August 2021, Covid is hopefully over, we have had our inoculations, Ruby has been with us for over a year, we have had a few days here or there in the Motorhome, so its off for our next adventure. It is a long while since we have been to Scotland so off we toddle.
Ruby settled into to life on the road immediately, lying on her mat between the seats (secured by a lead which has a handle halfway up that we secure to the passenger arm rest). She is asleep as soon as we set off, will sit up when we stop at traffic lights but goes back to sleep if we set off again, but once I switch the engine off and apply the hand break, she is up and raring to go, with a bark or a howl if she feels we are not moving quick enough.
We took her bed with us and when we got home bought her a new one so that we could keep this for the motorhome, but in winter it sits under my desk in the office and she often comes up and lies in it when I am working and occasionally sleeps in it if she wants a change.
We start our trip with a pub crawl to Scotland, preferring not to drive more than 3 hours per day if we can help it, it takes 4 days to get to Scotland, having dinner in each one to make life easier. They wouldn't allow Ruby in one, so they delivered our meal through the motorhome window!
On our second night Sarah and Vicky joined us and also slept in their van in the car park.
The plan was to do the East Coast first (as we had never been that way) but as we approached the forecast was poor, but excellent in the West, so we changed plans and headed west, stopping first in Kinlochleven. The site is half way up that lock and we got a spot right on the Lock side, so our one night stop was extended to 3, and when we realised that it was a bank holiday weekend (and the weather was fantastic, so all sites would be full) we extended for a full week (and got 1 night free!).
We finally dragged ourselves away and headed up to Scourie, where we stayed for 3 days, before heading across to Dornoch, where we stayed for 4 days. We then headed along the North East Coast staying in 2 car parks and a pub. before stopping for 4 nights in Portsoy.
From Portsoy we moved slowly down the coast to just outside Dundee, before a 4 hour drive to the border. From here we struggled to find a site with room, so stopped in another pub carpark and finally found a pitch at a site just north of York, so stayed there 3 nights and then drove straight home.
1,700 miles over 41 days and Ruby was perfect.
Not long after getting into Scotland we see the Kelpies, 30m high, so we have to stop for a visit.
I'm ready for a walk when you are!
And there are some excellent walks
The mist rolls in in the afternoon, but rolls right on again afterwards.
I'm sure you've got a treat in there somewhere!
And we then get some superb weather along the East coast
Slains Castle, near Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire, part of which dates back to the 16th century and apparently the inspiration for Bram Stokers Dracula
A flying visit to The Angel of the North on he way home
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