Heading north (1 Viewer)

[Wee Bold Davy]

Just spent 5 weeks touring Scotland , went off the beaten track a few times interesting roads sometimes First time ive ever been . Breathtaking best describes it. Every person we met had time to talk and have a laugh . Stunning doesn't describe it enough .

If you can get some decent weather (ie dry!) there is no place better. Hoping to go island hopping in the Hebrides next year all being well

 

[wigster]

Was lucky with the weather back in sasanach land and its peed down since.

 

[laird of Dunstan]

Well the sky's are a mix of blue and clouds ,I was going to go up the crow road this morning and over the campsie fells but it looks like low cloud ,I'll post a pic of the campsite, which happens to be on the main flight path to Glasgow airport ,the planes started at 6am

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[Wee Bold Davy]

Well the sky's are a mix of blue and clouds ,I was going to go up the crow road this morning and over the campsie fells but it looks like low cloud ,I'll post a pic of the campsite, which happens to be on the main flight path to Glasgow airport ,the planes started at 6am View attachment 123643

Love to be parked up there with my airband scanner! Kirkintilloch was great for that

 

[laird of Dunstan]

We left milngavie this morning,drove over the campsie fells and on towards Argyll, we stopped at the rest and be thankful car park

The original road was built in 1740 by soldiers ,from memory General Cope had a plan to control the highland clans by building roads into the hills and forts and this was one of them ,to allow quick movement of troops
After the car park we kept going and stopped at Ardcastle Forrest for a walk ,it looks like a great wild camping spot ,but we wanted to get to Kilmartin and are currently holed up at a campsite in Ardfern ,will post some photos if the site later

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

We left milngavie this morning,drove over the campsie fells and on towards Argyll, we stopped at the rest and be thankful car parkView attachment 123721 View attachment 123722 View attachment 123723

The original road was built in 1740 by soldiers ,from memory General Cope had a plan to control the highland clans by building roads into the hills and forts and this was one of them ,to allow quick movement of troops
After the car park we kept going and stopped at Ardcastle Forrest for a walk ,it looks like a great wild camping spot ,but we wanted to get to Kilmartin and are currently holed up at a campsite in Ardfern ,will post some photos if the site later

Wonderful part of the world, can't tell you how much I miss it

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[laird of Dunstan]

trying to upload a video taken at 18.15 this evening

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

trying to upload a video taken at 18.15 this evening

Got some wild looking weather coming your way tomorrow. You know what that means? No midges!

 

[laird of Dunstan]

we parked up last night at the Ardfern Motorhome park ,its £20.00 for the day and for this you get leccy,water,waste disposal,toilets but no showers,the view is great looking out towards a Loch.Last the night wind was measured at 50mph i am told ,the A and P jacks helped a lot and cut down on high wind wobble. There is no way that we are getting the bikes out today .

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[laird of Dunstan]

Today we got to kilmartin which is a must for lovers of ancient monuments,the museum in the village is first class with an abundance of information and an explanation of the early settlers ,close by to kilmartin is Dunaad ,an iron age fort that was the stronghold of the Scotti and ancient kingdom of dal radia ,we both found it to be quite fascinating.

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

Today we got to kilmartin which is a must for lovers of ancient monuments,the museum in the village is first class with an abundance of information and an explanation of the early settlers ,close by to kilmartin is Dunaad ,an iron age fort that was the stronghold of the Scotti and ancient kingdom of dal radia ,we both found it to be quite fascinating.View attachment 123959 View attachment 123961 View attachment 123967 View attachment 123969

Like the area between Kilmartin and Oban. A nice diversion off the main road at Cairnbaan down to the sea lock on the Crinan Canal

 

[laird of Dunstan]

Like the area between Kilmartin and Oban. A nice diversion off the main road at Cairnbaan down to the sea lock on the Crinan Canal

Now camped at Oban with a view like thid

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[laird of Dunstan]

Heading up to the Kyle of lochalsh , stopped at the commando memorial at Speak bridge ,it's a very moving place especially if you read the plaques at the memorial garden,d decided to take the long way round after glen coe and did the Kinlochleven detour

 

[laird of Dunstan]

We are now wild camped a few miles from the Kyle of lochalsh,tomorrow the plan is for the isle of Skye ,@eddievanbitz your satellite internet system works in the glens, this evening's fare is Scottish scallops and salmon in Lincolnshire butter

 

[eddie]

We are now wild camped a few miles from the Kyle of lochalsh,tomorrow the plan is for the isle of Skye ,@eddievanbitz your satellite internet system works in the glens, this evening's fare is Scottish scallops and salmon in Lincolnshire butter View attachment 124079 View attachment 124080 View attachment 124083

That food looks amazing

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[Wee Bold Davy]

Feeling homesick looking at your photos. Going home for the weekend next week for a birthday party, can't wait. Keep the photos coming, thanks for posting

 

[DavidG58]

looking good, food, views, the whole package

where did you stop in Oban?

are the midges still OK? we got midged to bits around there 2 weeks ago, just not quite enough breeze for enough of the time

 

[laird of Dunstan]

We stopped at Roseview campsite in Oban,i know that one from old .Tonight the midge's were about but not too bad ,I put some bug juice on my neck and wrists that took care of them

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[laird of Dunstan]

