Up slowly this morning, couldn’t leave early as we had a key to drop off after the Falkirk Wheel opened again. We watched it turn a couple more times had a quick game of tennis in the car park and we headed off..

A long drive ahead of us, which involved some M’s quite a few A’s amongst other letters and numbers we went back around Edinburgh and down the east coast of Scotland until we arrived here..

The border again, you just can’t tell.. The stone on the left apparently says England.. There were flags in the layby.

So, from here we were heading for the North Yorkshire Moors. We drove down through Newcastle, through the Tyne Tunnel (which needs better “there’s a toll” signage) and decided to stop in Hartlepool as the end of the driving tether had been reached.

We stopped by a Marina and had a wander and a short game of windy tennis, a quick cuppa and headed back off. It took us a while, April thinks we drove for about 6 hours today and luckily there is a pub at the end of it so a swift half calmed us all down.

you find us here..

No clue where we will end up tonight as yet, ahh the freedom!

Last night it was difficult to sleep. The A9 was noisy, then the rain came and without earplugs was impossible for me. Both April and Toby were already asleep but I lay awake for a good while.

The morning was slow and we took a while to get going, we visited a shop where we spent the night and bought a few things. We set off at about 11 and headed down the M90 heading for Edinburgh. We could have driven down the A9 to our destination but thought we’d try the Forth Road bridge. My turn to drive.

When we arrived in Falkirk, the first thing to do was to visit the Kelpies and a play area for Toby,

Gorgeously crafted from steel each weighing at a mere 300 tonnes. If you were coming to Falkirk on a boat, they would be the first things you’d see!!

Then a short drive from them, we find ourselves here for the night.

No road noise that I can hear yet, fingers crossed it will be nice and quiet..

After a lazy morning we had a last wander down to the Loch which was lovely in the sunshine.

We then went on to Aviemore for a full Scottish breakfast with both Links and Lorne sausages which fuelled us for our long drive to Perth.

We stopped at BritStop 817 where we met Mandy (my sister) who took us on a brief tour of Perth, along the river Tay and even put up with Toby and Rob playing Pokemon Go along the river side. She took us to a soft play area so Toby could have a run around. However next door to the play area was a go-kart track and we just “had” to have a go. Toby showed both Rob and I how it is done by beating us hands down. He did take me out properly on one corner, which led to the man coming over and “turning up” my car. From then on I was on fire!!

We were treated to a very nice meal with Mandy, Scott, Helen and Rachael in the evening and driven back to our stop for the night.

We’re quite near the A9 and a truck driving past sounds a bit like a thunderstorm compressed into a 15 second window. Hopefully we’ll sleep..

Today was mostly about giving Toby a break from walking and general boredom so we found that there was a theme park nearby and headed for it. A short trip and we were experiencing high rope walks, very fast waterslides, rollercoasters, adventure play areas and massive taps amongst a host of other things.

It certainly made the day go quickly and before we knew it we were back at the campsite with one thought in mind, the pub, a quick whiskey and coke (which, unsurprisingly, is actually frowned upon up here!!) and back to the van for a game of i-spy.

Tomorrow starts the beginning of our heading south, I don’t want to curse it, but the rain has stopped so it might be quieter night (except for my snoring).

Love to all.

A late start this morning. We decided that with both Rob and I snoring as badly as we do no-one got any sleep, so the morning was lazy and irritable. We decided to head up the road to the mountain train which was a perilous drive with large falls off to the side, but we made it to a car-park with stunning views.

Then up a mountain railway to the top and a viewing platform which is a skiing resort in the winter. The views at the top were breathtaking and it was quite windy.

A quick cup of hot chocolate and a bowl of chips and we headed down back to the campsite. However on the way back we found a grass sledging place which we all had a go on. The sledges have caterpillar tracks and you can go for ages if there’s enough weight in it. April and I had a go together which was very successful (I may have a video for you soon)

We then took a walk along a path to an undulating forest path which led to a beautiful enclosed loch with emerald green waters up in the hills near the campsite. I only hope the photos do it justice. There were eagles nesting on the hill at one side of it and you could hear her chicks screaming for food when she drew near.

After this we headed back to the van , Rob had decided that my snoring was too much and would move his van onto the road to sleep, hopefully we’ll all be in better moods tomorrow.

Sleep tight one and all.

