MULL OF KINTYRE AND MAJESTIC BALINAKILL

I am an outdoor lover.
I love to be on the sea or the Mountains, anywhere that Mother Nature is obvious.

I spent a winter in Scotland and found it a challenge as the days are short and it rained a lot, leaving me with netflix, my best form of entertainment during the long, dark, wet months.

This summer is a very different story. The sun has shone, not that I even need much sun, it is the lack of continual rain that makes me feel free.

Walking out on the sand beside my daughter and son inlaws house. Hanging out at Crinan Ferry one of my fave spots with warm, happy childhood memories.

Sitting in the garden surrounded by grass (so rare now) and having a few bbq's and the long, long light summer nights. Awesome.

I decided on saturday at lunchtime to go and visit my aunt, nieces and nephews, they had all got together for her 85th, so one visit meant I could see the whole family.
It's really important for me to spend time with my family, and this crowd are a lot of fun.
Strath na mara is another place for amazing, happy memories, the fun we had there as kids.

Then headed down to Clachan to visit my old friends at Balinakill. When I arrived there was no one there. They had gone to Gigha for the day, had spent hours at the seafood cabin while their 6 your old nephew played on the white sand.

If you have not been on Gigha you should make a visit, it is spectacular and will transport you to a feeling of chilled out awe.

When they arrived back the sun was shining, I had made myself comfortable with a bottle of prosecco and Bear Grylls autobiography so was happy and content.

We sat out in the sun till around 9.30 and had a bbq and caught up on all the chat. Some friends from Arran were there too and it was fantastic to catch up.

Then the guitar came out and we sang pretty much all night, determined to watch the light night become morning. Brilliant night and as usual old songs come out the hat as we reminisced and laughed.

Then to bed in one of the grand,comfortable, traditional, cosy rooms they have there. I got a double bed and bath to myself and you have all the luxury of being in a grand, old hotel.

I slept like a baby till 10.30am unheard of for me.

Then we decided to go to Skipness seafood cabin for breakfast, I had not been down there for years.
What an awesome setting, looking over Arran, amazing views, sun shining, seafood platters, absolute Heaven.

We shared seafood platters and took in the incredible views of the Castle, the fields and across the water to Arran.

What a wonderful way to have sunday lunch. The drive is stunning too, so amazing to see it with the sun out and all the shades of green and blue. Truly marvelous :)

Then back to the house to enjoy the rest of the weekends magic.

Balinakill Country House http://www.balinakillcountryhouse.com/

For your special party.

For an intimate, bespoke wedding.

For a retreat you are running.

For the ulitmate Golfing holiday.

For surfers and walkers.

Kintyre boasts lots of music festival, the Kintyre Way a stunning walk, the seafood trail for local amazing cuisine, Artmap for the best of local arts and crafts plus full adventure area for boards and bikes alike.