The Ballad of Slash MacLeod !!
Part 1
After visiting Skye Skins for a tour of their very interesting tanning workshop a must do visit for anyone on a trip to Skye,we parted with some money in exchange for two fine sheepskin seat covers, we enquired about a camping spot and were directed to a point over looking an old light house .Down roads that were narrow and with a decent surface we rolled on ,slowly turning into the spot ,my nearest and dearest exclaimed ,"it only gets better " .
The photographs do not do it justice, we set out for a stroll and that's when we met Slash MacLeod, Slash is a man of advancing years with possibly the loosest fitting dentures either of us has seen this millennium ,we greeted Slash with a wave as we walked passed his fine looking crofters cottage, Slash came out in a flash to engage his wandering acquaintances in conversation ,hello he exclaimed with a smile at first I thought he was talking Gaelic , so difficult were his vowels to comprehend . he turned out to be a kindly soul and after enquiring about out motorhome ,offered us the use of his property by the sea , we asked his name it's John he replied,well no really it's Iain but the Navy called me John ,err whys your cottage called Bob's cottage ,Ah well he replied folk call me Bob around here ,so from now on we shall revert to our friend as Slash MacLeod

I'm not sure how the panorama will come out but that is what I'm viewing right now

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

Sounds like you met one of lifes' true characters. It's certainly a different world up there. Looks like the weather's holding out for you. Thanks for sharing

 

[laird of Dunstan]

Well after meeting Slash MacLeod we headed off towards Uig to check out ferry times etc ,when we got there the ferry was just coming in so we got on it , that was yesterday morning ,so we stopped at the Harris gin distillery ,Kes loved the gin and ordered a bottle ," we have plenty of gin but no bottles" so no bottle of gin for swimbo ,of I drive in search of stunning scenery ,the plan is still no plan ,I drove around south Harris tackling that single track road at the bottom which goes through scenery out of an end of world sci Fi movie set it was gorgeous,and the beaches before that are quite simply stunning ,I spotted a Harris trust camping spot and was aiming for that ,we got confused with the Gaelic signage and ended up in North Harris where upon I saw a sign for hushnish ,spurred on by my superb driving over the lunar land scape I headed towards the beach ,the light was going and it was raining ,you know what's coming next

I had passed the castle by about 500 meters when I saw a car coming in the other direction,i braked and slid off the road into the soft boggy mud ,two wheels on the road and two off ,Kes went back to the castle and asked for assistance, she returned with 5 large ghillies,it took all of our efforts and about 3 hours ,one land rover ,one Toyota pick up to get free of the muck ,the really scary part was the culvert under the front wheel ,I'd have been stuffed if that went .

I thanked the lads and offered to pay them ,they politely declined my offer. ,so I suggested a decent malt ,no thank you they replied ,we were happy to be able to help you

Can you imagine that on the mainland,3 hours of help in mud and rain ?

As I type we are North of Stornoway free camped at a land war memorial.

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[laird of Dunstan]

We have now spent the last 5 nights wild camping ,the locals here on Lewis have pointed us in the direction of a couple of them.
The fish were jumping one night as we camped next to a monument with a river running by , yesterday we found what appeared to be a small beach only to find it opened up to a stunner complete with sea caves at the end I was sitting outside the mh and a golden eagle flew past up on the ridge ,as I sat back down with a smile on my face I looked out to the sea and a rainbow had formed ,it was a truly majestic scene.
on the hunt today for a toilet disposal point and somewhere to recharge the water tanks

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

We have now spent the last 5 nights wild camping ,the locals here on Lewis have pointed us in the direction of a couple of them.
The fish were jumping one night as we camped next to a monument with a river running by , yesterday we found what appeared to be a small beach only to find it opened up to a stunner complete with sea caves at the end I was sitting outside the mh and a golden eagle flew past up on the ridge ,as I sat back down with a smile on my face I looked out to the sea and a rainbow had formed ,it was a truly majestic scene.
on the hunt today for a toilet disposal point and somewhere to recharge the water tanks View attachment 124877 View attachment 124879 View attachment 124880 View attachment 124882

You're living the dream. Sounds wonderful

 

[andy63]

Lovely photos.. makes me want to be places like that instead of home.. enjoying a couple threads currently running on Highlands and Islands. .
Andy

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[laird of Dunstan]

It's great up here Davy ,I've never been this far north before ,have sailed around the islands many years ago but only spent a boozy couple of nights on the land ,I've been spending money at the local shops an so far we have camped at various spots for free ,it's fantastic up here I can see why @david58 comes up here so regularly.

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

It's great up here Davy ,I've never been this far north before ,have sailed around the islands many years ago but only spent a boozy couple of nights on the land ,I've been spending money at the local shops an so far we have camped at various spots for free ,it's fantastic up here I can see why @david58 comes up here so regularly.

Done most of the mainland would love to do Applecross. Only been to Skye and Mull. All being well I hope to add to that list next year

 

[Anthea M]

Great trip enjoying it and thanks for taking the time to post!

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[laird of Dunstan]

We left the outer Hebrides on Tuesday afternoon and spent the night at loch Ness ,before driving on to mallaig ,we ended up camping close to "Charlie's" cairn at loch ailsort and spent the morning sitting outside eating an egg and bacon butty , complete with a mug if tea and watched a couple of seals on the water

The photo shows the view from this morning's campsite,after this we drove to fort William and kinloch Leven before passing through glen coe ,followed by Loch Lomond and now back at Milngavie

I do not want to go back to work ,I want to stay up here longer

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

There's so much to see and it's so easy to drive past many nooks and crannies on the west coast without realizing it.
You've been fortunate with the weather, it looks like you're going home just in time.
Thanks for sharing, it's certainly wetted my appetite for next year. In the meantime I'm off to Kirky at the weekend for a birthday party, looking forward to going home

 

[laird of Dunstan]

There's so much to see and it's so easy to drive past many nooks and crannies on the west coast without realizing it.
You've been fortunate with the weather, it looks like you're going home just in time.
Thanks for sharing, it's certainly wetted my appetite for next year. In the meantime I'm off to Kirky at the weekend for a birthday party, looking forward to going home

Enjoy yourself davy

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