On Sunday 16th November we parked at Dalmally Station and followed the route to the Monument to Duncan Ban MacIntyre, poet, 1721-1812. The view from the Monument was stunning looking down over a very misty Loch Awe. Continuing onwards to see the small oak tree recently planted in memory of Fergus MacCallum. We had our lunch in a lovely deserted garden. Returning to the car park we spent some time at the station craft shop and had tea on the platform.
The Wishing Tree
On the Ardmaddy to Loch Melford walk on 17th. Nov. 2013 we passed "the wishing tree" or "coin tree". By tradition a person has his/her wish fulfilled after hammering a coin into this tree. Maybe you can see some coins in the photo of the old hawthorn tree?
Where are we?
On 2nd. Feb. 2014 we walked in Barcaldine Forest. It was a fine day and some walkers felt like extending the walk. The caption on this photo should read "mmm, now where exactly are we?"
Fearnoch forest
Fearnoch forest was our walk of 2nd. March, 2014. We were quite a big group, enjoying hints of spring, like a few, very few primroses tucked into sheltered pockets. We saw the after affects of winter storm damage by tree-fall, and had to negiotiate some of our route by back-tracking and a bit of guesswork!
Wood Ants
Here were 3 foot high mounds of pine needles...home to wood ants.
Cairnbaan
We walked from Cairnbaan crinan canal to Lochgilphead, return, on 16th. Martch. It was wet and the wind made it cold, and some of us had left our waterproof leggings in Oban where the sun had been shining. We didn't dally for long over our lunch snack and enjoyed hot drinks in the Cairnbaan hotel afterwards.
Flowering Cherry
It was a good day, though. We look happy under the early flowering cherry tree.
Kerrera ws our first walk of the summer programme, 6th. April 2014. Duncan welcomed 13 of us aboard the ferry and Martin in the Tea Garden provided the goodies in the barn. The day started off wet and windy. We tramped along the east coast of the island, then split with some 
of us going back via Barr-nam-boc on the west. The sun came out at last...
18th.May Scammadale/Loch Avich 
Following 40 hours of heavy rain it was necessary to postpone the planned walk so instead we took a low level route around part of the Loch Avich shoreline. With little wind the loch was calm and we had good views across the water to the swirling mist on the hills. When faced with a swollen burn that was too wide and deep to cross, we took an alternative path to the magnificent Avoch falls and then through oak woods at Dalavich before returning over the hill back to Loch Avich. It was a great way to spend a rather damp and drizzly day!
On 1st June we went over to Lismore, using the 11am boat out and 4pm return. We walked along the eastern coastal path , going north and skirting Loch Baile a Ghobhainn, crossed the road and made our way to the remains of Castle Coeffin on the west coast. We sat out of the breeze looking at the water 
below us and wondering how a piece of seaweed was moving across our path of vision completely against the prevailing wind. Mysterious! The flowers on Lismore were abundant and gorgeous..masses of water avens ....and American skunk cabbage in a ditch. Its a 
bad photo of a butterwort but you can see the tiny insects on the leaves that it traps and digests. Our excitements weren't over when we got back to Oban because one of our party was celebrating a significant birthday and kindly invited her walking friends back to her house for champagne and chocolate cake !! Quite a day !This is a photo of a tree partly felled by beavers. The Oban Walkers
, about 14 of us, visited the Knapdale area, south of Crinan, on 15th. June. We admired their dam and the flooded area behind it and had a glorious walk round 'their' loch. Argyll was at its best and we shared it with a visiting Australian couple who had found our web site. One of our party had a swim in the loch.
, about 14 of us, visited the Knapdale area, south of Crinan, on 15th. June. We admired their dam and the flooded area behind it and had a glorious walk round 'their' loch. Argyll was at its best and we shared it with a visiting Australian couple who had found our web site. One of our party had a swim in the loch.Later we walked in the Taynish peninsular, visiting an old Victorian piggery, which has been
slightly restored because it was very posh and sophisticated in its day...well, it's still a des. res.!
slightly restored because it was very posh and sophisticated in its day...well, it's still a des. res.!As we made our way through the ancient oak woodland we stopped at an abandoned village, a corn mill and 2 moderm metal sculptures in their watery bases. We were tired and happy going home..it had been a full on day.
