Postcard From Scotland
I have decided to write a journal of "What we did on our Holidays". Is this the curse of the self employed that when you go away on holiday, you take your laptop with you. (OK we have two but Jenny doesn't know that yet! She says that if we have a really wet day then we might catch up on a bit of work that is left over). I will be reading a backlog of emails that have built up this week from various lists which is a good thing. I will be able to play mp3's which will keep me happy for a couple of hours at a time. We might be doing some work when away which may not be quite such fun.
The advantage is that you can write a holiday diary. Well it is day one of our holiday. So far today we have finished a bid to evaluate a Sure Start project in Norwich, emailed it off and given a presentation on the work we are doing on the accommodation needs of offenders in Norfolk.
Now we are near Newcastle half way on our trip up to Scotland. Jools Holland is on the television. Morrissey is on looking like he needs a good guitarist - Mr Marr perhaps?
Today's travels have been all about getting up the A1. Being from Norfolk it took over 2.5 hours to get to Newark on a Friday afternoon. The on board computer in the car kept telling us what our average speed was. At times a horse would have been quicker! Many thanks to Fifi for allowing us to stay in her house while she is in Spain or Norwich or Isle of Coll or wherever she is this evening. She is a fantastic friend and a person of the world.
Well we have done 250 miles today and another 250 or so to go tomorrow so I will sign off for today and see you north of the border.
Day 2
Well it is a lovely sunny morning today. We have a gentle start at set off heading for the M6. We seem to travel parallel to Hadrian's Wall. But it is beautiful going over the top from Northumberland into Cumbria. I know that Norfolk doesn't have motorways and it isn't as flat as a lot of people think but there are getting to be some big hills around here.
We then get onto the M6 and head for Glasgow. We did think about stopping in Gretna Green but decided not to so we did not get married there either ;-). At least we missed the Geordie in a kilt and bagpipes we saw at the border lay-by when we last went up to Scotland. Then it was past Lockerbie. It was a few miles further on that we saw several jet plane vapour trails. It brought back that image of a 747 cockpit in a field.
Before long it was into Glasgow. It is a city with ring roads and dual carriageways. Then when we got off that we were in the midst of grand old Victorian buildings and the occasional tower block. From driving slowly through it seems a city of contrasts. An Indian jewellery shop is next door to a Mexican / Spanish / American delicatessen.
I do not know about low roads and high roads but trying to get through Glasgow on cup final day and when there is a pipe band competition, forget it. It takes ages. But we eventually got to the banks of Loch Lomond. The sun was still shining so the water looked deep blue - very romantic.
By now we were in the highlands. There were places that you have heard of like Rannock Moor and Glen Coe. Glen Coe looked very peaceful if empty, in the sunshine. You could not imagine a massacre happening here. Some of the mountains still had snow on the peaks. Eeerrrr it is June next week. We certainly don't have peaks or should I say Monroe's like this in Norfolk ;-)
We stopped off in Fort William to get some provisions and even Ben Nevis was not covered in cloud. It did however have snow at the peak. Then off to Ach Na Skia croft just outside Arisaig. The view is fantastic. As I type this I am looking out at a calm sea 2 stones throws away. The sea is lapping in tonight. There are hills and mountains in the distance. Some of them could be Skye. I am not that sure of my geography yet. We have been for a walk on the beach and seen Lapwing, Jackdaw, a Heron fishing in the sea and heard a cuckoo.
All there was left to do was have Pimms and a pizza for supper and gradually watch the sun set over the sea. Well that is all for tonight. A little more to drink and look at the sea.
Day 3
For some reason we were awake at midnight last night and it was still light. We were talking to someone this afternoon who said that dawn wasn't that far away. We are a long way north and west here. We are close to the most westerly train station in Britain. The reason that we know all about this is that we decided after all the travelling to have a quiet day and explore the local vicinity and find out what we would like to do while we are up here.
