We have just had a cracking week touring round the west coast of Scotland ,this was our first big trip of the year so we were not sure how it would go as we were going Jubilee weekend we tried to book on some sites but they wouldn't take us or were too expensive .In scotland the laws are different regarding wild Camping so we planned to put the van to good use and put it through its paces .
Saturday Morning we were up quite early and once we had got sorted we set off up the M61 heading for Scotland ,the weather was quite good and traffic quiet considering it was Jubilee Weekend passing through the lakes across Shap and on towards Carlisle the van just seemed to eat into those miles and drove like a dream once on the M74 we headed for Glasgow we stopped on route for a coffee before we got to Glasgow and the M8 this was probably the worst bit of the Journey as roadworks on the M8 caused one or two delays mainly due to drivers not reading what the signs said and getting in the right lane early enough .
We had planned to have our first night at Glen Orchy so we set off following Loch Lomond and on towards Crianlarich this is were the railway line splits into two one heads off to Oban and the other Fort William still following the A82 we head for our over night spot ,we found a cracking place next to the river it was so peaceful listening to the stream behind the Van .
Now wearing shorts probably wasn't the best Idea I'd had that day as the midges thought it was a Buffet and made a mad dash for all they could eat time to dig the long pants out .!!
Saturday Morning we were up quite early and once we had got sorted we set off up the M61 heading for Scotland ,the weather was quite good and traffic quiet considering it was Jubilee Weekend passing through the lakes across Shap and on towards Carlisle the van just seemed to eat into those miles and drove like a dream once on the M74 we headed for Glasgow we stopped on route for a coffee before we got to Glasgow and the M8 this was probably the worst bit of the Journey as roadworks on the M8 caused one or two delays mainly due to drivers not reading what the signs said and getting in the right lane early enough .
We had planned to have our first night at Glen Orchy so we set off following Loch Lomond and on towards Crianlarich this is were the railway line splits into two one heads off to Oban and the other Fort William still following the A82 we head for our over night spot ,we found a cracking place next to the river it was so peaceful listening to the stream behind the Van .
Now wearing shorts probably wasn't the best Idea I'd had that day as the midges thought it was a Buffet and made a mad dash for all they could eat time to dig the long pants out .!!
We woke early Sunday Morning to another glorious day birds in Full song and the babbling of the water in the river behind, after a coffee and some Breakfast we set off for Fort William the Views were stunning and was told before we went that they would get better and better ,as we climbed away from Bridge of Orchy we spotted a Scottish Piper stood in a Layby ,we had to stop and have a picture of him he turned out to be a really nice chap and after a quick chat we headed off back up the A82 for Glen Coe .
As we crossed Rannoch Moor the views were stunning and were getting better and better we finally pulled over just before the Pass of Glen Coe and headed for Glen Etive but it was packed with wild campers so turned round and headed for Glen Coe village instead .
Arriving at Glen Coe we parked up in the forest and had dinner we then took Ruby our 1 year old cocker for a walk in the village well one shop !!! it took us quite a while to walk down the main street as the locals kept stopping to speak to us asking us about Ruby and her makings and colours ,on our way back to the van we headed for the river a guy was stood painting the river and he was very good, I had to cheat and took a photograph .Back at the van we headed for Fort William were we would fill up with fuel and water and nip to the local supermarket for a few bits .
After stocking up on a few bits we headed for our overnight stop I planned to find a spot on the side of Loch Eil this is a large Sea Loch which runs along the A830 we found our place for the night on the opposite side of the Loch and the view towards Fort William was superb with Ben Nevis in the distance what more could you want ,well perhaps no midges would be good !!! they were like smoke and guess who drew the short straw taking Ruby out !!, we watched the Loch fill up and empty and the wild life was superb we even spotted a couple of seals as the tide went out .We woke early next morning to brilliant sun and a still Loch which gave way to some cracking Reflections in the water .
Monday started as it had ended with cracking weather we couldn't believe our luck as back home it was raining we headed for Glenfinnan visitors centre and the Viaduct and Monument ,we arrived early so parked up £1.50 to park all day hope someone from the lake district reads this ,we set off for the viewing area above the Viaduct them pesky midges were out in force today and were unbearable so the wife and daughter made a retreat and I soon followed to the Monument on the shore of Loch Sheil to mark the Jacobite rising ,the Loch was still and you could see for miles . I then returned to the van and covered myself in midge cream and set off to photograph the train which was due to cross the Viaduct the wife decided to stay in the safety of the van .
