Scotland North Coast 500 April/May

[Anthea M]

Here's a link to our first outer hebredise trip . The weather was fantastic . No midges and lovely sunshine . Only problem was, we didn't take summer clothes, just fleeces walking trousers and the odd T shirt for layers ! Our second visit last year in our new PVC wasn't as sunny but mostly dry , and totally midge free again. We must be very lucky. Scotland's a favourite of ours. Especially the islands.
Broken Link Removed
If you click on one picture then go through the arrows ( at the top) you get to see the album. Unfortunately it starts at the end of the trip , not the beginning. I didn't realise you had to post pics back to front then, to keep them in order.

Loved the photos looks like a great trip!

 

[klaatu]

We've landed in the Orkneys. Bottomed out on the ferry, knackered towing electrics, and water tank not at all well.

Which ferry was that? The Pentalina, perhaps, as I think I've heard of others having problems? We haven't had any problems like that on the Hamnavoe, or on our local ferry to Sanday.

Steve

 

[daveandsan]

Had a quiet day in Kinlochbervie today,went to an old work colleague's croft for lunch and then ball throwing for the dog this afternoon.
Going to do a spot of fishing tonight, before moving on tomorrow to Inverewe for a few days.
Couple of photos, one looking down to harbour and one off harbour looking up to motorhome.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

We have stopped for lunch in Ullapool its still hot and sunny. Spent the night in yet another wild spot just outside Dondunnell at the side of a sea loch with a couple of seals bobbing in and out

ullapool harbour

Dundonnel wilding spot

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

We have stopped for lunch in Ullapool its still hot and sunny. Spent the night in yet another wild spot just outside Dondunnell at the side of a sea loch with a couple of seals bobbing in and outView attachment 105517 View attachment 105518 View attachment 105517ullapool harbourView attachment 105518Dundonnel wilding spot
View attachment 105517 View attachment 105518

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[DavidG58]

We have stopped for lunch in Ullapool its still hot and sunny. Spent the night in yet another wild spot just outside Dondunnell at the side of a sea loch with a couple of seals bobbing in and outView attachment 105517 View attachment 105518 View attachment 105517ullapool harbourView attachment 105518Dundonnel wilding spot
View attachment 105517 View attachment 105518

stunning will be there myself after Falkirk hope this weather lasts

 

[Dawn B]

Which ferry was that? The Pentalina, perhaps, as I think I've heard of others having problems? We haven't had any problems like that on the Hamnavoe, or on our local ferry to Sanday.

Steve

It was the Pentalina

 

[DavidG58]

It was the Pentalina

we have not been out to the Orkneys (yet) but been to the western isles many time over, some very small boats with steep approaches (tide related) although we have grounded (gently) a few times we have always found the operators really helpful with large pieces of wood to put down to run over to lift the rear end at critical points. Never been hurried on or off

Hope you are not too badly damaged

 

[Dawn B]

we have not been out to the Orkneys (yet) but been to the western isles many time over, some very small boats with steep approaches (tide related) although we have grounded (gently) a few times we have always found the operators really helpful with large pieces of wood to put down to run over to lift the rear end at critical points. Never been hurried on or off

Hope you are not too badly damaged

We were thinking of upgrading the socket anyway. Guess it's no longer optional

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Ardmair just a few miles north of Ullapool. Suns shining and a nice spot just to walk along the pebbly beach. There is a campsite just along the front so will check it out.found a good 3g signal at last we can see the mast from where we are parkedd

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[DavidG58]

Ardmair just a few miles north of Ullapool. Suns shining and a nice spot just to walk along the pebbly beach. There is a campsite just along the front so will check it out.found a good 3g signal at last we can see the mast from where we are parkeddView attachment 105530

used that site a few times, a local fish van comes through regularly, they sell by whatever size bowl / saucepan you get out, best value colander full of prawns we have ever had

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Its 21£ per night for a mhome with ehu £18 without.looks to be a nice site .nice and flat

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

We bought some indian curries from Tesco in Ullapool but methinks we will be having a salad for tea. Its 27 deg in the van with all the vents open and a breeze blowing. Should have packed my budgies .the sea looks very inviting.view from the van

.watched out for @daveandsan but must have missed them

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

What fantastic weather your having , Beautiful Scotland. At its best in the sunshine. Though I must admit I like a cold frost too.

 

[klaatu]

May is often a good month to visit Scotland.

