I have created this blog to share my interest in all forms of stitching, quilting, sewing, knitting, medieval re-enactment and costume making – particularly my love of historical embroidery. I also love travelling,especially when it also involves any of my other interests.
This area of the country often gets overlooked, there is so much else in Scotland to see, so it is easy to miss. That has lots of advantages though, as roads are quiet, and it is easy to park, unlike at Glencoe last year!
I have been doing some exploring of the local area, in between the domestic duties. The nearest supermarkets are about 30 mins away, though there is a little Co op in the nearest town 5 mins drive. That means trying to combine my fortnightly shop with other adventures.
Much of my time has been spent along the beautiful Spey River. The Speyside Way runs from the coast down for about 70 miles, using parts of the old railway line, and provides brilliant forest walks and cycling.
The above photos were taken on one of my first walks, at the little town of Charlestown of Aberlour, our nearest place. One of the features of these rivers are the gorgeous Victorian bridges that cross them.
Yesterday I went to visit one of the most famous. Built by Thomas Telford and erected in 1814, it was the main road crossing at Craigellachie until the 1970s.
The area is also famous for it’s distilleries, using water from the Spey. There are over 30 in the area, and while I don’t like the taste of whisky, the smell when they are roasting is lovely.
I recently went on a walk near the Tamdhu distillery, which is next to the old railway station. Such a gorgeous forest trail with glimpses of the river.
Life has been very busy, the last two weekends I have been away, firstly to a very interesting training course, where I met lots of other new staff. It was fun to hear about their experiences so far. Last week I went to the coast, so will tell you about that in the next post.
I have also visited my first castle of 2025. I hope to see many more after I finish working, as there are lots in the areas I am travelling to then, but this was the lovely Brodie Castle, near Forres.
The castle was closed as there was a function on, but the grounds and the lake were enough to keep me happy.
I really am so happy here, I love life in my little caravan, and really enjoy the job. I am meeting so many people who love exactly the same things that I do, and feel so blessed to be able to do this in this gorgeous place.
It may not have the dramatic scenery of other places I have visited in Scotland, but it is a wonderful place to call home for the summer.
I shall hopefully be able to post again sooner than a month from now. The app is so slow that this has taken me nearly two hours, with waiting for it to respond, so it is not that I am neglecting the blog, it is just technical issues. Thanks for bearing with me, and fingers crossed see you soon.
Well of course you should have been reading all about the gorgeous fiestas I went to in Spain in this post, however I have skipped ahead for very good reasons.
I will get back to my time in Spain as soon as possible, but on the day that I was scheduled to post, we had a major power blackout that affected most of Spain, Portugal, and other parts of Europe.
That was ‘interesting’, and made you quickly realise how very much we rely on having working phones, access to the Internet, ATM etc.
One of my main concerns was that I was due to fly back to the UK two days later on the Weds, to be reunited with a very special new addition. I have previously hinted at changes for this year but I would like you to meet Lotte.
Lotte is a ‘new to me’ 33 year old caravan, that I bought from my very good friends, Maggie and Peter in Yorkshire, last year. There have been lots of preparations in place surrounding the purchase and subsequent removal of Lotte to Scotland. Here she is on the haulage lorry in Yorkshire, and arriving in a very sunny Speyside 🌞
I needed a caravan to live in as last year I applied for, and was successful in getting, a post as a Site Assistant with the Camping and Caravanning Club! The interview process started in October, and involved me flying back to the UK in early December for a recruitment day, and I got a job 🙃
I was so thrilled as this has been a long held dream post retirement from teaching. I was over the moon when a couple of days before Christmas I found out my post would be in Scotland.
There have been a few stressful moments along the way. In the same week I had the blackout, finding out that the caravan towing company wouldn’t take her to Scotland last minute, and Katy having a seized handbrake and having to spend two days in the garage. However all got sorted and a day later than planned I set off for Scotland in Katy.
Lotte arrived last Wednesday evening, and I have been spending the last few days moving all of my new things in, and sorting everything out.
She is absolutely gorgeous and I already love living here in her. I have a lovely staff pitch, very shady, with lots of trees and birds around.
I have a fixed bedroom, which is great, with so much storage space.
