Best Laid Plans (1 Viewer)

[Kingham]

I'm due to leave this site on Sunday and had a loose plan to have a slow wander north, before crossing the top of Scotland and returning to Durham via the east coast.

After spending ages looking over maps earlier, I formed a loose plan to base my trip around three C&MC sites, namely Kinlochewe, Altnaharra & Dunnet Bay, all interspersed with a few wild camps, but with the knowledge that I had somewhere definite to drop in to every few days, to refill and empty.

Except for the big spanner in the works, all three of those sites close for the winter on Sunday

I've only just started my blooming summer tour and they're closing for the winter

 

[andy63]

I'm due to leave this site on Sunday and had a loose plan to have a slow wander north, before crossing the top of Scotland and returning to Durham via the east coast.

After spending ages looking over maps earlier, I formed a loose plan to base my trip around three C&MC sites, namely Kinlochewe, Altnaharra & Dunnet Bay, all interspersed with a few wild camps, but with the knowledge that I had somewhere definite to drop in to every few days, to refill and empty.

Except for the big spanner in the works, all three of those sites close for the winter on Sunday

I've only just started my blooming summer tour and they're closing for the winter

you can head back with me on Friday then...

 

[DavidG58]

revise plans

Gairloch site on the sand dunes cant recall the name

Sango Sands Durness never closes, even when closed he is open

if hook ups wrapped up in plastic, unwrap and use he will turn up and take some cash off you been there in Jan he lets you stay for free or pay £3/night for electrics I told him he is daft with electric heating he must lose money, he assured he takes plenty in summer

Oh and don't bother with the north east, just drive through to say you have been, JoG one of lifes disappointments (well to me anyway)

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DavidG58]

edit or just wild camp

 

[CazPaul]

revise plans

Gairloch site on the sand dunes cant recall the name

Sango Sands Durness never closes, even when closed he is open

if hook ups wrapped up in plastic, unwrap and use he will turn up and take some cash off you been there in Jan he lets you stay for free or pay £3/night for electrics I told him he is daft with electric heating he must lose money, he assured he takes plenty in summer

Oh and don't bother with the north east, just drive through to say you have been, JoG one of lifes disappointments (well to me anyway)

Good advice David except that Ken lives in the bloody north east you cheeky bugger.

 

[DavidG58]

Good advice David except that Ken lives in the bloody north east you cheeky bugger.

not that north east, the one really up north I meant

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[lorger]

Good advice David except that Ken lives in the bloody north east you cheeky bugger.

I think he means the north east of Scotland as he mentions JOG

 

[klaatu]

You can stay at our house if you want, we're in France. House is in Orkney, though.

 

[andy63]

and theres " grannies heilan hame " site by embo coming down the east side..
can get right down on the beach .. you wouldn't know you were on a site..

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Puddleduck]

Have sent you a pm @Kingham

 

[andy63]

Oh and don't bother with the north east, just drive through to say you have been, JoG one of lifes disappointments (well to me anyway)

thats rather dismissive David
theres some fine castles and distilleries to visit..
a lovely looking spot at latheronwheel I mean to visit after seeing some pictures and a trip out along the moray coast past Lossiemouth , loads of beautiful little villages, port soy, Cullen, gardenstown, pennan, etc..
and a lovely stop at cruden bay....
andy

 

[Kingham]

Total internet failure last night

Some interesting suggestions to ponder over later today, thanks

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Bognor Saint]

Off topic but how is your dog now?

 

[MR. FUSION]

thats rather dismissive David
theres some fine castles and distilleries to visit..
a lovely looking spot at latheronwheel I mean to visit after seeing some pictures and a trip out along the moray coast past Lossiemouth , loads of beautiful little villages, port soy, Cullen, gardenstown, pennan, etc..
and a lovely stop at cruden bay....
andy

Just check the weather report if you are stopping at Cruden bay harbour and try to go to Dunnottar Castle near Stonehaven .....stunning!

 

[Brian and Jo]

I'm due to leave this site on Sunday and had a loose plan to have a slow wander north, before crossing the top of Scotland and returning to Durham via the east coast.

After spending ages looking over maps earlier, I formed a loose plan to base my trip around three C&MC sites, namely Kinlochewe, Altnaharra & Dunnet Bay, all interspersed with a few wild camps, but with the knowledge that I had somewhere definite to drop in to every few days, to refill and empty.

Except for the big spanner in the works, all three of those sites close for the winter on Sunday

I've only just started my blooming summer tour and they're closing for the winter

We are going to do those 3sites next August .Going to go to John o Groats and take a day trip to Orkney hopefully.
Brian & Jo

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DavidG58]

thats rather dismissive David

you are right Andy, but I was being much more specific in my reference to north west

and even then I have realised there is a nice location by the lighthouse on the east coast near J o G, Duncansby Head and Dunnet Bay is quite nice, with Dunnet Head being the true most northerly point in the UK wild camping options at both heads

But John of Groats is the pits, I can imagine the disappointment on most peoples faces that have walked or cycled for days and weeks to get there

 

[Gellyneck]

Except for the big spanner in the works, all three of those sites close for the winter on Sunday

Should you really be let out on your own!
Is it Bunree you're leaving?
Where did you eventually go between New England and there?