I didnt have long to wait for the train and it was worth the wait the vast mountains make it look like a train set ,I think some people stood there expected a flying car to be following it .
From Gelnfinnan we headed for Mallaig the clear blue skies made the water a turquoise colour you would expect to see abroad , the views of Skye on the horizon were stunning ,we stopped in a layby for a spot of lunch and then a look around the beach the rocks and shells were fantastic and small rock pools each had there own little micro world going on in them. .
From Gelnfinnan we headed for Mallaig the clear blue skies made the water a turquoise colour you would expect to see abroad , the views of Skye on the horizon were stunning ,we stopped in a layby for a spot of lunch and then a look around the beach the rocks and shells were fantastic and small rock pools each had there own little micro world going on in them. .
We drifted back towards Fort William later and planned our next over night stop we decided to head for Spean Bridge this is were the Commando Memorial is which overlooks Ben Nevis its defiantly worth a look if your passing it . A short distance for here we found a cracking spot for the night overlooking Ben Nevis just a shame the midges were out in force the night we stayed they again were swarming round the van at one point it looked like we had a black van !! I swear they can get through them door seals on the van the wife was only outside for 5 mins and she was covered in them god knows what its like in August September when they are supposed to be worse .Another cracking nights sleep and we woke to the view of Ben Nevis no better way to eat Breakfast .
Our plan for the day was a run to see Neptunes Stair Case at the start of the Caledonian Canal again its worth a look and nice to see the boats move up the locks .
The beauty of the van is there doesn't seem to be a sense of time its relaxing just pottering about with no real destination you just go where ever and time seemed to just disappear we eventually found ourselves at the side of another sea lock for the night nr Polnish .
Our plan for the day was a run to see Neptunes Stair Case at the start of the Caledonian Canal again its worth a look and nice to see the boats move up the locks .
The beauty of the van is there doesn't seem to be a sense of time its relaxing just pottering about with no real destination you just go where ever and time seemed to just disappear we eventually found ourselves at the side of another sea lock for the night nr Polnish .
We again woke to glorious weather and had decided to move towards Inverness our cocker Spaniel Ruby was one today so she got spoilt as usual , We left Polnish later that morning following the road back to Fort William we stopped just north of Glenfinnan were the railway line runs close to the road as the train was due to pass ,it was the K1 again and the noise it made as it climbed away from Glenfinnan made those little hairs stand up on your neck . After filling with fuel and water again at Fort William we set off for Inverness by the time we got to Invergarry it had started to rain and it did continue most of the Afternoon ,We arrived at Fort Agustus were the Caledonian canal meets Loch Ness and thought it would be a good place to stop for the night ,we took the Scenic road on the opposite side of Loch Ness and eventually found a nice quiet spot for the night .Waking early we set off for Inverness passing the village were they were setting up the Rockness Concert .
At Inverness we called at Tesco then decided to head for the Cairngorms National park so followed the A9 making our way eventually to the Strathspey railway at Boat of Garten it was very quiet at the station so we waited for the next train before we headed off to visit a distillery at Dalwhinne were we bought another wee bottle of the Scottish water .
At Inverness we called at Tesco then decided to head for the Cairngorms National park so followed the A9 making our way eventually to the Strathspey railway at Boat of Garten it was very quiet at the station so we waited for the next train before we headed off to visit a distillery at Dalwhinne were we bought another wee bottle of the Scottish water .
Our last night in Scotland would be just of the A9 on the road to Loch Tummel another nice out of the way location were we chilled out and reflected on our weeks trip and what we would have done different probably not coming back the A9 way it didnt seem as dramatic and was quite Boring to look at but you live and learn . The Friday morning we woke to light rain which soon passed we set off heading for the Forth Road Bridge passing through Pitlochry as we approached Perth we stopped at a visitors centre for a look round and picked up a very nice Whisky Liquor made with honey and sloes.As we got towards the M8 the weather had changed and rain was again starting which didn't stop all the way back down the M74 then M6 , we decided to leave the motorway and head for one of our favourite wild camps Ribblehead Viaduct it was wet and Windy when we got there but it was our last night of a cracking weeks holiday so who cared but Ruby had no coat when she went out so being a bit of a Blue Peter buff I knocked one up for her I even made her a hat to go with it . .
we covered 1200 miles and averaged 38mpg out of the van it drove like a dream ,we have a few changes to make now we have been out for a weeks trip, and know what to leave at home next time we are already planning our next trip back so watch this space .