Rest And Be Thankful

[philthehill]

Anyone wanting to enjoy the delights of the Old Military Road at Rest and Be thankful can have their wish fulfilled as currently the main/new road the A83 is closed due to landslips; the old military road is in use during daylight hours. At other times there is a 60 mile diversion. I do not know how long the old military road will be in use but there does seem to be on going problems with unstable soil/rocks above and around the A83. Use of the old military road is by convoy so no speed hill climbing allowed!!!!!!

[bmcecosse]

I had a good 'bash' up it last August (RSAC Classic Car Run) - unfortunately it started raining just as I was about to set off - having waited 2 minutes after the car in front to give me a 'good run' in my TR7......I caught the car in front just near the interesting parts.... I did 'do' the very last competitive hill climb there in my Autocross Mini - many moons ago now. The new surface is superb - and the RSAC are 'negotiating' over the possibility of holding Speed Events there again.
Not my car (obviously) - he was a few cars ahead of me...... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWN6lfdbuJQ

[beero]

As your location says Hampshire and I had never heard of the A83 I googled it. That looks like a lovely road to drive on, pity it's convoy only and a shame it is so far away from me.

[philthehill]

Whilst I have to admit of never having driven all of the Old Military Road I have driven as far as the barriers at the bottom and the top. The new A83 is not a bad road to drive on either as it sweeps up and around the side of Glen Croe and The Cobbler and down the other side through Glen Kinglas.
The A83 from Arrocher through Inveraray, Lochgilphead and Tarbert to Campbeltown is a superb drive, having driven it in the past on my motorbike, in my Series 2 Minor, Triumph Herald/Spitfire and a host of modern cars. This part of Argyll is brilliant having holidayed there on many occasions and sailed most of its west coast. To get away from it all take a drive off the A83 to Keills Jetty (via A816, A841 & B8025). Fantastic views over to Jura especially in the evening. Don't forget to call into the Tayvallich Inn on the way there (or back or both ways ). Drove to Keills jetty one evening from Kilcreggan on the Clyde in the Series 2.
For bmc and his interest in steam. At Ardkinglas house on the Loch Fyne side of Rest and Be Thankful is a lake called the Caspian Sea on which once sailed two model steam powered battle ships which could be sat in and mock battles were under taken on the lake. The steam plants sat for many years behind the mill at Tayvallich after the ships had been scrapped.
Another good drive is turn off at the top of Rest and Be Thankful onto the B828 towards Lochgoilhead and then turn right onto the B839 Hells Glen (well named) road, a good twisty road with some very steep gradients. Happy motoring.

[bmcecosse]

Oh yes - Hell's Glen is good - I usually 'add it on' to the RSAC run even though it's sometimes not in the official route. The steam boats sound interesting! Not heard of them before..... You obviously know the area well Phil!

[philthehill]

bmc
First learnt about the Caspian Sea (loch) (and still called the Caspian) by reading Nigel S.C. Macmillan's book The Campeltown & Machrihanish Light Railway. Apendix 2. Other Railways In The Area. ISBN: 0715349198. I have just revisited my copy of the book and "not only was there a steam paddle/battle ship(s) but a narrow 2ft gauge railway which served the estate and was also a toy for the proprietor. The system was quite extensive. The railway closed in the early 1900s, locomotives and rails going for scrap. As late as 1951 the boiler of the engine was laying on the beach at Tayvallich with the ship oscillating engines claiming to be behind Taynich Old Mill".
I searched the grounds around the mill in the early 1980s and no trace of anything found there.
I have also explored the track bed of the Campbeltown & Machrihanish Light Railway and the area around Machrhanish Colliery. The staff at the library at Campbeltown were surprised to be told that the whistle and gauge glass from the Locomotive Atlantic (Andrew Barclay 0-6-2 No 1098 of 1907) were on display in the library and after a search we found them. To answer your question I do know the area reasonably well and especially anything relating to industrial remains. Have you noted the disused railway incline behind the Loch Fyne Fisheries near the top of Loch Fyne?
As an aside there was a proposal (1898) to run a light railway WHR(NBR) up Rest and Be Thankfull and over the top down to terminate at a jetty near St Catherine's on Loch Fyne.

[bmcecosse]

Well you have me beaten there! Nigel and his son still bring his massive O gauge 'exhibition' layout to model railway exhibitions around Scotland. I pretty much stick to full gauge steam railways - keeps me well occupied![frame][/frame]

[philthehill]

bmc
I have met Nigel Macmillan at a model railway exhibition where his 'O' Gauge model of the C&M L Rly was being displayed. It is superb even down to the missing fish box at Machrihanish station.
He very kindly signed my copy of his book which if I remember rightly was originally done as a dissertation on the Kintyre coalfield for his degree.
The loco in the picture is 'Argyll', A.B. No:1049 of 1906. The loco was similar to 'Atlantic'
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