Highlands and Hebrides here we come Sept 2018

[big map]

Not yet, this is a nice spot but right next to A68 and closer to road than last night, it’s quiet at night though

Particularly once the boy racers get the call from Mum to get home

Just troughed black pudding and haggis from chippy with mushy peas

Meal sounds minging. #justsaying.

 

[Kim H]

Just troughed black pudding and haggis from chippy with mushy peas

Ooo, that should test your new macerator

 

[Riverbankannie]

We are now officially away on holiday, arrived in Scotland at Carter Bar about an our ago

View attachment 251757

Now parked in very sunny and Scottish warm 20C in Jedburgh

View attachment 251758

Only covered 150 miles today partly due to starting in Malton, partly because it never is as far as we think

Planning next few days tonight, definitely will be well north tomorrow, forecast is looking good will be probably be on Harris in a couple of nights

Just deciding on our favourite wilding spot for tomorrow, top of Findhorn Valley we have an awful lot of others that come a second best and very closely, the good thing is most of them are on the western isles

We have spent a week at Fordinghall near Aberfeldy and travelling tomorrow towards Inverness. Any chance of sharing the location of your nice spot in Findhorn Valley?

 

[DavidG58]

We have spent a week at Fordinghall near Aberfeldy and travelling tomorrow towards Inverness. Any chance of sharing the location of your nice spot in Findhorn Valley?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...xaf15eb25e633fdd5!8m2!3d57.335757!4d-3.992198

happy to share, spent another night on our own there last night, Tomatin is just off the A9, at Findhorn Bridge which is on the old A9, take the only road west and just keep going, it is 10 miles to the Lodge which is the end of the road, we chose to park by the bridge at the right hand side of the image above, about a mile short of the lodge. There is parking near the lodge, although as we found out yesterday a full size single decker bus gets right to the end and turns there, so tuck up in one corner, or park as we do, or one of a few options nearby for the smaller MH's

update on our travels below with disappointing deer update

 

[Anthea M]

Looks lovely David and Bev !
Enjoy your holiday those roads look very narrow!
Safe travels !
(We tossed a coin between France snd scotland and France won!)

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[DavidG58]

Two day update, had an overnight with no phone or internet

Travelled Jedburgh to our favourite inland wild spot as above just over 200 more miles, had a lovely lunch stop at Taste Perthshire a very nice stop off about 10 miles north of Perth on A9 Bankfoot allows / welcomes motorhomes plenty of parking in overflow area and overnighting allowed. Food served 8 - 8 and excellent shop

Then trundled up to Findhorn Valley arrived just time to meet the full sized single decker bus coming out but luckily at about the best possible place

Took a bottle of Dundee marmalade gin with us , not much left

We have stopped here about 6 times, all bar the last time we have seen hundreds of red deer come down to the river at night, last trip masses of midges no deer , this time no midges still no deer but we will take the no midges

Now wonder if it is just time of year

Last photo is on the drive out of the valley over the tops, we love this kind of road and view

We are now on Skye at Sligachan camp site, 120 miles today, ferry to western isles tomorrow, beautiful sunny day here all day and similar forecast after rain overnight

 

[DavidG58]

another shot of our favourite Findhorn valley spot, don't we blend in well

 

[DavidG58]

One major issue of wild camping is black tank emptying, we have a real black tank, I am told it holds 45 litres although it seems more when emptying but I am not arguing with Kim H

4 days is about our limit and tonight is night 5 but on a camp site so OK, well not OK they have a high level conventional elsan point, totally useless for me with a gravity outlet below motor home

So out comes an unused empty cassette that we carry just for this situation, decanted about two thirds of a cassette and started the walk that you lot do so regularly

Came out from behind our MH to a group of Dutch campers wafting their noses as we do when there is a bad smell , asking me if I have been eating haggis

It does stink, 4 day old poo and open to atmosphere while filling I can’t blame them, but I do like their humour got to the same again tomorrow though to be nearer empty
​

 

[CazPaul]

Great thread David, love Skye and the western isles. Sometimes I bet you wish you had a normal cassette bog with a spare cassette, much easier surely? You can empty on every site and it you are parked next to a public loo.

