A visit to Great Cumbrae.

Monday, September 24, 2018

Great Cumbrae, Scotland, United Kingdom

Phoned Alex to let him know we were crossing on the 10.15am ferry, we didn’t take the car. So organised these ferry operators, no messing about with these guys, they run to a 10min crossing and 5min load & unload.

Great Cumbrae Island has a population of about 1200, increasing to 4,000 during the summer months, is the larger of the two islands known as The Cumbraes in the lower Firth of Clyde in western Scotland. Home to the National Watersports Centre, the Cathedral of the Isles and the University Marine Biological Station, Millport, the holiday island has an 18-hole golf course which sweeps almost to the summit, and a round-island road much favoured for family cycle runs. The island is roughly 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) long by 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide.

Alex met us and drove us anti clockwise around the island, fabulous hospitality, he is on the Island Council so knew and shared everything with us.

He left us at the Cathedral - the smallest cathedral in Europe, with Jackie & Fergus, Jackie the cook and Fergus the coordinator, who invited us in to morning tea with them and Aileen & Margaret.

Remember the Vicar of Dibley?

Seriously, it was like the Vicar of Dibley all over again. They were so welcoming and informative. It’s not just a cathedral, the College which adjoins the Cathedral, was for many years a residential theological college serving, the needs of the Gaelic ministry. North College was originally the Choristers’ house and South College the Canons’ house, now, from my understanding, they are the BnB facilities.

We spent almost an hour with them all, enjoying their coffee & scones.

Wandered off down to Millport, the town, beautiful sunny hot day, zig zagged a couple of streets and began a conversation with two young boys 15/16. We asked them what it was like to live here, "very quiet, too quiet, but my granny would tell you is the best place on earth”.

Alex picked us up and took us back to the 1.30pm ferry, about a 15min drive away. We were so pleased we never took the car, it was a Bank holiday and there were 50 cars left waiting for the next ferry as we left.

Back in Largs we walked the town - along with dozens of others, just wandering and enjoying the sunshine. Dogs, dogs galore, and ice cream parlours everywhere, we did have an ice cream, very nice.

Glasgow tomorrow, training in, then on/off bus.