Fri Sept 11th
Set off at 0950, mild and sunny, stopped at Lancaster services for lunch and arrived at Wreay at 2pm. A nice CL on a farm excellent shower, only drawback there was a very busy railway line very close. It was still sunny and mild so I sat outside for a while. After tea we took Crackers a short walk, then watched TV.
Home to Gyll Farm Wreay
Miles travelled 173
Site fee £14
Sat 12th
Woke to rain! Away by 0900, raining heavily stopped for fuel and by the time we reached Glasgow the rain had eased a bit.
Arrived at Luss 12.20, got a pitch right by Loch Lomond, ground very wet. After lunch we went into the village, a Heritage village. There was a sale of outdoor clothing in the village hall and I got a Regatta raincoat. We went to the pier, no boat trips going it was so rough, we walked by the church and there was a wedding in progress with a piper in full highland dress.
Back to,van ad tea and watched TV listening to the rain.
Wreay to Luss
Miles travelled 130
Fuel £44
Site fee £37.50
Sun 13th
Woke to sunshine! Loch a lot calmer. We drove to Lochgoilhead to visit Joyce &David, quite a scenic drive along a very narrow, twisty road with a dreadful surface.
We found Joyce better than we expected considering how I'll she is. She was quite bright and cheerful but very thin and surprisingly active. We had a good catch up and a meal at their local, the meal was not too good. It has been sunny and bright all day but when we got back to Luss it started to rain.
Mon 14th
Another sunny, mild morning. We were away by 0930. The weather was lovely and sunny, the route was along scenic, mountain passes with very bad roads along the loch. We drove through Glencoe, Fort William and Fort Augustas. Went a bit wrong finding site but arrived at 1.00. We had lunch then drove to Kyle of Lochalsh, a bit further than we thought but needed milk, we had to make a quick u turn as we were just about to go over the bridge to Skye!
After tea we had to shut the door quickly as there were clouds of midges.
Luss to Dalchreichart
Miles travelled 126
Site fee
a very quiet, rural CL, electric but nothing else.
Tue 15th
Sunny again this morning. We were away by 0910 and it was sunny all the way. We made for Morrison's in Inverness for fuel, it took quite a while to find our way out again but we arrived at Druim Farm, Nairn at 12.00. It was just a patch of sloping grass but had water and toilet emptying facilities and was very peaceful.
After lunch we went to Fort George, a very impressive fort and military base built after the Highland uprisings and battle of Culloden. The weather stayed mild and there was a dramatic sunset.
Dalchreichart to Nairn
Miles travelled 60
Fuel £53
Wed 16th
Cloudy but some sunshine this morning. After breakfast we went to Inverness for fuel for the car and looked for Aldi but didn't find it. We went to Culloden where I went in to the museum and had a good look round. It is a very modern, National Trust, exhibition, lots of audio visual telling the story of the lead up to the battle, the last one fought on British soil, and of Bonnie Prince Charlie's failed attempt to regain the crown for the Stuarts.
We then went back to Inverness and managed to find Aldi, with the help of my phone, and got a few things. Then we went to Nairn where we had wonderful fish and chips and a short walk round before going back to the van and collecting Crackers then taking her to the beach and harbour. It stayed fine and mild all day. After tea it started raining quite heavily.
Site fees £10
Thurs 17th
The rain had stopped and the sun was trying to come through clouds. We left at 10.15 and arrived at Dingwall 11.15 and had to wait for stewards til 12. We set up had lunch and a shower. Harry and Loraine arrived at about 3 pm, it was trying to rain and the site was very wet. We had a catch up then after tea played triominoes.
Fri 18th
The sun was shining when we woke but it was very cold. We went into Dingwall and had a good look round, it was lovely and sunny and quite mild.
In the afternoon Loraine and I did some knitting, Harry had a bike ride and Rich walked the dog. Had a game of cards in the evening.
Sat 19th
Sunny again this morning but heavy dew and cool. We were away by 10.00 and it was a very scenic drive to Dunnet Bay, the landscape was bleak with many abandoned houses falling down, as well as a few new builds.
We arrived at the site at 1.00 and set up, H&L arrived half an hour or so after us. It had turned overcast and dull, and a bit cooler.
We drove to Gills to suss out the ferry then on to John O Groats, it has changed a lot since we were last there, more buildings. We went to Look at Duncansby Stacks then back to van. Tea and then triominoes before bed.
Miles travelled 108
Site fees £36
Sun 20th
Another mild morning. We drove to Duncanby Head where it was quite windy, then on to a pier in a small cove, it was famous for the royal family having landed there in 1955 and there were picnic tables there, we saw lots of bees in the heather and thrift. We went back to the van and had a lunch then walked along the beach, it had been sunny but clouded over and got quite chilly, a lovely beach though. We then went on to Mary Ann's cottage which is a croft worked by three generations of one family from 1850 to 1993. It was very interesting and had been left just as the last occupant had left it.
We had tea and showers and an early night ready for early start tomorrow.
Mon 21st
Up at 6am, quite a Mild morning with the sun try to break through. We drove to Gills and booked in for the ferry, it seemed to take ages loading and for a small boat there were a lot of vehicles, lories,vans and caravans had to be reversed on. It was a pleasant crossing of about an hour and we stayed on deck for most of it.
When we landed David, a friend of H&L met us and showed us to the site. There was a doctors surgery we passed so after lunch we went to see if I could see someone as I'd been having trouble with my water works for a few days, got an appointment with nurse.
