31st December 2008

Have a good one!

Hogmanay, and usually at this time of year we're bracing ourselves for the onset of the storm that inevitably arrives just in time to put a damper on the celebrations. Not so this year, however.

Despite a mild spell before Christmas, the weather pattern has returned to crisp clear days and sub-zero temperatures. Quite a novelty for us here and there's certainly a change (for the better!) to the weather this winter.

If you're heading to the hills then you'll definitely need ice axe, crampons and a big woolly hat. From the roadside there doesn't appear to be that much lying snow but getting access to most of the major summits and ridges will involve crossing snow fields - frozen rock solid. And then there's the water ice on the paths, even at low levels...

But it doesn't appear to be putting too many folk off. The hills are alive with the sound of clicking walking poles and the glens' car parks are packed. No doubt we'll be seeing everyone later at the Hogmanay Hoolie in the Boots Bar!

And if you've  missed out this year, now's the time to book with us for 2009. Yes, we're already filling up so don't delay!

Wherever you are, have a good one. And all the best for the New Year from everyone here at Clachaig.

Wagons Roll!

Having finally got all the preparations and consents sorted, the wagons started to roll yesterday. And just what a difference a day makes!

The infill material is being used to fill in the rather unsightly hollow just beneath the inn, with the end result being an extended, and many Saturday night visitors would agree, much needed, car park. In addition, there's an area set aside for a childrens' play area.

There's still a long way to go and a fair bit of landscaping to come, but its already looking good, and it is only day 2!

Meanwhile, the threatened snow fell mostly as rain or sleet at our level, but just a short way up the glen it was yet more heavy snow. 

The mountains are absolutely plastered just now, and in the late afternoon sunlight look just stunning. 

A real shame that there's only a handful of people here to enjoy the glen at its best. Having said that, we 've been surprised by the number of folk taking advantage of our current 3 for 2 accommodation offer. 

Definitely worth getting in touch and escaping to the Highlands!

24th November 2008

Car Park Extension Go Ahead

Following our entry from September (see below) we're pleased to report that our Planning Application to extend the lower car park and form a childrens' play area has now received approval from the Highland Council.

We're wasting no time in cracking on with this project and expect the trucks bringing in the fill material to start rolling this week. There is a plus side to all these road works!
More photos once we get going...

11th November 2008

The Last Munro

Clachaig is a special place for many people for all sorts of reasons. And if we can, we'll try to keep it that way. So, when we're asked if we can help out with a special occasion, we'll do our best, whether its a surprise cake for a birthday or even a special ale for a Last Munro celebration night.

Recently, we surprised Derek Williamson, along at Clachaig with family and friends to celebrate bagging his last Munro. What better way to celebrate such an achievement that with a night of music and craic at Clachaig.

Derek's daughter got in touch with us and we arranged not on his favourite beer - Cairngorm Brewery's Trade Winds, but also arranged to has his mug shot on the specially designed pump clip for the entirety of the evening!

I'll have a pint of 'Derek's last Munro ale' please, landlord!

Let us know if we can help your special trip to Clachaig that bit more special.

11th November 2008

All over for another year

There's even more snow lying on the tops now and we're definitely looking more like winter than autumn. And with Octoberfest now over for another year, our thoughts are very much with the coming winter season.

The post script to the beer festival is pretty much along the lines of a great time was had by all. The beer cellar is looking fairly lean by comparison and there's still plenty of debate as to the beer of the festival. Certainly amongst the more unusual was Caledonian Brewery's Smokey Pete, 4.3% ABV, brewed with peat-smoked malt!

Thoughts have already turned to Octoberfest 2009, with the hot topic being do we run the event over 2 weeks? With all the accommodation being sold in advance of the festival, we had to disappoint so many this year, so it seems only natural that we should extend the festival next year!

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29th October 2008

More News from the Festival

Settled weather and more tasty ales have helped to ensure that Octoberfest continues to go down well. Popular recent additions to the list of guest ales have included Williams Joker (5.0%) and Houston Texas (4.3%).

Recent events in the Boots Bar include lively evening sessions with Wolftrain and the Pictoids, Jimmy's fiendishly hard pub quiz, and whisky tasting in the Snug on Tuesday night.  Johnny Hill is playing in the Boots Bar tonight, and there is beer tasting from the Skye Brewery to look forward to in the Snug on Thursday - don't miss it.  Performances from White Rose on Friday and the Pictoids on Saturday will round off the week.

Menawhile, the snow on the mountains is still sticking around for the time being, with cold conditions forecast for several more days.

28th October 2008

More like FebruaryFest

You'd be excused for thinking that it was more like Februaryfest than Octoberfest this morning. We've clearly left the monsoon season behind (that was the weekend) and entered the depths of winter. Snow flurries to all levels and it looks like a fair depth higher up on the tops.

Wonder what season it will be tomorrow!?

27th October 2008

Flying Start

Octoberfest got off to a flying start this weekend. Let's face it, in the severe gales and unless it was well and truly pinned down, then everything was flying this weekend! Including our road sign on the A82. And see all those images over the weekend of a few runners on the Lakeland fells? Well, thing to remember is that we've got proper mountains here and they only get the weather after we've finished with it! Yes, it was a bit wild over the weekend.

 Still, we're hardy folk here in the glens, and it didn't put too much of a damper on things at the beer festival. Beers from Arran Brewery are a bit of a treat here at Clachaig, and Arran Ale, Arran Dark, Arran Blonde and Arran Sunset all making an appearance. However, blink and you'd have missed them as they quickly sold out.

Fear not, there's plenty more in store over the coming few days.

26th September 2008

Car Park Extension?

A Planning Application for consent to extend our car parking area into currently unused and swampy ground has been submitted this week. Having carried out consultations with the Roads Dept, NTS and SNH we hope that we have provided a workable and affordable solution which will be approved.

In addition to providing more spaces, the proposal also includes some rationalisation of the existing lower car park, improving both road safety and the visual amenity, and an area where we hope to develop a childrens' play area.

Once approved, work will depend on the availability of fill material, but we are optimistic that current works on the A82 could be used to make significant headway into this project before the end of 2008.

23rd September 2008

World's Best Walks

Maybe you read The Times, maybe you don't. Regardless, you've got to accept that the publication carries a bit of clout and is generally regarded as being a fairly respectable bit of journalistic print.

So when they come up with the World's 50 Best Walks, and you're a bit of a rambler yourself, then maybe its worth a quick read. 

And where do you think No. 1 is, I wonder? No, not just Glencoe, but a quick wander round Scotland's finest glen, based at Scotland's finest inn. Signal Rock, rutting stags, a Venison burger and choice of 160 malt whiskies. Sounds good!

Thanks guys!