 

[Kingham]

Off topic but how is your dog now?

He was discharged by his surgeon a couple of weeks ago and slowly building his exercise levels back to normality.
He's still a long way off his pre injury fitness levels, but I'd rather take my time and build him back up slowly, rather than risk doing too much too soon.
The main thing is, he's loving being away again

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Kingham]

Should you really be let out on your own!
Is it Bunree you're leaving?
Where did you eventually go between New England and there?

That's the problem when there's only me and the dog. As much as I try to get him to shoulder some of the responsibilities and decision making, now that he's more mature than I am, he just won't have any of it

As the weather improved at NEB and with having the beach so close for the kayak, I extended my stay there and travelled directly to Bunree.

 

[hilldweller]

I've only just started my blooming summer tour and they're closing for the winter

It seems to have been a spectacularly short summer this year, all of a sudden I'm turning lights on mid afternoon.

 

[Gellyneck]

That's the problem when there's only me and the dog. As much as I try to get him to shoulder some of the responsibilities and decision making, now that he's more mature than I am, he just won't have any of it

As the weather improved at NEB and with having the beach so close for the kayak, I extended my stay there and travelled directly to Bunree.

Eeeeeeeeek!!!!!
I think I may have had a severe doh! moment then.

We moved up from Burrs Country Park to Lake Coniston but as the weather was horrendous and the ground was water-logged we moved the next day to New England Bay so were probably there at the same time as you!

What makes it even worse we may well have spoken as I've had a look through the photos we took and comparing these to your avatar

Is that your kayak on the roof in the background? Front row pitch (probably something like 156 \ 157)?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Kingham]

157 with the red kayak

 

[Gellyneck]

157 with the red kayak

It gets worse! That's us 5 pitches along in the Auto-trail!
Just checked the dashcam and you left about 09.00 on Sunday morning and, eh, we were following you out!
Stalkers Incognito! that's us.

 

[Kingham]

Opportunity missed to say hello .... but more importantly, was my driving ok

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Stretto Boy]

Opportunity missed to say hello .... but more importantly, was my driving ok

Perhaps we should all have the Funster stickers tattooed on our foreheads, to avoid this sort of thing

 

[Northernraider]

Just check the weather report if you are stopping at Cruden bay harbour and try to go to Dunnottar Castle near Stonehaven .....stunning!

I'm working my way up just now on the east coast, visited Dunnottar castle the other day, I'm freeloading on Aberdeen esplanade at the minute and popping in to Cruden bay later ( not decided to stop there or go a bit further yet) but the castle is lovely

 

[Northernraider]

you are right Andy, but I was being much more specific in my reference to north west

View attachment 187246

and even then I have realised there is a nice location by the lighthouse on the east coast near J o G, Duncansby Head and Dunnet Bay is quite nice, with Dunnet Head being the true most northerly point in the UK wild camping options at both heads

But John of Groats is the pits, I can imagine the disappointment on most peoples faces that have walked or cycled for days and weeks to get there

I remember the first time I camped at John o groats in 1992 at that time it consisted of one wee hoose and a sigh post showing distances to places.... It was remote and nice.... Now like everything it's commercialised with shops selling tatt.
I remember lands end being a disappointment too

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MR. FUSION]

I'm working my way up just now on the east coast, visited Dunnottar castle the other day, I'm freeloading on Aberdeen esplanade at the minute and popping in to Cruden bay later ( not decided to stop there or go a bit further yet) but the castle is lovely

There are a few nice coastal villages on the way also up to Peterhead/Cruden but after that its the huge oil terminal and that next part of the coast is a bit hit and miss (a hit being the loch of Strathbeg). Slains castle is a nice walk from Cruden Bay harbour, it may or may not be fenced off, usually it used to be accessible for walkers anyway. Then After that the often locally derided town of Fraserburgh which looks to me like paradise compared to my birth home. (Museum of Scottish lighthouses at Fraserburgh). then it's the lovely scenic north/Moray coast......with the exception of Banff Mr Grommet would love it there though Crovie is my favourite village, where the locals still use handcarts to transport their stuff to their houses. Best park the MH at the small car park at the top of the very steep hill for that one though and walk down! Pennan (of telephone box fame) also has a very steep hill, but a decent size car park at the end of it.
Cullen (of Cullen skink fame) also is a nice town with a huge victorian viaduct going right over it, a railway building story!

As you drive northwards from Aberdeen up to Peterhead you are looking at a vastly changing landscape, what used to be a fairly sleepy set of towns and villages is due to be turned into a huge industrial estate called Energetica The new road being built is part of that project.