 

[DavidG58]

Overnight rain stopped just as we got up today no the midges came out by the billion

We decided last night to get a ferry over to Harris today it sails at 10 and Uig is about 40 minutes away, so need to leave by 8 really

Lola walk , hook up disconnected, water refilled I am now scratching the midges out of my hair and Bev is saying next time we say Scotland in August let’s head for the Chunnel

At least I did the second cassette decant last night, not sure what volume the cassette holds , I did buy the biggest one I could find, but now know about 2 empties our black tank so I reckon you are about right Kim

Got to Uig in plenty of time but told ferry is full we are 5th in reserve queue and loaders say our chance is pretty much zero

Buy a ticket anyway for later crossing which is fully transferable even to North Uist instead at 14.00

Loading starts and I decide to walk Lola just in case, get back to man asking for tickets, the cars in the reserve queue are already on, our chance is now 50/50, we had to drive down for them to check with a slightly shorter MH following who may get on instead of us

But we got lucky, man behind didn’t he got left behind

Sat in lounge on our way to Harris £45 seems good value 8m MH 2 adults, Lola goes for free

One thing I hadn’t allowed for is Lola now only just coping with the steep stairs from the car deck, but cope she did albeit just dogs and people all have to leave the vehicles, although we might try and leave her on the return it was hard work for her

Probably going to Stornoway today as weather looks rather grey, dreich sums it up perfectly but looking better from tomorrow again

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[Puddleduck]

Any dolphins / porpoise around the ferry?

I love that trip..........

 

[DavidG58]

Any dolphins / porpoise around the ferry?

I love that trip..........

Didn’t spot any but stayed inside visibility not very good today

 

[Neilfg]

Overnight rain stopped just as we got up today no the midges came out by the billion

We decided last night to get a ferry over to Harris today it sails at 10 and Uig is about 40 minutes away, so need to leave by 8 really

Lola walk , hook up disconnected, water refilled I am now scratching the midges out of my hair and Bev is saying next time we say Scotland in August let’s head for the Chunnel

At least I did the second cassette decant last night, not sure what volume the cassette holds , I did buy the biggest one I could find, but now know about 2 empties our black tank so I reckon you are about right Kim

Got to Uig in plenty of time but told ferry is full we are 5th in reserve queue and loaders say our chance is pretty much zero

Buy a ticket anyway for later crossing which is fully transferable even to North Uist instead at 14.00

Loading starts and I decide to walk Lola just in case, get back to man asking for tickets, the cars in the reserve queue are already on, our chance is now 50/50, we had to drive down for them to check with a slightly shorter MH following who may get on instead of us

But we got lucky, man behind didn’t he got left behind

Sat in lounge on our way to Harris £45 seems good value 8m MH 2 adults, Lola goes for free

One thing I hadn’t allowed for is Lola now only just coping with the steep stairs from the car deck, but cope she did albeit just dogs and people all have to leave the vehicles, although we might try and leave her on the return it was hard work for her

Probably going to Stornoway today as weather looks rather grey, dreich sums it up perfectly but looking better from tomorrow again

Do they have a lift for disabled access, we used lifts on 2 of the ferries in Scotland for Geza as he was petrified of open step staircases. Spoke to the crew and it was not a problem .

 

[DavidG58]

Do they have a lift for disabled access, we used lifts on 2 of the ferries in Scotland for Geza as he was petrified of open step staircases. Spoke to the crew and it was not a problem .

Funnily enough just done that to get back to car deck

Just need the sun back for a perfect day now

 

[namwaldog]

Looks like it brightened up a bit on Skye just as you sailed.....