Also a cute little kitchen area, and most exciting, a bathroom. I have a toilet, and running water and everything 🙃
Also a lovely comfy lounge area, so I can sit and craft in the evenings as I listen to the birds. It is all just perfect and I am over the moon about it all.
I start work tomorrow, which I am so looking forward to. Most of this week will be training, and at the moment I have the weekends off, so I will still be going out exploring this gorgeous part of the country in Katy. I plan to use the many stop overs and aires here.
I am further north than I have been before, just above Aviemore, so really looking forward to exploring. I took 10 days to make the journey up to my site, so got to visit some new places.
My first stop was at The Nook Cafe, in the beautiful Northern Pennines. They offer overnight camper stops for £5, with use of toilets if wanted. I had a very peaceful evening, watching the sheep graze.
I then stayed overnight with my very good friends, Sue and Chris at their house, before going on to the Oban campsite for four nights.
That is a very pretty site, in a walled garden, with beach access across the road, and a beautiful set of forest walks next door in Sutherland’s Grove.
I also had an afternoon walk around the headland at Port Appin, with stunning views across to Mull and Lismore.
Then it was on to Loch Ness Shores campsite for another four nights.
The weather has just been amazing all the time I have been here, I am so lucky. On my last day I did the forest walk to the Falls of Foyers.
One of the best things about being here in May is that the rhododendrons and gorse are blooming, so gorgeous.
So here is one very happy little camper signing off. I will be back as soon as possible, work and lack of WiFi may slow things a little, but thanks as always for being here for my new adventure. Hope you are all having fun and enjoying life.
The textile treasure that was my last trip out in Scotland was The Great Tapestry of Scotland, now sited in Galashiels, about an hour away from my Dunbar campsite, a beautiful drive through pine forests and small towns. I hadn’t actually heard of the tapestry before, although it was completed in 2013, but found it by accident while looking for something else on Google Maps. Much of my planning is like that, either I just explore an area to visit on Google maps and pin things in advance, or I am inspired by other’s posts on Instagram.
Although the tapestry was completed in 2013, it went on tour, and so was not in its present location, in a purpose built exhibition centre, until 2021. It is also not a tapestry, but in the great tradition of other tapestries, such as the famous Bayeux one, it is referred to as a tapestry, rather than a crewel work embroidery. I like to think that is has all the elements of a tapestry, as it is a textile based weaving in of Scotland’s history, told over 160 stitched panels, all created by over 1,000 volunteer stitchers, whose names are recorded at the entrance to the exhibition.
As I was going through the very many photos I took, trying to edit them down for this post, and trying to think of what title I would give it, the words, ‘skill and scale’, came into my mind. The sheer scale of this community stitching project is immense, as those 1,000 stitchers came from all across Scotland, some working in groups, and some alone. Therefore there was a huge logistical task in sending out all the materials for each panel, and in passing the work between stitchers.
Not all of the stitchers were experienced, so many had to learn new skills. Some were very used to other methods of working, such as cross stitch, or silk embroidery, but not to crewel work, done in wool on linen. Although the stitchers were given panels that already had the outline drawings, done by community artist Andrew Crummy, they had to decide how to fill in the blanks and interpret flowers, natural landscapes, fish, horse armour and stone work, as well as a wide variety of textiles.
I love this stitched fish, such amazing detail and colour.
I also got to see my only red squirrels in all seven weeks in Scotland! Despite my best efforts, and many visits to pine forests, they kept eluding me.
I have selected a few panels to share with you, there are so many I just didn’t have space to include, and also I would strongly encourage you to go and see it for yourself, it is amazing. It was lovely for me to see things represented that I already knew about, places that I had visited, such as Rennie Mackintosh’s design work, and John Muir.
I was also amused to see a panel representing the start of the Ordnance Survey mapping, which was inspired by the army’s need to find the fleeing Scots after the Jacobite Rebellion. Some years ago I read, and thoroughly enjoyed, (much to my children’s bewilderment), the story of how the Ordnance Survey map was created, written by Rachel Hewitt.
There was of course a panel on Mary, Queen of Scots, my ever present muse. What I particularly loved about her panel was that she is portrayed with her stitching, and in the borders are many of the pieces she stitched while with Bess of Hardwick.
Some of these are said to have hidden meanings, such as the cat and mouse picture, which is said to portray Elizabeth 1st as a ginger cat, toying with poor Mary mouse while she decides what her fate will be.
