Loch Aline

Loch Aline is a much more promising place than the first impression you get from the silica mine at the narrow entrance - it was closed down in December 2008 as being 'uneconomic' with the loss of 11 full time jobs, a really serious blow to such a fragile community (a year later the workers have still not found another job). And of course the loch is an easy place to get in and out of, even at night. Also the walk along the coast to Ardtornish castle is absolutely lovely, full of wild flowers and views.

The village itself is not much of a place but there is a shop, and right next to it the extremely nice Whitehouse Restaurant (ph 01967 421 777). This is child friendly, does coffees and teas, as well as lunches and dinners. - they very much go for locally sourced food, simply cooked. It also sells some nice local crafts and has a spectacularly pleasant toilet. Very well worth a visit for sure even though you can’t very easily anchor all that near it. Down by the ferry pier you will find the well known Jean's snack bar selling what snack bars sell. The Dive Centre has a useful website.

Also it is well worthwhile to walk up the hill behind the village to Keil Church. The church itself, built in 1898, is not that interesting but two other things are. The graveyard with a lovely view across the gravestones up the Sound of Mull, and the small building next to the church which houses a collection of medieval Scottish grave slabs. These are very well displayed with excellent information about them.

Ardtornish House is a late nineteenth century gothic pile with an amazing clock tower at the head of the loch. It is a pleasant walk along either side of the loch to get there. In fact close-up the house doesn't have quite the fairy tale impression it gives from the loch, being in a curious way rather plain and dull, maybe because it is now I think all or mostly holiday flats (maybe it would do better as a nursing home or prep school, and maybe because it is of concrete construction, albeit faced with red sandstone. But the grounds and gardens are nice to wander around with lots of lovely trees and, in season, rhododendrons.

Perhaps more interesting is just next door, the now very reconstructed and restored 15th century - and pink, but now not so pink as it was! - Kinlochaline Castle, built for the Macleans of Duart as a tower house. You cannot get in but even the outside is worth a view. There is a high keep and perched on top what looks like a small highland house. It peeps out just above the trees as you sail up the loch.