Easter breaks by Loch Awe in Argyll
The lochs and coastline of Argyll to explore
You’re never far from the water in Argyll. With sheltered sea and freshwater lochs, Atlantic beaches, myriad islands and thousands of miles of coastline, Argyll is one of Europe’s top water sports destination and there’s a huge range of water-based activities on offer. At Ederline we hire our kayaks, rowing boats and paddle boards.
https://www.wildaboutargyll.co.uk/whats-new/blogs/five-water-sports-to-try-in-argyll/
An overhead shot of Ederline House
We have had a stunning two weeks with clear skies and still sunny days. Not a ripple on the lochs.
December is a great month to get away from the build up of Christmas. Crisp fresh air for walking and viewing wildlife. Some nights you can have wonderful views of the flicker of Northern Lights and stunning night skies that have no light pollution.
Fantastic weather in March!
The weather in Argyllshire at the moment is stunning and set for the foreseeable future! We have cottages available for immediate use. A warm crackling fire and welcome awaits!
A whopper brownie caught in the hill lochs!
A guest staying in The School House came for a weeks fishing in our 22 hill lochs. We keep the fishing only for guests staying in the cottages or in Ederline House. They caught over 50 between three of them on wednesday. The picture is one of the biggest they caught in the week. A stunning part of the estate to get away from all EU chaos!.
The Old School House- New for 2016
We are delighted to a new property- The School House. This is at the edge of Ford village and sleeps 4 in two elegantly decorated twin/superking rooms. One bathroom with large walk in shower and bath. Large kitchen with everything you would need and a large sitting room with log burner. A perfect cosy holiday home! More pictures to follow.
Finchairn Cottage
Finchairn Cottage is closed for three weeks while we put in a new walk in shower and a few other alterations. So you will now not have to step up into the shower any more!! While up there last night stripping beds I took a picture of the sunset with no filters added, as it was! We have had some amazing weather this september.
New Boat House on Ederline Hill Lochs
We are in the process of building a new boat house on Sandy Loch on Ederline Estate. This will have a little room to the back with a log burner and barbecue. An ideal location for holiday cottage guests to meet up for lunch when hill loch fishing for the wild brown trout.
We hope to have it completed by the beginning of August 2104.
Fishing flies and tackle can be bought locally at Fyne Tackle in Lochgilphead.
Website: http://www.fyne-tackle.com
Medieval Parish Church
The remains of a medieval parish church on Ederline Estate, north of Kilmartin Glen, dedicated to St Columba, with an oratory close by stand in the churchyard which was still in use as a burial ground at the end of the 19th century.
Of fine workmanship, the church is longer than is usual in the area, with two doors on the south side. There is a damaged table-tomb north of the altar site and a piscina with a trefoil arch. A font, now erected at the west end, was found in three parts nearby. Inside, to the east of the nave door, is a sandstone block bearing a now almost invisible five-toed print with nails on three of the toes and which is referred to as ’the Devil’s hand’.
The church is said to have succeeded Killevin (NR 986 972) as the principal church of the Lordship of Glassary until, in the mid-16th century, the centre of the parish was moved to Kilmichael Glassary (NR 859 935). There is a tradition that the stones for the church were brought from Killevin and that no dressing was required, which suggests that the stones of Killevin church were re-used.
The name ’Kilneuair’ which is applied to the site (Kilnewir, 1394; Killenevir, 1490; Killenure, 1671) suggests an earlier church, and an older, roughly circular enclosure can be traced inside the churchyard wall, especially on the west and north.
Campbell and Sandeman (1964) translates ’Kilneuair’ as ’Coille-nan-Iubhair’, ie ’Yew Wood’ and suggests that this may be the Columbian site ’Cella Diuni’ mentioned by Adomnan, which was certainly in the Loch Awe area and has not hitherto been identified.
There are many carved stones in the churchyard, but no very early ones are obvious, although, near the gate, a millstone sunk in the grass may have served as a cross base.
A village once lay round the church and a market, called ’A’ Margadh Dubh’ – ’the Black Market’ – perhaps in contrast to the gaiety of Kilmichael Tryst, was held here. There are a few house ruins outside the graveyard.
New Statistical Account (NSA) 1845; Orig Paroch Scot 1854; M Campbell and M Sandeman 1964.
The remains of the church and burial ground are as described. The church measures 21.1 by 5.7 metres internally within walls 0.8 metres thick and standing to a height of 4 metres. The oratory measures 3.3 by 2.2 metres internally within walls 0.5 metres thick and 2 metres high. There are two medieval carved grave-slabs in the burial ground. The footings of several buildings of indeterminate age survive to the west of the burial ground.
Website: http://www.kilmartin.org
Fishing at Ederline.
Ederline Estate is a fishermans paradise! We have 22 hill lochs with wild brown trout and three lower land lochs with pike, roach, perch and char.
We have rowing boats on some of the lochs and electric out boards can be used. We also have sit on top Kayaks. There is also a fishing shop in Lochgilphead which has everything you would need.
On Loch Ederline we have a pair of nesting Ospreys which arrive from Africa in the spring. There is an abundance of other wildlife which have been spotted regularly whilst guests fish. A wonderful place to unwind and fish in peace and tranquility.
Website: http://www.fyne-tackle.com