There were also representations of other royalty, and I loved the skills of the stitchers at representing them and their clothes with such detail.
There were also some beautiful panels on natural history, and early archaeological finds.
My favourite panels were the ones representing Scotland’s textile heritage, a dazzling array of different embroidery techniques used to portray the weaving, knitting, production of Paisley shawls, and Fair Isle jumpers. The skills of the stitchers in these panels are astounding.
I also loved the different design elements, in representing complex themes, such as Scotland’s involvement in India. This panel is such a beautiful piece of art.
I had visited my friends who moved to near Dundee earlier in the trip, and they told me all about the 3 Js that Dundee is famous for, journalism, jute and jam.
I haven’t done any embroidery for a long time, but this exhibition has definitely inspired me. I bought the book about the making of the panels as well, and loved reading about all the people involved. It just spoke so much to me, and it is brilliant knowing that their names are recorded. Thank you to all involved, it is an amazing piece of textile art.
By coincidence I have just finished reading a book that I have had on my shelf for a long time, by an author who writes so wonderful about historic textiles. This is the fictionalised account of how one of my favourite actual tapestries, The Lady and The Unicorn series, was made, and is an excellent read if you like lots of detail about historical textiles, as you know I do. I have yet to visit the tapestries in real life, however the book brought back lots of memories of my visit to Abusson in France in May, a great centre of tapestry making, and an excellent museum.
Although there has been no embroidery done here, there has been a whole week of intensive work in the atelier, and I am pleased to report that six couture outfits have been made for Barbie. I have so enjoyed this, despite the odd complexity of working at that scale, and have definitely developed my skills this week.
I will post about them next, before I return to telling you about the English part of the summer travels and our recent trips. We have been very fortunate to avoid the worst of the storms and floods, but as you may know, there has been dreadful devastation and loss of life in Spain, so the local communities here have been trying to help out with donations.
I hope that you are all ok wherever you are, and enjoying life. I will be back as soon as possible, in between my hectic creating schedule 😉 Why does Christmas always seem to come a month too soon, even though I start stitching for it in January?
Have fun, take care, stay safe and thanks for visiting.
Although I have visited Northumberland quite a few times, I had never visited the coast above Berwick, and so was really excited to stay at the Dunbar Caravan and Camping Club site. The location was gorgeous, on the cliff top just outside the town, with amazing views over the Firth of Forth and Bass Rock. These pictures really don’t do it justice, but I had an excellent pitch overlooking the coast.
Dunbar is a very nice little town. On one of the days I went for a wander, and in the small town museum, which was previously a tower house and the town jail, found another connection with my muse, Mary Queen of Scots. Dunbar Castle, now sadly in ruins, was where she was taken when she was abducted by the Earl of Bothwell. The harbour and the rocky coast are just gorgeous, and the Battery there has been restored.
The town is also the birthplace of the naturalist John Muir, who moved from there to the USA at the ago of 11. He was instrumental in persuading the American government to dedicate National Parks, such as Yosemite, which he loved, and has been a huge influence over land preservation and protection in Scotland as well.
The museum was such an inspiring place, these quotes from his writing sum up so much of how I feel about my life outdoors. I have been lucky enough to live near beautiful wild parts of England, and now spend so much time exploring all the other amazing places in the UK and beyond. Somehow a beautiful sunrise, or sunset, makes everything wonderful, even if there is bad weather that day, all is forgiven when you see those sights.
On my first day at Dunbar, which was gorgeously warm, I went for a walk along the coast to Whitesands Bay, and the Barr Ness Lighthouse. Not only was the sea so blue, but the rock pools amazingly green, looking like craters on another planet. All this picturesque beauty was perfectly set off by a little white sailboat on the horizon.
One of the things I love about solo travel is the people you meet. I am often asked if I get lonely, but I have so many lovely conversations with people on my travels, I never feel alone. I met a very friendly woman while buying an ice cream at the little café at Whitesands, who was telling me how she had been ill for a number of years, and was just starting to get her fitness back, walking parts of the coast from her home in Edinburgh.
That just fits so well with what John Muir said, and something that I can so relate to. I still marvel at how much better I feel these days, how I can walk for miles, and although I am often aching at the end, it’s the good ache of a challenging walk, rather than the terrible pain I used to be in.
