The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2014

A few top tips for making the most of the capital of comedy at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year...

Every year, hundreds upon thousands of people from all over the world head to Scotland's capital city for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Comedy royalty such as Michael McIntyre, Russell Howard and the cast of The Inbetweeners started at this very festival and have grown to become international superstars. Edinburgh is less that 2 hours away on the bus or train, so it's easy to make the most of the Edinburgh Fringe during your stay! You could be up and back within a day! This year, there are plenty of shows, stand up and entertainment to enjoy, so here are a few of our top tips...


Arrive Early
As we mentioned, there are fast and accessible links to Edinburgh from Oban, but we truly recommend that you make the most of your day and try to get there early. There are so many acts going on all day, every day - even in the morning! You'll thank us later.

Walk Around
Even without The Fringe, Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in the entire world, so walk around and take it all in. However, with the Fringe, it is also one of the most exciting cities in the world too - walk around and explore hidden venues, live music and the fantastic street performers.

Free Fringe
There's plenty of free entertainment on the streets of Edinburgh during The Fringe (especially around The Royal Mile) but there are also loads of official Free Fringe events. This is where all of the greats started, so you might just see the first of many shows from the future of comedy greats.

For more information, visit the Edinburgh Fringe website, book online or follow on Facebook & Twitter

The Queens Baton Relay in Oban

Things are heating up for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, but first, the Queen's Baton Relay is making its way to Oban...

It's not long to go now until Glasgow welcomes the Commonwealth Games, and for the last month, the Queen's Baton has been making its way across the country. This Sunday, it's making its way around Argyll and Bute as follows: 

06:50 - Appin

07:55 - Benderloch

08:35 - Dunbeg

09:05 - Oban

11:10 - Kilmartin

11:25 - Dunadd (Fort)

11: 45 - Lochgilphead

14:00 - Furnace

14:20 - Inverary

16:05 - Strachur

16:55 - Sandbank

17:10 - Dunoon

When in Oban, the Baron will follow two routes - starting at McCaig's Tower at 9:08am and winding down through the back of the town along Lauren Road to Longsdale, to Atlantis Leisure by 9:42am. Then it will be taken to Corran Hills from where, at 10:13am, it will be carried along the Corran Esplanade to Stafford Street, Oban Distillery, George Street, Queen's Park Place, Combie Street and Soroba Road as far as the Birchwood Filling Station by 10:30am.

Oban's featured Baton Bearer is David Ferguson, an ex service man who is now the head janitor at Oban High School. In his spare time he goes above and beyond, voluntarily helping with the school’s shinty team, particularly in promoting and supporting those with special needs. David has many strings to his bow (literally), as he’s Scottish Champion for Archery and assists at the local Archery Club.

Will you be making your way to the Queen's Baton Relay?

Wains Wednesdays at The Barn Bar

Taking the family to Oban this summer? Kids eat free at The Barn Bar every Wednesday!

Our lodges and cottages are always very popular amongst families, because the self-catering options means that they can feed the family without having to spend too much money every night! However, it is nice to go out for something to eat sometimes and treat yourself. We always recommend that guests visit The Barn Bar - a great local establishment just a five minute walk from Lagnakeil.

They have a fantastic selection of delicious home-made meals and a fantastic kids menu with lots of variety. This summer, they are hosting "Wains' Wednesdays" where kids eat free when they dine with their parents on the Wednesday of every week! What could be better when having the family on holiday at Lagnakeil?!

Wains Wednesdays - Kids menu

Handmade Cheese Burger – served in a white bun with tomato and relish.

Small portion of Homemade Lasagne – served with a wee side salad.

Homemade Super Creamy Macaroni Cheese – served with a wee side salad.

Battered Fish – served with a portion of chips. 

Cheesey Tomato Pasta – a simple tomato Pasta topped with cheese – served with garlic bread.

Toad in the Hole – sausage in a Yorkshire pudding batter served with a portion of beans.

BAIRN BOLT ONS: Small portion of chips * Small portion of potatoes * 1 slice of garlic bread * Small portion of homemade coleslaw * Pile of garden peas * Portion of baked beans * Small side salad * Small portion of seasonal vegetables * slice of bread and butter

Read our interview with Linda from The Barn Bar

See More of Scotland This Summer

This summer marks the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow - so make the most of your trip and see more of Scotland! 

The countdown is on for The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (less than a month to go!) and this summer is already looking great for Scotland. Thousands of visitors from all over the world will head to Glasgow at the end of July, and most of them will have never seen all the beauty that this country has to offer. Are you going to the Commonwealth Games? Make the most of your trip and see more of Scotland! 

