OK, I'm sorry for mentioning Christmas before we've seen October out, but I just wanted to update the site with the Christmas plans.
Today I have added the Tarbert Christmas Fair to the Calendar and the Whitehouse Late Night Christmas Shopping Night.
There will be much more happening over the Christmas period so please bookmark the site or Follow Us On Facebook to get the latest news.
If you are a local business, club or group and want to add any of your events, meetings or anything else to the Tarbert Public Calendar just give me the details and I will add it to the site.
With abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery along many of the roads in and around Tarbert, it makes sense to take it easy.
Locally to me, a family have started a campaign to slow traffic down on the Kilberry Road.
I was invited into their Facebook Group Slow Traffic On Kilberry Rd Campaign, and saddened to find reports of beloved pets and wildlife that had been killed by traffic on the road.
This summer I saw a Badger laying lifeless at the roadside.
The B8024 is a long single track road, in places the road runs very close to the shore, with good views across the Loch, in others in climbs steeply inland over low hills, before quickly returning to the the waters edge, or at least close to it.
Please
Generally the legal speed limit for the road is 60mph, however some feel that in many places the limit should be reduced to 30mph, especially near peoples homes where small children could be playing.
Children and animals are unpredictable and if you are racing along at 60mph you may not be able to stop in time to reduce the risk of a serious accident.
When I was a child I was hit by a car going far less than 60mph and suffered many broken bones and other injuries, I still have the scars and creaks to prove it!
I know how quickly and easily it can happen.
Don't let it be you, or your child!
Please consider these points while travelling on many of our single track roads.
Sheep often own the road here and can be found wandering various sections at leisure, they have no road sense at all, you could bump into them anywhere, literally!
Driving along early evenings we quite often see Foxes, Deer and Badgers along the way.
These guys haven't read the highway code, and pop out all over the place
If you are in too much of a hurry you are also missing out
on the visual treats along the way, with the climbing hills and twists and turns you catch sight of Arran and Jura as you travel along the B8024.
As the road snakes along side the lochs you can often see seals sunbathing on the rocks near the shore.
If you are unfamiliar with the road it can seem very peaceful and empty, giving you a false impression that you are unlikely to encounter anyone else.
Beautiful views of Jura
Cyclists are always seen along this road, from groups of experts to families on their holiday with youngsters just learning to ride on the road.
There is not always room for them to move safely to the side to allow you to pass, so please go slow enough to allow little ones to cycle in safety.
In various sections along the road you may also encounter horses and their riders enjoying a walk along the road, with so many twists and turns there could be anything around the corner!
Deer can often just appear in the road, sometimes a big Stag just stands there and waits for you to move out of his way!
Always be prepared to pull in suddenly! There are many passing places for you to pull into.
You need to give way to larger vehicles such as the forestry lorries and farm traffic you could encounter.
Also be aware motorcycles cannot reverse, so to keep heading directly towards them just means you, or they are going to end up in a ditch!
Please give way, be prepared to meet anything on the next blind bend from a small child, horse riders, dog walkers to a huge lorry or rutting Stag, anything is possible!
Most importantly, take care and enjoy the road, take your time and enjoy the twisty turny, beautifully unpredictable road safely.
There are many fantastic Places To Stay In Tarbert.
Below is a list of hotels in and around Tarbert.
The links take you directly to their sites.
If your hotel isn't listed or you know of one I haven't listed please let me know and I will update this page.
The Islay Frigate is also in the middle of Tarbert with views over the harbour and a beer garden out the back.
Stonefield Castle Hotel is a beautiful Scottish castle built in 1837 overlooking Loch Fyne it is a beautiful retreat set in stunning grounds.
The Tarbert Hotel is easy to find in the middle of Tarbert overlooking the loch, stunning views and with everything on your doorstep, it's ideal for a holiday or a short break whild exploring the islands.
West Loch Hotel sits on the shores of West Loch, is a pet friendly hotel, ideal for hikers and their four legged friends, with breathtaking views of the loch and the hills, it is just a short walk from the centre of Tarbert.
If you have any photos you have captured of the Aurora over Kintyre please share them on our Facebook Page and if you are happy for me to do so I will add them to this site.
If you missed it this time, bookmark this website for alerts, you can customise it to your area.
Hopefully it may still be active tonight, wrap up warm and get your cameras ready!