On Monday 7th. July we assembled in Tyndrum, ready for a train, then walk, round Loch Ossian. We ditched that idea due to awful weather, and anyway the train was cancelled ! The sun came out and we took the West Highland Way towards Crianlarich, going about 5 miles before turning back. We passed an abandoned lead mine and saw where the gold mine is on the hill-side. 11 of us are sitting on a bridge over a tributary of the River Fillan and under an Oban/Glasgow rail bridge. Ben More and Ben Lui still had snow patches on them. We met at Forest Lodge, Inveroran, to walk the 8 miles north to
the chair lift (ski) near Blackrock Cottage. Our way was along what was once a drove road, then the military road, across part of desolate Rannoch Moor. A girl caught up with us...she was walking from Land's End to John o' Groats and, knew one of our walkers from old. Small world. We saw tree roots still showing through the peat, the remains of the forest of Caledon, or locally, the Black Wood of Rannoch. The 
boletus looks good enough to eat but the gentian hasn't photo'd well. It was a much clearer blue. At the end of the walk kind drivers had to go back to the start to fetch vehicles.
the chair lift (ski) near Blackrock Cottage. Our way was along what was once a drove road, then the military road, across part of desolate Rannoch Moor. A girl caught up with us...she was walking from Land's End to John o' Groats and, knew one of our walkers from old. Small world. We saw tree roots still showing through the peat, the remains of the forest of Caledon, or locally, the Black Wood of Rannoch. The boletus looks good enough to eat but the gentian hasn't photo'd well. It was a much clearer blue. At the end of the walk kind drivers had to go back to the start to fetch vehicles. 
On 3rd. August we set off to Kenmore, Tayside, to walk. There were about 14 of us and although the weather forecast had been dire, we only met one huge downpour, and managed to shelter in the golf pavilion. We walked in Taymouth Castle grounds among lovely beech trees, and later went along the (Tay) riverside, where it was very wet underfoot. We had coffee and shortbread at the beginning of the day, which made sense because it is quite a long drive over from Oban.
For weather related reasons our walk to Luing was delayed till 24th. August, and what a wise decision that turned out to be. It was glorious hot sun all day and fortunately the walk was not strenuous. We had ice creams and stocked up on more water in the little shop. Round the northern tip of the island, amongst shallow soil, we passed a clump of white heather, grass 
of Parnassus, lots of purple loosetrife and a small wiry pink plant that perhaps was a bartsia. We stood around admiring the views a lot, and getting back into the cars on the Seil side of the ferry we spotted a yellowhammer.
On 7th. Sept. 2014 a small party of us met at Crinan. It was a 
hot day and we walked, basically, round the Crinan peninsular going anti-clockwise. We met a man and talked 'old folk' and water levels in his pond, and eels, and Scottish country dancing ...as you do ! The scramble through the Crinan wood was gorgeous, and from the top we gazed towards the Corryvreckan whirlpool. We had tea and cakes in the cafe before setting off home.
21st. September. On a beautiful day with warm sunshine and a bright blue sky, we enjoyed a walk through the Ballimore Estate near Kilchrenan. The track took us past Loch Tromlee, with the remains of an old castle on an island in the middle, and up towards the Farm Estate House and its cottages. Then it was over a stile and up the hill, before meandering down towards Loch Awe, with magnificant views of Ben Cruachan all the way. (The battle cry of Clan Campbell is "Cruachan, Cruachan"!) On reaching the Ardanaiseig Hotel we treated ourselves to tea and shortbread sitting on the lawn overlooking the loch-very posh!
5th October. It is always special to visit Dunadd Fort and this day was no exception. Following an enjoyable walk in the surrounding area we ended up at the Fort. The Fort is built on an imposing rocky hill, once a Pictish defensive site,and where the ancient kings of Scotland were crowned. The views looking over the pasture of Moine Mhor were stunning and it was interesting reading the information boards along the way explaining and illustrating what the area once looked like.
The walk to Skipness on 19th October unfortunately had to be called off due to the weather. (This does not happen very often!). However, two of our intrepid walkers did the walk, so well done them!
2nd November. Starting at the lay by just beyond Castle Stalker Cafe, we followed the cycle track, passing Castle Stalker, and on to the Jubilee Bridge. The walkway leading to the bridge has been much improved so there was no problem going over. We noticed also that new lightning conductor rods had been installed on the bridge following a recent accident. We returned to the car park calling in at the Cafe before returning home.