Clachaig Blog - Winter 2007

19th March 2007 The glen turned very wintry again today with snow falling at all levels. It lay at sea level for a while before beating a hasty retreat to about 500 ft, but not before we managed the odd snowball fight. There's still plenty of lying snow around and with the sunshine its great to get out for a walk. Be nice if it stayed a while but who knows what it'll do next? Bring your shorts and your skis and everything in between!
13th March 2007 A quick word of caution for anyone driving up to Glencoe along the A82; look out for white transit vans! On a quick (but not that quick) dash down to Glasgow airport last Wednesday we spotted a white transit parked in a strange place half way along the fastest and straightest section of the road as it crosses Rannoch Moor. Being law abiding citizens (or simply the fact that we spotted it first!), the fact that this was a mobile speed camera didn't really affect us. However, those of you that are tempted to put pedal to metal might be well warned to keep an eye out for speed cameras on the sections up from Tyndrum. We've also noticed and heard tale of marked cars in operation on the same sections. Don't say you weren't warned!
5th March 2007 Popular Scottish magazine Scottish Field recently published their Top 10 favourite Pubs & Inns. Naturally, very pleased to see that we're there on the list! They say there's nothing more welcoming than a log fire in a village inn or pub and we think they might be right there. Thanks for the recognition.
2nd March 2007 That 's the last time we send Gordon off to a trade show and tell him to make sure he gets his hands on a couple of attractive promotional items! (Yes, next time I'm going myself!)
18th February 2007 Hog roast during the Glencoe February beer festival.With our mid winter beer festival in full swing, today was the day we really put the 'feast' into FebruaryFeast! Just walking in through the doors was enough to get the taste buds salivating as the aroma of roast pork filled the entire building. Freshly baked rolls, some stuffing and apple sauce, and maybe a choice of one of the 15 festvial ales on tap was all that was needed to turn the sunny February afternoon into a day to remember! (Hmmm! Can still taste it now...) Missed it? Oh, dear. Well chances are that we'll be asking Kurt and King Boar Catering back again for another session later in the year. Mayfest perhaps? Better sign up to our eNews if you don't want to miss out a second time!
2nd February 2007 Apologies to anyone travelling up from Stirling this morning. Your journey was probably a bit slower due to a house on wheels keeping well within the speed limits. The lodge, delivered to Clachaig in 2 halves, forms the significant part of a major £100,000 overhaul of our on site staff accommodation. The purpose built lodge provides 6 bedspaces in 3 bedrooms, spacious lounge/dining and kitchen areas and a laundry. It replaces 3 static caravans which were never the most attractive feature on site.

31st January
Visitors to Glencoe over the last 18 months or so will undoubtedly have spent a few extra minutes on the A82 at the Lairig Eilde bridge. The complete replacement of the bridge has been a major building project and has meant that we've had traffic lights in the glen for quite some time. The good news is that the work on this bridge is finally drawing to a close and the road should be clear from the end of February, early March at the latest.

The slightly less than good news is that work is due to start on the next bridge - at the Clachaig junction, towards the end of May / early June. Again, the bridge is due for complete replacement, with a temporary bridge being built alongside. The work is expected to last 9 months. We'll keep you posted on progress. We'll also be making sure that the Clachaig road will remain accessible throughout!

On the plus side, expect better parking arrangements for access to Coire Beith along with pedestrian access over the bridge to the path, which has always been extremely dangerous.

9th January 2007
Gale force winds and torrential rain may have put a dampener on many a Hogmanay party up & down the country but not here at Clachaig.

If you were lucky enough to be here for the Highland Hogmanay Hoolie you are probably still recovering under the duvet and if you missed it because you thought the “Auld Reekie” street party would be better, well, shame on you. You missed a cracker! Early season snow on Buachaille Etive Mor The weather wasn't that bad!

Box O’ Bananas kicked off the celebrations on the 28th and set the scene for bundles of fun that lasted the best part of a week.

The Shoes presented an impeccable afternoon show on the 29th and may well have been responsible for many hardy folks deciding to leave a walk up the Pap for another day, choosing instead to cosy up by our log fire. With mulled wine flowing faster than the river Coe the afternoon session flew by and it wasn’t long before Tung ‘N’ Groove continued with the evenings entertainment. Box o' Bananas Cheeky Monkeys!

There are many great bands that grace the Boots bar here at Clachaig and the Jack Daniels Experience, playing for the last time, maybe, provided the masses with probably the most fun they could have with their clothes on!

So, just when the majority of revellers were thinking, “that was the best night ever” they remembered that Hogmanay was still to come. Hundreds of cheery, expectant party goers crammed into the Boots bar were truly mesmerised by the sensational Titanic Wash Hoose Band and were treated to an almighty evening of madcap music & mayhem as one of Scotland's top acts played through the bells. Jack Daniels Farewell Gig All good things come to an end!

Alas, it was over for most…. but if you were lucky enough to have secured lodgings at Clachaig then your night was just beginning, as our residents enjoyed the best party this side of Hadrian's Wall with the Skinnydippers flaunting their considerable musical talents until the wee small hours.

Legend has it that the housekeeping staff arrived just as the last of the revellers were heading up the stairs…

See you all again next year?