Today we mostly spent our time in Oban, but we made a detour first to the east, to Inverawe.
Inverawe: Scotland's Specialist Smokehouse
http://www.smokedsalmon.co.uk/default.asp?submit=Home
The Inverawe smokery is tucked into a tiny town, down a 2 mile single track lane. It is very isolated and very unique. We stepped right into the 'deli' area to peruse their goods - mostly focusing on their specialty preserves (used for game and other meats), specialty mustards and other condiments and...of course...their smoked fish! We bought smoked trout pate (which is to die for and is almost gone already!), smoked organic salmon fillets as well as a roasted, then smoked salmon with herbs (which is completely gone!). YUM! While Chris and Tatiana ate their smoked trout pate on oatcakes in the tea room (with panoramic windows overlooking the water) Dad, Mom, Stacey and JA went to the small smokery exhibit and then we headed to Oban.
Oban
Oban (which means 'little bay' in Gaelic) is a larger town directly on the water (population 8500) about 19 miles south 0f Port Appin. We headed straight into town looking for lunch. We wanted to eat at the Oban Inn, but we were hungry and needed to find lunch asap. We ate a pancake place which was basically the Scottish equivalent to an American diner. Stacey was adventurous and tried black pudding (she later found out what was in it and swore she would never eat it again. But hey - she tried it!).
After lunch the guys and the girls split up. The girls went in search of jewelry, general site seeing / shopping and to find out how to get onto the Ferry to Mull (which we'll be doing on Thursday). The guys headed off to tour the Oban Distillery which is the second smallest distillery in Scotland but one of the oldest (established in 1794). The girls had to go retrieve the guys from the distillery...and then we got into our cars and headed up the hill above Oban to McCaig's Tower. It was EXTREMELY windy and cold up there so we left quickly (nice view, though!). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCaig%27s_Tower
Great finds today:
- Smoked goods from Inverawe.
- Chris, Dad and JA got a free 'Official Whisky Glass' (for tasting) and bought some single malt scotch whisky.
- Mom bought some cool earrings made from dried, dyed Heather twigs!
- Ginger wine!
2 comments:
I mon hope yee had a we dram for me!. Pictures and narative excellent. All the kids are awstruck. We are having as much fun as you.
Well, Montechristo - I wouldn't go so far to say "as much fun" as they are having... clearly they seem to be having WAAAY more fun than I am... But it is 76 degrees here in AZ, so I guess that's one bonus this winter season.
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