In Mallaig we were looking into boat trips to Skye when I thought I heard a steam train. I wasn't wrong. There was a steam train going to Fort William and we could catch the Scot rail train home. The steam ride was a charity run in aid of Alzheimer's. The train line is close to the road quite a lot of the way but you are not doing the driving. Also as it is a steam train it has proper carriages with windows in the doors that open so you can take photographs. There were several points where the steam train slowed down so that cameras could be pointed at a strategic point. The best was at Glenfinnan. There is a monument there which marks where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised the standard. He left Scotland a few miles down the track leaving behind, according to legend, defeat and syphilis!
For the train buffs there is a viaduct built by Robert McAlpine where the curve is such that you can lean out of the train to take a picture of the train. For the movie buffs it is featured in the Harry Potter movie.
It was a fantastic trip on the train. We later found out that it was quite a special trip as the train is not usually in Scotland and was one of the last type 4 steam trains to be built for BR in the late 1950's - making the train about as old as Mark!
On the trip out we met and talked with a woman who works in London. We are going to email her the photos of the rest of the journey after she got off the train. The wonders of modern technology. On the way back we talked to a couple who moved to Mallaig a few years ago from Gloucestershire. They were a fount of local knowledge that we would not have heard had we not taken the first steam train ride.
On our return from the train journey be took the slow route home giving us chance to see a bit more of where we live. Now it is time to watch the sun go down with a glass of something red. Hopefully we will not have a visit from the midge - or should that be midgey - there is a debate as to which it is. They are however beginning to make an appearance.
Day 4
We wanted a quiet day today with little driving and we succeeded. The only down side of the day was being woken up by the RAF. Why do they insist on flying over some of the best scenery in the country making as much noise as they can! It must be annoy those of us who are on holiday!
We first went into Arisaig and saw the size of the boat that goes to Rum and Eigg. A little small I think! I think we might try for something a little bigger. We went off to the Rhu peninsular. It is a single track road so it is fortunate that we did not meet many people coming the other way. The views at the end of the road were stunning. The sand is pure white. The romantics say that the sand is the shells from the Caribbean and they may be right as the Gulf Stream comes this way.
It was great just to sit and watch the scenery go by. Some of the time we sat in the car as the wind was a bit keen but the views were stunning. The colours of the sea were out of this world, blue, turquoise and green. Not like the North Sea at all!
Then we went to a couple of other beaches and again watched the scenery go by. One of the beaches was at the far end of the sands of Morar. Walking along the beach there were 3 other people there and us which was lovely.
Another piece for the movie buffs the beach that is featured in 'Local Hero' - due to the magic of the movies the rest of the village is east of Inverness!
Time now to get a book out and read looking out at the sea from our chalet balcony.
Day 5
What did you do today? We went over the sea to Skye. We took the ferry from Mallaig over to Skye as foot passengers and then took the bus to Portree. The bus trip is a pleasure - someone else drives so we were both able to look at the wonderful views. There we had a look around, eating chips on the harbour wall and a wonderful pudding called Cranachan. It is a mixture of cream, honey, whisky and oatmeal served with raspberrries. We will have to try it when we get home J. The weather was fantastic so we were able to see some beautiful views and take some pictures.
We got the bus back and their times are linked into the ferry times so a short wait after the bus comes in the time comes to board the ferry. After the trip home it seemed like a good idea to try some Talisker at the hotel at the top of the hill. It is the only single malt from Skye and I will have to try again.
The weather forecasters got it wrong again and the sun is still shining at 9.00 in the evening, long may it continue. This was followed later in the evening by a fantastic sunset with oranges and purples in the clouds behind the mountains.
Day 6
We did a lot today! We walked down to the beach. Once there we got out our chairs and sat on the sand. We sat down with our books and listened to the waves lapping up the beach. They were really big waves - all of one inch! So there will not be any surfers here.
