Rest and be Thankful.

[skrik]

A truly wondrous drive, especially if you catch the sun setting on the Paps of Jura.

" Looking West "

All down the coast the air was full of seaweed and sunset , a pungent blend.
By nine the stone cottages' warm windows all glowed over the bays.
Far west, the light; a rim of blue and white - Jura, Gigha and Cara , all shining.
On the way down we stopped to listen to the sea crashing over the rocks.
That night I did not want the stars to rise - I wanted it to be like this forever
Looking west, into the sunset, to the very end of the world.

It is said that the old romantic road with its' twists and turns inspired Macca to write "The Long And Winding Road".

[Govangirl]

http://thestorybehindthesong.wordpress.com/2012/11/04/the-long-and-winding-road/

[LANDROVER ROGER]

Interesting reading.Macca comes across as a control freak on first reading but I suppose that he was entitled to call the shots.

[ChrisA]

Mentions that rather special road, Macca, and Bellochuntuy - as well as other Kintyre places - in my own song, (the vid on youtube has some lovely pics too) ...

BACK TO KINTYRE.

Three hours out of Glasgow, by the long and winding road
in the arms of the Atlantic, lies a place that I call home

and I can feel her power,
and I can hear her breathe
I'm going back to Kintyre,
and this time I'll never leave

From the Eastern Loch at Tarbert, take the road down by the West,
passing on through Bellochuntuy where the views are heaven blessed,
then climb the moors to Lussa, take an amble through the toon,
see Davaar (from afar) on a spring afternoon, hey,
Look up! ..... all the stars are burning bright,
the moon lights up the road, and Davy's coming home tonight,
well the Burnside’s warm and welcoming, better stop off for a dram,
(or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5) then drag yourself away … if you can

I'm on the beach at Carra, just drifiting off to sleep,
the waves arrive from Arran, and whisper tales to me ...

The whistling Ocean winds bring thoughts and dreams from afar.
For this Viking Isle instills a rare passion, rising through the veins like a highland storm.
Such passions, they never leave. They brood, they burn, they inspire,
all kindred spirits back … to Kintyre

Spent a crazy night in Whisky Macs with a girl called Bonnie May,
who swore she'd seen the ghost of Linda walking Saddell bay
so I called on Paul, and his Wings 'n' all and we sat there on the sand,
and he smiled, as he held out his hand

He said son I feel her power, he said I hear her breathe,
she's coming back to Kintyre,and this time she'll never leave
and we can feel her power and we can hear her breathe
we're coming back to Kintyre and this time we'll never leave.

[skrik]

Love that yeah! You're right Chris,it was defo the A83 that Macca was inspired by for the song and not the B842. Website after website copy the error made by some plonker who probably never even visited the area . He only used the B842 for the filming of the Mull of Kintyre song at Saddell bay. Don't believe everything you read on websites ! If memory serves me correctly the bar you refer to as "Whisky Mac's" was from the mid sixties when Macca arrived " The Clachan ", at which time women were not allowed in the public bar, only in the lounge. Also, in August of 1964, Manfred Mann, who were top of the pops with "Doo Wah Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Doo" played at the Viccy Hall in the toon and stayed at the Argyll on Main St. Their bass guitarist was Jack Bruce who died the other week. He owned Sanda Island from 1969 to 1976. He paid £35,000 for it and sold for £75,000 to Jimmy Gulliver, the Campbeltown grocer's son who became a director of Manchester United and owner of the Argyll Store Group. Enjoyed your brilliant post immensely ! Cheers!

[numberplease]

I love the things we find out on here!

[Martin]

Towards the end my mum got it into her head the song was called The Long Unwinding Road.

[bill]

Also, in August of 1964, Manfred Mann, who were top of the pops with "Doo Wah Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Doo" played at the Viccy Hall in the toon and stayed at the Argyll on Main St. Their bass guitarist was Jack Bruce who died the other week.

The photograph, taken from Freddie Gillies's "In Campbeltown Once More", is of course Manfred Mann with staff of The Argyll.
The bass guitarist is Tom McGuiness(far right), Jack Bruce was a member of the band for a short period 65/66. The song was infact called "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", and I was one of many who payed the princely sum of 10 shillings (50p) to be there on the night in The Victoria Hall.

[Iain]

My parents used to recall an old bloke who lived on the Rest in the 1950's, they referred to him as a hermit. Can anyone shed any light on this ?

I remember seeing his 'hut' on the right every time we drove to Campbeltown. Only saw him once !