Askernish Trip

[Duncan Cheslett]

Even at £300 I'm inclined to take the scenic route.

I can understand the attraction of flying for those from the south of England but 3 or 4 in a car makes sense to me from the north or even the Midlands. Anyone got a minibus?

How about the Scottish contingent? Will they be going by boat or flying from Glasgow?

[Thomas Dai]

While I prefer to play ground-game golf, I'll go with the aerial route as my preferred option when travelling to locations like Askernish.😊
Atb

[Michael Graham]

Even at £300 I'm inclined to take the scenic route.

I can understand the attraction of flying for those from the south of England but 3 or 4 in a car makes sense to me from the north or even the Midlands. Anyone got a minibus?

How about the Scottish contingent? Will they be going by boat or flying from Glasgow?

Duncan,

I can only speak for myself but I'll drive through to Glasgow from Edinburgh and fly up to Benbecula. Having looked at flights from Glasgow it doesn't look too bad for the return trip but I too would hesitate at paying £200+. Saying that, the thought of an all day drive and then ferry journey isn't that appealing either.

[Niall C]

Duncan

Just catching up on this thread but the last time I looked their was a ferry from Oban to Lochboisdale which I think is the closest landing place to Askernish. I'm speaking from memory so could be speaking nonsense. I'm happy to drive but also happy to see what Adam can come up with regarding booking flights.

Niall

[James Boon]

Calmac seem to have removed the Oban to Lochboisdale ferry and replaced it with the Mallaig to Lochboisdale as far as I can tell?


End of May is fine with me.


I will either:
a, fly up and hopefully stay at the Borrodale
b, drive up and stay nearby with Mrs B in attendance for an extended holiday afterwards. If I do this, it would be good to know which ferry others are getting as we could make sure we are on that one...


Good work Adam!


Cheers,


James

[Robin_Hiseman]

Lovely to have something to look forward to already. Not enough of our American friends to call this a BUDA, but should be a blast.

Folks from the south also have the option of the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston to Fort William and then on to Mallaig by train or rental car.

[Adam Lawrence]

Lovely to have something to look forward to already. Not enough of our American friends to call this a BUDA, but should be a blast.

Folks from the south also have the option of the Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston to Fort William and then on to Mallaig by train or rental car.

I took that once. It's a _fantastic_ journey and something I'd recommend to anyone who was thinking about it.

Whether it's the best choice for this trip, carrying a golf bag and other stuff, I'll reserve judgment


ps -- I have edited the original post to include a list of all who have expressed interest in going.

[John Mayhugh]

Been meaning to do a Glencruitten, Tobermory, Askernish, Benbecula, Isle of Harris, Gairloch loop for ages! It's pretty reasonable (160quid) on one of those Caledonia MacBrayne Island Hopscotch tickets.

Any chance of a detour to Fort Augustus as well?  This sounds epic.

Adam, I'm also interested.

[Duncan Cheslett]

I do like the sound of the sleeper train, which can also be joined at Crewe. It gets into Fort William at 9.55am with an onward connection reaching Mallaig at 12.25


https://www.sleeper.scot/timetables/london-fortwilliam



Traigh is 15 minutes by cab from Mallaig. Does Uber stretch that far yet?   

[Michael Latham]

I would be interested in this trip.

[Sean_A]

If its gonna cost £300 in flights I have to make the trip work for something other than two games at Askernish. I would probably look to play a few Ayeshire games, maybe one on each end of the island flight. 


Ciao   

[Jon Wiggett]

Not wanting to put a fly in the ointment but going with a school/bank holiday date will not only make accommodation harder to find and more expensive but will also make it more likely that the ferries might be full. I wonder at the sense of making the lack of grazing on the course as the main deciding factor when choosing a date. You'd be better going later if this is so important.


Jon

[Thomas Dai]

If its gonna cost £300 in flights I have to make the trip work for something other than two games at Askernish. I would probably look to play a few Ayeshire games, maybe one on each end of the island flight. 
Ciao

Prestwick GC might be a rather nice add-on.


Whilst I believe that next year Prestwick is a rather pricey full greenfee of £170/round between April and Oct the re-play rate within the week is a more reasonable £70/round (ie £240 for 2 rounds) which might be more acceptable to some unless that is another arrangement is possible. Other venues are naturaly possible as well.


By the way, there used to be flights from Inverness to Benbecula. I wonder if there still are?


Atb

[David_Tepper]

"By the way, there used to be flights from Inverness to Benbecula. I wonder if there still are?

