Scotland tour
I had been planning a special trip to Scotland for almost a year. The idea was that after retirement – and whilst I still had a car – I would drive up the east coast from Inverness to Thurso, along the top of Scotland to Durness, and down the west coast to Fort William, stopping off in Skye for a few days. I would take my time and not plan any particular stops along the way; I would simply take each day as it came. It would be a good old-fashioned motoring trip rather than a drive.
The road-trip of a lifetime
HOWEVER… I learned in January 2022 that I would have the car until the end of August, when I would have to hand it back to Volvo. I retire in early July, so that meant making the trip over the summer, which was a definite and resounding NO! Not only would the Highlands be crowded – relatively speaking – but it would be school holidays and places to stay would be expensive and hard to come by. Not to mention the midges.
Two things seemed essential: first I had to have a car and second I had to be retired, because I had no idea how long I would be away. I guessed it would be at least two to three weeks.
So, when to make the trip? Easter was out and June would be my last month at work. May might have worked but we ended up with the last two weeks of March, when the Highlands would be on the cusp of winter and spring and hopefully there would not be too many other tourists about. Did I mention the midges?
Three people meant planning. We needed accommodation booked up in advance so we needed to know where we would be on each of the fourteen days in Scotland. I am pleased to say it has come together quite nicely, and no doubt we will encounter a few surprises – and hopefully very few mishaps – along the way.
I have another ‘dream motoring holiday’ that I have been wanting to do for many years, if not decades. Corny I know but I wanted to take my time driving along and around Route 66, preferably in a 60’s Chevy Impala – like the one in the TV series Supernatural – or a 60’s Mustang. This will never happen.
In the mean time I had told my neighbours all about my dream motoring holiday and, after very little deliberation, they expressed a strong desire to join me. All was set for the three of us.
Day-by day: Diary of a Scotland Tour
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Scotland Day 1: Newton Abbot to Rosyth – a 481-mile drive
Day 1: Essentially a 9-hour drive from Newton Abbot to Rosyth, a small town with no pubs and nowhere to get hot food. Or so it would seem.
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Scotland Day 2: Three Forth Bridges; road trip South Queensferry to Buckie via the Cairngorms
Our first day in Scotland kicks off with pictures of the three Forth bridges from the north and the south shores, with a brief stop in Queensferry and a visit to a very good cafe.
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Scotland Day 3 part 1: Bow Fiddle Rock @ Portknockie
Bow Fiddle Rock has been photographed many times; we just had to have some that we could call our own. Portknockie itself is very pleasant though, and I regret not taking a few snaps of the village itself.
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Scotland Day 3: The Harbour Lights Cafe, Lossiemouth
A highly recommended eatery in a lovely building and a beautiful location. This is hard to beat.
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Scotland Day 3 part 2: Findhorn & Lossiemouth
Findhorn – or at least the small section we were able to get to – did not live up to expectations which left time to visit the lighthouse and museum at Covesea, only to find that both were closed.
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Scotland Day 4: Buckie to Thurso
North of Inverness is the most stunning scenery we have yet scene in Scotland – and that is saying something. We stopped on the way at an Eden-like idyll just before Golspie, which was itself a beautiful town with varied and beautiful architecture.
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Scotland Day 5: Dunnet Head & Keiss
I have walked on the land at the most northerly point of Britain. That feels like quite an achievement, and it was worth the winding track to get there.
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Scotland Day 6: Durness, Smoo & Tongue
Durness beach and Smooth caves turned out to be as good as expected and well worth a visit. I just hope that if you visit this fabulous area you learn the etiquette of driving along single-track roads.
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Scotland Day 7: Castletown to Portree: a 5-hour drive across the Highlands – stopping at the Midge Bite of course!
Before a long drive across the Highlands to the Isle of Skye we stopped to take some photos of the village we have been staying for the last few days. And stopped again for a Midge Bite.
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Scotland Day 8: Portree to Uig; sky on fire
A short and relaxing drive north to the ferry port of Uig. On our return journey we noticed the mountains were on fire…
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Scotland Day 9 part 1: Skye West – Dunvegan
Today we are heading west to Dunvegan, on what is our 9th day in Scotland and our second day on Skye.
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Scotland Day 9 part 2: Sunset at Elgol
An evening trip to the tiny hamlet of Elgol looking across to the Cuillin Hills. Dramatic scenery and a drive home in complete darkness – a first for me!
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Scotland Day 10: Sligachan, Eas a’Bhradain… and Coos!
A short drive in Skye can yield many surprises; waterfalls, mountain rivers, sculpture… and coos!
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Scotland Day 11: Skye West: to the Fairy Pools!
A great day planned, culminating in the Fairy Pools, with waterfalls, deserted beaches and a distillery along the way…
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Scotland Day 12: a 5-hour drive from Skye to Loch Lomond via Glencoe
Not a long drive in terms of miles but a long drive in terms of scenery and road conditions. Extremely enjoyable.
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Scotland Day 13: Loch Lomond & The Trossachs
Our 13th day in Scotland was relatively short and relaxing, taking in Aberfoyle and a number of lochs in The Trossachs, an area I feel I know fairly well after a number of visits in recent years.
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Scotland Day 14: Places with personal meaning: Kilmacolm, Port Glasgow & Cardross
A personal odyssey for myself and one of my travelling companions as I visit my first school and Tim visits the village where he grew up.
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Scotland Day 15: a 475-mile road trip from Balloch to Newton Abbot
Over 9 hours on the road and 475 miles covered. The end of a journey for me and my travelling companions. No photos today but here is a shot of the fabulous B&B we stayed in on the Isle of Skye.
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Scotland Day 16: Waking up at home
A series of dreams gave new meaning to the two weeks I have just spent in Scotland. I could finally be on the verge of writing my first novel…
Colin Anderson 