I was also lucky enough to have a fine day to visit St Abbs, although there was a heavy sea mist at the campsite, the Heritage Coastal path was stunning.
Again I met some lovely people, a couple of students from Poland, who asked me to take their picture, and the owner of the Post Office, when I stopped for ice cream, who was telling me about when the filming for the Avengers movie took place. The village was used as the set for New Asgard in Endgame, and still has signs up saying, ‘twinned with New Asgard’.
One of the most touching things was this small sculpture outside the visitor centre, of families looking out to sea for their loved ones, something that must have been a constant worry on this rocky coast.
I was there for 6 days, not really enough time as always, and it is definitely an area I would love to return to, as with all of Scotland. So many beautiful parts of the coast still to see! However I was on a tight timeline that week, as I needed to go south for a very exciting event. I will tell you about that a little later, as my next post will be about a visit to a textile wonder, not that from the Dunbar site, that is so amazing it needs a whole post to tell you about.
I have been back in Spain for 10 days now. I went visiting my brother here last week, and am away next week with Mum, so will still have lots to show you from here, once I finish blogging about all the summer adventures. It is lovely to be back, weirdly I am not sleeping well yet in the comfy double bed, after all my time on the road, but am looking forward to spending lots of time with friends and family here, as well as my sewing machine! I have a Barbie wardrobe to make in the next month for our Christmas Fair fundraiser.
I hope that you have all been having a good few weeks. Have fun, take care, stay safe, thanks for visiting, and see you all again soon.
As I mentioned in my last post I had two stops before getting to my very exciting park up in Falkirk. Both had connections with Mary, Queen of Scots,which is not unusual given that we are in Scotland, but both were unexpected.
When we were visiting historic places when the children were young, we often used to joke that she had slept everywhere we went. She did certainly move around a lot, particularly when she was under imprisonment during the last 17 years of her life.
When I was last at my current campsite, two years ago, I went to Buxton for the day and was surprised to find another, ‘Mary slept here’ plaque on one of the town’s historic hotels. Apparently she had complained that imprisonment was making her ill, so she had been taken to Buxton for the spa waters.
The first stop was Falkland Palace, in the beautiful village of Falkland. It was a very wet day, and there were no interior pictures allowed, but Mary used to visit regularly, and play tennis on the court there that is still in existence.
I had been going to visit my stops in central Falkirk that afternoon, but torrential rain meant that I diverted to Callendar House, a gorgeous building which is now the local museum.
Not only was it a stunning building, modified many times from its original tower house, but it was also owned by a family with very strong connections to Mary. When she left for France, as she was engaged to the Dauphin she took with her four ladies in waiting, all called Mary. One of them was Mary Livingston, daughter of the family.
It is so fascinating to come across these links, particularly as all of this is part of what I am writing in my novel. In a strange way I feel as if my travels are constantly linking with the book, even if I am not planning it. There was a photo of one of the embroideries I saw last year in Norfolk as part of their interpretation. I am doing as much writing as I can on the road as well, mainly for the other books, but am determined to finish book one when I get back to Spain.
This is a photo of the whole house in its autumn beauty, from one of the tourist adverts. There is also a country park surrounding the house, with Roman ruins as well.
I have been reminded a lot of my job while I have been travelling recently, I have driven past lots of places that I visited doing placement visits, and recently we had a reunion, so I was back in Huddersfield again.
The parts of my job that I really enjoyed were the research ones, and writing, even the doctorate…though not the deadlines! It is lovely to be able to use all that now. I was never going to retire and just sit doing nothing, I’m just not that person.
My exciting park up for that night was at the Kelpies! Sadly the interior lights were off for maintenance, so they were only floodlit at night, but they still looked amazing. I visited again first thing in the morning. This was an excellent park up, it cost £12.50, with 24 hour access to toilets, and a free coffee at the visitor centre, which really made it only £9.50 for the stay.
The first two photos below are of the small scale models that were built before the actual ones.
My favourite photo above, Kelpie and clouds. This is not my photo below, it was at the visitor centre, but isn’t it stunning?
After the Kelpies, the excitement continued with a visit to the Falkirk Wheel! You will know from previous posts that I love canal history and to see this live was incredible.
