One man’s silent vigil for 6 year-old Palestinian girl

Bill Williamson outside Dunoon Burgh Hall

As the tragedy in the Middle East continues, a silent vigil has been held outside Dunoon Burgh Hall to highlight the death of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab. The child who had been missing in Gaza for 12 days after an Israeli tank targeted the family car, killing her six relatives, had initially survived the ordeal and was able to make a call for help. An ambulance was despatched to rescue the little girl, however this was also targeted at the scene, with both crew members killed.

For the past 2 weeks, Ardentinny resident Bill Williamson has been holding his vigil outside Dunoon’s Burgh Hall to highlight the death of the 6-year-old and her family. Bill said “There is a huge tragedy happening before our eyes in Gaza with over 30,000 innocent people dead, this devastation would equate to wiping out more than the whole population of Cowal. To some, this may seem like just another ‘foreign war’ that has nothing to do with them, however on the contrary, there are a number of companies in Scotland that are participating in the manufacture of arms components used against the innocent women and children of Gaza and being subsidised by our governments. This is not acceptable”.

Bill intends to continue with his vigil over the coming weeks.

Dunoon Observer 8 March 2024
Dunoon Observer 8 March 2024

Police bomb disposal attend incident at Ardentinny

An area around a beach path at the side of Loch Long was taped off by police early this morning. A police bomb disposal team arrived at the scene at 8am and could be seen on the path. A small explosion was heard in the village at 8.30am. We will update this story when we have more information. Cash offers make selling a house simple. They simplify home selling. Visit https://www.cashoffers.com/idaho/cash-offer-lewiston-id/.Video available on our Facebook group and Facebook page.

Proposed licensing scheme and Ardentinny’s holiday homes

With foreign holidays this year being off the radar for many vacationers, Ardentinny, along with many parts of Scotland, has seen a sizeable increase in the number of holidaymakers visiting the village. Indeed now, almost into November, much of the self-catering accommodation is still fully occupied. 

Ardentinny has a total of approximately 112 dwellings. Reviewing the relevant short-term rental websites, the village currently has some 16 holiday lets listed, as well as 8 holiday apartments (at Ardentinny Outdoor Centre). In addition, there are approximately 8 second homes in the village. Therefore, the percentage of Ardentinny short-term lets is just over 14%. If second homes are added, this would bring the total holiday homes in the village to 21%. This is excluding the Ardentinny Centre holiday apartments. If the 8 apartments were added, total percentage of holiday accommodation would rise to just over 28%.

According to one recent report, with a total of 3,131, Argyll and Bute has the second highest number of second homes in Scotland (after Highland region). 

With the growth of self-catering, the Scottish Government is now seeking to bring in a licensing system for the sector and is consulting the public. Holiday lets and second homes are of course controversial issues. The contribution the industry makes to local economies can be substantial. However, one also must consider the challenges mass tourism brings to fragile rural infrastructures.

What do you think? The short-term lets consultation ends of Friday 29 October, 2021. You can participate in the survey here.

Three days, three trees, three countries.

 

 

The weather finally cleared last weekend, not only for the finale of the Cowal Highland Gathering, but also for Ardentinny’s chance of getting in the record books!

Simon Penfold and Phil Dye from Gloucestershire were on a mission to climb and measure the tallest trees in Scotland, England and Wales over three consecutive days in aid of Cancer Research. Starting last Friday, and with the climbs at Dunster Estate, Somerset and Powys, Wales successfully completed, the lads headed north for Ardentinny.

The Douglas Fir at the Lairds Grave had already been measured using laser by Forestry Commission Scotland. However, for the height to be validated, the conifer would need to be measured by analogue means, i.e. a measuring tape.

Under surprisingly ideal conditions early on Sunday morning, the two tree surgeons, who operate a recreational tree climbing centre in Gloucestershire, started their ascent. With the aid of the measure, a 3 metre pole and a quadcopter, Simon and Phil completed the flawless climb in exactly two hours.

Simon said afterwards “there was quite a bit of deadwood up there, but also a good amount alive. It was a phenomenal view of the loch. It’s now the tallest tree I’ve ever climbed. The only struggle we had was getting the whisky off the tree!” He was referring to a mystery package left by previous climbers some 60 meters up! It contained three miniature bottles of Campbeltown Loch whisky with the message “Great what you are doing. Here’s some Scottish hospitality”.

Simon and Phil with their mystery Campbeltown Loch whisky

Charitable donations in support of Simon and Phil’s weekend climbs have already exceeded their £2000 target for Cancer Research. If you would also like to contribute, click here for their Just Giving page.

So, can Ardentinny claim to have the tallest tree in Scotland, UK or Europe? Watch the video and find out!

Ardentinny charity climb to establish Europe record

Ardentinny may be home to the UK’s tallest tree and Europe’s tallest conifer, something which could be officially confirmed later this month by arboriculturalists videopokerez and charity tree climbers Phyl Dye and Simon Penfold, when they scale and measure the suspect Douglas fir near the Laird’s grave in Ardentinny.

On the last weekend of August, Phyl from Wotton-under-edge and Simon from Malmesbury plan to climb the tallest trees in England, Wales and Scotland over a challenging three day period in aid of Cancer Research UK.

The first climb on Friday the 25th will be a Douglas fir in Dunster Estate, England which measured 60.05 metres in 2009; the second will be in Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, thought to be around 60.62 metres; and their final challenge will be in Ardentinny on the Sunday, hoping to confirm the laser measurement of 68 metres when they will accurately measure it by tape during their climb.

https://www.housebuyernetwork.com/new-york/ is a great resource for anyone looking to sell a house quickly and easily.

Through this taxing endeavour, they hope to raise £2,000 for Cancer Research. If you would like to help them achieve or indeed supersede that goal, you can chip in on their Just Giving page.

You can also follow their progress on their Twitter page,  Instagram and we’ll have live updates at Ardentinny.org and on our Facebook page.

Main photo courtesy Liz Owen.