Holiday in Scotland 2022

 Holiday in Scotland 17th - 22nd July 2022

Sunday 17th July.

So began the 357mile 6hr 30min drive to Bonnie Scotland, Toni's first trip and my third. A couple of stops on route at fairly shabby services and a detour through a not so salubrious part of Glasgow courtesy of road works at Paisley meant it was an inauspicious start to our well earned break.

Our planned itinerary included a pre-booked evening cruise on Loch Linhe, to view Ben Nevis. A walk up Ben Nevis and a ferry trip to the Ilse of Mull with a bus ride to Tobermory (Balamory from TV fame).

Sunday evening was spent in the Hotel Hollytree in Kentallen on the banks of the sea Loch, Loch Linhe. The views from which were absolutely stunning, including those from our lovely room.

Monday 18th.

Today we needed to be in the Fort William area as we had our evening cruise on Loch Linhe to look forward to, but not until 7pm. Our plan began with a drive up to Aonach Mor and a gondola ride up to the ski areas and view points from that mountain ski resort, one of which was a look at the top edge of the north face of Ben Nevis. With the weather being kind to us on Monday and Tuesday the views were not disappointing. Next was lunch in Fort William and a mini shopping spree, mainly for grandkids of course. Dinner was had there also and then the cruise. This was not a cruise to see wildlife, Porpoises, Dolphins, Seals and many varieties of bird life and in that it was successful, as we did not, although, its mission statement was "views of Ben Nevis" and it was hugely successful, as for 340 days of the year the mountain is not visible...

                      

Tuesday 19th

We had decided that Tuesday would be a drive to Oban to check out the ferry terminal and have a look around this important ferry port. Neither of us thought too much of Oban, its views out to sea were magnificent as expected, but the town itself was a little disappointing, run down and in need of a regeneration. Nevertheless lunch was taken at Kronks before a unexpected find of a lovely chocolate emporium. after a short stay and purchase of various chocolatey delights we headed back to our hotel in Kentallen and dinner from their not so extensive veggie/vegan menu. Fish & chips (Haddock), Mountain Burger (Plant food) or Pumpkin Ravioli.

              

Wednesday 20th

The big day, summiting Ben Nevis... Alarm set for 5am, planning on Parking at the Ben Nevis visitors centre and attempting our ascent at 6am. We eventually began at 6,30am and as planned did beat most of the invading hordes. It was a nice cool morning and according to the weather man becoming cooler and foggy the higher you climbed. We were fog free up to 700m and could clearly see a few campers around Lochan Meall an t-Suiche. After that we turned the corner and headed towards the formidable and infamous zig-zags. The fog/low cloud descended and obliterated most of the views from here on, but the path was clearly visible and we continued our ascent of the UK's highest point. Approximately three hours from our start we reached the rocky summit and took our obligatory photos on the cairn. Lunch was taken in the derelict shelter and the sun almost poked through the cloud to warm us. Feeling very chuffed with our efforts at being for a few seconds the tallest people in the UK we started the long descent back to clear visibility and the car.

Thursday 21st

Thursday saw us rise early, not as early as Ben Nevis day, but we were booked on the 09.55 ferry from Oban to the Ilse of Mull. So breakfast and a 45minute drive later we were at the departure gate for the CalMac ferry. We docked at Craignure then queued for a bus to Tobermory, made famous by the children's TV show 'Balamory'. On arrival at the bus stop/station in Tobermory the cameras came out and the famous sea front and brightly painted buildings were captured on numerous devices before a gentle stroll along said sea front. Having checked out all the shops and cafes on our first lap, we decided on the ex-church now restaurant for our lunch. Binoculars were purchased from one of the many touristy shops, one pair each for myself, Toni and Ibby. Having strolled as much as we could we headed back to get the bus back to Craignure and the ferry to Oban. and after dinner at a Pizza restaurant we returned to Kentallen to prepare to checkout the next day.

Friday 22nd

Alas it was time to leave the Highlands of Scotland and return to the Highlands of Derbyshire. Our last breakfast of scrambled eggs on toast or potato scones was consumed and our bags packed for the long drive home. We intended to take our time and visit a couple of places to break up the journey, firstly to the Falls of Falloch. 

then onto Gretna Green to get hitched 😂💞. OK, just for lunch and a look around the many touristy shops, filled with fridge magnets, shortbread and tartan...

