Author: Tom Kennedy

What a rubbish day. Rainy and cold. No photos at all.

spent last night with Mike and Gillian. Excellent hosts.

had my first BBQ in years which was really nice plus brilliant salads. Thanks to them. Good company.

back for a full English breakfast this morning before heading off around 11am in the rain. Not good.went straight to Wigtown to have a look. Supposed to be the book capital of Scotland but it was very quiet as it was Sunday.

On to Port William to have a look still in the rain. Just a small Scottish harbour village. There was two clowns fishing on the harbour in a howling gale plus rain. Crazy people.

then to Garlieston on Burrow Head. Nice place. With a pub!!!!!! I’ve not been in a pub since last Tuesday!!!!

the site is overlooking the bay. It could be really nice.

not many people know this but Garlieston was used to develop the Mullbury harbour system during WW11. Interesting.

Ayr tomorrow.

 

stopped over at Terally Point. Right on the coast overlooking Luce Bay. A very large site full of gorse in full blossom. Nice.

a late start for me. Good lord I did not wake up until 9am!!!!! Honest. I must have been tired.

headed up to Portpatrick on the west coast. A small village with a cool harbour plus life boat station. I got some photos of some black guillemots. Or I think that’s hat they were. A couple of sea food pubs on the sea front.

Then over to Sophie’s BFs parents at Rockcliffe to see them. They have a static caravan overlooking the est

Excellent start to the day in sunshine. Makes all the difference!!!!!

first stop was Maryport on the coast. This has been on my list for a while. This was A Roman port in years gone by. Beautiful double harbour plus a modern marina. Great lighthouse under repair. Also w working fishing port. Good spot.

from there up the coast to Siltoth which was very impressive. An old Victorian town with cobbled streets. Really cool. It had a super promenade overlooking the Solworth Firth. Two lighthouses so it’s definitely worth a visit.

Theres not much to see before Carlisle so I moved quickly not the notorious A75 which must be the most dangerous road in the world. Crazy.

dumfries was the next stop. Did you know that Robert Burns was born here? He was. Busy place for sure. In the good old days you had to go through this place to get to Stranraer. Nightmare!!!!

i could not get into a site nearby so had to go onto the Mull of Galloway called New England. Right by the sea and a large site. Good though.

wifi is not good so no photos today. Tomorrow for sure.

time for a G & T

tom K

I wish I knew what I was doing with this blog!!!!!

set off this morning in reasonable weather.

Last night when I came to cook dinner I discovered I’d no matches to light the cooker. What an idiot!!!!! Some kindly people got me out of goal.

anyway headed West to Walney island off Barrow. Beautiful countryside with the West Lakes mountains on my rhs. Fields full of sheep and lambs.

walney is famous for its birds but thy must have had a bad day when I got there. But thousands of off shore wind turbines to see. Amazing sight.

on to Whitehaven port. Bitterly cold but still a nice harbour. Not many people know this but Whitehaven was invaded by the Amaricans during the war of independence. Davy Jones captured the town and wrecked the canons. Bad boy!!!!!

campsite at Lamplugh tonight.

Wednesday 12 th April

first day out and it bloody rained. The intention was to have a slow steady start. I did not start off until 11am as Martin Walsh called to see the van.

i had an exciting time going north on the M6 to Carnforth. Then west to Arnside where it was still raining. The views over the bay where nothing to write home about but managed a few photos.

on to the other side of the estuary and to Grange over Sands. Nice Victorian town. Drove through but did not stop. Then to the first campsite. If they are all as good as this we shall do find. Smart. The suns out so all is well. Had a bit of trouble loading the van with water but got there in the end. It’s all new so no stress.

got my pitch and hooked up with power.

My wifi is working so that’s a blessing.

Onwards tomorrow.

Tom K

 

Firstly I’d like to thank Howard Griffiths for setting this blog up. Without his help it would not have been possible.

Anyway my bags are packed and ready to go. The van is full of food, beer and wine.

im setting off tomorrow morning and heading up the Cumbria coast. First stop is Silverdale. Then on to the Scottish Galloway estuary.

Tom K