Carradale is a wee spot on the map on the east side of the Kintyre peninsula at the end of a long single track road, and Kintyre is in the very south of the Scottish Highlands. It’s a beautiful spot overlooking the magnificent island of Arran, kept mild and lush by the warm Gulf Stream, and spread in a delightfully disorganised way around the harbour , bays and woods, so no-one quite knows which bit the real Carradale is. Although it now takes longer to get to the nearest city (some 3 hours to Glasgow ) than it did in the old days when it was served by paddle steamer, most people can manage with visits to the nearby town, and it keeps us all delightfully laid back.
Originally Carradale developed as a fishing village, branched out into becoming a popular holiday spot, and is now a mix of commuters, retirees, with a little fishing, farming ,forestry, and tourism. Not the most obvious place to start a small jewellery workshop, but jewellery travels well, visitors like presents, and it’s a cracking place to live. Everyone who works here lives in the village, and it’s a lovely commute wandering along the narrow road, through the trees, and past the fields of sheep. (Mind you, some of us are lucky enough to stay just next door to the workshop!)
Blessed with the most glorious beach, a great wee golf course, and enough in the way of facilities to provide for everyone’s needs, it still attracts lots of people in the summer to its cottages, hotels and caravan park. Wild life is abundant - seals in the sea, otters in the river, and eagles in the hills. It’s a stopping place on the Kintyre Way long distance walk , so the less energetic can mix and match different sections and pretend they’ve done the whole thing.
So before work it’s a walk with the dogs round Carradale Bay, and at the end of the week a bottle of wine up the hill, sitting amongst the trees and watching the gannets diving. Has its perks!