Possible GCA visit to Askernish

[Adam Lawrence]

On the Askernish photo thread, there's been some discussion about a possible GCA visit to Askernish. It's too late to be thinking about this now, so next spring seems like a good idea. Tony M suggests 'a weekend in April', but spring tends to come quite late up there (my experience is that May is a very good month in the Highlands and Islands).

Could anyone who might be interested in a trip to Askernish, probably over a weekend, at some point in the spring, say so in this thread? And if there's any dates that you can't do, or that would be ideal, please say so too.

If we get a biggish group, we can discuss transport options (the planes going up there are quite small!)

Adam

[Tony_Muldoon]

Yes please I would love to do this. I've never been to the Scottish isles.


A weekend in April would suit me best as I have one planned for May. However I will watch developments with interest.


(PS do they make a special charge for clubs on the local flight?  With a £40 e/w charge to Scotland I'll look into using FedEx or whatever serves the Islands and send them ahead.)

[James Boon]

Adam,

This is certainly something I'd be keen on! There is a good chance that while a golf trip away to just about anywhere else in the World without my wife wouldn't be a problem, she may be a bit miffed if I head to the Western Isles without her, but lets see how it goes...

I often head to Scotland early May anyway, so can't think of any problems dates wise.

Cheers,

James

[Gary Daughters]

Adam, please put me down as interested. 

[Bill_McBride]

I am mulling over a mid-May trip to Dornoch with my good wife who loves links course.  Is it possible to get to Ashkernish from Dornoch?

[Robin_Hiseman]

Very interested!

[Niall C]

Adam

I love the idea and would very much like to do it but can't say I would definitely make it but will try and do so if a trip is organised.

Niall

[Adam Lawrence]

A quick discussion with Ralph yesterday suggests that the second half of May would be best - the cattle go off the machair on May 15, and that's typically the point at which the grass starts growing properly too. So going over a weekend suggests either 18-19, 25-26 (or 27 as well, spring bank holiday next year) or 31 May-1 June. Any preferences?

[Mark Pearce]

Adam,

I'm certainly interested but May half-term might be tricky.

Mark

[Adam Lawrence]

Which is when in Newcastle, Mark?

Bill, as per discussion in other Askernish thread, from Dornoch you could drive to Ullapool (60 miles), take the Stornoway ferry, then drive down to Askernish via the short Sound of Harris ferry, drive across the Highlands to Uig on Skye (150 miles) and take the North Uist ferry, then another hour to Askernish. Alternatively - and quickest - you could drive back to Inverness and fly Inverness-Stornoway-Benbecula on Flybe (see flybe.com)

Adam

[Bill_McBride]

Which is when in Newcastle, Mark?

Bill, as per discussion in other Askernish thread, from Dornoch you could drive to Ullapool (60 miles), take the Stornoway ferry, then drive down to Askernish via the short Sound of Harris ferry, drive across the Highlands to Uig on Skye (150 miles) and take the North Uist ferry, then another hour to Askernish. Alternatively - and quickest - you could drive back to Inverness and fly Inverness-Stornoway-Benbecula on Flybe (see flybe.com)

Adam

If one flies into Benbecula, how far is it to Askernish and what are the transport options?  Do you need a car while there?   Sorry for all the questions, but I'm really getting interested!

If driving from Dornoch, how long a day would that be?  Or days?   

[Adam Lawrence]

Bill - as per the message I put in Mac's thread:

Driving - two possible routes:

1. Drive to Ullapool (60 miles), take ferry to Stornoway (2hrs 45), drive to Leverburgh (1hr 30), take short hop ferry to Berneray, drive to Askernish (1hr). All these timings assume no stopping, if on holiday I'd certainly want to spend a day or two exploring the isles of Lewis and Harris.

2. Drive to Uig, Skye (150 miles - three hours and a bit? Depends on the speed you drive). Take ferry to Lochmaddy (1hr 45 mins), drive to Askernish (1 hr) - again I would want to see Skye rather than just drive straight through it, see other thread for suggestions on what to do there, and I know Boony loves Skye also, he'd doubtless come up with some thoughts).

