Day 71, Kendal to Evesham. 180mls Total = 3419mls

Felt we were in danger of drowning, so with the rain still falling, we decided to call it a day and head for home, calling in at Kendal town for some last minute presents.

Journey back was horrendous as it did not stop raining until after Birmingham. An accident at J13 on the M6 forced us off the motorway and through Stafford, which was probably worse traffic. Got back on the M6 only to be held up in roadworks for another hour. We are not used to all this!

Anyway, we have completed the northern leg of our coastal journey, which lasted 71 days during which we drove 3,419mls.

There were many highlights, but perhaps the most lasting one was the north and north west coast of Scotland, which is truly beautiful, with its lovely bays, pure white sand beaches and glorious sunsets.

 We were blessed with the driest spring Scotland has had for years, with long sunny days and very little wind, so I suppose we did see it at it's wonderful best. Would we do it again? You try and stop us. Now we've started we may never stop!  

Kendal Campsite field

Clean and polished - ready to go - again!

Day 70 Kippford to Kendal 110mls

Eddie, Margaret, Enid and some funny looking guy

Gretna Green Old Smithy

Kendal 4pm

After our bracing walk yesterday morning we settled down to watch the final round of the open at St.Andrews. Bit of an anti climax as the winner, Louis Oosterh......, won by a mile. Had a pleasant surprise when Eddie and Enid invited us to supper at their holiday home in Kippford, and even came to the site to collect us. After another evening of amusing tales from the past we walked back for our last night on Scottish soil.

The morning bought yet more rain, and with the forecast to be the same until Thursday, we decided to head for home. Gretna Green was our last stop, which was commercialized to the hilt, with bagpipes and gift shops galore. And about 25 coach loads of tourists! Saw the old blacksmiths shed where the marriages still take place (they dont do divorces though - I did ask).

Hit the motorway down to Kendal where we have decided to break the journey. The rain has been lashing down since this morning. We can not get a satellite, or any other signal, so its a last night of surfing (internet, not Windermere) or reading. Feel quite sad but looking forward to seeing family and friends, if we've got any left!

Day 68- Kircudbright to Kippford 31mls

 Woke to another showery morning, and set off into Kircudbright, looking for a bit of culture.  Went to the Toll Booth art centre for an audio visual of the towns arty history, after which we had look round Broughton House, the home of the artist, E A  Hornel.

Bought some Kircudbright Queenie's (small local scallops to you and me).

Paid a brief visit to Dundrennan Abbey, founded by the Cistercians in 1142, and where Mary Queen of Scots spent her last night in Scotland, before passing the Wicker man pop festival sight, (remember the classic film). 

E A Hornel's house

MacLellans castle

Dundrennan Abbey

The Wicker man (nothing like the original)

Arrived in Kippford mid afternoon and settled into the camp site of the same name. Come the evening, we met up with some friends who we have not seen for 34 years. Had a meal at the Anchor, Kippford for a very enjoyable night of reminiscing.

Once again, it was throwing it down this morning, which could well be our last day in Scotland, looking at the forecast.  Braved the elements and walked over the Muckle to Rockcliffe, climbing the Mote Of Mark, a couple of miles along the coast. As we walked back into Kippford the rottweiler was off the lead and spying a sausage dog the other side of a gate, went into full attack mode. She came off worse with a bitten nose (serves her right really). The sergeant major who owned the sausage was very apologetic even though it was not really his dogs fault.  Ate the Queenie's for lunch, and very nice too.  

View from the site and below, what a sight.

Rockcliffe from the Mote of Mark - site of a Roman Fort

Day 67 Newton Stewart to Kircudbright 35mls

Kircudbright Bay

Little Ross Island

Taz finally relaxes

You looking at me?

Very windy, although not as bad as St Andrews where they stopped play for an hour because of the wind! Trundled round the coast from Newton Stewart and came upon another place called Ross (we found one in Northumberland too), with a small island called Little Ross. Decided to stop just outside Kircudbright for the night at Seaward holiday park. Did nothing more exciting than watch the golf, go for a walk and a chinese. We feel the end is nigh, and with the weather taking a turn for the worse perhaps its as well. We both feel a bit sad even though we are looking forward to seeing friends and family.

Day 66 Newton Stewart

I am married to a pensioner! I dont know about Ross but it makes me feel old! 65 today with no cards or pressies to open, poor old thing!

Rained a lot through the night, but the morning looked ok, so went for a game of golf at Newton Stewart. £50 for two green fees and a buggie, which was useful as it is a bit hilly. A really good course though, quite difficult and the birthday boy just pipped me by one point, 30 to 29.

Watched a bit of the open, then walked to the Creebridge Hotel for a very good meal. Scallops, fillet steak (there was only one fillet left so I had sea bass) and sticky toffee. Just as we got back to the van the rain came down and continued to do so for the rest of the night.

Day 65 Garlieston to Newton Stewart 39mls

After a wet and windy night (and that was just inside the van!), we drove through Newton Stewart on our way to Glentrool Forest. Newton Stewart seems to have a few more shops than we have seen recently. Did the blue mountain bike trail, 9km, which was great fun. After climbing to the top of the forest the swooping track back down was brilliant. Ross managed to throw himself into a rock just as we arrived back in the car park. Only winded, no bruises showing yet.
After a bacon and egg sarnie we set off with the Taz for a sedate walk round the forest. Within half a mile it started lashing down, so by the time we got back we were soaked. Yet another set of clothes for the laundry!

Stopping the night at a CL in Newton S, just a few hundred yards from the high street. We are the only people in what is someones back garden! Its only £7.50 a night!

