Van up to Scotland

Another day, and this time we’re on the road again, this time up to Scotland to start our trip round the highlands.

So good to be up in this part of the world. Rather cloudy and the wind is starting to get up.

Met up with our neighbour’s who told us that they were off on a deluxe island cruise that starts out from Holy Loch and heads up to the Orkneys before returning back to Oban. Six days of pure indulgence. Scrumptious food, most caught or sourced from the places they visit, fine wines, and only five cabins per boat, ten guest in total. They have two boats that hug the coastline. They expected to depart at 6pm, cruising in front of our house. But it wasn’t until we were driving off to Fort William that we saw them, bouncing over the white horses at 11am the following morning. One can only imagine that they decided to give everyone a calm evening, and a peaceful first nights dinner. Looking at the swell, they are in for quite a rough time over the next few days. But then again, they will just keep popping into sheltered sea lochs until it calms down

We drove north with the gales blowing, the sun trying to emerge one moment and thunderous torrential rain the next. Nevertheless, those moments were memorable, especially as the sun broke onto the lochs and snow capped mountains, the herds of massive antler clad deer and the odd raptor.

Eventually, parked up in the Linnhe Lochside Campsite overlooking Loch Eil, with Ben Nevis in the background. Although you would never have known as the clouds were so low. 

 

Day 2 And we awake to the sun, not lots, but its sun. That’s at 6.30am, but Judith wants to stay in bed. Between 7 and 9 it rains, but by the time we have had a cheese toasty for breakfast and a couple of coffees its out again Talk about April showers.

We fill the water tank, disconnect and head four miles West for a couple of short walks. As per usual, the car park has a height restriction. They are buggers. If they want to keep motor homes out from overnight parking, have an automatic barrier that closes after a certain time. Anyway, we manage to park on the side of the timber cutters track.

Then off up hill along the Fassfern circular track through the forest, along the stream in flood with the back drop of the snow capped Ben Nevis .

Arrive back for lunch, at which point the clouds open, and it pours down once again. Fortuitously, it ends in time for us to start the next walk, up through the forest, another 4 miles before returning just in time to miss the next shower.

Then back to our site and a little fishing. Although the rain soon reappears and we retire for a drink and dinner.

 

Day 3

Through the night the heavens opened up and the rain thundered down. More rain. But by the morning the heavy black clouds had dispersed and the sun was trying to sneak out. Yet the forecast was for occasional heavy showers, with snow at higher levels.

So after a good breakfast we head into Fort William, not our favourite place. You get the impression that they dislike the tourist, although it’s the tourism business that provides the majority of the income. They are not natural service providers.

Into Mac Donalds for a coffee and doughnut, but more importantly to use the Internet. Like a plonker, l have left my THREE mobile router charger in Dover. Was not too worried in Innellan, as our BT broadband worked through BT Fons, but Fort William doesn’t seem to have any Fons available.

Then into Morison’s to buy a few more supply’s. God it was bombed out. It was like being back in Chalais at the Inter Marche. Four counter staff manning 8 or 9 tills with a supervisor screaming on the tannoy for more till staff. Surprise , surprise nothing materialised. Just tills with long queues and people getting irritated. False economy. People were leaving without buying, as they couldn’t be bothered to wait.

Then off to park up, have lunch and then head out onto the Great Glen Way, which covers a distance of 73 miles. As rain was forecast we decided to do 8 miles along the route, starting at Banavie at the locks called “Neptunes Staircase” and towards Gairlochy in the North. It was a good walk, although quite uninspiring, being a towpath, but the hills in the background were magnificent.

Eventually got back to the site feeling that we had earned our glass of wine.

Whilst sorting out a problem with the electric supply, found that Otters had been sighted first thing on the beach just below the site. So tomorrow l will be up early with camera in hand.

During the evening we cooked filet of pork with a blue cheese and white wine sauce along with pak choi, spring onions, wild mushrooms and mushroom rice. All washed down with a few glasses of wine. Then excitement, we sat down to watch Chelsea try and get through to the semi finals against the French club Paris Saint Germain. Chelsea didn’t have much of a chance as they were already 3-1 down from the first leg, and there efforts were rather laborious until they eventually scored a goal. PSG then fell apart in the second half and Chelsea through everything at them without any success until the sixth minute from the end, when they scored a fluke goal. As you can tell it proved quite exciting. That is if you like football.