Benbecula airport is about thirty minutes drive from the golf course. The likelihood is that everyone else on the trip would be flying in there, unless we complicate matters by doing the Barra beach landing. Wheels are needed, but I'm sure Ralph could organise a minibus to collect us - he did when I was there in the spring - and if we're all based in the same hotel then we can probably get by without individual cars.

Adam

[James Boon]

Adam,

Skye is actually one of the Hebridean islands I know the least. We drove through it on the way to the ferry but it was a miserable day with low cloud, so the stunning views of the cuillins we were hoping for didn't exist. Some time there is certainly called for either as a trip from my mum and dads, a longer stay or when we next head to the outer Hebrides! I would though recommend Eilan Donan as mentioned before and also stopping off to see the Commando Memorial while on the way to Skye.

Looks like there are quite a few options how we could do this, so let me know if you need a hand organising anything?

Cheers,

James

[Mark Chaplin]

Having done a lot of driving in the Highlands, my advice in restaurant terms is to "add tax and service" to any driving times.

There are some beautiful drives that take and deserve a little extra time.

[Jon Byron]

I would be interested in Askernish visit also

[Philip Gawith]

Interested in principle....

[David Nelson]

Hi Adam,

I would be interested...

[Richard_Mandell]

A good way to expereience Askernish as a prep for your trip next year is to come listen to Gordon Irvine speak about the restoration at Askernish at this year's Symposium on Affordable Golf - October 29th and 30th.  Free to attend.  Visit www.symposiumonaffordablegolf.com to register today!

How about that for a segue?

[Neil White]

Adam,

Definitely interested.

Neil.

[Adam Lawrence]

Ok, that gives us twelve expressions of interest, including a couple of friends who've contacted me off-list. Plus Mrs Boon, potential (James, I am in a similar position, so Lucy might come too!). So all in all, I think this is a goer.

We should try to fix some dates. Ralph says best after May 15, as that's when the cattle go off the property, and the weather is more likely to cooperate. May 25-27 is the spring bank holiday weekend in the UK, so in some ways that might be best, but then I assume that is probably the half-term week Mark P mentions - Mark, is that right?

I'm thinking two nights, to give us two good days of golf. Basically there are three weekends possible - 18-19 May, 25-26 May (and 27 May, bank holiday Monday), and 31 May-1 June. Could anyone who has a preference please express it?

I will start investigating travel and accommodation options (and prices).

Adam

[Bill_McBride]

Adam, either of the first two would work for me.  My wife will be happy to hear there may be other ladies!

[Niall C]

Adam

Some random thoughts/suggestions/questions which as the organiser you are totally at liberty to take on board or ignore.

Are we talking Scottish or English bank holidays  Personally, I'm not fussed but it may make a difference in booking flights/ferries/accommodation.

Travel - I've looked at some of the travel options including flying from Inverness/Benbecula suspect the easiest way (and cheapest which is always a consideration) for me would be to drive to Oban, dump the car and go on the ferry as a foot passenger getting off at Lochboisdale. The ferry trip is longer but I'll be on holiday and I'm sure the views will more than compensate. For those not driving, you can also get a train from Glasgow to Oban.

Accommodation - never been to South Uist. Is there any accommodation at Askernish or do we need to saty in the nearest "big" town and are we all likely to be together ?

Niall

[Adam Lawrence]

Niall - if you want to go by ferry that's fine, but I can't see everyone wanting to - train to Oban is what, three hours from Queen Street, then six hours on the boat.

There's no accommodation at Askernish (although Askernish House itself is a holiday rental nowadays, it only has six bedrooms though, and in any case unless someone wants to cook we'd need to go elsewhere to eat), so I am working on the plan that we will all go to the Borrodale Hotel, which is about a mile down the road and perfectly fine. If we get so many we fill the Borrodale, there are other accommodation options. But if we're all in one place, one minibus can ferry us round.

Spring bank holiday is the same in Scotland and England next year - 27 May.

[Niall C]

Thanks Adam, clearly my comments were less than helpful. Memo to self, there's only one organiser.

Niall