We left Luss behind at about 10 and headed for our most northerly point, the Cairngorms. This wasn’t going to be a northerly drive at all more of an eastern one, but with Loch Ness and Inverness within range, we decided that as we were here, we’d go for it. So we carried on along the A82 following it all the way to Inverness. The road follows a couple of Lochs, Loch Lochy (which we decided was named in a pub after a few) and of course Loch Ness, which we stopped next to, to have an appreciate.

We had a brief wander around Inverness, Toby purchased a large Nerf Gun and we restocked at Tescos. Then we set off south towards our next stop in the Cairngorms.

The closer we got to our stop the prettier the scenery got but the weather didn’t. In fact there was a full on torrent when we arrived. We were escorted to our pitches which were a distance apart, and Rob was informed that as his van didn’t have a side window in the rear (behind his bulkhead) he wasn’t allowed to be on a pitch and would either have to stay in our van or they’d lend him a tent. The weather was horrendous meaning a tent was out of the question and we decided that he could stay with us for that night and play it by ear from there.

We’re all cosy and safe and warm, Rob is understandably incensed at the campsites stupidity and lack of advertising this fact on their website, but they are adamant and rules is rules.

Hopefully tomorrow will have better weather.

So, up reasonably early this morning although it was a struggle. A quick breakfast and we packed a picnic because there was a walk we’d been meaning to do and a Nevis called Ben to conquer.

Setting out from the campsite we headed for one of those shortcuts that we can’t decide if we should have. The “normal” track is slightly sloped whereas this “shortcut” was much steeper but cut out a large portion of the normal route. Anyhow, decision made, we walked and paused and walked and paused. Made it just over a third of the height to a glen which had great views.
By this point my legs were in a great deal of pain and I decided no further for me. But April said “Let’s just go to the next corner as the view will be better from there” so we picked ourselves up and trudged on we made it to the half way point and a beautiful waterfall

After this we walked to the corner and the views were simply breathtaking.

For some perspective if the A82 was like being smacked in the face with a beautiful spoon, this was like having a spectacular anvil dropped on your head.

At this point April, Toby and I decided we’d had enough and would start down. Rob on the other hand decided to carry on. He made it all the way and as soon as he emails me the piccie of him up there I’ll pop it on here.

As promised, here’s the piccie of Rob atop the mountain.

The journey down was equally as difficult, whilst you’re not lifting your body weight, the impacts from the drops were a lot worse. April slipped up and luckily was carrying the rucksack or she would have jarred her back. We made it down and think it was, all in all, a good experience. Toby didn’t seem all that affected; he asked if we can play football the moment we got back.

8 mile round trip, we’re upset we didn’t make it to the top. But here’s an idea of a gentle slope.

And a not so gentle one

So, we’re in the motorhome fed and watered and aching like a <expletive deleted>. Rob is wondering how best to complain about his hiking boots as he lost the sole of one of them on the way down. Thank you nice lady with superglue and man with duct tape.

We hope to sleep tonight.

We left behind Loch Lomond Camping and Caravanning  club site just before 10 as we were heading north to a campsite that releases pitches for the day at noon.

We decided that the easiest way through to our destination was up the A82 and oh my, what a road!!

The photos don’t do it justice, everywhere you looked it was another smack in the face with a beautiful spoon. Every corner you turned was like being showered with gorgeous.

You find us here.

In front of a small hill at the back there which apparently we’re going to attempt tomorrow.

the campsite offers quite spectacular views all around

And right now it is a gorgeous summers evening up here, I only hope it holds.

This morning was lovely, quiet, and slow. The Lake to the side of us was silently lapping on the shore and it took us an age to get going. It was 10 before we looked at a clock. Then for some reason we needed a fry up which was graciously received. That however didn’t help with motivation and at midday we ventured into town. I say town, there’s a visitor centre and a small food shop and we ended up at a pier where the four of us hired two double kayaks and went for a row.

April and Toby took to it like a mosquito to my leg, whereas Rob and I got about 5 minutes in and started to ache in all sorts of places and it didn’t abate no matter what position we were in. So we chickened out and turned back to shore and went and had a bite to eat. 

It truly is b.e.a.utiful here. Every time we turn our heads the lake has changed, the sun is out, a boat goes by or a mummy duck and her babies (cue the April rush to feed them). There is but one word for the place, which luckily is provided by a sign in the “town”

All I all a lovely relaxing day.. Early-ish start tomorrow. There’s two hours drive north ahead of us.. No clues.

Have a wonderful evening all.