The wheel replaced 11 locks, built in the 18th century, which used to take boats a day to go through. I was thinking about the original engineers and builders of the canal, and how amazed they would be to see this. Photo below from the tourist advert as well.
You can also stay in the Wheel car park overnight, and it gets lit up as well. So many exciting and different places for van life in Scotland.
I am currently on the last week of my trip, I haven’t had good WiFi or signal for the last few weeks, so I have many more posts to share. From Falkirk I moved on to my last stop in Scotland, the gorgeous Dunbar, which I will tell you all about next time.
Until then have fun, take care, stay safe and thanks for visiting.
One of the stickers on Katy is a quote from one of my favourite poems, I have mentioned it before, but is has the lines, ‘ What is this life, if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare’. It comes from the poem, Leisure’, by a Welsh poet, William Henry Davies, and was published in 1922. A time when leisure was, as I mentioned in my last post, rare for many working people.
One of my greatest joys these days is being able to take time to really notice things, to stop and watch the butterflies and bees, to look closely at rocks on the beach, and just generally to be more aware and mindful about where I am, what I am feeling and seeing.
Much of this comes with having more time, but it is also about spending most of out outside. I have also had chance to read more widely, and some of those books recently have been about bees, or have included information about beekeeping.
Peter May’s, ‘Coffin Road’, set on Harris, and Sue Monk Kidd’s, ‘The Secret Life of Bees’, set in Southern USA, are both really interesting reads that I have picked up at charity shops, or the book exchanges on my campsites. I love getting books from these places, as it really broadens what I read, rather than the Kindle Unlimited suggestions.
I have always known that there are many different bees but a recent visit to Branklyn Gardens, a National Trust for Scotland property in Perth, meant I got to see some in action.
The gardens were looking amazing, it was a really hot day, so I had spent the morning just relaxing and reading at the campsite. I would love to revisit in spring, as they have an extensive collection of rhododendrons, one of my favourite plants.
Another of my favourites are hydrangeas, I love the fact that often they look like butterflies landing on flowers, and there were so many different varieties here.
There were also some fabulous berries. I love autumn for all the variety of these you see.
I had a few nights at the Scone Caravan and Camping Club site, as a stopping point to southern Scotland, but also so that I could go and visit some old friends, who left Yorkshire 29 years ago, for just outside Dundee.
It was a lovely catch up, and we had a quick trip to Arbroath for a walk along the cliffs before I headed back to Scone and then further south to Falkirk.
I specifically wanted to visit two locations in the city, both connected with canal history and had planned to do both in one day.
However the weather was appalling, the worst I have had, with really heavy rain, so much so that driving felt more like water skiing!
A quick change of plans led to two interesting historical locations, connected with Mary Queen of Scots, which I will share next time. As you may remember, my novel mentions some of the needlework she did with Bess of Hardwick, so it is always interesting finding out more about her story.
More on that, and Falkirk next time. As often the way here, all horrible weather had gone by the evening leaving a beautiful sunset and blue sky next day.
Until then, have fun, take care, stay safe and thanks for visiting.
For me, one of the most exciting things about my recent visit to the Highland Life Folk Museum was the way that the textile heritage of the area was represented.
The museum extends for about a mile, and consists of a reconstruction of a 1730s township, and then existing buildings dating from the 1800s to the 1940s that have been moved and rebuilt.
This means that unlike a standard museum, or a Trust property, the houses and contents are a snapshot of one particular period, rather than an accumulation of artifacts over the family’s ownership of the house.
I’m not sure if all of the textiles in each house originally belonged to it but each gives a unique insight into the life, and textiles of the era.
I have talked before about the importance of textiles in portraying aspects of daily life, and it is really obvious here. The 1730s houses are about survival, keeping the people, and animals who shared them, safe and warm, especially in the winter days.
Textiles here are functional, spinning and weaving them yourself the only way to get them, and a continual set of tasks within the community.
One of the displays showed the multifunctionality of the original tartan cloth, garment, cloak and blanket, all in one handy length.
As life starts to get less pressured, and as job roles diversify, you have the separate businesses devoted to clothing.These buildings originally stood in the nearby town of Newtonmore.
The tailors and dressmakers, aided by the invention of the sewing machine. The idea of having lots of clothes for different purposes, the ability to own more than one of things, and the luxury of not having to make it yourself.