Whilst I was sitting there I realised that I was looking out to sea in the general direction of Iona. It was somewhere that our neighbour had wanted to come to two weeks ago to commemorate the death of John Smith ten yeas ago. He was not able to make it as he died on the same day after a struggle with cancer. We were not able to attend the commemorative service as we were travelling up here, so it felt right to spend a few moments remembering Harry here today.
We sat and read our books. Jenny even went for a paddle at one point. After a few hours we decided to head back to the chalet. There we just sat and let the world go by. There was a chat with a couple of Americans who were on a cycling tour but not a lot else. We were only driven inside by the appearance of the midges.
So now we are looking out at this brilliant sunny evening. Sunset will be about 10.00 tonight so if the clouds stay as they are it should be a good sunset to take photographs.
Day 7
Today we started slowly with a few domestic chores to do. So we worked out how to use a strange washing machine. We then went to Mallaig to shop for supper and some whisky. Well whilst in Scotland it seems like a good place to buy it!
After preparing a picnic we went off to Loch Morar. It is the reputed home of Morag a cousin of Nessie - we did not see her. Perhaps we should have sampled the whisky before getting there! We found a beautiful place to sit and have our picnic looking out over the loch. The weather was perfect with the sun shining down and hardly a breath of wind. We have these good books which we seem to spend a lot of time reading at the moment. Jenny thought about a paddle but it was a stony beach and this was a loch not the sea heated by the gulf stream. When she tested the water it was far too cold to go in.
We stopped off at a craft shop on the way back where they do wonderful nature photographs and painted glass. We stopped and chatted to the owners for a while, learned what plants we had seen on our walks as they are experts on plants and talked about their puppies that are soon going to new homes.
It was then time to return to the chalet. On the drive down the loch road we nearly bumped into a deer. The first time we had seen a wild deer. It was then time to cook our tea with a drink on the veranda until the midges started to emerge. Later on it is time for Local Hero on the video.
Day 8
There was a definite change in the weather today. The clouds were low and some of the islands were not visible. I also learned that today would not be a midge day as they only 'come out to play' when the wind is below 4 mph.
As it was going to be our last full day in the Arisaig area we decided to have lunch out today. Some holidays we have gone out for lunch quite frequently. This time we had not done that so it was time for a treat. It was a fine lunch at the Cnoc Na Faire hotel . We were looking out over the bay that we have looked out all week as we sat, ate and had the odd "wee dram"!
After the meal we decided that it would be a good idea to have at least a little exercise. A walk along the road till we found a road that headed for the beach - we got round the headland by clambering over some rocks and then we walked back along the beach to get back to the chalet.
It was then that time of a holiday when reality tries to creep back in. We finish this part of our holiday tomorrow and move on to see our friend who lives near Perth. Tonight though, it is time to clean the house so that it is as we found it. Because we are going on we are packing things in a different order so that some cases do not have to be unpacked.
So in the morning it is up bright and early which should be one shock to the system. We will then drive more than 20 miles in the day which will be another shock to the system. We will not be near the sea but we will be with a friend who we have not seen for a year or 2 so it will be chance to catch up, reminisce and put the world to rights until the wee small hours (or stupid 'O' clock !)
See you near Perth.
Day 9
Today started with the big pack up. Somehow we managed to have less in the car in the way of boxes but it seemed to take up much more space. How does that happen? After a chat with the chalet owner we were on our way to Perthshire. We did our last bit of single track road on the west coast of Scotland.
It seems that travelling east/ west is not straight forward north of the border either. We turned north - but we are heading east! We stopped off in Spean Bridge for a coffee and a look round a craft shop. We had a lovely chat with one of the women who worked there. She was about to have a holiday herself further up north. We bought a few presents and a malt or two. Ooops!
Then we pressed on. The weather has changed and we saw our first real rain of the holiday. It was quite a change. We had to have the windscreen wipers going. We had a mixture of roads. Some were quite narrow but not as narrow as the single track roads. Others were quite large roads with traffic hurtling along them. Some of the narrower roads were real fun to drive as long as you remembered that there could be a sheep at the side of the road round the next bend.
