The Colintraive Hotel is a renowned but remote Gastro Pub serving fantastic seafood and the best of beef and game from the Island of Bute which is a short ride across the adjacent ferry. We had been once before with Andrew, Rebecca and the grandchildren in April before Milo was in the water, but it was a 28 km drive around the head of  Loch Riddon to get there.  We’d read that Colintraive is a delightful coastal village where eagles, red squirrels, seals, deer and basking sharks are regular sights. It is also great for country and coastal walks along the Cowal Way.

The Colintraive Hotel just up the road from the Bute to mainland ferry

We heard that Andrew had taken the whole family across in the Miracle Dinghy – well, if he can do that, the trip in Milo should be a doddle, even with the high winds – and it was. It was only 3 kms and there were 6 moorings to choose from.  We had to wait for the wind to die down and the mist to clear, but by lunchtime we were good to go. We had two worries – storm Ali was on its way and we were planning to return Milo to its mooring off the Tighnabruaich boatyard to ride out the storm and would we arrive in time to get lunch?  Although it only took us 20 minutes to get there, we did not arrive at the hotel until 2:30pm – would they still be serving lunch? – yes – until 3pm.  Phew .. we could relax.

The Colintraive Hotel menu board 

On this occasion we both chose the haddock which was cooked to perfection, with Ros having mushrooms and Ian langoustines for starters. The menu board above shows the range of food available – the trip by boat is so short that we were already planning our next visit.

Starters and mains – a seafood theme for the presentation.

While having our meal we reflected on the 5 months that had elapsed since we were last there, our walk through the Strafonian Community Forest with all the sculptures and how lovely it was to be out and about again even if it was only a gentle excursion.

Our walk in the Stronafian Community Forest in April

As the wind had moderated, we decided to return via Caladh Harbour, quickly anchor to drop Ros off so that she could bring the car to the boatyard, while Ian picked up the mooring, made Milo hurricane-proof and returned to the boatyard by dinghy.  We then stocked up on food and wine in case the storms were prolonged.

Ros Helming back while Ian was laying out the anchor chain.

While we stayed at Pheasantry Cottage the whole of the next day as Storm Ali peaked at 1pm and heard about a fatality when a caravan was blown off a cliff in Western Ireland, we were both underwhelmed  by the storm, perhaps because Tighnabruich and particularly Glen Caladh are protected from the South Westerlies by a large 250m hill.

Severe storm Adi at its peak