Thomas D. -

It looks like there still are:

http://www.hial.co.uk/inverness-airport/destinations-and-holidays/

Book thru Flybe, although Loganair flies the planes.

DT

[John Cowden]

A visit to Ayrshire at one end or the other of Askernish, or both, is a definite if I traveling that far.  Thanks for introducing the idea.

[Michael Graham]

Not wanting to put a fly in the ointment but going with a school/bank holiday date will not only make accommodation harder to find and more expensive but will also make it more likely that the ferries might be full. I wonder at the sense of making the lack of grazing on the course as the main deciding factor when choosing a date. You'd be better going later if this is so important.


Jon

Jon,

I'm fairly certain that the 29th of May is only an English weekend. I've had a look at school holidays dates for the Western Isles and it doesn't appear to be a school holiday. I know term times are different across the country but it's definitely not a holiday here in Edinburgh. If it's not a Scottish holiday I can't see how that is going to make much difference to travel and accommodation costs.

Michael

[Jon Wiggett]

Not wanting to put a fly in the ointment but going with a school/bank holiday date will not only make accommodation harder to find and more expensive but will also make it more likely that the ferries might be full. I wonder at the sense of making the lack of grazing on the course as the main deciding factor when choosing a date. You'd be better going later if this is so important.


Jon

Jon,

I'm fairly certain that the 29th of May is only an English weekend. I've had a look at school holidays dates for the Western Isles and it doesn't appear to be a school holiday. I know term times are different across the country but it's definitely not a holiday here in Edinburgh. If it's not a Scottish holiday I can't see how that is going to make much difference to travel and accommodation costs.

Michael

Michael,


the 29th is also a holiday weekend in the Highland council area so maybe it will make a difference after all.


Jon

[Michael Graham]

Not wanting to put a fly in the ointment but going with a school/bank holiday date will not only make accommodation harder to find and more expensive but will also make it more likely that the ferries might be full. I wonder at the sense of making the lack of grazing on the course as the main deciding factor when choosing a date. You'd be better going later if this is so important.


Jon

Jon,

I'm fairly certain that the 29th of May is only an English weekend. I've had a look at school holidays dates for the Western Isles and it doesn't appear to be a school holiday. I know term times are different across the country but it's definitely not a holiday here in Edinburgh. If it's not a Scottish holiday I can't see how that is going to make much difference to travel and accommodation costs.

Michael

Michael,


the 29th is also a holiday weekend in the Highland council area so maybe it will make a difference after all.


Jon

Jon,

Fair do's. It's a bank holiday but not a school holiday. Hopefully accommodation isn't too greatly affected by the masses of visitors to South Uist that weekend.

Michael

[Niall C]

If its gonna cost £300 in flights I have to make the trip work for something other than two games at Askernish. I would probably look to play a few Ayeshire games, maybe one on each end of the island flight. 


Ciao

Sean

Happy to host at Gailes and depending on numbers might see if I can set up a day as a pre-amble to going over to Askernish.

Niall

[Robin_Hiseman]

I think i'll most probably tie in a Machrihanish leg to this trip if anyone is interested.

[Adam Lawrence]

I think i'll most probably tie in a Machrihanish leg to this trip if anyone is interested.

that's a lorra lorra travel...

[Thomas Dai]

Linking an Askernish trip in with Machrihanish......using the airport at Machrihanish/Cambeltown?........is very appealing. I'd certainly be keen to be part of such a venture.


Atb

[Michael Whitaker]

I think i'll most probably tie in a Machrihanish leg to this trip if anyone is interested.

Yes, Robin, Jerry Kluger and I would like to add a visit to Machrihanish!!! Let's do it!

[Duncan Cheslett]

I think i'll most probably tie in a Machrihanish leg to this trip if anyone is interested.

that's a lorra lorra travel...

In for a penny...


 

[Duncan Cheslett]

Calmac seem to have removed the Oban to Lochboisdale ferry and replaced it with the Mallaig to Lochboisdale as far as I can tell?

Apparently as a result of a campaign by islanders for a shorter and more reliable ferry route...


http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13776622.Island_community_s_decade_long_ferry_service_campaign_set_to_be_a_success/




There does however appear to be a possibility that the Oban - Lochboisdale route might be reinstated for next year. This would certainly be a preferable option for those of us travelling from the south - see map above.




https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/islands/1000939/ferry-sailings-back-between-oban-and-lochboisdale/


http://www.transport.gov.scot/system/files/AMFC%20-%20Process%20Evaluation%20-%20Mallaig-%20REPORT%20-%20March%202016.pdf