Addy’s first tour to Scotland

[CWH]

Hope this morning's ninja showers here in Skye ease off for you! (Ah, it's brightening a bit already...)

 

[bridgedino]

Too little to late but EE is a really strong signal at the site in Kinlochewe, none of the other 3 networks are any good and O2 for the site at Achmelvich, unless you climb the rocks where EE becomes decent as well. Fortunately me and my OH use different carriers plus the wifi in the MH is different again. Theres a van identical to yours at Achmelvich but just realised we are a week or so behind you

 

[royandsharont]

We spent our last full day on Skye in Portree, enjoyed fish and chips and just watched the world go by enjoying the afternoon sun. There were lots of tourists in coaches and even a cruise ship anchored off the town!

There is Motorhome parking in Portree and I think it may have a CW disposal point too

We were very unlucky not to see the Northern Lights, which were clearly seen from Old Man of Storr, what a disappointmen.

Thanks for the comments bridgedino and CWH, we loved our time at both this places

 

[royandsharont]

After Skye we spent just one night at the CAMC site at Morvich. It was pleasant enough and very tranquil. We had hoped to see some wildlife but none to be found for us but it was nice being in amongst the hills again and on the way there we had lunch overlooking the famous Eileen Donan Castle

Thankfully we only had light rain overnight and not the forecast thunderstorms

 

[Northernraider]

No we didn’t do the tour, only a lunch stop and yes your right Gellyneck it is pitch 29

We arrived at Tongue on late Thursday afternoon for our 3 nights stay at a posh hotel, so busy times with all the family, but here are a few photos before we dine. You can see Ben Loyal in the background in the first one and Ben Hope later on before Skinnet Bay. View attachment 654308View attachment 654309View attachment 654310View attachment 654311View attachment 654312View attachment 654313

I've climbed Ben hope . But only once

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[royandsharont]

Today we arrived at our resting place for the next 5 nights, Camping Glenn Nevis, Fort William, with a pitch looking up at the ascent to Ben Nevis. We can just pick out the path about half way up. Hope to spend some time here on the bikes, in the dry. Looking good so far as the afternoon thunderstorms have not materlised

 

[CWH]

There is Motorhome parking in Portree and I think it may have a CW disposal point too

Yes there's a black waste disposal point, just to the right of your photo. The motorhome parking is daytime only. If the moho bays are full, do NOT park elsewhere because you'll be ticketed. This is deliberate policy by Highland Council (based in Inverness) to try to keep tourists moving and not blocking popular places. (It's unclear where smaller pvc's fit into this.)

 

[rnb100]

Morvich is a very nice site. I've visited there a couple of times now.

There's a very nice place to eat called the Ben Nevis Inn at Fort William. There's parking outside that you can stay overnight after enjoying dinner with a few drinks.

 

[Andy MacD]

Roy, how busy is Skye just now? The Portree site won’t answer the phone and their web bookings not working. The CCC site and Bradford are full. Hoping to get over to Skye on Saturday but no point if all sites and stops are full.

 

[royandsharont]

Morning Andy MacD when we left Portree on Wednesday I think they were pretty full every night. I know one chap could only stay the one night we added an extra 2 nights but that was a couple of days before so there was some availability

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[royandsharont]

At Fort William now, camping Glenn Nevis. Had a full day out to Mallaig yesterday, really good, saw the Harry Potter steam train at Glenfinnian. Sorry about the video but I was trying to just get it whilst taking photos on the camera.

 

[CWH]

steam train

I don't know why but I think that's one of the most evocative of 'manufactured' sounds - and I love the smell as well

 

[rolosroller]

Roy, how busy is Skye just now? The Portree site won’t answer the phone and their web bookings not working. The CCC site and Bradford are full. Hoping to get over to Skye on Saturday but no point if all sites and stops are full.

We stayed here just the other side of the bridge. There are other sites

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[CWH]

Just dug out a quick list I posted a few months ago. Some bits may now be out-of-date eg Sligachan is now open. There may be more. Some will close out-of-season. A few amendments in red.
Remember that as a local I don't use these facilities, just try to collect useful information!