We drove to the Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm which was absolutely fantastic, an amazing construction that has to be seen to be believed. It started to rain. Rich and I then went to Kirkwall to find out ferry times to get to Hoy and we called at Tesco's as well. Back to the van and the sun was out again. I went to see the nurse who said I had a UTI and gave me antibiotics. After tea we went to Harry's for a chat before getting an early night.
Miles travelled
Site fee £36
Tue 22nd
It was very damp this morning, grey and low clouds. Rich and I set of for Houton to get the 10oclock ferry to Hoy. We got there in plenty of time and the weather improved, the trip took 30mins and was £8.40 for both of us return. The Naval Museum at Lyness was very interesting and the curator was very helpful with my queries about the unit Dad was in, I found one photo that could be Dad. We had a snack and a good look round, there was so much to see and so much information about Scapa Flow during the wars. We got the 12.30 ferry back and drove to a very pretty bay on the way back. Had a cuppa and chat with H&L then got our tea and in the evening went to David & Rachel's van for an hour or so.
Wed 23rd
Grey and damp this morning but not really cold.
We went to a Viking church, where the first Vikings landed on Orkney then into Stromness where we had a drink in a cafe. We drove on to Skara Brae where we had a picnic in the car park then went to look at the exhibition, which was very interesting there was a replica of one of the Neolithic houses that you could go into then you could walk round and look down into the originals, an amazing place. We could also go into Skaill House, a home of the Lairds. This was very interesting, a really nice, homey place with some interesting artefacts. It was very windy and chilly while we were out and rained a bit.
We drove by the Ring of Brodgr, standing stones then called at Lidl on the way back to van.
We went for a meal at the Sands Hotel which was very nice.
Thurs 24th
Sunshine and bright skies this morning but a cold wind. We caught the 11.50 ferry back to Gills and were back at Dunnet Bay site by 1.30. Just as we were setting up it rained very heavily. A quiet afternoon, we did a bit of knitting and had showers then H&L and David and Rachel came round for a natter. It rained on and off all afternoon with sunny periods but very strong, cold wind.
Fri 25th
Very windy and raining overnight. We went to the Castle of Mey, it was very interesting, we had a guided tour of the house and then went round the gardens but it was very windy. We carried on to John O Groats where I posted a couple of cards then back to the van.
I wasn't feeling too good, had a sore throat and sniffles,blame the antibiotics! Went to say goodnight to the others but didn't stay, went straight to bed.
Sat 26th
A bit calmer this morning. We set off at 10 and had a good run through great scenery arriving at Dingwall at 1pm, H&A were there before us as we'd stopped at Tesco's. It was calm and a bit warmer than at Dunnet Bay. We found that there was a noisy fun fair right next to the site, and the stewards said they would refund us if we wanted to move so we said we'd think about it. We all had a walk before tea then went to H&L s for a chat before bed, I felt a bit better but still sneezy.
Miles travelled 126
Fuel £43.83
Site fees £54
Sun 27th
A lovely, sunny morning. We drove over to Rosemarkie site and met David &Rachel then we all drove to Cromarty, a lovely village, we had a drink in a cafe then walked round and visited the museum, it was a warm, sunny day.
L and I knitted in the afternoon then we had a game of cards in the evening. I decided to not take any more tablets and felt better today.
Mon 28th
Another mild morning. We went into Dingwall, went to a cafe where they had wifi and sent a couple of emails. Mooched round the town and looked in the museum which was interesting, we wanted to know why lots of the shop doors were so big but they didn't seem to think they were, we think doors are just bigger here, the museum was in the old council house. Did some food shopping then back to van. Got together with Loraine in the afternoon and went to theirs after tea but didn't stay long as I had the runs! Warmed up food! Apart from that I had felt fine today so glad I stopped antibiotics. Another sunny, mild day.
Tue 29th
Another clear, bright morning. We were away by 0945 having got fuel at Tesco's. A lovely run through beautiful countryside with the sunshine showing it up perfectly. There were a lot of road works which made for quite a slow journey but we arrived at the site, Carrs Hill, Denny, Stirling by 2.30. Very warm and glorious sunshine so once we'd set up we sat outside for a while. Rich was starting with a cold.
Miles travelled 171
Fuel £20.39
Site fee £16 x 3 £48
Wed 30th
It was very misty. And cool this morning but the sun soon shone through with beautiful blue skies. We went to see the Falkirk wheel, had a snack there, Loraine and I were befriended by a small boy playing in the water features. We carried on to see the Kelpies, huge statues of water horses by a park and Marina, they were very impressive. Back to the site for a quiet afternoon. Emma, Aaron and Wilson called on the way to a funeral in Dundee, we had a buffet tea outside in the sun while Emma wrestled with Wilson, who Crackers ignored after her first snarl. An early night as Rich was suffering with his cold.
Thurs 1st
Rich had a lie in and I took Crackers into the wood, she was quite spooked by it, it was very damp and misty.
Harry took Loraine and I into Stirling and Rich stayed home. The castle was too expensive to go in and not much in the old town exempt wide streets with large buildings. We had a drink then mooched round the shops. Back to van and sat in the sun. A game of cards before bed.
Fri 2nd
A bright but misty and cool morning again. We packed up and said a sad farewell to H&L and were away by 0940. A good run, mostly motorway getting busier as we came south. It was sunny and misty in turns.
We arrived at the Crooke Hall Inn at 2.45, had a bit if a run round to find it, a lovely spot beside the Leeds & Liverpool canal, this is a free stop out of Brit Stops book. It was calm and sunny and we had a short walk along the towpath then a very nice meal in the pub.
Miles travelled 222
Fuel £53.
Sat 3rd
Up and away by 0900, very misty and grey, home by 11.00.
Miles travelled 94
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