Clothing as status, the well tailored tweed suit, the modern kilt in clan tartans, all things uniquely associated with Scotland, and exported all over the world.
In the later period houses, those of the leisure classes, with time to spend on the ‘decorative arts’, textiles to show your skill, to make your home look nice.
An endless succession of tablecloths, tray covers, anti maccassars, fire screens and cushions. All created in the home with materials bought from specialist suppliers. A way to pass time with friends, or while listening to the radio.
It was marvellous place to visit, and one of my very favourite ways to spend the day. I was also exceptionally lucky that the weather was gorgeous, and the scenery stunning. Loved the three varieties of Highland Cow, just enjoying the sun and their grass.
I ended the day at a new aire, in Aberfeldy, just sitting watching the clouds as usual, and listening to the birds flying over the fields.
I have a few more posts to share with you about Scotland, it seems such a long time ago that I left, although it’s only a week. Hopefully, good WiFi allowing, I can share more next week, as I am making my way to the final few campsites of this trip.
In the meantime, have fun, take care, stay safe and thanks for visiting.
I have wanted to visit the Cairngorms for a very long time, and it is definitely an area to return to as I only had a glimpse at its beauty.
The trip from Skye westwards took me first to Fort Augustus, at the end of Loch Ness. I had been there before, briefly with Jacky two years ago, but wanted to revisit, partly to stay at a new aire just outside the town.
The journey was so beautiful, passing through Glenshiel and past Loch Cluanie.
Fort Augustus is famous for being the other end of the Caledonian Canal, I visited Neptune’s Staircase a couple of weeks ago, and here are the five locks that complete the journey, allowing boats to enter Loch Ness, and travel to Inverness and the sea.
There is a great information centre about the canal, and also lots of lovely shops and cafés. I was lucky enough to see another group of boats go through, both the locks and the swing bridge into Loch Ness.
If you look at the map of Scotland, this is where it nearly spilts in half, a fault line known as the Great Glen. The canals allowed ships to cross Scotland without having to follow the often dangerous northern coastline.
This was an enormous undertaking, these canals were dug by hand and it took 19 years to complete, overseen by Thomas Telford. There are a total of 29 locks along outside length. It is just amazing that this has been preserved and restored so it can still be used.
I stayed overnight at the very nice Loch Ness caravan park. Like many aires this has been set up by a farming family and is a quiet site, a short walk from the town.
I really enjoy supporting small businesses like these, and it has been great to have so many options in Scotland, as well as the Caravan and Camping Club sites.
The following day I went over to the edge of the Cairngorm National Park, with a quick stop at Aviemore for supplies. I ended up at the Rothiemurchus Estate.
The estate offers lots of different activities, such as bike hire, horse riding, fishing, but also has brilliant hiking trails.
It was a beautiful sunny day, so I did 8km circular route to Loch an Eilein, passing Loch Mor with so many water lilies, and through stunning forests and heathland.
There were also deer on the estate, a little far away for good photos.
Despite all my walks, I still haven’t seen a single red squirrel, the only disappointment about my trip to Scotland! Lots signs saying look out for them, but none to be seen 😔
I had a choice of aires and park ups in this area, because it was such a beautiful evening, I opted for staying at the Loch Insh watersports centre.
It was such a lovely way to end such a fantastic day, sitting with a G and T in the sun, watching the wild swimmers in the loch.
My final day in the area I will tell you about next time, as I need a whole post to share all the things at one of my favourite types of museum, the open air Highland Life Folk Museum.
I am now in my last campsite in Scotland, I can’t believe I have been here for 6 weeks. It is the most beautiful place, and I will have to come back. I also can’t believe this is my fourth September of not having to deal with the start of term 🙃 Still so, so lucky to be living this life!
Until next time, have fun, take care, stay safe and thanks for visiting.
Glencoe is justifiably famous as being one of the most stunning places in Scotland. As you drive up the A82, past the countless peaks, and waterfalls streaming down the sides of the, you just marvel at the fact that this little slice of geology is there for us all to enjoy.
And there are a lot of people here, which has meant that parking has been busy, so I have mainly been going to the quieter places around the valley to walk.
The weather was generally very good, better than forecast, and I had some stunning drives in the sun. Every time I go somewhere in Scotland I think, ‘this is the most beautiful place I have ever seen’. Then half an hour later, there is something equally, or more beautiful.