Glasgow is a great city - full of fantastic things to do and nightlife. What's more? It's only a short two-hour drive to Oban! There are always frequent bus and train links to and from Glasgow, Edinburgh and other major cities in Scotland, not to mention, various boat trips to the surrounding Highlands - Oban is known as"The Gateway to the Isles"

For those travelling in groups, our self-catering accommodation offers various solutions to suit smaller and larger numbers. Our lodges can house 2 to 6 people, where our cottages can accommodate up to 12. All accommodation is fully furnished with excellent kitchen facilities and all bed linen is provided. Car parking is nearby and each lodge/cottage features a flat screen TV and complimentary wifi. The town of Oban is just a short walk away and there is a traditional Scottish bar just over the hill with great home-made food, live folk music and a friendly atmosphere. 

From watersports, to fishing, bike riding and more, there are plenty of things to do in Oban, but please feel free to ask us about any recommendations. To experience the history, culture and stunning sights of Scotland, visit Oban and the Isles this summer. 

Recipes for National Picnic Week

It's National Picnic Week and we've selected some great picnic recipes for you to try...

This week marks National Picnic Week, and up and down the country, people are grabbing their baskets and dining Al-Fresco. Guests at Lagnakeil make the most of the self-catering at Lagnakeil and picnic in the stunning surrounding areas. Here are a few picnic recipes for you to try when staying in one of our lodges...

Beetroot salad
Peel raw beetroots and grate them. Add pistachios or hazelnuts; dress with orange zest and juice, and olive oil. Add some goats' cheese and chopped parsley.

Pesto chicken rolls
Grill chicken pieces. Brush tortilla or any other wrap-type bread with pesto; layer with the cut chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and rocket; roll up and cut on the bias.

Cornflake chicken bites
Cut boneless chicken breasts into small pieces. Dip in milk or buttermilk, then dredge in seasoned crushed cornflake crumbs or cornmeal. Pan-fry in oil, drain, cool and eat cold with celery sticks, with ranch or blue-cheese dressing for dipping.

Leftover rice
Mix a couple of cups of cold cooked short-grain rice with three eggs. Form balls; insert a small cube of mozzarella into each. Roll in breadcrumbs and chill. Deep or shallow fry until golden.

Granola bars
Combine equal parts honey and brown sugar with a little oil and bring to a boil; toss with good granola until the mixture is very sticky. You can add more nuts, or raisins and, yes, OK, you can add chocolate chips. Line a pan with waxed paper or film with oil. Press mixture into pan and allow to cool.

What are your favourite picnic recipes?

Bike Week in Oban

Make the most of National Bike Week and take a cycle around picturesque Oban...

Image courtesy of Oban Cycles Facebook

Cycling is a great way of getting some exercise and can be really fun too. This year, Bike Week runs from the 14th-22nd June and according to the official Bike Week website, it aims to get people to give cycling a go all over the UK, whether this be for fun or as a means of getting around.

Due to it's picturesque scenery, Oban has always been a cycling destination and has grown in popularity over the years. Whether it's for a bike ride along the promenade or adrenaline-filled mountain biking, there's something for everyone at all levels.

Of course, one of the things about cycling, is that you have to carry your bike around -whether it's on public transport, or on the back of the car, which can sometimes be more hassle than it's worth. There are plenty of options here in Oban to purchase or rent bikes for the duration of your stay.

Make sure to visit Oban Cycles, who now have state of the art electric bikes too (similar to the ones you see in big cities like New York, London and Barcelona) The bikes include a lithium battery and LED display with 3 assistance levels - with automatic gear changes and a note of the exact distance that you have cycled. Why not make it a challenge for the family?

For information on the best cycling routes in the area, please get in touch colin@lagnakail.co.uk

Photography & Wildlife

As it comes into summer, we give our top tips on how to get snap happy with wildlife in the beautiful surrounding area of Argyll...

Image: Seafari

When people come to Oban, they always comment on how beautiful it is and spend a lot of their time taking photos. Guests return to Lagnakeil with camera in hand and show us the stunning photographs that they have taken on their day out. Wildlife tends to be very popular amongst holiday makers, so here are a few days out  to try for show-off worthy photographs...

SeaLife Adventures

Sealife Adventures hosts all-day whale watching boat trips including the Corryvreckan whirlpool. The local area is know for it's conservation of porpoise, minke whales, dolphins, basking sharks, otters and seals. Bird watching highlights include sea eagles, golden eagles, puffins and a great variety of seabirds - a great day out and plenty of photo opportunities. 

Seafari Adventures

Seafari tours have a wide range of options, but their Corryvreckan Wildlife tour is particularly popular. View whales, dolphins, sea birds and more on this high-speed adventure.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways  to see wildlife and create stunning photographs to take home with you. Here are our top tips for taking photos of wildlife...

1. Zoom in: The truth is, you probably won't get very near to the animals as they will probably run in the other direction if you get too close. Treat yourself to a good quality lens with optimum zoom.

2. Hold on: Imagine holding your camera, ready to take a photograph and all of a sudden, the boat bumps over a big wave. Where's your camera? Make sure to get a neck strap to keep your camera secure.

3. Use your phone: Not all of us have big cameras, but luckily, the camera quality on mobile phones these days are very good. You can even purchase lenses to clip onto your phone for even better picture quality.

What are your top tips for taking photographs?