Day 31 - Alton Towers
Spent the day at Alton Towers theme park. Crowded but Zoe got on plenty of rides. Got it home by 10pm.
Day 30 - Edinburgh to Stoke
Took a while to put away the tent and get the three eldest to the train station. The car was overflowing. Drove to Stoke via Biggar and the M6 was its usual free flowing bank holiday trafffice (not). Nght in the Travel Lodge read Thor Alton Towers tomorrow.
Day 29 - Edinburgh
Some more shows at the Fringe - a good comedian (Bennett Arron), another good comedian and “$@face Shakepeare which was OK. Had dinner at Frankie and Bennys and also a little walk around Princes Street.
Day 28 - Edinburgh
Drove into Edinburgh to look at Fetial stuff. Saw a comedian (not good) a kids show (OK) and Showstoppers which was excellent. Edinburgh even stayed sunny.
Day 27 - Edinburgh
Had an ok night in the tent. Drove to the royal mile and then explored princes street gardens including seeing Wjotek the bear. Quick look round St cuthberts church then up to royal mile which was framed with Fringe ticket sellers. Went to the castle and took the the guided tour. Back to the car for...
Day 26 - Glasgow to Edinburgh
Left drizzling glasgow and drove to Leith. Boarded HMY Britannia which was fascinating. Had tea on board. Then drove through Edinburgh to set up our tent. Off to Tesco tobyy Air beds and camping chairs and onto McDonalds for dinner.
Day 25 - Glasgow
Had a lie in (luxury) as we weren’t moving lodgings for a change. Drove to Botanical Gardens and then the Kelvingrove Museum. On the way, passed Glasgow University which looks old and nice. Then back to city centre to look around the library and the shops. Quite nice when the sun is shining.
Day 24 - Stirling to Glasgow
Left the B&B and drove to The Keplies near Falkirk. Quite impressive in their size and realism. Decided to ride the bikes form there to the Falkirk Wheel - about a 7 mile round trip alongside the canal with lots of swans. The wheel is cool - manages to raise and lower the boats on the power of 8 ket...
Day 23 - Perth to Stirling
Drove back to Comrie to get the tent and equipment and then drove south to Stirling. Spent about 3 hours looking at the castle and then wandered the town and looked at old town items such as the cemetery. Drove to our B&B and bought Chinese takeaway to eat on a bench in Banockburn field under the ga...
Day 22 - Crieff Highland Gathering
It rained most of the night, so cereal in the car for breakfast. Watched the kilt race down Crieff Main Street followed by about 8 pipe/drumbands marching to the Highland Gathering, Spent the rest of the day at the Highland games. Lots of events (caber, putt, hammer,etc.) and cycle races and foot ra...
Day 21 - Pitlochry to Crieff
Drove south from Pitlochry an stopped north of Dunkeld to walk around the Hermitage area. Lots of tall trees and waterfalls. Then onto Perth for a look at the Branklyn Gardens which are a 2 acres ex-private garden. Then a look around the centre of Perth, into the Kurk and lunch at Subway. Drove to o...
Day 20 - Aviemore to Pitlochry
Left the OK Guest house after a massive cardiac inducing breakfast. Had acycle ride around Loch An Eilein and then drove to Blair Castle. Very nice castle and a 9 acre walled garden which was too big. Some massive Scots Pines in their wood and also deer in the deer park. A brief stop at Queens Viewp...
Day 19 - Inverness and Aviemore
Quick stroll around the Victorian market in Inverness and then onto Fort George to see some dolphins on the incoming tide. Boz managed tos port quite a few whilst Zoe and I walked around the massive fort. Stopped briefly at Culloden Battlefield museum - very over the top - god knows what they would...
Day 18 - Wick to Inverness
Drove south from Wick to Dunrobin castle. A lovely castle which felt livable in and also nice gardens. They had rescued birds of prey in the garden including a Golden Eagle and eagle owls. Went for a walk nearby clowns Big Burn Walk with waterfalls, etc. Drove past the Oil Rig graveyard/storagedepot...
Day 17 - Tongue to Wick
Left the hosel and drove to Dunnet Head - the northern most pointon the UK mainland. Then onto Castle Mey, the castle that the Queen Mother bought in 1952 and used as a holiday home. Interesting tour and nice walled gardens. Then onto John O’Groats for the tourist picture and for Zoe to buy a puffin...
Day 16 - Achmelvich to Tongue
Took the slow and windy route to Tongue on route 500 today. First stop was Stoer lighthouse and then north to a hot chocolate cafe near Durness. The beach at Balnakell was lovel and we built a good sandcastle. Then stopped at Smoo Caves which have been used since Viking times - part hollowed out but...
