Month: April 2017

I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere on Mull. In the sticks!

But I can watch the snooker world championships on my iPad. How cool is that?????

Tom K

Well I did get over on the small ferry to Corran. Great views up the Loch towards Fort William in the morning sunshine. It looks like it’s going to be a fine sunny day!!!!!!!

Id no idea what to expect in Ardgour but it was very very quiet. Only single track on all the roads. I headed west flowing Loch Sunart to Salem and stopped there for an hour or so.

Id decided to try and find a scenic overnight stop. That was easier said than done. After Strontian there was nothing suitable at all. So I turned down the A884 towards Lochaline hoping there would be so thing there. Nada!!!!!

eventually I reached the ferry terminal so rather than turn back I caught the ferry over to the Isle of Mull. Only took 15mins.

Straight after the landing there was a small car park with a bird hide in it overlooking the Sound of Mull. That’ll do for me.

The sun is cracking the pavement here with a cloudless sky and the sea bright blue. Brilliant. I love it!!!!!!!

I hung around for the shinty game but nobody turned up. The pitch was all marketed out but no people. So I decided to move on to mt next campsite at Bunree about 15miles south of Fort William. Right on the banks of the Corran Narrows. A lovely site.

Its a bit damp this morning but it should brighten up. I’m going to catch the small ferry over to Corran in Ardgour and then down to Mull on Monday or Tuesday.

Still eating curry!!!!!!!!

Well it’s Saturday.

i made a Rogan Josh last night for dinner. Unfortunately I made that’s much I’ll be having it for the next week!!!! Nice though.

I made a slow start today as I wanted to get some van chores out of the way. Cleaning etc.

Im stopping at a NT wood north of Glencoe so decided to go on one of the signed walks round En Torr. Only about a hour but with some stunning views. The direction post said look out for dear. As you know you never see anything that’s mentioned!!!! But I did. See photo. Also I heard a cuckoo. Could not believe it at first but it definitely was. Going in full call. That’s a first for sure. I did not think they came this far north. Obviously wrong.

Back at the van now for a cup of tea and some lunch.I noticed yesterday in the local information kiosk that there is a shinty game on today. I’ll go and have a look at that before heading to Bunree campsite.

It seemed a shame to leave this beautiful site. The sea was like a mill pond this morning. Gannets and eider ducks all feeding.

Up the banks of Loch Linnhe to Glencoe on the banks of Loch Leven. I stopped at the NT visitor centre to take a couple of photos of this famous mountain. Even managed some lunch. Expensive sandwich!!!!!!

I then decided to have a tour round Loch Leven. Only a B road but wide enough. There appeared to be a vintage motor bike festival going on so it was very busy and unpassable in parts due to the number of bikes. Lots of scramblers as well all going off road in the mountains. The classic bikes all had numbers so there must have been races. All I know is that they were everywhere.(Be more tolerant Tom).

But the scenery is absolutely stunning and needs to be seen to behold. High mountains.

Ive checked into a beautiful campsite at Ledaig.

Im right on the beach.

Has anyone ever seen this before: on the beach was a gull and it had gotten hold of a shell fish. No idea what type. But it picked it up and flew to about 20ft in the air and then dropped it on some stones on the beach. It repeated this about four times before either breaking the shell or the muscle of the seafood inside. The ate it!!!!!

I think it’s had been watching Attinboroughs programme on monkeys breaking shells!!!!!

Any ideas??????

I had to travel further south than expected to find a suitable camp site. Nearly ended up where I’d started the previous day. But fine.

It wasa little bit warmer this morning thank goodness.

Travelled up the coast to Arduaine Gardens right on the Loch Melfort peninsula. Beautiful gardens owned by the National Trust. A lot of the rhododendrons were in full bloom so it was a spectacular sight. Really well taken care of and with beautiful views overlooking the Loch.

On to Oban again for supplies at Tescos. I had another look around the harbour and even found a chocolate shop. Somebody is going to be lucky!!!!! The owner was from Rivington, Bolton so we had a conversation about that. Great shop with a cafe and you could watch them working away at the chocolate.

Had a look at the seafood stalls in the harbour. Good value but I’d already had lunch!!!!

on to my campsite at North Ledaig. Shower tonight.

Hoooooooooray.

Headed over to Crinan to see the entrance to the canal. Fascinating place with a hotel and small harbour leading out to the sea via a lock. Apparently it was built in 1801 and in its heyday 330000 passengers used it every year. 15 locks in total and the gates are massive. All hydraulically operated now. Cool.

Back going north and decided to cut off left along Loch Awe. Over 29 miles long. Single lane and hard going.

At the head of the Loch were some good views over to Kichum Castle. Walked down to the Loch side to take some photos.

On to Oban to have a look round and get some lunch. It’s a small town and quiet busy. I’m sure in the summer it’s manic for sure. Took a photo of a cool bridge in the way in.

Right I’d better go and try and find somewhere to park up for the night.

Headed north yesterday along the A83 on the banks of Loch Fyne. It was blowing a gale all day. Stopped for lunch at a place called Ardishaig. Only a small fishing village but interesting for the fact that it’s the end of (or start of) the Crinan Canal!!!! I thought there was only one canal in Scotland called the Caladonian. Wrong!!!! This one goes across the top of the peninsula.ill look more in the morning.

Then north up the A816 and stopped at the Kilmartin Glen cairns.  After a good look around I decided to stop here for the night as the car park was well secluded.

dear me!!!! It snowed yesterday afternoon for a good hour.

when I woke up this morning the distant mountains were covered with a good covering of snow.

made it to the ferry with ten minutes to spare. Plenty of white horses on the way across to the mainline. Smooth crossing though.

sSearched for my black throated diver at the terminal but no luck. To be honest I didn’t expect it to be there. Shame.

im going to head north now but not sure where I shall be stopping tonight but I’ve stocked up with food and wine!!!!! Should be fine. I’ll head up to Lochgilphead and see how far we get,