Finally the journey back to Middleton and real life...

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Poo 2 Ply

Three days to go and I'm off on my next adventure, a short haul from Poole in Dorset to Plymouth.
The first day starts with a train from Gunnislake to Plymouth at 7.30am, then a big bus from Plymouth to Wareham at 10.15am, then a little bus from Wareham to Swanage and ends with an overnight at the YHA in Swanage.
Day 2 begins with a short bus journey to the start of the walk at South Haven Point.
Then the fun begins...
211 miles and 12 days between me and my bed.

Boscastle Stroll

20/03/2011
Nice little drive to Boscastle for a 21 mile stroll in the countryside and along the S.W.Coast path. My companions in the car were... David G the leader of this walk, Marian, Megan who I had not previously met  who's car we were in and lastly four lovely Collie dogs, Fly, Willow, Flossie and Missy who were all well behaved.
New people on this expedition to me were, Barry and a chap named John from Camelford who had moved down to Cornwall from Yorkshire.Then there were Geraldine and Noel G who I had met at the Bovey Tracey meeting and Brian and his wife (sorry name has gone) who were also at Wiveliscombe.
That was the ten of us including me once more the novice and once more didn't it just show. I reckon at the start I looked fit and happy, stood there with my pack on and adorned in my new cool walking attire, but by the end looking like the epitomy of knackeredness and close to shouting (if I had had the breath)...
 "Why the f*** am I doing this again?"
Anyway, there we were ready and raring to go from the car park in Boscastle on a glorious sunny day and it wasn't long before layers of clothing were being shed. The pace was seriously Olympic and I quickly realised that it was going to be as hard if not harder then the wet walk in Wiveliscombe. In truth it turned out to be the bludgeoning battle of Boscastle, exactly as I had feared. Sergeant Major Jean and her her route march through parts of Somerset and Devon in the first recorded monsoon in Englands history paled into insignificance beside this horrendous pursuit of David G to be Britains most vaunted adventurer since Sir Edmond Hilarys epic climb of Mt Everest.
What made it harder was being trapped at the back on several occaisions, which you might say isn't that bad, and I admit it wouldn't have been had it not been for one member who could talk for England. She would jabber like a jabbering thing (great metaphor), talk like it was going out of fashion, chatter like a pack of chattering Hyenas (any better) and spew forth inane comments of which I understood as much as I would have if I had actually been listening to a jabbering, talking, chattering Hyena. I couldn't get away because it would have been rude to run off or silly to go in the other direction, so when I was able to utter a responce between gasping for oxygen and not falling to my death off of the cliff path (which was an alternative I hadn't thought of at the time I admit) I answered yes, uhuh, hmmm and oh, I'm hoping that if it at all mattered my responces were appropriate.
My only description of this spring saunter through summerlike sunshine and splendid daffodills, will be about what was appropriatly called by someone the STING-IN-THE-TAIL.
Bare with me while I attempt to find words to describe Hill 194 as I have decided to name it. Most of the words I would like to use would be of the gutter variety and I might want my Mummy to read this one day.
Luckily (there's the most innappropriate use of a word I will ever see), Hill 194 was the last ascent before we entered Boscastle and therefore the end of another major marathon march. But what a bloody (sorry Mum) big ascent it was. There were 194 (I counted every last one of them I assure you), steps up a sheer cliff face that would have better been described as a fire escape for Trump Tower. It was mega, monolithic, humungus and many other words that describe something really really big.
My body had already insisted that it had done enough walking for the day and I was having to out think it and fool it into believing that around every corner the end would be in sight, I don't think it has forgiven me yet as it is steadfastly refusing to let me sleep, hence the updating of this blog. I did contemplate turning around and walking back 20.5 miles to the start of the walk which was .5 of a mile away up a hill. Believe me it was serious consideration too. But seeing as there were two ladies in their 60's one man in his 70's and several more older then me all trotting up Hill 194 like it was something they do every week (hang on, they are doing it every week), I went for it and much to my amazement and surprise I made it.
I had never before realised just how heavy the average leg could be, but at that exact minute it felt like they were the legs of a lady I once new called big bouncing Betty from Birmingham and you can tell from the name she was a scouser of immence proportions.
I have now forgiven David G for his Saddistic stroll and am now looking forward to my lonesome amble from Poole in Dorset to Seaton in Cornwall in just four weeks time, am I truly mad, yes I really think I am.
Goodnight.

