Today was a day of rhododendrons and azaleas. Everywhere they are in their prime with colours ranging from purple to deep red, rich orange and yellow. Although we saw them all over the best displays were at The Edinburgh botanic garden at Ben More.
We drove down Loch Fyne stopping off briefly at Lochgilphead for maps and then Ardrishaig to explore the end of the Crinan canal which provides a short cut for boats from Loch Fyne to the sea to save a long voyage around the Mull of Kintyre. It was quite surreal, though to be driving inland and suddenly see an ocean going yacht gliding by. We enjoyed watching another yacht negotiating the first of the initial flight of locks and the views from the harbour down Loch Fyne to the sea and the Isle of Arran were superb.
We continued our journey to the attractive harbour side village of Tarbert where we were just in time to catch the ferry over the loch to Portavadie. From here we continued to the tiny village of Tighnabruaich which features in the much loved Para Handy Tales. On the ferry we enjoyed excellent views of dolphins as well as eider ducks and black guillemot.
After a sandwich lunch it was time to move on to the magnificent Ben More gardens. Set on steep hillsides were specimen trees, rhododendrons and azaleas. Ferns are a speciality both in the gardens generally and in the cool fern house. There were Japanese, Himalayan and Peruvian sections to the gardens. A visit to be recommended.
The drive home took us along the opposite shore of Loch Fyne where we stopped briefly to investigate the Loch Fyne Oyster bar. On our return to base it was, of course, beer o'clock.
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