June 19, 2013

Outer Hebrides By Motorhome (Part 2) – Scotland 2010

Picture of golden sandy beach with clear blue sea

Although there are not that many major attractions, the Outer Hebrides are extremely photogenic. Here are a few more shots from our recent motorhome trip around the islands. (See Part 1 for more) … [Read more...]

The Outer Hebrides By Motorhome (Part 1) – Scotland 2010

Chemical toilet disposal point at Leverburgh ferry terminal

The final and postponed part of our 2010 tour of Scotland was a visit to the Outer Hebrides, or Western Isles. We had missed vising these islands in the summer as we couldn't get onto a ferry - but judging from local reports of the weather over the summer, this was a blessing in disguise. Our first … [Read more...]

Highlights from Skye down to Edinburgh – Scotland 2010

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

After leaving Skye, our route homewards took in the area around Fort William, Loch Lomond and then Stirling, Falkirk and Edinburgh. Here are a few highlights: Eilean Donan Castle: Driving through Glen Shiel: Glen Finnan Viaduct - better known as the one from Harry Potter, together … [Read more...]

Isle of Skye By Motorhome – Scotland 2010

Fairy Glen, Isle of Skye

Several things were noteworthy about the Isle of Skye: It was hillier and more scenic than I expected. The number of foreign tourists in rented cars and motorhomes was surprisingly high. The condition of many of the roads was the worst I have ever driven on, anywhere in Western … [Read more...]

Thurso and the North-West Coast of Scotland – Scotland 2010

Sutherland, Scottish highlands

Our journey around mainland Scotland continued where it left off - at Gill's Bay, a few miles west of John O'Groats. We had travelled up the east coast on our way north, so now started to drive across the northern coast of Scotland, ready to travel down the famed west coast and visit the Isle of … [Read more...]

Back To Shetland; Shipping, Shopping, Peat & More Ferries – Scotland 2010

No trees in Shetland

Having returned from Unst and Yell, we spent a little longer exploring the Shetland mainland before leaving the Shetlands. One of the things you notice on both Orkney and Shetland is that despite the lush grass and low-level vegetation that covers the islands, there are virtually no … [Read more...]

Shetland’s Northern Isles: Yell & Unst – Scotland 2010

Shetland island ferry

Leaving Scalloway, we decided to continue the journey by starting at the top and work our way down. This meant driving up to Toft, in the north of the Shetland mainland, and catching a ferry to Yell, one of the two inhabited islands to the north of Shetland. These ferries are government-subsidised, … [Read more...]

Burra Island, Scalloway & The Shetland Bus – Scotland 2010

Scalloway Castle, Shetland

The next day, we headed a little way up the coast and visited Burra Island (pretty place to live, conveniently close to Lerwick, but not much to do) and then Scalloway, the one-time capital of Lerwick and one of the few towns on the islands. The town was gearing up for its annual summer gala and … [Read more...]

South Shetland: Sumburgh Head & St Ninian’s Isle – Scotland 2010

A puffin at Sumburgh Head, Shetland

Our arrival in Shetland was met with heavy rain, fog, and strong winds, but we ignored these (wisely, as it turned out) and headed down from Lerwick to the southernmost tip of the Shetland mainland, Sumburgh Head. Best known as an RSPB Nature Reserve, Sumburgh Head is a twitcher's paradise but is … [Read more...]

Exploring the Orkney Islands by Motorhome – Scotland 2010

Approaching South Ronaldsay...

Anyone arriving in Orkney (or indeed the far north-east of Scotland) has to adjust their sense of normality. A named village or hamlet may only consist of a few houses and almost certainly won't have any shops, pubs or probably any other businesses at all. Even small towns are unlikely to have a … [Read more...]