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[daveandsan]

.watched out for @daveandsan but must have missed them

@Jimbohorlicks Jim, god knows how we missed you. We also stopped at Ullapool on the big car park just passed Tesco at about 10.30 am and also bought 2 curries for Sat night as well as restocking the cellar.
Tanked up with diesel at the petrol station on the bend and left about 11.30 for Inveriew.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Hi @daveandsan, yes we were on the tesco carpark but also drove around thd bigger carpark we must have passed ypu somewhere around there .we are in durness we wild camped up byknockan crag saw a few deer. We were parked up witha german and a belgian van. Toilets etc but no drinking water.
The weather has changed and temps dropped but still sunny with a breeze

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

The deer on one side of the van and the view from the other side

 

[daveandsan]

Hi, @Jimbohorlicks , Must say we havn't wild camped at all on this trip, I like to know where i am going to dump the cassette Staying at Inverewe till Monday so can get our feet up for a few days. The weather is the same as yours,
sunny but cooler, at least it's dry and as anyone will know who has got Dogs, that's a bonus.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

If you go on Skye make sure you protect your dog against ticks. Ours picked up 2 on her face and would, t let us near her whith the tick twister. The best was the £7 skin drops from the vet on Skye.worked a treat .ticks died and fell off

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[Jimbohorlicks]

Hi, @Jimbohorlicks , Must say we havn't wild camped at all i, .

There are loads of wild camping spots all over and also places to empty the cassette and top up with water. Most garages will let you do If your buying deisel etc.we only use bio detergent Iin our loo which is none chemical so acceptable to dump in a sptic tank system which are the norm up here. We empty where we can which can be a day or 5 dsys.we reduce the wzter consumption in the loo by using a water spray Rather than the flush.just takes a few extra shakes when emptying.We also use a sAt nav that I have preloafed with wilding spots amd wc and water points which makes Iit easier. A cheepo chinese which I have yet to find fault with

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Duplicate post

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Smoo cave at Durness, sunshine but breezy and much cooler than yesterday.filled up with water at local wc and deisel (£1.12)At the only garage In the village .most northery garage in scotland.

 

[daveandsan]

@Jimbohorlicks, yes Jim I noticed that the garage didn't have price signs up (which doesn't bode well) when we were in the shop opposite. Cycled along the single track road up the side of Loch Ewe today (which was the gathering point for the Artic Convoys to Russia in world war ll) small beach site along there, no services but £5 per night or £20 per week.

 

[irnbru]

Just goes to show how garages can rip you off when they have a captive market but I suppose they might have to pay extra to get it delivered etc.
It's 104 in Glasgow Morris ons.

P's please keep the posts and pics coming you lot.

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[Jimbohorlicks]

Just goes to show how garages can rip you off when they have a captive market but I suppose they might haif I was filling upe to pay extra to get it delivered etc.
It's 104 in Glasgow Morris ons.

P's please keep the posts and pics coming you lot.

When we came off skye I need some deisel but pulledinto the co op supermarket just off the bridge. Got talking to a chap who advised to back onto skye If I was filling up as it was a lot cheaper we had to go back anyway to see a vet re te doggs tick. Itvwas 107 and they also had autogas at 56.9 at one garage we had seen 70.9. The chap at the co.op said that for fuel deliveries over100 miles from inverness there was a 5p subsidy so in skye it was 107 and on the mainland 112
we are still wilding here, s the current view from the van just down the road fro Durness

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

We

@Jimbohorlicks, yes Jim I noticed that the garage diturnaroundprice signs up (which doesn't bode well) when we were in the shop opposite. Cycled along the single track road up the side of Loch Ewe today (which was the gathering point for the Artic Convoys to Russia in world war ll) small beach site along there, no services but £5 per night or £20 per week.

Were there yesterday.we drove up the single track to the small car park at the end we ended up going further but had to do turnaround to get back to the beach road. A fiver a night is still god value even with no sevices.see u at falkirk next week

 

[DavidG58]

we are still wilding here, s the current view from the van just down the road fro Durness

that looks like the identical view from Sango Sands camp site, are you sure there is no hard standing and electric post

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

that looks like the identical view from Sango Sands camp site, are you sure there is no hard standing and electric post

Definitely not

 

[DavidG58]

@Jimbohorlicks

did you sort your fuel leak? I presumed you would still be near Ullapool

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