Scotland Oct 2009

Thurs 15th

Set off from home at 8.50 and had a good run to Brownhills at Chester le Street arriving at 2.10, where we had a free stopover for two nights. It had been misty and drizzly most of the day. We got tea and had a game of cards before bed.


Distance travelled 237 miles

Fri 16th

Today we went to Beamish open air museum, it was about ten minutes from Brownhills, we went at 10.30 and got back 4.30, it was very interesting.
There was a colliery with a short section of mine to go down, pit cottages, a school, a church and a home farm then on to a small town with some houses, a bank, a Masonic hall, a Co-op,

where we had lunch, further on down to the manor house, original, fortified part 1400s (fortified against Scots border raids) then there was a Waggoner’s way with working steam engine.

It was bright and sunny but a very cold wind.

Sat 17th

We were away by 0920 and arrived at the Haltwhistle site at 1030, it had rained a bit overnight and been quite cold but was a bright, sunny morning.

We booked in and then went for a drive round looking for Hadrian’s Wall, we found a bit by a fort but didn’t want to pay so carried on and went to Haltwhistle, we parked and had a walk round and got super fish and chips then a couple of things at Sainsburys, it was a glorious, sunny day but cold, the colours in the trees were lovely. Back at the van we tried to get TV going for Grand Prix but it wouldn’t work, found out that the area had gone totally digital and we had not brought our freeview box and dish!!! I had a shower and we sat and read/sudokod. The site was nice, small and by a river. Distance travelled 46 miles Site fee £8.81 x 2 = £17.62

Sun 18th

Grey, damp morning, had been a very cold night, after breakfast we went to Housestead Fort, the best preserved Roman fort on Hadrian’s Wall, it was bleak and cold with a sharp wind, the remains are quite impressive, once within the wall it was very sheltered.

We carried on looking for a pub and finally found one after miles of driving up hill and down vale through very sparsely populated country (except for sheep and cows) over the border in Cumbria, The Belted Will, it was called and we had a really good meal. Back to the van, read and sewed for a while, took a short walk in the woods along the river bank – wonderful dog walk now we haven’t got dogs! Had a game of cards then shower and early night, quite a bit milder tonight.

Mon 19th

Set off at 0930 and had a wet journey, arrived at Riverview Monifieth at 2.30. We set up and had a short walk on the beach; the water – Tay estuary – was very calm.

Andre and Jean, Aaron's paretns picked us up and too us to a Premier Inn for a meal which they insisted on paying for, we had a nice meal and they stopped for a coffee before going home. Distance travelled 195 miles Site fee £18 x 3 = £54

Tue 20th

A very blustery night and grey, cool day. We went to find the Discovery, where the wedding was being held, and Inchture hotel, reception, and where we would park overnight, before heading to a bird reserve, saw many geese etc. It was not a very nice day at all. Started to rain at 6.30 and the water was very rough.

Wed 21st

Up quite early to take Emma’s dress etc to the hotel, it took nearly an hour to get to the hotel as the traffic was so bad, crawling most of the way. We unloaded the stuff then went back into Dundee to the Discovery for a wedding rehearsal. The weather was awful, wet, cold and blustery, we met the wedding coordinator and went on board, Emma was very upset that the weather made the ship inhospitable and it was suggested that the ceremony be in the wardroom, we went down to look at it and agreed that if the weather was the same tomorrow it would have to be there, the deck and bridge were bitterly cold and wet, the wind funnelling down off the water. We went back to the hotel to meet Marg & Bri who had arrived and we had a very nice lunch with them at the hotel. We then drove back to our van and sat in the warm and dry playing scrabble as the weather was too awful to be outside. Marg & Bri went back after a bit of tea and we followed a bit later. When we got to the hotel Jan & Mike had arrived and then we got together with Emma, Aaron and their friends for a few drinks. Back to van quite late.

Thurs 22nd

We left the site after breakfast, allowing time for traffic to clear, called at Tesco for food and fuel and got to the hotel for about 10.30, we were spending the night parked there. There was a lot of activity getting Emma and the bridesmaids ready and they all looked beautiful. I had a shower in Jan’s room then we had a sandwich with Jan & Mike in the van before it was time to get dressed and set off for the Discovery. There was a courtesy mini bus provided by the hotel and Marg & Bri, Jan & Mike and me were on the first trip. As we arrived at the ship the piper started playing, Ode to Joy, lovely! The weather was very different to yesterday calm and dry with the sun coming out sporadically and the wedding coordinators had set up the chairs on the bridge, which was Emma’s preferred location. Quite a bit of hanging around then waiting for others to arrive, as each group arrived the piper was playing which made for a lovely atmosphere, and then finally Emma & Rich arrived in a stretch Limo. The ceremony went very well and as Rich walked with Emma the piper played the Welsh National Anthem, cue sniffles!

There were drinks served on the deck whilst photos were being taken and Emma & Aaron were presented with a pair of crystal glasses from the ship.



Back to the hotel at last, it was beginning to get quite cold as the afternoon wore on, and a super reception, the meal was very good and Emma had decorated the tables beautifully. A late night again.

Fri 23rd

After seeing everyone off we left the van at the hotel and went to find an optician as I’d lost a pad off my glasses. We tried to find a car park in Dundee but ended up on the Tay Bridge and so went over to Newport; we parked and found an optician who charged £4 for new pads!

We had a short walk but nothing much to see, dilapidated buildings and a very small inaccessible harbour. Back over the bridge to go to Arbroath but managed to get tied up in road works and diversions, we arrived in Arbroath eventually and met Emma and Aaron’s family in a fish & chip buffet restaurant by the Bell Rock lighthouse. A very nice meal – all you could eat for £6.50. We had a very quick look round the museum then back to collect the van and get on our way. We left the hotel at 2.45 and arrived at a farm in Methven at 3.25.


We got pitched with Smart hitched up, had a bit off tea and a very early night, the weather had turned nasty again and it rained all night.

Distance travelled 23 miles Site fee £5

Sat 24th

Up and away for 9.30 heading for Lancaster but when we stopped for lunch Rich decided to head for home as the weather was awful, rain and low cloud.

We got home at 4.45. Distance travelled 343 miles