Home again!

Sunday September 27th

I have made myself sit down amongst the unpacking and laundry to write this blog at the end of our trip, otherwise life will take over and it might not get done!

We left Mull early afternoon on Friday. The crossing to Oban was very calm despite the strong wind and white horses on the sea, probably because we were sailing with the wind and not across it. (No doubt my sailor friends will tell me if my theory is correct).

Leaving Craignure Mull, looking back at the campsite. Our pitch was to the right of the little slipway. Duart Castle is in the background 

We were blessed with another sunny day as we drove along Loch Linnhe, up to Loch Awe,  through Glen Lochy and over the hills to Tyndrum. By then the outside temperature had dropped to 7C...... at just after 4.0pm.  Tyndrum is the home of the Green Welly shop and a major road junction. We were booked into the By The Way campsite which was located in woodland next to the railway line. It reminded us of a campsite where we stayed in Canada, except the trains there were a mile long, hooting as they rumbled by. This was a useful place to stay for our last night, a warm welcome with the facilities were open too. For anyone interested they have camping pods too.

Michael did a little packing on Friday night but most of it had to be done on Saturday morning after we had had our breakfast, washed etc. We got up at 7.30am and were pulling away at about 9.45 with everything done including draining off the grey water and cleaning the loo cassette. There are always financial penalties if you return a van without these jobs done!

We had a good run stopping at Tarbet on Loch Lomond to have our coffee and use the loo, it was already getting  quite busy.

Loch Lomond

We were booked to return the van at 12md and had to fill with diesel and lpg on the way, a garage near the depot was detailed on the return instructions. It might have been near had it not been for a road closure, I am sure I would have got completely lost with out my friendly lady on Google Maps!  The check out completed, the car packed, we set off again about 12.30. We drove about 8miles to Rothwell services where we stopped because I was desperate for the loo and they are closed at the depot. We decided to drive a bit further before having our lunch, and pulled into the new Cairn Lodge services where we had stopped on the way north. These are run by the Tebay and Gloucester Services firm, with a Farmshop. They are of a high standard. Sandwiches eaten I turned the ignition key and nothing happened, I tried a few times to no avail!! We called Honda Assist  and had to wait an hour and a half for a mechanic who got it going in no time, diagnosing a faulty battery.  He accompanied us the the petrol station where we partly filled up (no way are we going to pay motorway prices if we can help it, but we knew we didn't have quite enough to get home), and it started first time then!!  Then we were off down the road, with beautiful views until the dark clouds of Lancashire!  We stopped to change drivers a couple of times but didn't switch off!!! Home at 6.30pm 

[ Michael had had problem with the battery during lockdown and so had it checked at Honda in Clitheroe in advance of our trip, to be told it was fine. NOT!]

It is a glorious day today and four loads have washing have been or are out of the line

Reflections on the trip:

We were not able to do the wild camping we had anticipated in part because a lot of places had "No Overnight Parking" notices and also because we had a leak on the water system,. We learned to manage it after discussion with John at the Atlas Hire depot.  

On Lewis and Harris the inhabitants were scared stiff of getting Covid and tourists were seen as a threat. All campsites closed except one, where we were made welcome, with conditions ! There had been 7 cases on the island brought in by oil rig workers.   

However as we moved south down the islands the attitude was better.

The best campsite by far was at Borve  just north of Castlebay,  on Barra, we could have stayed there a lot longer. We loved Barra and would like to return one day. 

The campsite on Mull treated us almost like Lepers yet charged more than anywhere else. Once checked in the reception was not open. Saw a chap taking a gas bottle to exchange and I think he must have had to phone them up!

The weather was varied. Windy, showers, sunshine on Lewis, which meant noisy nights in the van. It poured with rain as we drove south to North Uist and then the wind really got up! Force 6-8 gales with rain most of the night with the van buffeted around. Even the locals commented about that night later in the week. On Barra we had relatively good weather.  We had one very wet day on Mull then the sun came out but there was still a chilly wind. 

I wore my long shorts once and in the main I was dressed in my Icebreaker merino top and my newly knitted Wensleydale Longwool sweater over it, then either a waterproof jacket or quilted jacket on top!

All museums, heritage centres and information centres were closed.  A lot of craft shops were closed too, except, apparently Hebridean Jewellery, which I missed!!  We saw a lot of closed hotels, many of them will rely on coach trip trade which seems non existent. Such a shame.

BUT the countryside was open! As Michael said " they can't close the scenery" and it was truly wonderful wherever we went, even in the rain.

All in all it was a good trip. Living in a campervan is hard work at times, but it was the safe way for us to have a holiday this year.

1150 miles driven......by me! Plus 381 to and from Glasgow 

Sunset from Barra

All photos have been taken using my IPhone 7

Until the next trip...........hope you have enjoyed this one.