Two Bedroom Family Cottage on the Crinan Canal

Linnet Cottage is a two-bedroom, semi-detached cottage, on the banks of the Crinan Canal, "Britain's most scenic short-cut". Local shops and hotels are an easy stroll. The location is ideal for island-hopping (ferries to Islay, Jura, Arran, Mull and the Hebrides within an hour's drive), exploring Kilmartin Glen with its dozens of prehistoric sites, cycling of all sorts and gentle walks along the canal or through the forests of mid-Argyle. Great golf, food and whisky on your doorstep! Linnet Cottage has been my holiday home for almost 20 years now. I bought it in (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) , and I never tire of the place. Ardrishaig is an old fishing village, but when the Silver Darlings left it re-invented itself as a haven for yachts, the entry to the Crinan Canal, and a gateway to the islands. You'll have the use of the entire cottage, which has two bedrooms, a lounge and kitchen, a bathroom with bath and shower and the little conservatory that's tacked on to the front. There's space for one car at the front (my lovely next door neighbour has the use of the other space) and there's a garden to the back with a terrace for sitting in the sun (sun not guaranteed). I only use the side entrance - front doors here are mostly for weddings and funerals. I'm spending a lot of my time on the East coast just now, but I'm always happy to hear from my guests, by mail or phone. In fact, I'd consider it a favour if you let me know what sort of things you'd like to do when you're here. I'm in love with the place, and very happy to share tips on cycling, golf, whisky, fine dining and unhealthy snacking, and walks in the hills and glens to get rid of the wine, whisky, and world-class seafood. Kilmartin Glen would be on my must-see list. As well as the stone circle and standing stones at Lady Temple Wood, it's great fun to climb down into two of the cairns which are scattered along the line of the Glen. The tearoom at the heritage centre does great salads and cakes - if it's sunny, you can eat in the courtyard, but they also have a beautiful conservatory hidden downstairs, which is my brunch spot when I get the chance. There's a couple of less well known things you might want to do. IF it doesn't rain, a ten minute walk from the Kilmartin Road takes you to the top of Dunadd, which is where we used to crown our kings. There's a footprint and a bowl scooped out of the rock at the top of the hill, where the old fort used to be. I get fascinated by the Cup and Ring marks that are scattered across Scotland and Ireland. No one can agree what these decorations on rock-faces mean, which is part of the fun. The best site is at Achnabrek, which is a couple of miles north of Lochgilphead on the road to Kilmartin. If you're up for a short walk, I like hanging out at the Crinan end of the canal - there's a woodland walk that starts there (at the last lock before you come into the basin) and that gives great views out to to Islay and Jura, and back up North. If it rains? Go to the seafood cabin at Skipness - brilliant fresh shellfish, and the best orange sponge around (the secret is that they use their own duck eggs). If the weather breaks, you can walk around the castle. Or, you can do what I do - grab a book and sit in my little porch, watching the wet people on the yachts. Oh - if you like whisky, stop off at Loch Fyne Whiskies in Inveraray - they have an amazing selection. The Square Peg in Lochgilphead is good for local gifts. Loch Gilp Taxis are based in Lochgilphead, and will do you a quote for returns to Crinan, Tarbert or Cairnbaan (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) There's also a reliable bus service to Campbeltown, which stops in Tarbert and stops south, and to Oban. I've been meaning to add here that there is a City-Link bus that runs from Glasgow to Campbeltown, and stops in Ardrishaig, about 100 metres from the cottage. My mum wants to point out that if you're a pensioner with a bus pass, this makes Linnet Cottage ideal for a break. The other important form of transport is the Caledonian MacBrayne (or CalMac) ferry network. Ardrishaig is an hour from Oban, and the ferries to Mull, and the outer Hebrides, less than an hour from the Kennacraig ferry to Islay, and the Claonaig ferry to Arran, about 20 minutes to the Cowal ferry from Tarbert, and don't forget Gigha, "God's Island", a tiny island you reach from the road to Campbeltown, just south of Kennacraig. If you want an interesting and challenging cycle, there's a small (but high-powered) RIB that does the hop from Tayvallich to Jura ((URL HIDDEN) Tayvallich is about 12 miles from the cottage, and the road is mostly flat. Once on Jura, it's six miles to the Islay ferry (which is less than a 10 minute crossing) and from Port Askaig you can get a ferry back to Kennacraig. The easy thing to do is to take the RIB back to Tayvallich, but there's nothing better than cycling through Islay, stopping at a distillery or three, and getting the ferry back from Port Ellen. From Kennacraig, you have a 16 mile cycle along fast roads to the cottage. Or a 36 mile cycle along slow, marvelous roads, with the very dangerous Kilberry Inn en route, my favourite restaurant in the world, with a Bib Gourmand, and a welcome from David that's worth more than any Stars. But that's another story. If you don't bring your own bikes, you can hire from Crinan Cycles (Website hidden by Airbnb) in Lochgilphead, about 2 miles away. If you approach along Eastbank Road, you might find Lock 4 closed to allow boats through. You can either take the short detour to the basin, and come down along Westbank Road, or do as I do, get out of the car, stretch, and ask if the lock-keeper would like a hand. You won't be held up by more than 10 minutes or so.