Month: May 2017

Change of plan this morning as I could not get into a suitable campsite this evening. So instead of visiting Bamburgh castle I switched to visiting some local NT sites.

Firstly visited Cragside house near Morpeth. Cool place  with extensive gardens and lots of Douglas Fir Tree. It was the first house in the world to have hydroelectric lighting. Visited the power house.

Then onto Seaton Delaval Hall in Seaton with its famous staircase. Cool.

Im having to wild camp tonight and have found a quiet lay-by overlooking the North Sea at Chambois. Peaceful!!!!

Oh by the way I cleaned the camper van today!!!!!!!

What a day!!!!! Best ever.

Headed in Seahouses to catch the 11:45 trip to the Inner Farne Isles. There are 28 islands in total.

We headed out to the Islands which took 30minutes. Firstly we did a tour of the Islands. Thousands upon thousands of Guillemots. Even saw a bridesmaid guillemot. It’s got a little white mark on its eye. See photo. Razor bills and kittiwakes. Some on the rocks and a lot in the sea.fantastic sight.

eventually landed on the Inner Farne Island and stayed for an hour. The Artic Terns were nesting and this spells trouble with  a T. There are paths leading up from the landing and these little devils attack you and peck your head. Wear a hat if you are going to go.    People tell you they never do this. They are lying!!!!     People tell you they don’t hurt. They are lying. Bloody sore I can tell you. Really sore.

Lots and lots of puffins nesting on the island. What a bird!!!! Took many many photos.

They have NT wardens on the Islands and one was wearing a crash hat with a lot of bird pooh on it.

After the hour we headed back to Seahouses and guess what????? Rounded off the day with fish and chips on the harbour front.

Good day.

Last night at Berwick campsite there was a dog next to my van. There were lots of rabbits about. How that dog never went for one I will never know. See photo.

After a latish start headed down to Holy Island and Lindisfarne. Started to rain.theres a tidal causeway over to the island with warnings about watching out for the tides. Could be dangerous for sure. It’s only a small village with a priory and Lindisfarne castle. The castle is closed for a £3M refurbishment. Completely covered with scaffolding. Not good for photography.

Id decided to visit Bamburgh castle on the way south but discovered the battery on my camera was flat. So headed into Seahouses to see what the score was with the Farne Island tours. Booked for tomorrow to go on the 11:45 tour to the Inner Farne island. Should see Terns and Puffins.

Bad news: I’m back in England.

Good news: I survived Scotland.

Left the nature reserve at Gullane this morning. There were six other wild campers by the reserve. The van beside me was a vw. It had four adults and two children on board. Crazy!!!!!

Made my way over to North Berwick. Couple of golf courses and a decent harbour. It also had a lobster breeding centre which was impressive.

A little bit further east stopped to take a photo of Bass Island which was about two miles off shore. It looked amazing. All white on the top!!!! Gannets. Must have been millions.

Called in at Dunbar but nothing much to report here.

From there moved on to Berwick upon Tweed to a camp site.

Not sure what I’m going to do from here. The original plan was to finish the trip at Scarborough. So what do we do???? Go home for a rest or continue. Not sure. I’ll have to have a long think about it.

Spent the night just outside a nature reserve at Cullane. Went for an early morning walk and spotted deer, stonechat and some shelduck. Great place.

Not  much to report today after the Obama excitement yesterday.

Headed over to Edinburgh and stopped off at the Queensferry viewing place. Great views of the Forth rail bridge. The new road bridge is making good progress and should be opened in the autumn. There are no toll bridges in Scotland after the Skye toll was stopped.

I decided not to go into Edinburgh as it seemed to be too busy for me. I decided to visit Culross with is a NT village near longannet. This is a 17th century village that was built around coal and salt. Cool place.

Bypassed Edinburgh and stopped for the night near Gullane.

 

Good start to the day. Hot and sunny overlooking the Firth of Tay. Headed over to Dundee but did not stop. I’m beginning to think I’m not suited to big towns now!!!! Country boy!!!!

So ended up heading for the Kingdom of Fife. I did not stop until St Andrews. Caught a glimpse of some parked cars on the headland so headed over to that. It was just common land used as a car park right on the beach. And what a beach. With it being a Friday most of Scotland were on it. All shapes and sizes. Had a quick stroll along the Sands and caught a family playing. See photo.

I set off towards the Old Course at St Andrews. It’s more open than I thought it would be with a path across the first fairway. You can get right up to the main club house. It was really busy with a few police around. This is not normal I said to myself. Asked a young policewoman what was going on. President Obama was playing. No way!!!!!! Headed over to the 18th green to get some shots of him coming up through the valley of sin. Stood beside an American couple who had played Dornoch last week. £180 a round. Come on what’s that all about.

Anyway Obama eventually turned up. He’s left handed!!!!! Not many people have noticed that in the last eight years. He hit a good approach shot to the 18th which got a good round of applause. Good for him. He did come across very well. No security guards following him at all. But when he finished and about to get in his car you should have seen the police swing into action. Plain cars everywhere.

Wild camping tonight at St Moran’s. I’ll try and get into Edinburgh tomorrow but not promising.

Wild camping on the beach in Montrose. Woke to bright sunshine this morning. It’s going to be HOT. There’s going to be a music festival in Montrose this weekend. Can’t hang around for that.

Called in at a wildlife sanctuary just outside the town. It’s a good setup with walks around Montrose basin. They have a sand martin wall with the holes numbered so the birds don’t fight over which home to go to. Very clever birds are sand martins!!!!!! Also spotted a green finch with young. That’s a first.

On to Arbroath and parked by the harbour for an ice cream. Kiwi ripple.

From there on to Carnoustie to have a look at the golf course. It’s right next to a firing range. Peaceful game of golf with a constant crack crack in the background.

Stopped for the night at a campsite at Monifieth.

Sun shinning again. It’s going to be a nice day!!!!

Headed down the coast towards Montrose on the A92. Stopped off as planned at the rspb reserve at Crawton. What a place. You have never seen so many sea birds in all your life. Tens and tens of thousands. Both on the cliff faces or in the sea. Kittiwakes, razor bills, Guillemots and Fulmars. And the odd pigeon!!!!! Every available ledge was occupied. The walk along the cliffs was about 1 1/2 miles. A few people about but mainly birds. Get this on your list!!!!!!!!!!

On to Montrose which is not worth putting on anybody’s list. Crossed the river and went to have a walk over to the lighthouse. Built by Stevenson. Cool.

on my return to the car park I noticed some clothes hanging out to dry on a washing line. Not odd in itself but the post was out in the river and the clothes installed by a pulley system. Just like they would use in Venice or Naples. Unusual.

Wild camping tonight.

I decided to stop another day in Stonehaven. I talked to a couple last night and they told  me about a castle on the outskirts of the town. It’s called Dunnottar castle and you all know the history of that. In case you’ve forgotten I’ll remind you!!!! It’s were the Scottish Crown Jewels were kept after the civil war. Cromwell besieged the castle for nine months but could not get in. It’s inpregnable!!!!!

So I set off this morning to walk to it. It’s about 3 miles north along a cliff side part. Great views along the coast. Lots of eider ducks in the bay.

If you were picking the spot were to put a castle this would be it. Impossible to attack from any side. You can see the small entrance on one of the photos. Right in the bottom RHS. Very impressive.

Chilled out for the rest of the day.

Another interesting fact about Stonehaven!! It’s were R W Thomson was born. Really!!! He invented the pneumatic tyre. Not many people know that.