Our weather luck has run out.  A mostly rainy, at times windy, day, with a bit of sun.  After our breakfast of fruit, porridge and homemade bread, we drove to Mount Stuart, the home of the Marquess of Bute.  A massive, beautiful home in the Gothic style. We walked through the kitchen garden,  which had huge beds of thyme, mint, rosemary and sage, amongst many other growing things.  The rosemary was almost as tall as me!  Unfortunately, no photos allowed, so you'll have to look it up to see what it's like.  Then we proceeded to drive right round the island with a few side jaunts off the beaten path, the most memorable of which was to St. Blane's Chapel, which was the site of a monastary built in the 700's.  It was the worst weather of the day and we took the wrong track from the parking lot.  When we finally got to the site it was very quiet, protected from the wind, beautiful and peaceful and wild.  I took no pictures because it was raining,  but you can probably look that up too.  Finished up with dinner in Port Bannatyne, which is just north of Rothesay.

We were relaxing in the living room, organising plans for the next bit of our trip, when our hosts came in and offered us whisky and/or tea.  We said yes to both, and Joan mixed my whisky with Drambuie.  It's called a Rusty Nail, and I must say was very tasty!  Andy stayed out and chatted for a couple of hours - Joan has a cold so didn't want to socialise.  Also met Winston the cat, and Flute, Meg and Freddy the Black Labs.

Must get to bed, tomorrow is a big day in Dunoon for the Worlds. I'll be thinking of Sarah competing in Saanich!

Here is Ettrick Bay, on a sunny day the water is turquoise:

This is Port Bannatyne: