Highlands & Islands
It was a long time since we had visited the west coast of Scotland and we had never travelled to the Outer Hebrides or Orkney. For the last few years we had been trying to fit in a visit and we finally made it in May 2019.
Tuesday 7th May
Drove north up the A1 with a quick stop at ATS in Grantham for a torque check having had a valve replaced on the driver’s side front wheel.
Lunch at a service area on the A1 before heading west through Otley, Ilkley and Skipton.
Overnight on Greenfoot Carpark in Settle. No facilities but designated motorhome overnight parking spaces.
Wednesday 8th May
Headed into a distinctly damp Lake District with a short stop in Ambleside before reaching Keswick. Alan Hess had told us that there was a Norwegian Store there. John bought me a lovely Norwegian cardigan as an early birthday present.
Lunch was in Boothes before we set off towards the M6 and Scotland. All day we were driving through spectacular scenery.
Overnight at Carmichael Visitor Centre near Biggar – a Britstop site. A very exposed, wet and windy position!
Tuesday 7th May
Drove north up the A1 with a quick stop at ATS in Grantham for a torque check having had a valve replaced on the driver’s side front wheel.
Lunch at a service area on the A1 before heading west through Otley, Ilkley and Skipton.
Overnight on Greenfoot Carpark in Settle. No facilities but designated motorhome overnight parking spaces.
Wednesday 8th May
Headed into a distinctly damp Lake District with a short stop in Ambleside before reaching Keswick. Alan Hess had told us that there was a Norwegian Store there. John bought me a lovely Norwegian cardigan as an early birthday present.
Lunch was in Boothes before we set off towards the M6 and Scotland. All day we were driving through spectacular scenery.
Overnight at Carmichael Visitor Centre near Biggar – a Britstop site. A very exposed, wet and windy position!
Thursday 9th May
After a chilly night we headed to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of New Lanark. New Lanark was built around 1785 as a new village. The waters of the Falls of Clyde were used to power a cotton mill and under the enlightened management of one of the original founder’s sons, Robert Owen, the village developed as an example of excellent social management. He believed that the welfare of the workforce was paramount to their happiness and efficiency. Today the entire complex from Robert Owen’s house to the original mill buildings to the New Buildings, constructed for the workers, can all be visited.
Our route today took us round Glasgow and along the western shore of Loch Lomond. The views from the picturesque village of Luss to Ben Lomond were magnificent. The scenery as we crossed the pass between Loch Long and Loch Fyne was wild and desolate. We then drove down the western side of Loch Fyne passing through the attractive small town of Inverary which nestles along the lake shore. The planned town built in the 1770s by the Duke of Argyll is classic Georgian architecture.
Unfortunately overnight motorhome parking there was prohibited so we had to continue some 15 miles along the lake shore before parking for the night in Ardcastle Forest.
After a chilly night we headed to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of New Lanark. New Lanark was built around 1785 as a new village. The waters of the Falls of Clyde were used to power a cotton mill and under the enlightened management of one of the original founder’s sons, Robert Owen, the village developed as an example of excellent social management. He believed that the welfare of the workforce was paramount to their happiness and efficiency. Today the entire complex from Robert Owen’s house to the original mill buildings to the New Buildings, constructed for the workers, can all be visited.
Our route today took us round Glasgow and along the western shore of Loch Lomond. The views from the picturesque village of Luss to Ben Lomond were magnificent. The scenery as we crossed the pass between Loch Long and Loch Fyne was wild and desolate. We then drove down the western side of Loch Fyne passing through the attractive small town of Inverary which nestles along the lake shore. The planned town built in the 1770s by the Duke of Argyll is classic Georgian architecture.
Unfortunately overnight motorhome parking there was prohibited so we had to continue some 15 miles along the lake shore before parking for the night in Ardcastle Forest.
|
|
Friday 10th May
This morning we continued our drive along the shore of Loch Fyne until Lochgilphead where we headed inland to reach the narrow road that led to the charming harbour of Crinan. The nine miles of the Crinan Canal passes through lush, mainly forested scenery, making spotting oncoming vehicles difficult along the single track road. We stopped by Lock 10, there are fifteen altogether, to watch two yachts go through. Beside the lock were the ruins of the boatshed were the steamer “Linnet” was once housed. The harbour at the Crinan end of the canal was picturesque – an ideal place to sit and gaze out to sea!
This morning we continued our drive along the shore of Loch Fyne until Lochgilphead where we headed inland to reach the narrow road that led to the charming harbour of Crinan. The nine miles of the Crinan Canal passes through lush, mainly forested scenery, making spotting oncoming vehicles difficult along the single track road. We stopped by Lock 10, there are fifteen altogether, to watch two yachts go through. Beside the lock were the ruins of the boatshed were the steamer “Linnet” was once housed. The harbour at the Crinan end of the canal was picturesque – an ideal place to sit and gaze out to sea!
|
|
From Crinan we turned north and followed the main road towards Oban. Although classed as an A road, it was often narrow and twisty especially where it crossed the head of a loch.
