Our tour director promised a
fantastic demonstration of Britain's prototype for
future rapid transit in the UK. We were guaranteed a
ride on a compact and energy-efficient train, which
boasted a cost-effective operation with utmost
consideration of safety standards and comfort for the
passengers. The Isle of Mull train was advertised as a
non-stop trip from the Craignure station to its
destination (the Torosay station), except for one
mandatory mid-journey stop at Tarmstedt. With these
statements, our bus came to a halt near the old ferry
pier at Craignure and waited while Gordon obtained
tickets at the railway station office.
We were met
at the Torosay terminal by Chris James, the 5th Laird of
Torosay, who led the tour group up a path to his Scottish
Baronial Castle of Torosay. James' great-great-great-uncle
was Arbuthnot Charles Guthrie, who died childless and left
the property to his great-grandfather. Although Chris James
does not normally give guided tours, he gave us a thorough
tour of the entire estate (after pausing in the great
Central Hall to offer everyone a taste of a local Scotch
whisky . . . very tasty indeed). He made everyone feel
welcome by inviting them to sit on the chairs and couches.
[Chris readily agreed to Doug's request for permission to
give a photo of the Guthrie portrait of Sir William Wallace
to David R Ross, the author of On the Trail of William
Wallace and For Freedom - The Last Days of William
Wallace . . . among others.]
From the
Dining Room window, there was an excellent view of Duart
Castle, once Guthrie property, but sold to the 26th Chief of
Clan Maclean in 1911. Over the fireplace is the head of an
Irish Elk, extinct for over 10,000 years, from Co. Monaghan,
with a span of 7 feet 4 inches (but Chris remarks that there
is one in a house near Dublin which is 14 feet).
Torosay
Castle has 12 acres of ornamental gardens. The featured
Statue Walk is lined with 19 life-size limestone figures
which were sculptured by Antonio Bonazza near Padua,
Italy. Chris James mentioned that many of the trees in the
garden are cared for by Torosay on behalf of the Royal
Botanical Garden, Edinburgh.
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