News

Walker’s paradise

April 27, 2012April 27, 2012 / Bayleaf

One of the questions we are frequently asked is where people can walk when they come to stay at Rhumhor.

We are fortunate to have walks to suit all levels and abilities on our doorstep.

Walk out of the front door and you can have a gentle walk through the village of Carrick Castle to the Castle itself. The castle is now privately owned but you can view it from the village green which has picnic benches and is an ideal spot to sit and take in the fabulous scenery.

If you are looking for a longer walk then you have a great choice and all present you with wonderful Argyll scenery. Walk through the village and you can take the trail to Ardentinny which for much of the way follows the shoreline of Loch Goil and then later on Loch Long. Ardentinny is known for having the best beach in Cowal and if you’ve taken a picnic it can be a lovely place to have lunch before returning back to Carrick.

The hills behind Rhumhor offer endless possibilities and if you are looking for a Corbett to climb then you can reach Beinn Bheula which overlooks Loch Goil.

A walk from Rhumhor towards Lochgoilhead takes you to the waterfalls of Cormonachan or you could continue and visit the seal colony on the loch.

Those looking for greater challenges will not be disappointed as Loch Goil is overlooked by the Arrochar Alps which have a famous Corbett ‘The Cobbler’ and a number of well known Munros including Ben Ime.

As Rhumhor is a large holiday home you can stay as a group and after your walk enjoy a relaxing meal and evening together in our unique family room with its plentiful seating and large pool table.

Artist to Visit Rhumhor

April 25, 2012April 25, 2012 / Bayleaf

Did you know that 2012 is the Year of Creative Scotland? Scotland has fired imagination, encouraged invention and inspired creation for generations.

We already know that this area is a mecca for creative folk and we are delighted therefore that this year Rhumhor will be visited by the talented fine artist Roxanne Gooderham who is looking forward to being inspired by the beautiful Argyll landscape.

Roxanne is currently specalising in Equestrian, animal and rural themes. She also has a keen interest in other subjects such as Victorian architecture, British history and the urban landscape, some of which are evident in her past works and will appear in future projects. Besides her personal work, Roxanne also draws beautiful commissions of people’s dogs and horses. We are continually delighted by a piece of Roxanne’s work that we have in our own home, a drawing of our dogs as seen in the picture above.

Do visit Roxanne’s website or join her facebook page as I am sure later this year you will see how Scotland has been the catalyst for yet more wonderful creativity.

Describe your perfect getaway….

April 24, 2012April 24, 2012 / Bayleaf

Amazing views, wonderful tranquillity, a home from home, elegant, incredible family room, super comfortable beds, soft towels, clean fresh air, amazing wildlife. Do these sound like comments you’d like to make about your holiday or short break this year?

These are things we regularly hear from our guests here at Rhumhor, just read our reviews to see for yourself. We are only just over an hour away from the hustle and bustle of Glasgow but it feels like another world here.

No background hum of traffic, no endless queues of people and cars, just you, a large comfortable holiday cottage and fantastic surroundings.

Many of our guests visit from the cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee and take advantage of the short breaks we offer out of main season.

Rhumhor is a holiday let with a difference, it is the perfect place to get away and unwind or celebrate a special family occasion. If you are planning a special meal you can even book a chef to come in and cook for you. Glasgow airport is an hour away so often guests fly in from England, hire a car and escape into our stunning glen.

Fishing around Loch Goil

April 17, 2012April 18, 2012 / Bayleaf

Bill Cherry Fishing on Loch Goil — Fishing on Loch Goil

One of the most common comments from our guests is just how peaceful it is here. There is no steady hum of traffic in the background, just the sound of bird song from both land and sea. One way to really appreciate the tranquility is to pick up a rod and try your hand at fishing.

Whether you are a pro or a complete novice, Rhumhor is in the perfect location to enjoy this relaxing pass time. You really can unwind and cast away your worries.

There is free fishing all year off the shore or from a boat. From June until late October there are usually shoals of mackerel to be found, while cod and Pollack are around all year. There are some lovely spots to fish from along the shoreline at Carrick Castle, just ask.

If you’d like to fish from a boat then you can hire a boat, rod and tackle from Loch Goil Cruisers, on the road between Carrick Castle and Lochgoilhead.

If you’d like to fish on a river then you can fish on the River Goil which has salmon and sea trout runs. Permits are available from the postoffice at Lochgoilhead – more details about when permits are available can be found in the house on arrival.

Work at Rhumhor

March 8, 2012March 8, 2012 / Bayleaf

I was watching Country House Rescue the other day as they restored a beautiful country house in England. The family were so keen to ensure the house survived and they turned it into a self-catering holiday property to guarantee its future. It reminded me of our work here at Rhumhor over the past 12 months.

When we purchased the property in Spring 2011 both the house and gardens were in need of heaps of TLC. To bring Rhumhor back to its former glory we had to gut bathrooms, completely redecorate, new fixtures and fittings and some structural renewal. There was an urgent need to replace one of its special features, the half-landing picture window and there were various broken windows which needed new glass and general attention. Outside pure hard work was needed to tame the gardens and bring back the glorious views on offer.

In the last 12 months we have continuously improved both house and gardens. Of course old houses are demanding, they ask for constant care and attention and we are also always thinking of future projects we will undertake to further enhance the guest experience at Rhumhor. At this very moment we are renewing the drive area by reshaping the driveway and guest parking and resurfacing.

You can watch the progress on our Facebook page. Turning Rhumhor into a grand self catering property has not only secured the future of this unique and beautiful property it has also meant that many more people can appreciate the house, the gardens and the breathtaking setting here on Loch Goil.

Send us your holiday photos!

February 20, 2012February 20, 2012 / Bayleaf

To celebrate the 1st anniversary of the opening of Rhumhor Holiday Lodge we will be producing a calendar and set of postcards showing using photos of the area.

We have just asked, via our Facebook page, for any guests who have stayed with us since we opened to send in any photos they think should be included.

Once we have a selection of photos we will be asking our Facebook fans to vote for the twelve photos they think we should feature.

Loch Goil is a wonderful location for photographs. Within short such a small area you have the beautiful loch, stunning mountain scenery, tumbling waterfalls and a vast array of different wildlife. It is a paradise for photographers.

We are even fortunate enough to have Derek Prescott our own professional photographer in the glen. Derek sells his own stunning landscape photographs as well as offering photographic tuition courses which can be booked by any guests staying at Rhumhor.