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.

Up this morning with the crows, actually it wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be.  By 9 we were off and heading for..

We drove through on the M8 as we were heading for Dumbarton to restock.

Toby was so exhausted he needed to put his feet up

 The journey took is across the Clyde over quite an impressive bridge. 

And we made it to an Asda for milk, bread, other essentials and other non-essentials. Whilst we were packing away we had noticed a hill not too far away that seemed to have a castle on it. So we aimed for there and parked up. A lot of steps and a lot more steps we made it to the top and we were quite impressed with the views and we each got our own cannon!

After a picnic at the top we made our way down and headed for our next stop. A camping and caravanning club site in Luss on the western border of Loch Lomond. After the wonderful staff let us pitch we are now sat with the Loch washing up on the shore within 10 metres
Here is the view from the van.

We’re here for two nights to relieve the driving tiredness however shortly after we arrived, when April was investigating a small leak under the sink one of the pipes came away and a load of water came with it. We had to remove the tap completely to clean it and when we put it back the micro switch inside didn’t work so we had to wire up a switch (that Josh had given me for another purpose) to activate the pump. Hopefully tomorrow I can find a working tap to fit. 

Showers all round tonight and fly screens at the ready. 

Took us ages to get going this morning, yesterday really took it out of us. We had a small brekkie and headed off, up through Dumfries And up through into a small town called Wanlockhead.. We purchased a licence from there and drove south for a short while and stopped, hopped out and panned for wild gold in a beautiful Scottish stream. 

After five short hours of sifting through decreasingly smaller grades of sand, we finally found wild Scottish gold, from a stream, and to quote Paul Daniels, not a lot.. But. In all fairness and honesty, we found some. It may not be enough to paint a fairy’s fingernail, but we’re feeling richer for the experience. Including Toby being forced to jump for his life from the sheep of doom (and getting a bit wet in the process). Rob’s welly boot full of water and the squelch step. But most particularly, bacon sandwiches next to a beautiful stream in a very quiet setting. April also tried her hand in stone balancing, it was a thing of beauty.

You find us in a car park at Brit Stop number 807 underneath a tree full of crows.. I might not need an alarm clock for the morning. However we have a long drive ahead of us tomorrow, there’s more water at the end of tomorrow’s drive having circumnavigated the deep fried battered mars bar capital of the world.

Wish us luck