After a brief stop in Pitlochry it was on to Bridge of Cally. What a fun road to drive. There was no one in front or behind us. And the road swept along and I really got into the driving along that road. If the car hadn't been as full and there was just me well…… now why can't driving on the roads always be this fun!
We then arrived and hey it is time to unpack the car again! It is great to see old friends after a gap. We are catching up on the news. Some good some not so good but that is what makes up life. A couple of bottles were opened and we talked until late and the time of Zebedee - "It's time for bed. - Boing".
Day 10
The weather forecast suggested that it would be a good idea to head east for the best weather for the longest time. So we all went to Arbroath. It was a lovely journey through the countryside. Then we arrived at the sea. We started off with a picnic lunch. From the car park there was a walk out along the coastline on top of some fantastic red cliffs.
We went down onto the foreshore a couple of times and found some caves. I have never been in a cave like it. You could walk in a little way but very soon you needed a torch to see where you were walking. If you turned off the torch you literally could not see your hand in front of your face.
We needn't have worried about the weather as it was very sunny all day. It was a fantastic walk with lots of sea birds flying about. The birds were wheeling about on the wind blowing up the cliffs.
After the drive back we went for a swim at a local hotel. There was a small pool with a jacuzzi and a sauna. I spent more time in the sauna than elsewhere, so all the aches of the long walk went by the time that we left.
Well it is back to the house for supper, drinks and talk into the night. Now where did Zebedee go ;-)
Day 11
It is bank holiday Monday but here in Scotland, where there is a four year term in the schools it is a normal school day which seemed rather strange. Our friend's eldest is going on a school trip so there is mild panic as we take something that has been forgotten before the school bus leaves on its trip up to Aviemore.
After breakfast we decide that we would stay in the garden and help out with running repairs that it takes two people to do. Jenny helps out at the front and acts as a gopher. I go to the back of the house and cut the Sycamore trees that are too close to the house and are blocking out too much light to the back of the house. Not an ideal time cut trees but that could not be helped. I will have to come back with the chain saw and have a go at some of the more substantial trees later on.
Lunch is helped to slip down with a glass or two of Pimms. Well it was a sunny day! ;-) . We also had a Bannock which is a Scottish bread that (although it is savoury) it is full of sultanas. With cheese it is great. Calories, well we had used a lot up working in the morning!
After a little siesta the wood that was cut down was stacked up into wood piles for the insects to come and break down in the years to come. Jenny found a good book to read and sat in the sun.
It was a very enjoyable day helping a friend. As there was a breeze the midges were not out so we walked down to the bridge to look at the river. The evening came it was time for more Pimms, wine, eating and talking into the night. Also there was a little packing up for we go back to Norfolk tomorrow. That will be the end of the holiday and the end of the journal. It has been quite good fun to do this. Will I continue to do it I do not know we will see…..
Day 12
It's raining. So it is not much fun packing up the car. We have a quick breakfast and set off in time to catch the Blairgowrie rush hour - well it is all of 10 cars so it is not that bad. After Perth it is onto the motorways and head for Edinburgh. As we cross the lowlands it stops raining for a while. The borders though are wet. At Jedburgh where we stop for coffee the heavens open. Fortunately there is a car parking spot near to the door.
Then it is onto the A1 and head south. It is a long boring journey that we have done many times but today seems to go on far too long. When we get to Lincolnshire it is wet again and the trucks are going slowly and the journey takes longer and longer.
We finally cross into Norfolk and it stops raining. The car needs more fuel and it is now telling us that it would like a service. We are home and it is 9 hours since we left Scotland this morning. We have covered about 400 miles today and it is about 1200 miles since we set off at the start of this. We have had a very happy holiday. Now all there is left to do is clear the door mat of all the post and download the emails that have arrived whilst we were away enjoying ourselves.
Now where will we go for our next holiday?