Training Session 2

After recovering from the tortuous events of Wiveliscombe my sights are now set on a little jaunt around Boscastle on March 20th. I believe a mere 20 miles is planned, probably up and down the nice, easy and level South West Coast Path. Let's hope for a little sunshine or at least dry conditions.
I need to make contact with my travelling buddies of old as I believe one of them is leading this stroll. They will probably be surprised that I am back after my first outing and the condition I appeared to be in (which wasn't as bad as the actual condition I was in).
Still, looking forward to another walk and another step on the path to the big one.
I will report in after the event so keep reading this enthralling epitaph.

O.M.G

Don't really have to write anymore then the title to sum up my first experience walking with the Cornwall & Devon LDWA group yesterday.

Firstly lets set the scene...
Having been woken up at 01.00am Sunday morning by my lovely daughter (who shall remain nameless, it wasn't Kate), she needed rescuing, locked out of her own house. Not too bad your thinking, it's Sunday so there is probably a lie in coming, not so. The alarm was on for 05.45 so I could get to Callington to be picked up for my inaugural hike with the above mentioned group.
OK, now I'm up having slept another 15 seconds or so after the rescue. Everything is just about ready, I just need a bit of breakfast and make up my large flask (which I realised was way over the top for a days walk but hey ho, I'm quite used to looking like an idiot so I wasn't to bothered).
Made my way to Callington, all the while thinking I'm sure I've forgotten something. Within a few minutes of arriving David and Marian pulled in and off we went, into the wild blue yonder or Wiveliscombe in Somerset as it is better known. Which was a pleasant enough journey, although, mostly in the dark, which just happened to mask the overwhelming theme of the day, RAIN.
We arrived in plenty of time without much fuss and prepared ourselves for a wet foray into the countryside of Somerset (20, that's twenty miles of it, (19.1 really) but I slipped about .9 of a mile so I'm calling it 20).

Now before I go on, you will need to know a little about our leader for the walk. I've never met her before but was assured that she was a lovely lady called (let's leave real names out for now shall we) Joan. She must have been around the mid sixties at least, was around five foot nothing and probably weighed a couple of bags of sugar. In fact she made Gordy (he of Kawasaki fame) seem of average height. I had been informed, or as I now know warned that she could and probably would set a good pace.
Now, was I wrong to have imagined that any pace this little, fragile old lady could muster I would have no trouble in keeping up with, in fact she would more then likely hold up this fit and healthy outdoors man.
Good grief was I wrong, YES, in the most monolithic, cataclysmic and nuclear explosive way. She never even made an impression in the mud while everyone else was slip sliding around, some of them on their posteriors. (One thing I didn't do was fall over, which is lucky cause I don't think I would have been able to get back up).  As the miles ticked away my stride length became smaller and smaller until I was walking like a Japanese Geisha Girl. At first I was managing to keep up with the leaders of the group and then gradually I went backwards until I was keeping company with Norm (another thoroughly nice chap) who I suspect was at the back to take care of stragglers of which, I appeared to be the only one out of around twenty people (or freakishly fit athletes). The group was made up of around 50% men and 50% women of which most of them appeared older and as I know now much fitter then myself.
At this point I feel I should point out my lack of sleep from the night before, the man flu I was recovering from, the fact that it was my first long distance walk, it was raining constantly and that Dame Kelly Holmes was leading the forced March.
Anyway lets not linger on the hardest thing I have attempted in a long time and the fact that my ego and my belief in my own physical well being are way out of line with reality. lets wonder why twelve or so people along with Marian opted to walk a leisurely more sedate twelve miles. I think that I will be listening to Marian a little bit more in the future. A future that at this moment in time is all about aching limbs.

Now the big questions...

Did I enjoy my debut walk with the LDWA and Joan of Arc?


NO.

Will I be joining the group again to attempt another challenge?

YES.
but not with the lovely Joan, at least until I'm a lot fitter.

Have I bitten off more then I can chew in believing I can walk from Lands End to John O Groats and back?

YES.
Is the short answer at the moment.

To wrap this up, I will write in conclusion that it was a real eye opener for me and hopefully the beginning of the proper fitness I will need for my future hikes.

I've now just remembered what it was I'd forgotten on my drive to Callington, it was of course my brain.