at Loch Leven Holidays (www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk) for 2 weeks.

We've had a fantastic 2 weeks here! From the start it felt like home and we really don't want to leave. Ian & Sharon are so friendly and we felt that Ian was our 'Guru holiday guide', with his advice on where to go and the best cakes shops to visit!! We've now put on a few pounds.

We have visited some geat places - Landmark nr Aviemore (www.landmark-centre.co.uk), a bit of a drive but worth it and great fun. Ben Nevis Distillery, Anoch mor cable car & chairlift - fantastic views. We drove to Glenfinnan and then on to Arisaig on the coastal route and we discovered the golden sands and empty beaches.
We drove down to Mamore lodge and parked in their car park (£3 for all day)and walked up to see fantastic views of the valley with the Pap of Glencoe and the Loch -beautiful!
We visited Robins Nest Tea rooms in Taynuilt and then drove up through Glen Orchy where the waterfalls are amazing.

We went on the National Trust (www.glencoe-nts.org.uk) Landrover Safari from Glencoe (you have to book in advance). The kids loved this and Scott our driver was so full of tips and information about the history of Glencoe. He took us off track and on old roads it was great.

We have seen loads of buzzards, seals in the loch, red squirrels on the bird feeders, a weasel who popped his head up to say hello on the beach and midgies. Well they weren' too bad thanks to Ian & Sharon's Midge Magnet.

The seafood restaurant next door is out of this world (www.lochlevenseafoodcafe.co.uk), Cafe Chardon (next to the Rod & Gun shop in Fort William), Glen Nevis restaurant, the cafe at the Gondola (nice soup)!!

Weather was good considering the forcast wasn't......Everything was perfect, we are definitely coming back...... Thank you.

This picture was taken by the Fisher family looking down the Loch towards Ballachulsh Bridge.

Weather!!!

2008-07-12T15:04:00.005+01:00

Have you ever wondered if the weather in the West Highlands of Scotland is as bad as you thought or are you trying to decide whether its worth a trip to the West Highlands.

Well thanks to our on site weather station here at Loch Leven Holidays www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk we can give you some facts about the sun, rain, wind etc over the last few months.

We had one of the driest springs on record, our statistics tells us from the 11th March to 11th May, a 3 month period we only had 110mm of rain. From the 11th May to 10th June we say 24 mm giving and average of 33 mm of rain per month, only a quarter of the normal rain fall for that period.
From the 11th June to the 10th of July, however, it has been wetter, showing a monthly total of 134 mm, which is average for this time of year but unusually the rain fell in heavy, short, sharp showers, which has continued the trend of the feeling of good weather.

From an average daily temp of 6 degrees in March, we climbed to a average high of 18 degrees throughout May, dropping back to 16 degrees for June & July so far.

During this 5 month period 67% of the wind has been below 4.6 miles per hour and we have only experienced 2 windy days, where the average speed has hit 25 miles an hour, force 5 of the Beaufort Scale.

Although our weather station does not keep sunshine records (as yet), we have experienced very bright clear weather as unusually
2/3s of the wind has been from the East, keeping the Atlantic cloud away.

Well hopefully this has made you realise you can't believe everything you hear on the BBC weather forecast!!!!

Special Offer 20% off!!

2008-06-10T11:32:00.003+01:00

Tiranui Cottage

If all this talk of a credit crunch is making you a bit nervous about money, why not come and stay with us and we will give you a fantastic 20% off our luxury cottage.

Tiranui Cottage sleeps up to 8 people but is still very comfortable and cosy if there are only 2 of you! It has 1 double ensuite room, 1 double and 2 twin rooms with another bathroom and toilet. It is fully fitted to a high standard and enjoys exceptional views of Loch Leven and the Glencoe mountains beyond.

It is available for the weeks beg. Sat.21st & 28th June, 5th, 12th & 19th July 2008. Normal price for June is £780 but is now £624 saving £156 and July is normally £950 is now £760 saving £190.

Why not give us a ring 01855 821272 or send us an email enquiries@glencoeselfcatering.co.uk we will be happy to answer any questions you may have. You can have alook at the cottage on our website, where there is a virtual tour and lots of pics! www.glencoeselfcatering.co.uk

Sea Plane

2008-05-27T13:02:00.003+01:00

Last week Ian & I went on the Loch Lomond Sea Plane from Oban to Glasgow, it was a fantastic Christmas present from my Mum.
What an amazing trip!!!! It is highly recommended, we left Oban at 12 noon although it normally leaves at 10am. You get a boat out of Oban Bay to the plane. The weather was perfect bright and sunny and there were only 3 passengers including us onboard.
As we took off and left Oban there was a big cruise ship moored in the bay, so we flew over that, it was brillant!!!
The captain asked us if we minded landing on Loch Lomond to refuel, what a question!!!! It was a brillant bonus taking off and landing twice and the views over Loch Lomond on such a stunning day were out of this world. We landed on the River Clyde in Glasgow just about 1pm. We decided we would stay the night in Glasgow and return the next day but you can do it all in one day if you wish.

Coming back was just as amazing although it was a bit duller but it didn't spoil the trip. We had another bonus on the way back, there were 2 passengers going to Tobermory in Mull so the captain decided to go there first then back to Oban. Coming into Tobermory Bay was fantastic with all the coloured houses, it gives you a completely different perspective on somewhere. So another take off and we were on our way back to Oban.

The experience was something you would never forget, it costs £149 for a return ticket per adult & £110 per child, it is well worth saving your pennies to do! You get such a different view form the sky! http://www.lochlomondseaplanes.com