Issue 62, August 2025
Inveraray has been a favourite with our guests since the earliest days of Lochs and Glens Holidays. It is an attractive, compact small town, easy to explore, in fact the perfect stop during a day excursion. There is much to see, but perhaps the most interesting and informative is the town jail.
For many centuries Inveraray was the principal county town of Argyll and in the mid-18th century the courts met in the Town House on Front Street, and the ground floor below the courtroom served as the county prison. It was designed so that members of the public on the adjacent street were able to look across and see the dreadful, squalid conditions that the prisoners were enduring, presumably to deter others from crime.
In 1848 the new courthouse and prison was completed. This was a model prison for its day, with 12 individual cells, a water closet on every floor, accommodation for warders and indoor exercise gallery. It was also well heated and lit by gas, a far cry from the dark and damp original building.
Inveraray gradually declined in importance - it was no longer a significant fishing port largely due to the disappearance of the over-fished herring. The Circuit Court met only twice in Inveraray after 1900, and then moved to Oban in 1953. The Sheriff Court was moved to Dunoon in 1954 and the empty prison gradually fell into disrepair. Fortunately, the significance as the finest 19th-century county courthouse and prison in Scotland was recognised and, after an extensive renovation they were opened to the public in 1989. They now attract visitors from all over the world and continue to be one of Scotland’s top tourist attractions.
When we receive first time enquiries from guests we are always interested in how they have heard about us. It can be as a result of a TV or newspaper advertisement, sometimes it’s from browsing the internet but surprisingly often its as a result of a recommendation from one of our guests. We really do appreciate these referrals and so if you know of somebody - friend, neighbour or relation perhaps - who you think might enjoy one of our holidays, please do send us their address and we will forward them a copy of our current brochure.
But whether you are a first time guest or one of our many regular travellers, we do look forward to welcoming you to Scotland sometime soon.
Michael Wells OBE, Chairman
Loch Linnhe Cruise
Over the years we have arranged several day excursions that have included either a loch or sea cruise. They are always popular with our guests and now, for the 2026 season, we have arranged an exciting new one.
Loch Linnhe is a 20 mile long sea loch that stretches from Ballachulish in the South to Fort William in the North. Its average width is just one mile and it is unique in that it follows the Great Glen geological fault
throughout its entirety. It is incredibly rich in sea and bird life and it is on this remarkable loch that our guests will be sailing.
They will join their vessel at the newly built Corpach Marina, a short drive from Fort William and along the way they will have a commentary from the skipper pointing out all the potential sightings of porpoises, otters, seals, jellyfish, red deer, sea eagles and various other bird species.
As they set sail into Loch Linnhe they will have stunning views of Fort William and Ben Nevis and soon after, they pass the historic Caledonian Canal entrance and an iconic shipwreck, the 20 metre long fishing vessel, torn from its moorings during the great storm of 2011 and deposited onto the shore.
Further on the traditional Black Houses come into view along the shoreline, offering a glimpse into the local architectural history. Less attractive but vital to the local economy comes the Salmon and Mussel farms where they will discover how these local industries thrive whilst preserving the Loch’s natural ecosystem. And then, back to Fort William.
Loch Linnhe cruises will be included in itineraries from March to October, 2026 based at the Highland Hotel.
Kenmore
Our Loch Tummel Hotel is situated in one of the most beautiful parts of Perthshire but, as our driver negotiates the winding roads to the hotel it may seem to be somewhat remote, but in fact it is only eleven miles from the closest community - Kenmore. During the course of their holiday, guests will become familiar with this picturesque and unusual village as they pass through and may be curious about its history.
There has been a settlement at the end of Loch Tay since medieval times, but when Taymouth Castle was constructed the entire village was moved and rebuilt as an Estate Village in a picture-perfect location on a prominent headland in Loch Tay and was named Kenmore.
At the heart of Kenmore is The Square, an extremely broad street lined with strikingly attractive white harled buildings. The most imposing of these is the Kenmore Hotel, on the north side of The Square. This claims to be Scotland’s oldest inn and carries a date of 1572.
In the 17th century the hotel welcomed a visit from Oliver Cromwell and his soldiers. They dined here whilst pursuing the Earl of Montrose. They must have enjoyed their meal, for they spared the hotel rather than burning it down as they did to most of the other buildings in the region.
