Yesterday was day 5 and we were meant to be going a relative's house in Sannox however it was cancelled because of the new COVID restrictions. This didn't spoil the day though.. in fact it ended up being my best day yet.
After breakfast I hopped into the car and headed to just south of Blackwaterfoot, where I parked the car and made the 15 minute walk along the shore to the Kilpatrick Preaching Cave. This cave provided a meeting place for those that objected to the practice of a minister being appointed by the local landowner, also known as The Disruption of 1843 - and thus formed a Free Church congregation based in the cave. This was deep, meaningful and personal for me. I believe the cave also functioned as a school at one point.
On the way back, I stopped at the Old Clachan Church just outside Shiskine, which is an ancient church restored in recent years. The glen in which it is situated is undoubtedly the cradle of Christian worship on Arran, having been used since the 6th century, and before then was used for Druidic worship too. There is also a locally believed, but unsubstantiated claim that St Molaise, who was a hermit on the Holy Isle, was buried in the glen. The adjacent graveyard was interesting to look around and I saw a lot of familiar surnames on the gravestones. Some of Hardliner's ancestors are definitely in there, it made me want to start researching my family history.
Back to collect the wife and son where we had a lovely meal in the Drift Inn beer garden in Lamlash, looking onto the Holy Isle, which my late father used to amusingly call 'the home of the workshy' (it is owned by Buddhists).
Then back to the hotel to play a board game over a dram.
Amazing 🙂 When does the holiday end ?
Cheers mate.
I head home tomorrow unfortunately. It's been great fun.
Ah well, all good things come to an end.
I have enjoyed your daily updates 🙂
Cheers!
Tomorrow morning's update will be my last. Do you have any trips on the horizon?
Nothing planned mate. Always go away in november to watch Millwall play on our anniversary but that is not happening, bloody covid and governments 🙁
Will go somewhere but not sure where yet. Will probably drive instead of having to sit on a train for hours with a bloody mask on.
I would stay in Scotland but the wife wants to go down to England as she much prefers it.
Any recommendations mate ?
I remember going to a place called Thirsk in Yorkshire as a lad and loving it. Other than that, I don't really have any recommendations. My apologies.
Where do you stay when you go to The Den?
Last time we went to London we stayed in a hotel called The Westbury in Earls Court. It was only 50 odd a night, which was great value as it was close to the underground station, but you couldn't swing a cat lol.
No worries mate, will have a look at Thirsk.
We used to stsy in the premier inn just along from kings cross station but that got very expensive so now stay in the premier inn hub it is around the corner from kings x. It is pretty good value at £50-£60 a night.
A guy we know has a flat in old kent road and has offered us it for £50 a night if we want but every time we have been down so far it has been occupied