We are booked on the 1415 to Tarbert tomorrow, Sunday. Might bump into you on Harris & Lewis. Just arrived at at the site at the Ferry Terminal at Uig.
Forecast a bit blowy for the crossing. Hope we don't end up like the cat below
Barry & Margaret

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[Riverbankannie]

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...xaf15eb25e633fdd5!8m2!3d57.335757!4d-3.992198

View attachment 252283

happy to share, spent another night on our own there last night, Tomatin is just off the A9, at Findhorn Bridge which is on the old A9, take the only road west and just keep going, it is 10 miles to the Lodge which is the end of the road, we chose to park by the bridge at the right hand side of the image above, about a mile short of the lodge. There is parking near the lodge, although as we found out yesterday a full size single decker bus gets right to the end and turns there, so tuck up in one corner, or park as we do, or one of a few options nearby for the smaller MH's

update on our travels below with disappointing deer update

Many thanks for sharing. We were going to stay in carpark in Pitlochry last night but it was such a beautiful evening and we had only come from Kenmore, so we decided to drive on to “your” spot. We decided the first turning west wasn’t right and found our way successfully with no oncomers. It’s magnificent there and the only drawback last night was the howling wind. It settled overnight and we had a lovely lazy morning until about 11am when the mist came down a bit and drizzle.
No deer for us either We set off back to main A9 but the weather cleared and sun came out so we took your over the top route to Farr, our thinking was if you can do it we can!
Your photo doesn’t do it justice and I didn’t even try to photo it. Wonderful, even with the new ugly pylons.
We met a few cars and cyclists (grumpy ones) and one car who was obviously not going to back up. So we started off back to passing place and he stated frantically waving us down. He said he hadn’t seen a passing place for MILES!and there were no other vehicles on the road. I just said “it’s ok we are going back”. There was of course a passing place just behind where he had stopped.
Thanks for sharing your lovely spot, we are staying east coast for now and going to Brora tonight, I think your driek weather might be approaching us but it’s been a lovely day so far.

 

[DavidG58]

Hello all, had a couple days with no phone or internet signal again

Arrived in Tarbert Harris on Saturday in nice sunshine, stopped the distillery for lunch, very nice soup and cake (separate plates )

The bread with the soup was so nice we asked if it was local and that prompted us to drive to Stornoway and buy some

This trip was meant to be Harris and south as Lewis doesn’t have the scenery for me, so Stornoway bought MacLeod black pudding from their shop on main in from Tarbert, then found bakery Blackhouse Bakery on outskirts of Stornoway odd location but well worth it

Fish and chips and back to Harris, down to Hushinish beach where we knew North Harris Trust had created parking places for motor homes

The drive in takes you through a castle grounds feels like you shouldn’t be there but it is the only road

We have had 2 nights here, payment by donation to upkeep at it changes the status of the camping for the trust, it includes 6A electrics and we paid £15 for two nights, no fill ior dump option, but they are at the new centre by the beach. Parking allowed but much tighter and not suited to large MH’s but they have 24 hour toilets and showers £1 coins and a nice room to sit in looking over the bay, payment by donation fir parking

Had a lovely chat with a crofter his family were the last to leave the nearby island of Scarp in 1971 and he still keeps sheep over there

Just booking ferries to head over to the Uists’s and Barra, going for nicer weather now yesterday was rain right through till 6, but then we had this as a reminder of how nice it is here

Woken to lovely sun and Had an amazing aerial display by my favourite sea birds the Gannet, masses of them diving for fish about 50m in front of us

 

[DavidG58]

Tuesday morning lovely weather start, yesterday we moved to Luskentyre beach, tried various spots, including a drive past of @namwaldog Barry and Margaret who were nicely parked up but no more room for us

That was till we popped back later and a space was available, parked poured drinks and Bev took a nasty tumble out of the door the parking area had been reinforced with plastic mesh, I put our caravan step on it didn’t get get chance to test, but plastic step on plastic mesh was like a skid pan Bev fully out on her back, now nursing various bruised areas but thankfully nothing broken

A few photos of yesterday and this morning, internet not brill currently hooked up with Calmac Wi-fi while we wait to cross to Berneray

More from the southern section tomorrow, Berneray tonight, then the Uists, Barra for a long weekend

 

[jumartoo]

Love the photos, not the fact that Bev had a fall. I hope she doesn't have too many bruises and pain.

Please take care. Don't want to hear of any more BAD accidents from people falling out of motorhomes .

 

[Puddleduck]

Hope any bruises and soreness go very soon Bev.