No tripadvisor to record their satisfaction in those days
Reader's Views – A selection of your letters and photos
Ardgartan Hotel on a still day
Eric Langley, Blandford Forum
View from my window
Christine Loughnane, Wirral
A winter sunset Loch Venachar
Gorden Hadgett, Burton-on-Trent
OK, so no photo, but a poem inspired by the same view featured in your spring newsletter, so no point me sending any of the dozens of photos I have taken from my Loch Awe bedroom window this week (the light kept changing the scene & every one was beautiful & different). This was written before breakfast on the first morning of my stay. 10,000 sparkling diamonds are cast before my eye celestial orb unhindered shines through the morning sky and brightly on the water the resting lumens flock reflecting back the sunshine to my eye from the loch
A tight squeeze
LOCHS & GLENS SJ21 NDC
We are currently on a wonderful holiday with our amazing driver Allan. I thought I would share a picture with you. Happy for you to use as you wish.
Rachel Hustin, Caerphilly
I have just returned from my first trip with Lochs and Glens and I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed it. It was my first solo holiday and it will be the first of many, the hotel was superb and the coach driver Dave Kinally advised us that he was not a qualified tour guide, but I have to say that we did not need a tour guide he filled that role completely. I look forward to my next tour.
Carole Greenfield, Chichester
I have just returned from a 5 day break to the Ardgartan Hotel and felt I needed to congratulate the staff and our driver Nigel for an excellent time. The food was super and the staff extremely attentive and very welcoming! I have already a trip booked in November and I really hope Nigel will be our driver once more. He was entertaining and customer focused providing first class driving at all times. A great ambassador for Lochs & Glens. Thank you so much, you're a company to be highly recommended.
The final glimpse of the sun, Glencoe
Chris Sadler, Melton Constable, Norfolk
Scone Palace
Scone has a story that dates back the better part of 2,000 years. It has served as the capital of a Pictish Kingdom, a religious centre, and the site of the coronation of a series of Scottish monarchs. There have been several buildings on the site including Scone Abbey which flourished for over four hundred years until it fell victim to a mob from Dundee during the early days of the Reformation when it was largely destroyed.
For centuries the greatest treasure at Scone was the iconic Stone of Scone upon which
the early Kings of Scotland were crowned but more about that in the following article.
In 1604 the Palace of Scone became the family seat of the Murrays of Scone, which it still is. In 1803 David Murray, otherwise known as the 3rd Earl of Mansfield commissioned the building of the Scone Palace that you see today.
We are pleased to announce that, once again, we will be arranging day excursions to this magnificent stately home, acknowledged to be one of the most significant historic buildings in the country.
Tours will include the Dining Room, in which Queen Victoria and Prince Albert dined in September 1842, and the opulent Drawing Room. Other highlights include the magnificent Library, whose shelves are now home to the family’s collection of porcelain rather than books.
Later on you come to the Long Gallery, which at 150ft long is the longest room of any
house in Scotland. The far end of the gallery is home to an impressive organ, still used during the weddings that are performed here. Also included on the tour is Queen Victoria’s special suite of three rooms.
The gardens are also worth exploring. There are large areas of woodland, as well as an enormous maze and some very impressive f lower beds.
Day excursions to Scone Palace and Gardens will be included in some Loch Tummel itineraries from May to October, 2026.
Perth Museum -The Stone of Destiny
Perth Museum re-opened its doors in March, 2024 after a £27 million redevelopment. This world class cultural and heritage attraction highlights the fascinating objects and stories that puts Perth at the centre of Scotland’s history.
At its heart sits the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, one of Scotland’s and the UK’s most significant historical objects. Returning to Perthshire for the first time in over 700 years, the Stone is the centrepiece of this new museum and is free for all to view. This magical block of sandstone was, for many centuries, kept at Scone Abbey but during an invasion in 1296 the forces of Edward I captured it and took it to England where it was used for the coronation of English monarchs for the next 500 years.
Our older guests may remember the high drama when, on Christmas Day 1950, four Scottish students removed the stone from Westminster Abbey intending to return it to Scotland. Sadly it broke into two parts as it was prised away from under the coronation chair.
It was subsequently recovered and repaired and in 1996, in response to a growing discussion around Scottish cultural history, it was returned to Scotland, 700 years after it had been taken.
Initially it was kept for safekeeping in Edinburgh castle and then, in 2024, it was relocated to the Perth Museum.
Several of our itineraries include time at leisure in Perth. The museum itself is open daily without charge but, if any of our guests wish to see the
Stone, they can make prior arrangements online via their website www.perthmuseum.co.uk, for their 15 minute interactive experience, viewing times in the special enclosure are limited.