My first day of exploring took me to Glen Lochan, only 8 minutes drive from my campsite. This small loch, set in woodland has three different trails around it, so I completed all of the lochside and mountain ones, and part of the forest one.
I was lucky to be there to catch the reflections of the clouds on the still loch, with the mountain backdrop. Just stunning and a memory that will stay with me for a long time.
That afternoon I went to the Glencoe Visitor Centre, right next to my campsite. As well as the amazing views they have some really good interpretation of the area, including the history of mountaineering, and mountain rescue.
There is also a reconstruction of an 18th century turf house, along with a video showing all the techniques used. It is really interesting and the setting just makes it.
I visited another waterfall later in the week, another Grey Mare’s, but this one was a mere 10 minutes walk, through a wonderful, damp, green forest, which my knees appreciated 😀
My last day was gorgeously sunny, so I decided to drive to Glenfinnan, hoping to see the monument and viaduct, but again couldn’t get parked.
It was an amazing drive though and on the way back I stopped at Corpach, a little village with a canal and views of Ben Nevis.
That was brilliant, but even better was to come, as a short drive away is Neptune’s Staircase. This is a series of eight locks on the Caledonian Canal.
Exciting enough, for me, but even better that eight sailing ships, from a range of places like Denmark and Norway, were going through from the top lock.
If you are a regular reader you’ll know how much I love canals, and this was definitely a highlight of the week.
I have now moved on to Skye. Two years ago my sister and I visited, as part of a longer trip where we also went to the Outer Hebrides. I loved Skye so much, that I wanted to come back for longer.
Yesterday was amazing, and I will share that with you in the next post. I am at a campsite with fabulous views of the Cuillin mountains, or they were fabulous yesterday 😆 Today we are experiencing the tail end of Hurricane Ernesto, like most of the UK. I’m sure the mountains are still there somewhere!
So I’m in the van, having a day in reading and stitching, but the local sheep aren’t bothered at all.
See you soon, for more of Skye. Have fun, take care, stay safe and thanks for visiting.
I have spent so much of this trip watching clouds. Partly because they are so fascinating, and to me one of the best things about a life lived mainly outdoors.
Culzean Castle was an amazing place for cloud watching, and the sunsets over Arran were just beautiful.
I also cloud watch so I can predict weather, I have been so lucky with this trip to Scotland, only a few really wet days, and there is something very magical about watching the clouds over the mountains after it has rained, or the joy of waking up to blue skies after a wet day.
So I don’t mind the rain at all, after all Scotland would be nothing without its lochs and rivers.
The grounds of Culzean Castle were extensive, and I had some excellent walks around the grounds. The gardens are so lovely and lush, quite tropical in their appearance.
My favourite walk was the one along the rocky coastline, with more views of Arran and Ailsa Craig.
I also had a guided tour of the castle, which was very much a home built to impress visitors. All these weapons were bought for the entrance hall displays.
After a great five days at Culzean I headed north to Sue’s house, just above Loch Lomond, taking the scenic route via the coast. I stopped at Gourock for a picnic, at the Lyles Hill viewpoint, with a panorama across the Clyde.
It was only a quick visit this time, just two nights, but another old friend from Polytechnic was there as well, who I hadn’t seen for 5 years, so that was great. It is always a joy to stay with Sue, not only is the place amazing, but she is also an excellent host.
We just had time for one trip, to the west coast to Crinan, where a canal was built in the 1700s to connect the lochs and give easy access to the sea by Jura.
Gorgeous views again, a very different landscape to that around Loch Lomond.
Then it was time to head north again, with a quick stop in Oban for supplies, and to visit McCaig’s Tower, a coliseum like structure, with views over Oban to the Isle of Mull, and more fabulous clouds!
I am now at the very iconic, and very famous Glencoe, and this is the view from my pitch. I have already had some great walks, which I will tell you about in the next post.
Today is a rest day, it has rained a lot overnight, and this morning, so while I have been snug and dry in Katy, there have been lots of people packing up in the wet, poor things. This site is used a lot by people touring with tiny tents, but there are a couple of shelters for them to cook in and hang clothes.
I will be back soon, so until then, have fun, take care, stay safe and thanks for visiting.
Stitches of Time 