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[namwaldog]

Nice to meet up with you again David & Bev. Hope Bev's bruises aren't too bad. Found the CDP at Tarbert. Turn left into Main St rather than right to the Ferry. Follow road up and HWDC is up there £3 for dump & fresh water. Up at Bosta Beach now nice pitch but the BL***DY midges have followed us. Had to climb a mountain to get a signal.
Barry

 

[DavidG58]

Can’t believe it’s only Wednesday, we are now on Benbecula, we had a wet night and morning at a camp site that over sold itself Balranald camp site, nice enough but nothing special

We have been shopping near Benbecula airport, new Harris tweed handbag for Bev, lovely clock for me made from an oak whisky barrel

Then came to a smashing little off road lucky find via an equally good find fish processing place where I bought some crab

Above is not obvious but these are scallop shells outside the fish place

Then below is tonight’s door view

Dinner complete a couple of gins consumed all we need now is a sunset

Sunny end to a wet day, but 25C inside and a stunning view

 

[DavidG58]

Not quite the sunset I hoped for, but we also got wrapped up with a bad ammonia smell in MH, worries it might be dangerous and then even if not expensive

 

[golly]

Two day update, had an overnight with no phone or internet

Travelled Jedburgh to our favourite inland wild spot as above just over 200 more miles, had a lovely lunch stop at Taste Perthshire a very nice stop off about 10 miles north of Perth on A9 Bankfoot allows / welcomes motorhomes plenty of parking in overflow area and overnighting allowed. Food served 8 - 8 and excellent shop

Then trundled up to Findhorn Valley arrived just time to meet the full sized single decker bus coming out but luckily at about the best possible place

Took a bottle of Dundee marmalade gin with us , not much left

View attachment 252292

View attachment 252293

View attachment 252294

We have stopped here about 6 times, all bar the last time we have seen hundreds of red deer come down to the river at night, last trip masses of midges no deer , this time no midges still no deer but we will take the no midges

Now wonder if it is just time of year


View attachment 252295

Last photo is on the drive out of the valley over the tops, we love this kind of road and view

We are now on Skye at Sligachan camp site, 120 miles today, ferry to western isles tomorrow, beautiful sunny day here all day and similar forecast after rain overnight

We were there on Sunday the midges were horrendous, we parked in the bit they have just extended, by next morning the vans were packed in like sardines all sorts of angels .this was my dog walking outfit

 

[DavidG58]

@golly

They were bad as we left from the same place you were, filling and dumping was awful

Some of the ‘facts’ about midges are falling apart this trip

They do fly in the rain, they cope with more than 5mph winds, they don’t seem to mind the sun

So far out here not too bad, but we had a bad evening on Harris with them

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[DavidG58]

Morning all, cool overnight, but woke to bright sun, then rain then sun, then rain

Went out to further investigate the fridge issue, got vent cover off and suffered my worst midge attack to date on this trip at least

Pushed cover back on and packed up to move a few miles down the road away from the peat bogs, although they do cover pretty much the whole of the islands not built on didn't bother with the clips so I could get in quickly, that was nearly a very expensive mistake, but no harm done

I have looked in now we have moved to a nice breezy hill side location, still smell the ammonia but can't see a leak, just hope it lasts till we get home now

Just had a superb fly past by a male hen harrier, lovely bird, light cream / grey with black wing tips, we often see them in France, but rare in England

Heading further south soon, might try a site for electrics see if the ammonia leak is at least less on mains hook up, although the pub featured in Whisky Galore on Eriksay has come highly recommended

Then Barra on Friday which has a distillery

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

start using up your freezer foods in case it packs up alltogether

 

[DavidG58]

Lunch stop location on South Uist

 

[Riverbankannie]

We were there on Sunday the midges were horrendous, we parked in the bit they have just extended, by next morning the vans were packed in like sardines all sorts of angels .this was my dog walking outfitView attachment 253409

How does the dog cope??
No midges for us so far staying on mainland.
Now here

Nice gin and tonic for us too from Orkney.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Large dark bird just flew overhead gliding a bit. Very loud croak call croak croak croak. Do you know what that is??

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