Last Post

Hopefully, this will be the last post on this particular subject! Fully restored and reinstated at last!Good for another 25 years, I hope!

Ready and Waiting

Jack gets full marks for ensuring that the cellar was clear at the beginning of the week so that we could give it a good clean down and a sort out ready for FebruaryFest. Either excellent planning or seat of the pants stock management! We won't ask which.

FebruaryFest starts tonight!

The new Festival Banners are now braving a fresh easterly and tempting weary climbers into the Boots Bar. And the iconic yet missing sign is..., well, lets just say that Rome wasn't built in a day, and that when it was finally completed some considerable months overdue it was probably significantly over budget too!

Suffice to say, its progress.

So, apart from one of the banners that hasn't yet arrived (Monday morning, promise!) and perhaps an iconic sign, we'd say we were pretty much ready for FebruaryFest to get under way. Just as well really, as it starts in a couple of hours!

Monday morning. Minimal range of ales on Monday night!

Friday afternoon. Ready & Waiting

Hope to see you at FebruaryFest!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas (& Hogmanay)

Time for probably our last update before that plump chap in the red suit comes to visit us all again. The weather is very much dominating everyone's life at the moment, so here's a Glencoe view on things.


Late this afternoon the glen was looking quite simply STUNNING. Clear blue skies and a covering a white from top to bottom. -5 degrees in Glencoe village, which being by the sea on the west coast coast is unusual.

We asked Icon or Firewood - as it turns out, it was both!

I had to go to Glasgow yesterday, and I have to say that Rannoch Moor was also STUNNING. Ba Loch was frozen and white over with deep snow. On the way home in the mid evening the temperature had dropped to -6 degrees. No wonder I spotted a few deer on the verge, presumably thumbing (hoofing?!) a lift down to the pub for the evening. Apart from a few concerns over black ice, the roads are clear of snow.

Bike ride to Glencoe Village on Sunday

Work to get the car park finished in time for the Hogmanay onslaught has been made a little more tricky, though we're about 98% complete now. And progress on the replacement sign has also slowed down. A grand unveiling for FebruaryFest is now more likely than Hogmanay, though we might get the ironmongery back up tomorrow.

Clachaig closes down for 3 days over Christmas. Its a rare opportunity to ensure that everyone gets a good break, especially as the week that follows is generally the busiest trading week in the calendar year.

Quite what the Scottish weather will throw at us is anyone's guess at this stage. There is a suggestion that the cold spell will continue, and today's MWIS report suggests that it may last until New Year. What we do know is that listening to the doom-mongers on the TV & radio, you'd be as well hiding away for ever more. However, if you're thinking of heading this way there are sources of more reliable information.


For the lastest weather try the Mountain Weather Information Service.

For the latest snow & avalanche conditions see the Scottish Avalanche Info site.

For ski conditions check with Glencoe Mountain and Nevis Range (who were open for snow sports today!)

And for roads information check Traffic Scotland, and especially check the Altnafeadh (by Buachaille Etive Mor) web cams.

Or you could always ask us for some advice!

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Can you tell what it is yet?

Does anyone know what this is? Here's a clue.


The rotten bits have been chopped out and new oak has been skilfully added back in. Just needs a lick of paint and a trip up to the signwriters. We're expecting delivery of a new post tomorrow and the digger is on standby to get the 4m chunk of wood back into the ground. Chances of it being back in pride of place by Hogmanay are looking slim at the moment but we're working on it.

What's Missing?

Here's a classic view of the West Face of Aonach Dubh from the paddock, in autumn colours. But isn't there something missing? Here's a clue.

Can you tell what it is? Answers on a postcard to...

Meanwhile, Octoberfest continues in full swing. Busy, busy...