Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
nately, Norway still kills several hundred minke whales a year from the same population that is watched around
Scotland.
How can visitors ensure that their whale-watching activity has minimal impact on the whales?
Scottish Nat-
ural Heritage has developed the
Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code
(
www.marinecode.org
)
. These are
simple, common-sense measures to minimise disturbance. Feedback from customers is probably the most effective
way of ensuring that operators stick to the code. You can contribute to minimising impact by knowing the code and
telling the boat operator if they are not respecting it.
Appin & Around
The Appin region, once ruled over by the Stewarts of Appin from their stronghold at
Castle Stalker, stretches north from the rocky shores of Loch Creran to the hills of Glen-
coe.
The
Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary
(
01631-720386;
www.sealsanctuary.co.uk
; Bar-
caldine; adult/child £13.20/10.80; 10am-4pm Mar-Oct, shorter hours Nov-Feb)
, 8
miles north of Oban on the shores of Loch Creran, provides a haven for orphaned seal
pups. As well as the seal pools there are tanks with herrings, rays and flatfish, touch pools
for children, an otter sanctuary and displays on Scotland's marine environment.
North of Loch Creran, at Portnacroish, there's a wonderful view of
Castle Stalker
perched on a tiny offshore island - Monty Python buffs will recognise it as the castle that
appears in the final scenes of the film
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
.
Port Appin
, a
couple of miles off the main road, is a pleasant spot with a passenger ferry to the island of
Lismore.
Scottish Citylink
(
www.citylink.co.uk
)
buses between Oban and Fort William stop at
the Sea Life Sanctuary and Appin village. You can hire bikes from Port Appin Bike, at the
entrance to the village.
Sleeping & Eating
SELF-CATERING
Ecopod Boutique Retreat£££
(
07725-409003;
www.domesweetdome.co.uk
; 2-person pod per week £1100 ;
)
'Glamping' (glamorous camping) has been all the rage in recent years, but the Ecopod
Retreat takes things to a new level of luxury. Technically they're tents, but these geodesic