Day 15 - Lewis to Achmelivch
Left Lewis on the 8am ferry from Stornaway. Saw a pod of porpoises jumping out of the sea en route. Stopped in Ullapool to get supplies at Tesco and then drove to Stac Poldhai and did a strenuous 4 mile walk around the mountain - all up and down. Then drove to our Hostel at Achmelvich which was righ...
Day 14 - Lewis
Visited Callainish Stading Stones in the morning. 5000 year old arrangement of stones with unknown meaning. Then onto a set of "blackhouses" where people lived until fairly recently. They are heated with Peat and we were shown a demo of weaving on a loom - possibly Harris tweed. Then drove a short d...
Day 13 - Skye to Lewis
Had another big breakfast and drove towards the ferry in Uig. Stopped at Fairy Glen to look at the interesting hillocks and streams. A nice coupe of hours. Caught the 2pm ferry to Lewis - calm journey in beautiful sunshine. First off the ferry and drove to Luskintyre beach on Harris. Glorious sand,...
Day 12 - Skye
Had a great breakfast and then headed to Dunvegan Castle. Lovely gardens (walled garden and waterfalls) and the hour was interesting as the seat of the MacLeod clan. Boz and Zoe did a half hour boat trip to look at the nearby seal colony. Then drove around the Totternis Peninsula, topping at hills,...
Day 11 - Ratagan to Skye
Left our beautiful lakeside Youth Hostel and drove to Skye. Loads fo slow camper vans and the make road was blocked by a car accident. Got to Fairy Pools near the Cullins and did a 4 mile walk beside the falls and pools - beautiful. Zoe had to be helped over a couple of streams with large gaps betwe...
Day 10 - Fort Augustus to Ratagan
Visited Ugquhat Castle (along with a million other people). Nice but crowded. Stopped briefly at Morison waterfall and then drove through beautiful glens to Eileen Donan Castle which is stunning. Did a walk at Balmacara forest and then on to Plockton which is probably our favourite place so far. Lov...
Day 9 - Fort William to Fort Augustus
Caught the 10:15 steam train from Fort William to Mallaig and back. THe sounds and melts of the train are so great. Mallig itself was a waster of time tin the drizzle. Had aMcDonlads for Breakfast and Dinner and then drove north to Fort Augustus to pitch our tent for the night. A reasonable nights s...
Day 8 - Acharacle to Fort William
Left Acharacle and stopped at Glenfinnian to have a walk, look at Bonnie Price Charlie’s memorial and to watch the steam train cross the viaduct (good timing). Then stopped in Fort William for some supplies before driving to Glencoe and doing a couple of walks in the forests/hills. Saw a deer up clo...
Day 7 - Craignure to Acharacle
A surprisingly comfy night in the Shieling, followed by a damp outdoor breakfast. Drove to Calgary Beach where Zoe had a paddle in the sea and we flew the kite. Then drove to Tobermory to look at the coloured houses from Balamory. Caught the ferry to the rdanmurhan Peninsula dn then drove the twisty...
Day 6 - Fionnphort to Craignure
Had a good night’s sleep in the bunkhouse with very welcoming hosts and a french mother with two young kids. Walked a mile or so to a small beach below Fionnphort and Zoe paddled in the (cold) sea. THen drove a short distance to Bunessan where they were having an agricultural show with cattle, sheep...
Day 5 - Oban to Iona/Staffa
Caught the (quite big) ferry from Oban to Mull - takes about 50 minutes. Then drove for about 45 minutes on a single lane road with passing places to catch the ferry to Staffa island. Saw Fingals cave from the sea and then walked to see the Puffin colony. You get really close to them and we were luc...
Day 4 - Loch Lomond to Oban
Left our B&B and drove the windy road to Oban. Stopped first at Inverary Castle, the seat of the Campbell Clan. Nice interiors and gardens. Drove on to Crarae Gardens which house a number of HImalayan plants around a steep gorge and stream. Very nice walk. Then on to Arduaine Gardens which are more...
Day 3 - Loch Lomond and surroundings
Had a nie breakfast (this is becoming a habit) and drove to the village of Luss on the West shore of Loch Lomond. Cycled 16 miles to Tarbet and back along the loch shore. Quite windy but no rain until the last couple of miles. Had fish and chips for lunch in Balloch and then drove to Dumbarton to lo...
Day 2 - Carlisle to Loch Lomond
Had a good breakfast in Faugh and then set off for Scotland via a quick stop at Tesco in Carlisle (they may not have food north of the border). Paused to take a quick photo in a drizzly Gretna Green where under 18 year olds used to come to get married when England had very different marriage laws to...
Day 1 - Swindon to Carlisle
Started off by loading bikes onto roof of car in pouring rain. Summer just ended after two months of sunshine. Drove north (M6 is continuous road works) and stopped In Wilmslow to see Helen and family. Two more hours saw us into Carlisle and The String of Horses Pub just outside. Had a nice bar meal...