Comment posted Argyll and the Isles Secrets Collection: The Brainport Alignment by Dr Douglas McKenzie.
This is the sort of article that makes FA a gem,
Recent comments by Dr Douglas McKenzie
- Rustle with Russell
More utter rubbish from Lynda Henderson. Have you actually spoken to Bob Allen? Whoever told you the story sold you a pup and in your arrogance you cannot admit to be wrong so you make up this story that he was persuaded not to resign.Your position is completely untenable.
- Russell back in the bathtub, now trying to sink Keith Brown’s boat
I’m afraid you condemn yourself by your own words. I don’t think that anyone reading what you have written here and the language you have used would conclude anything other than that you have a deep dislike for Mr Russell and that dislike is leading you to basically lose all sense of either proportion or impartiality. It doesn’t matter how well (or otherwise) you know Mr Russell you are clearly exercised by your interpretation of his actions and it is leading you well beyond the pale in what I would consider fair comment.This vendetta against Mr Russell and the SNP is destroying FA’s credibility and I have to confess that I’m seriously considering whether or not to continue reading FA (which will cheer Malcolm up if nothing else). I for one am becoming increasingly disenchanted by the constant negativity and sheer nastiness that has crept into this blog. I say that with a lot more sorrow than anger because I think that FA could have been great and indeed still could but there has to be a degree of balance, civility and indeed humour. All we are getting here is bile and it is causing me heartburn.
- Russell back in the bathtub, now trying to sink Keith Brown’s boat
To be honest, this post clearly shows that you are speaking from your personal dislike of Mr Russell rather than an unbiased analysis of the man. Phrases such as “publicity hungry coward” are well beyond what is reasonable comment. - Russell back in the bathtub, now trying to sink Keith Brown’s boat
You don’t seem to understand the separation of a MSP’s duty to his or her constituency and their responsibilities as a Government Minister.Yet again, this is another instance where a member of the Government can do no right: speak up and be condemned as “desperate” or stay silent and be accused of not serving your constituents’ interests.
It is just as well that Mr Russell has broad shoulders!
- Atlantic Islands Centre for Luing: biggest investment in island’s history
Well done Luing – an inspiration to all of Argyll’s communities.
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This is the sort of article that makes FA a gem,
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Great stuff.
Its on my “to do” list
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It’s now on my ‘bucket list’ too.
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Wonderful, insightful article. I have lived in Argyll for over 20 years and did not know of this secret place until now. Many thanks FA
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Credit is due to Colonel Peter Fane-Gladwin, who lived at Braigh Varr near the top of Minard Hill, and who in the 1970s first realised the importance of this alignment, lost in thick forest. In the 1960s he had previously discovered the site of the lost milecastle 64 on Hadrian’s Wall (near where the present day M6 crosses the line of it). Not bad for someone who wasn’t an archaeologist.
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This is quite stunning – and great to see on the record.
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Absolutely Excellent….more ! more ! more !
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great article
is that a 2 1/4 mile round trip or one way? I am coming over this summer and building my list of places to see.
cant wait to see Argyll again.
George Young from Seattle USA
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Yes it is, George – but its a 2 1/4 miles that rewards a lot of time.
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George Young – 2 1/4 miles would take you to the calendrical site, there and back, from Minard. But there is such a network of paths that you could easily double that distance. One detour I would recommend would be to Oakbank, which overlooks Brainport Bay. So take a camera, and a picnic lunch, and make a day of it.
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I was brought up in the area – Tullochgorm to be exact – and Brainport was within easy strolling distance. It was the place we used to go “dookin’” and little did we suspect the ancient connections.
The path along the shore from Woodhouse was a popular Sabbath afternoon’s walk, and wild strawberries could be picked at the Black Quarry which was en route. It was near the Black Quarry that the body of Murdy Fletcher was found in the mid thirties. He had earned the Military Cross in WW1 and was a fisherman on one of the boats out of Minard.(It may have been a suicide.)
On the southerly arm of Brainport lay the wreck of the “Lily” -an outdated fishing smack which had a folding propeller, so she was obviously from the sailing era. The remains are possibly still there if one cares to look.
The area between Brainport and the “Castle Avenue” was known as “The Pheasantry”, no doubt where “the toffs” came to shoot pheasants in the early days of the Castle. Up till the mid nineteen hundreds the castle was the the balliewick of the Lloyd family, as was Braigh Bharr and Woodhouse.
It was a great place for any youngster to grow up and I still thank God for giving me the privilege of spending my childhood in the area.
Hope the above may be of interest.
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