We made a lunch stop in Oban before continuing north. On reaching Loch Linnhe we found a perfect loch side stopping point for the night.
Certainly a place with a view for tonight!
We made a lunch stop in Oban before continuing north. On reaching Loch Linnhe we found a perfect loch side stopping point for the night.
Certainly a place with a view for tonight!
Saturday 11th May
This morning we drove the short distance to Fort William. Our route took us to the head of Loch Linnhe so we had beautiful views made even more spectacular when the southern flanks of Ben Nevis came into sight.
In Fort William we stocked up with fresh food for the next few days, visited the helpful Tourist Office and had lunch.
Some seven miles north of the town we stopped at the Commando Memorial which sits solitary on an outcrop, surrounded by moorland with a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains. There was still snow on the higher slopes of the Ben Nevis massif.
A bronze statue depicts a group of soldiers, commemorating those men who trained in this area during World War II. The memorial and its Garden of Remembrance were very moving.
This morning we drove the short distance to Fort William. Our route took us to the head of Loch Linnhe so we had beautiful views made even more spectacular when the southern flanks of Ben Nevis came into sight.
In Fort William we stocked up with fresh food for the next few days, visited the helpful Tourist Office and had lunch.
Some seven miles north of the town we stopped at the Commando Memorial which sits solitary on an outcrop, surrounded by moorland with a 360 degree view of the surrounding mountains. There was still snow on the higher slopes of the Ben Nevis massif.
A bronze statue depicts a group of soldiers, commemorating those men who trained in this area during World War II. The memorial and its Garden of Remembrance were very moving.
|
|
Not long after leaving the monument we were in the Great Glen. We stopped for the night on a car park by Loch Lochy, with another perfect view.
|
|
Sunday 12th May
After a peaceful night overlooking picture perfect Loch Lochy, we continued on through the Great Glen to the small village of Invergarry. Here we took the road that runs high above Loch Garry with stunning views across the valley. Several of the lochs we passed had been damned. We made a stop in Glen Shiel were a battle took place on 10 June 1719 between a Jacobite Army and British Government Forces.
At Ault a’ Chruinn we made a brief stop at the ruined church. A service was in progress with several coaches already there and parking was impossible so John dropped me off whilst I made a quick visit to explore the church, graves and the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery.
After a peaceful night overlooking picture perfect Loch Lochy, we continued on through the Great Glen to the small village of Invergarry. Here we took the road that runs high above Loch Garry with stunning views across the valley. Several of the lochs we passed had been damned. We made a stop in Glen Shiel were a battle took place on 10 June 1719 between a Jacobite Army and British Government Forces.
At Ault a’ Chruinn we made a brief stop at the ruined church. A service was in progress with several coaches already there and parking was impossible so John dropped me off whilst I made a quick visit to explore the church, graves and the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery.
|
|
The picturesque Eilean Donan Castle sits on a small rocky islet on Loch Duich, ideally sited to guard the confluence of Lochs Alsh, Long and Duich. The castle was originally established in 1230 but was destroyed during the Jacobite uprising of 1719. It was rebuilt in the early part of the 20th century. An audio tour gave us not only a detailed history of the castle bur also described the maze of furnished rooms that are contained within the main keep of the castle – billeting room, banqueting hall, guest bedrooms and kitchen.
We next crossed the bridge to Skye at Kyle of Lochalsh. Parked overnight at a pull in overlooking Ainort.
We next crossed the bridge to Skye at Kyle of Lochalsh. Parked overnight at a pull in overlooking Ainort.
Monday 13th May
As we headed further into Skye, the scenery became more wild and dramatic with the jagged Cullin mountains dominating the scenery. Portree is Skye’s main town and service centre. It sits above an attractive harbour that dates from the early 1800’s and is lined with attractive multi-coloured buildings, one of which was the last home of Flora McDonald who rowed Bonnie Prince Charlie across to Skye.
(According to John, she also invented Margarine – groan!!)
We took the opportunity to stock up with food at the excellent co-op and booked our ferry crossing to the Outer Hebrides.
From Portree we headed to Uig to await the evening ferry to Lochmaddy on South Uist.
The ferry had excellent facilities but we spent the one and a half hour crossing time admiring the view.
On arrival, we stayed overnight on the carpark adjacent to the main terminal building.
As we headed further into Skye, the scenery became more wild and dramatic with the jagged Cullin mountains dominating the scenery. Portree is Skye’s main town and service centre. It sits above an attractive harbour that dates from the early 1800’s and is lined with attractive multi-coloured buildings, one of which was the last home of Flora McDonald who rowed Bonnie Prince Charlie across to Skye.
(According to John, she also invented Margarine – groan!!)
We took the opportunity to stock up with food at the excellent co-op and booked our ferry crossing to the Outer Hebrides.
From Portree we headed to Uig to await the evening ferry to Lochmaddy on South Uist.
The ferry had excellent facilities but we spent the one and a half hour crossing time admiring the view.
On arrival, we stayed overnight on the carpark adjacent to the main terminal building.