Going from the bridge anti-clockwise around the north end, you have the following campsites:
Auchtertyre Farm just a few miles before the bridge - it's an aire so no 'camping' but you can overnight and/or refresh the van. (Also Reraig campsite if you want the facilities.)
Ashaig is the first campsite on the island (assuming you turn right after the bridge!), small and quiet - ?closed this year
CampingSkye at Broadford - good reputation, great views. Community owned, developed & run
Kinloch Ainort by Sconser - waterside, close to Raasay ferry, motorhomes only, no dogs, no pup tents
Lochside campsite - ?closed for this year
Torvaig 10 minutes walk into Portree, our glorious capital
Glenhinisdal campsite also by Portree
Staffin - dinosaur country
Orasay
Uig Bay - pottery, distillery
Edinbane CC Club site - usual high standard of a franchised club site - lochside - walkable to Island at the Edge craft/ gift shop & just about to the village with Edinbane Inn (good pub food) and Edinbane Lodge (good posh food), pottery
Kinloch campsite - in Dunvegan - beautiful head of the loch location - village has a couple of small grocery stores, plenty eateries, silk shop, art gallery etc - fuel station - also just a couple of miles to the castle
Merkadale in Carbost, 5-van site, walkable to The Old Inn which sometimes has live music
Glenbrittle - practically on the beach and practically in the mountains! - on the road beyond the Fairy Pools - no booking for this one but a huge field so this time of year no probs getting on
Sligachan - unfortunately closed this season but spectacular location so keep in mind for the future! NOW OPEN

'Stop-and-drop' for non-residents available at Auchtertyre, CampingSkye, Edinbane if a CCC member, Kinloch (limited fresh fill). ... AND UIG CAMPSITE
Black waste dump points at the Storr carpark. AND PORTREE BAYFIELD CARPARK (which also has dedicated daytime motorhome parking, no overnighting, they WILL ticket if overnight or in the wrong spaces)

LPG pump at the Co-op in Broadford - nowhere else.
Sorry, don't know about replacing or refilling cylinders.

Fuel at Broadford Co-op, 2 in Portree (one on the Broadford road, one on the Uig road), Dunvegan, Uig, Sleat community shop at Mallaig, Staffin, and Kyle of Lochalsh just off-island.

 

[royandsharont]

I can’t believe how hard it is to get good internet connection on the mobile so sorry for the late post but here goes before we leave, off to North Ledaig today for 8 nights.

We’ve had a good time at Fort William, decided the roads were a bit too busy and narrow to cycle from the site so saving that for the next place

We did walk part way up Ben Nevis and the Great Glen Way to Neptune’s Staircase, so that was good, and we managed to see the summit of the Ben from there.

sorry just cannot get the photo of the Ben to upload

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[royandsharont]

At our new site now so can upload photos so here are the ones from Fort William.

Ben Nevis

Great Glen Way

Ben Nevis from our campsite.

Today we moved on and had lunch at Glencoe in the clouds and showers

Now at the CAMC Affiliated site at North Ledaig for 8 nights. The disused railway line cycle path is literally just behind us and the view out of the screen is fabulous

Hopefully the 8 day forecast of no rain will come true

 

[royandsharont]

How about this for a sunset view of it going down over Mull. Viewed from the pitch at North Ledaig

no rain so far too

 

[Gellyneck]

Not quite as nice but this was Gairloch.

The next morning was none too bad though!

Not the best as didn't have the tripod with me and the dug was desperate to get to the beach!

That's because we had it all here!

Down through Glencoe tomorrow. We're catching you up but turning inland!

