Mini adventure coming up

A mini adventure has been planned…a long weekend next week. Where to? Well it involves a short ferry to the stunning Isle of Islay on the west coast of Scotland. I’ll be leaving straight from work on Thursday and meeting up with Jill, at Inveraray, where we’ll leave her car. It’ll then be down to Kennacraig Ferry Terminal where we’ll camp overnight for the 7am ferry in the morning to Port Ellon. Being early it’ll mean a full day on Friday with the return on Sunday late afternoon this time from Port Askaig back to Kennacraig. With stunning beaches and points of interest to see we’ll certainly not be lost for things to do…oh yeh…we can’t forget the 8 Distilleries can we 🙂

Both myself, for the 4th time, and Jill have been before back in 2007 for the Classic Malts Cruise…a 2 week organised cruise visiting 3 distilleries along the way with each putting on their own festivities of food, drink and music. What more could you want! The trip can be split into 2 separate weeks which is what we did by taking part in the second week as the 2 day event at Lagavulin is the best of the 2 week event with an amazing seafood spread, free bar and ceilidh…oh yeh…and some great sailing thrown in. This event has been run for several years but for some reason it’s not been on the past two and having just looked at the World Cruising website I see the next isn’t until 2020…mmmmm can see another plan coming together 🙂   Though I’m wondering how much they will be charging.

When I first started going it was a joint venture by Clyde Cruising and United Distillers who put on this free 2 week event. Along with that each crew member got a fleece, embroidered with the logo and year, and a cap with the skipper also getting a nav bag. Each distillery put on their own festivities with free food, drink and music.  Then World Cruising took over the with an entry fee of £70 for the 2 weeks, or £35 if only taking part in 1 week, which isn’t that bad really considering what you got. Then it went up to £120 if I remember correctly and not being able to split it. I’ve not been since 2007 but I did see the registration fees rise each year so god knows what they’ll charge in 2020.

Here’s a few pictures from the trip…

Hogmanay 2017 wild camp

Where to?

The approach of Storm Dylan has been scuppering my plans the past few days. Still deciding where to go today though many parts of Scotland are pretty wild until later tomorrow.

And I’m off …where?   Who knows, let the mini adventure begin.

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I did have a rough idea which was back to Glen Orchy by the river but this time in amongst the trees where I saw a large tent pitched when there back in May. The river was certainly a good bit higher with all the rain we’d been having.  With a cuppa tea made the golden stuff ready to be poured shortly after setup to start the celebrations.  The rain was on and off but no problem under the awning with all the sides on, plus I rigged up the Hilleberg tarp as a 4th side to stop the rain encroaching by the wind. Although it wasn’t that cold I lit the fire in the Braai bbq box probably more for the visual, comforting, effect it creates especially as it was such a shitty day and means I wouldn’t have had to think about it later on. I had plenty of charcoal with me as I knew the wood would have been too wet, plus it creates too much smoke under the awning.

Thank god I decided at the last minute to take a very large tarp, 7m x 4m, a just in case I might need it thought even though I’ve never taken it anywhere camping before. Lets just say it was put to very good use as the ground was extremely waterlogged as you’ll see in one of the video.

Dec 2017 – Coleman stove refurb

Well after about 10 years of good use it was time to revamp the stove…it was looking very sad for itself with all the rust in the base. Seemed to take weeks & weeks spraying coats in between the cold weather but finally finished a few days ago.

 

Nov 2017 – Peebles wild camp and visit to the Great Polish Map of Scotland

Having arrived at my usual spot, in the Meldons, for a quick wild camp I couldn’t believe the amount of rubbish that some group had left after a fireworks party at some point over the past few days. After setting up it took less than half an hour to fill 3 bags full of the cans, bottles and used fireworks.

On arrival

On arrival

All bagged up

Looks better now

I tried a couple of time to do a Facebook Live but the signal wasn’t strong enough to keep the video connected. I did try again later but was just the same. With time getting on I was ready for some food. Chilli  was on the menu but instead of rice I had spaghetti…just felt like a bit of pasta…after all it’s just a spicy spag bog with some added kidney beans 🙂

It was a cracking night, and a light one at that, when the clouds eventually went away. It was so peaceful just sitting back in the chair by the fire, with a glass of red wine, while looking at the night sky with the sound of the river in the background.