Day 64, Portpatrick to Garlieston, 90 mls

Mull Of Galloway

Isle of Whithorn

Sunny morning and no wind. Drove to the Mull of Galloway which is the most southerly point of Scotland. Further south than Newcastle. Enjoyed a walk round the headland and a crab sandwich in the cafe. This is a really nice part of Scotland, not as wild as the north, and loads of footpaths and rolling hills.

I was in the Isle of Whithorn when they were filming "The Wicker Man", a cult film from 1974, with my old friend Rena McKie, who lived here. Everything looks a little different now, but the old lady at the fish shop, where we bought some haddock, said there was a Wicker man festival every year so might have to come to that!

Visited Berrow head where the wicker man was actually burned. There is a campsite there - but not one we would want to stop at, so continued on the Garlieston. Biked to Rigg Bay then back to our site, next to some free range pigs, for our Whithorn haddock.

Isle of Whithorn

Garlieston

Day 63 - Portpatrick

Fabulous morning so decided to have a game of golf at Portpatrick. Our best choice yet, barring St Andrews. A great course, a combination of links and heathland. £30 green fee and we treated ourselves to a buggy. 35 pts each, an honourable draw ( I think I'm still in front on the overall score though). Took Spit the dog for a walk on the coastal path back toward the lighthouse we visited yesterday.

Back to the site for a read in the sun.

Day 62 Stranraer to Portpatrick, 48m

Blackhead Lighthouse Nrth of Portpatrick

Portpatrick

Have not been able to get an internet connection for 2 days (now at Garlieston), so going to be brief as we have to catch up! Drier morning, though still grey. Took the coast road north round the Rhins of Galloway, stopping at the Black Head lighthouse before arriving in Portpatrick. Lovely little place, just like any Cornwall village. Had lunch at one of the many (at least 4) eating places, then found a campsite a mile away overlooking the sea. Ireland is only 22 miles away. Walked into Portpatrick from the coastal path, weather vastly improved.

Day 61 Turnberry to Stranraer 48mls

Still Waiting for our pot of gold!!

Turnberry Sunset 1- 10pm

Culzean Castle

Swan Lake

Cormorant Rock

Turnberry Sunset 2 - 10.30pm

Forgot to mention that yesterday we drove up the road known as the "Electric Brae". It is an optical illusion produced by the surrounding countryside. The road looks as if it is going uphill but in fact it is going downhill! Very spooky!

Another grey morning, so after returning our borrowed gas bottle, we decided to spend it at Culzean Castle, given to the NT by the Marquess of Ailsa and the Kennedy family in 1945. What a fabulous place with wonderful parkland grounds, where we enjoyed a long walk in one of the only dry patches of the day. After a coq-a-leekie soup in the cafe (complete with raisins??) we set off to find our next stop. Had no luck finding a calor gas outlet before arriving at a site in Stranraer at 4pm when it was throwing it down! It has continued to rain ever since. I knew the first 8 weeks were too good to be true!  

Day 60 Balloch to Turnberry 102mls

Robbie Burns Birthplace Alloway

Brig O'Doon from Tam O'Shanter

The Old Kirk

Lighthouse at Turnberry

Ailsa Craig from Turnberry Beach

After a 10pm walk round Balloch last night we realised that we are back in civilisation. Cars, shops, restaurants, roundabouts, dual carriageways - all the things we have not seen in any quantity over the last 8 weeks.

Steady rain this morning, so set off at 9.30 aiming to get somewhere nice for the evening. Drove over the Erskine bridge, then through Greenock, Largs and Irvine without stopping. Past the golf course at Royal Troon, the rain still falling, then through Ayr to Alloway where we decided to stop for lunch. It also turned out to be the birthplace of Robbie Burns. Enjoyed a visit the the National Trusts house, visitor centre, Brig O'Doon and old church which featured in his story "Tam O'Shanter".

Still raining, so pressed on to Culzean which looked a good place to stay but 2 sites were full so had no choice but to continue! Past Ayr and Turnberry so we have ended up at a small site attached to a cafe by the beach (may be a job to keep Ross out of there in the morning as they do a full English, or should I say Scottish). A long walk down the beach once the rain had stopped then back for our M&S curry. Disaster, we have run out of LPG! Ross spotted a canister next to the cafe and "borrowed" it till the morning!

Day 59 Luss to Balloch 12mls

14th hole

Phil Mickleson on his way to a 6 on the par 4 14th

Had a fabulous day at the Scottish Open golf tournament at Loch Lomond. What a fantastic course, shame you can only play it with a member. Saw John Daly, Els, Mickleson, and the weather was dry. Saw Monty, who was laughing and joking on the 3rd hole, but by the 14th the club was being wacked into the ground and the hands on hips glare into the crowd had resurfaced.

Got to our next stop in Balloch at 7pm.

Day 58 Ardgartan to Luss 39mls

Ardgartan Campsite

Loch Lomond from Glen Douglas

Luss

Dry this morning, thankfully. Set off for Luss via another minor road through Glen Douglas. Popped into the Loch Lomond open to get our tickets for the golf that we booked through the internet. Lots of people going in even for practice day. On the way there, we were flagged down by a yellow coated policeman who we thought was a roadworker, and told off for doing 41mph in a coned off 30 limit. Got away with a warning, very lucky!

Another nice site, right on the banks of the loch and close enough to do the village walk round Luss and the local countryside. Sweet little place which is a conservation site.

Had a meal with Tony & Sue Layton and Tony & Joan Glaze, friends from the golf club who have come up to see the Loch Lomond Open, at the Inverbeg Inn. Our first social occassion for over 8 weeks!

Nice to speak to other people for a change!