 

[royandsharont]

Stayed until the Monday to watch the Queen’s funeral on the TV and then set off for Strathclyde Country Park CAMC site to visit the park. Hard to find somewhere with a view to stop alongside Loch Lomond but did manage it twice. First on a piece of scrub adjacent the Loch and then at Duck Bay

Before arriving at the campsite in time for afternoon tea in the sun too

After a great carvery at the Toby once again today we decided to walk the Loch rather than cycle and enjoy the sights it had to offer. We were not disappointed but I must say we have never seen so much litter discarded around the 3.5 mile path anywhere before It was once home to a Roman Bath House and the 2014 Commonwealth Games rowing events And flows into the River Clyde.

 

[royandsharont]

After a day of driving in the rain, heavy at times, we are now at Ashton Hall caravan site so we can visit Lancaster tomorrow with a dry day forecast
This is not really a caravan site by my standards but it has a nice toilet block and will suffice for the 2 nights, even if a bit overpriced I think.

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[dash300]

After a day of driving in the rain, heavy at times, we are now at Ashton Hall caravan site so we can visit Lancaster tomorrow with a dry day forecast
This is not really a caravan site by my standards but it has a nice toilet block and will suffice for the 2 nights, even if a bit overpriced I think.

How's the van going?

 

[royandsharont]

How's the van going?

A couple of niggles and a Fiat warnings fault has just appeared. I’ll be home next week after visiting the dealers on the way and will be updating my review in due course, but loving it.

 

[royandsharont]

Lancaster was a really good place to visit, we caught the bus in and visited the Castle, Priory, museums etc. On the day we left we finished off by visiting Williamson’s Park with views of Morcambe Bay and Ashton’s folly

 

[royandsharont]

Back in 1987 I had occasion to cross the Pennines each week for 10 weeks and I always wondered what the views were from the very highest point at Saddleworth Moor, right on the Pennine Way. As you drive West you can often see vehicles parked, so today we stopped there on a very rough patch of land, rather than a car park I thought existed, but the views were worth it.

and now we are back at Holmfirth,where we started, and a trip back to the dealers again on Monday before home to East Yorkshire.

 

[dash300]

A couple of niggles and a Fiat warnings fault has just appeared. I’ll be home next week after visiting the dealers on the way and will be updating my review in due course, but loving it.

Thanks Roy look forward to that. Soft spot for Lancaster, did my degree there!

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[Razamataz]

Thanks for posting
nice stories and photos of your travel’s

 

[DumfriesDik]

Some great photos there.

Have you thought about using an online journal for your trips? I use, along with many others, Polarsteps.

 

[royandsharont]

Some great photos there.

Have you thought about using an online journal for your trips? I use, along with many others, Polarsteps.

I used to post lots of stories on the CAMC forum despite the difficulties at times to do so. Still think I am their top author for actual stories. Then they changed their software and lost all my photos and despite promising to rectify the fault they never did. I took my bat & ball home and stopped posting.

I now post on Instagram just for my family and friends really to see where we are. I did this as a trial but don’t think I shall continue.

 

[royandsharont]

Last views from a Sunday in Holmfirth to reminisce about the TV series of Last of the Summer Wine. We even had a coffee in Sid’s cafe, and very good it was too. Lunch at the Old Bridge Inn was great.

Home today after 6 weeks and 1900 miles of thoroughly enjoyable camping.

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

Stayed until the Monday to watch the Queen’s funeral on the TV and then set off for Strathclyde Country Park CAMC site to visit the park. Hard to find somewhere with a view to stop alongside Loch Lomond but did manage it twice. First on a piece of scrub adjacent the Loch and then at Duck Bay
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Before arriving at the campsite in time for afternoon tea in the sun too
View attachment 667435
After a great carvery at the Toby once again today we decided to walk the Loch rather than cycle and enjoy the sights it had to offer. We were not disappointed but I must say we have never seen so much litter discarded around the 3.5 mile path anywhere before It was once home to a Roman Bath House and the 2014 Commonwealth Games rowing events And flows into the River Clyde.
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I fished many matches at Strathclyde Country Park Loch, it used to be a wonderful venue with some exceptional catches of roach. Not fished there since I moved to Wales 19 years ago. Must say I miss it

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