August 2017 – Orkney & the north coast

I was meant to be heading off to Skye tomorrow night then possibly the Western Isles to meet up with others who’d gone out to kayak a few days earlier. However with all the rain the islands have had over the past week it’s caused landslides and lots of flooding so I’ve been looking around Scotland to see where’s dry…if anywhere. Orkney seemed to be the best place being the driest and sunny. So I booked a ferry for Friday 25^th going from Gills Bay, by John O’Groats to St. Margaret’s Hope on South Ronaldsay to the south, an island now connected by causeways. It’s a mid-day ferry so will give me plenty time to get to my camping spot and setup.

I left straight after work to break the journey north up with a planned camp at a spot on the road over the Struie Road. I got there just after 10.30pm, after a couple of stops with one being Aviemore to discover it was the Harley Davidson festival…Thunder in the Glens…with the town absolutely buzzing!  I hung around for a while, got something to eat and drink while listening to one of the live bands on the stage outside the Cairngorm Hotel.  The thought did cross my mind to find a place to park and stay, have a beer or two and enjoy the festivities but sense got the best of me knowing I was to be at the ferry terminal 30 minutes before leaving. Back on the road again it wasn’t long before I turned left off the main A9 onto the B9176…called the Struie Road taking you to Bonar Bridge. By now the rain was on but I wasn’t planning on going outside, it was a quick set up of the bed and sleep for an early start. Come morning it had dried but still a bit dull with a few midges out. After a quick cuppa tea it was back on the road heading for Gills Bay Ferry.

Wee Scottish Beasties just waiting to get me. No chance!

cof

cof

cof

It was a great drive north to the ferry stopping at a couple of places on the way up. Have to say in all the years I’ve been going north, basically since I was born, I’ve never been to any of the small villages on the North East coastline. I stopped in a Dunbeath and drove down to the harbour where I came across the small centre showing the history of some of the local fishing vessels that once worked the coastline. Really pleased I took the time to head off the main road and down to the village…beautiful place!  From there it was up to Wick where I stocked up with some basic essentials for 5 days worth of meals and topped up with fuel when I saw the price…much cheaper than the small garages dotted about the place and with 180lt in total I could pretty much complete my trip. John O’Groats was the next stop though don’t know why as there’s not much there….a real tourist trap but it was only a quick stop and got the Jetboil on for a cuppa tea. Gills Bay is just a couple of miles along the road so there was no rush. 

August 2017 – One night wild camp not far from Peebles

Had a great nights camp in the Meldon Hills last night. During the day there was torrential rain in Edinburgh so was hoping the forecast was going to be right…for it to be dry and sunny from 6pm where I was to camp. It’s a place I’ve been many times before and can get busy with others wild camping so was hoping too there wouldn’t be too many others. On arrival I parked the car to walk up the track, only accessible by 4×4, to make sure there was no one camping where I was going to go. Turned out there were no other campers at all…only a couple of guys away the other side playing about on scrambles…who did end up camping too but way over the other side to me…out of sight.

June 2017 – Tilley Travels – Loch Lomond and The Trossachs

 

A day trip was planned with the Scottish Green Road Club. We were warned that the majority of the group had Landrovers.  With Tilley a Toyota there was bound to be a bit of good hearted ribbing. We can give as good as we get, so that didn’t put us off! We planned to camp the evening before nearby.

An eventful journey for me on the way south from Aberdeenshire, with a puncture on the A90. I thought the noise was a low flying helicopter! Not the best of starts but I was rescued by some very young policeman who coned me off while I waited to be rescued – yes I’m a wimp!

One night wildcamp in the Lammermuirs – June ’17

I decided to head off for a quick one night wild camp in the Lammermuirs. I’ve been before but this time I was looking for a new spot. I knew there were a couple of tracks near where I normally go so after a bit of a drive around I ended up driving down a muddy grass track, with a couple sections of deep muddy ruts, towards some trees where it flattened out, plus I wasn’t in view from the road. It was a stunning evening and only 3 days away from the longest day.

Modifications and New Kit – ongoing

Gas Bottle Holder

I got the gas bottle holder on Friday, that a local guy had made up for me, so managed to get it fitted to the rear storage box. It makes it more accessible and doesn’t take space on the roof rack. This is used with the gas conversion for the Coleman Dual Fuel Stove though I still carry the petrol tank for it as back up at times. It’s just so much easier to use with gas and just as powerful with Propane Gas.

North Yorkshire Moors with One Life Adventure – March ’17

Me (Jill) being keen to put Tilley to the test off road booked us on a weekend  trip with One Life Adventure on the North Yorkshire Moors.