12 Day of Christmas - Isle of Mull

Today's trip was inspired by a great set of lads, Lluc and Jeff who had hired Mindy specifically to visit Mull, the first for me. Nearly all my guest speak about Skye and forget there are other just as exciting islands, Arran is another for example. I always try to advise people to consider Mull, one of my best prepared itinerates takes in Mull.

We set off bright and early catching the Western Ferry from Gourock to Dunoon. We do love going North this way. The Loch Lomond road can be slow and awkward. With so much traffic, the driver - me - has to be totally focussed and usually misses the scenery. From Dunoon, we head up to Oban via Inverary and the incredible Loch Fyne.

The CalMac ferry to Mull regularly runs from Oban to Craignure. I would suggest it is always better to book ahead just in case things are busy. Oban itself deserves a special mention. A great town and we shall give more info on that another time. Unfortunately, we were just passing through and made a quick stop at the local supermarket to stock up on supplies, onto the ferry which lasts approximately 45 minutes and is a lovely wee cruise, incredible scenery and the chance to spot some wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins or even Sea Eagles!

Mull has so many fascinating attractions it always surprises me the lack of guests who have even heard of it, I know many Scots who won't have ventured over. It offers the opportunity to see a wide variety of wildlife including golden eagles, seals, sea otters and even pods of dolphins just off the coast. Other huge attractions such as a trip to Staffa and Fingals Cave are a must along with Iona and it mystical Abbey.

When you arrive, you have two choices, left or right. Right takes you on the 'main road' to Tobermory or left and head to the beach at Fidden near Fionnphort. We went left and off to Fidden Farm Campsite a spectacular spot to take in sunsets, honestly it's amazing. One of the finest spots in the UK.

The Iona ferry leaves near from here so very handy. Remember these will be single-track roads, and the locals need to go about their daily business, always be courteous. Also worth noting journeys will take longer than expected. Mull is surprisingly big and full of winding single-track roads. Great to drive but rightly slow.

Our first trip was with Staffa Tours, a three hour trip including around an hour on Staffa island. Highlights here are the cliffs and substantial grassy slopes that host various nesting seabirds including guillemots, razorbills and puffins and of course, Fingals Cave! It's absolutely extraordinary with massive pillars rising out of the swirling sea. The caves are just otherworldly with crashing waves and bird noise all around, a real must. Unfortunately, for a variety of reason we didn't make Iona on this trip. Just another reason to return.

We then headed up the west coast, taking in wee towns and villages along the way. The scenery is spectacular and around Loch Ne Keal breath-taking.

Today we are heading for Tobermory. Tobermory must have one of the most famous harbours in the world, the brightly coloured houses are now a trademark. It's a lovely wee town bustling fishermen and tourists. Lorna had noted several local places or shops to be more accurate that she wanted to visit. I was happy to knock around the harbour, and people watch. Here we get a spectacular looking seafood platter at the Tobermory Fish Company to take away for tonight's dinner. As is always on the West Coast of Scotland, choose the local seafood, it's unrivalled. Lorna had been round various places and had gifts of Candles from Isle of Mull Soap Co. Most importantly we also stopped by the distillery and got a bottle of Tobermory Hebridean gin. Onward then to pick up some Cheeses out at the Isle of Mull cheese farm. Time for a coffee and a stop off at the glorious Glass Barn Café, a big huge glass greenhouse with grapevines growing over the interior walls and ceilings. Great scones! 

Stocked up and refreshed it was now off for tonight's destination, the white sands of Calgary Bay.

In the Northwest of Mull, we find Calgary Bay, a beach I rate up there with any I have seen in the world. If you have not heard of it, Google the pictures, breath-taking. Last year I had a friend visit from Sydney, and he compared it to the finest of Sydney's Eastern shores-very high praise indeed. Don't be fooled though by the white sands nor, on our day, bright blue skies, the water was absolutely freezing cold, even in summer.

This was just the most perfect place to spend a night. We absolutely devoured the seafood and the cheeses, all washed down with a few large gins. Tonight was some old school tunes and watching the stars. Perfect!

A short whistle-stop tour that really was nowhere near enough time. If you have done Skye then this is your next destination, you won't be disappointed.

12 Days of Christmas - Argyll

On the fourth day of Christmas, the wee yin said to me…… Let's go wild in Argyll. 

One of my guests this year had mentioned Portavadie Marina, and its new Campervan hook up facilities. This sounded too good to be true, and we just had to investigate. To be honest, any excuse to drive up to Argyll was good enough! Once you get around Loch Lomond and onto the A83 - when it's open - things very quickly begin to open up with huge mountains and massive lochs and best of all, it’s all only a couple of hours out of Glasgow. 

We started off first thing with an eye on stopping off for coffee and a cake on the route. We had the perfect spot in mind just before the drop into Tighnabruaich where we could watch the short ferry from Rhubodach, Isle of Bute to Colintraive go back and forth. We did stop into town briefly for some van supplies and then onto the Marina.

I can’t speak highly enough of Portavadie Marina, every aspect has a wee touch of class and for me, the first impressions - the staff - are just fantastic. Really helpful and accommodating with all requests and the local hits and tips invaluable. The charging sports are on a first-come basis, and as we planned to drive around, we just checked in and then headed off on our first adventure - Ostel Beach. The weather had not really lifted that morning, so it was not with great expectation we went looking around. The beach was not the easiest to find - or we just made it hard - but we got a huge treat when the sun broke through and literally lit up the stunning white sands in the distance! Found it! Ok once we got parked, it was a roughly 2km walk to the beach. I should warn you to wear suitable shoes, it was wet underfoot and quite a marshy walk but oh so worth it. Gorgeous warm sunshine and the beach to ourselves, magical. 

After the walk, we needed a quick feed and headed back into Tighnabruaich and visited the much-praised Botanica at the Barn. A great wee find. A great mix of local and seasonal products served next to the beautiful fire—what’s not to like. 

The evening meal was to be back at the Marina, so we headed for a woodland/coast walk right next to the facility and watched the ferries take the short trip back and forth to Tarbet. A definite plan for our next visit.

Back to tonight and it was a refreshing change for Lorna to have a hot shower and sparkling clean toilet facilities after our walks - we had definitely won a watch here. On with our non-muddy clothes and off for a cocktail. Now don’t get the wrong impression, we love to cook up some great meals in the campervan. We have a two-ring gas cooker and gas oven, with a little prep you can create such fantastic meals - it certainly doesn’t need to be pot noodles! That said the wee yin loves her seafood and she also 100% deserved a treat after working so hard.

The meal was beautiful. Lorna took full advantage of the fresh seafood and devoured the lovely langoustine and scallops. Again, great enthusiastic staff are always happy to help. After a wee nightcap at the campervan watching the stars, we hit bed early to prepare for tomorrow and a day trip to Inverary.

Sitting on the banks of Loch Fyne Inverary is quite stunning, and you see this straight away from the wee bridge as you drive into town where you first catch a glimpse of the magnificent castle. It has probably more than most in the way of visitor attractions but is also just a great place to wander around aimlessly. Highlights have to be the jail, the Vital Spark, the Bell tower and of course the quite magnificent gothic Castle.  

Freedom Fact - The 2012 Christmas episode of Downtown Abbey as partly filmed here; the castle portraying the fictional "Duneagle Castle."

We didn’t do much to be honest, in and out of local shops and just meandered along the front. Perfect.

Tonight’s meal was booked at The Oystercatcher in Otter Ferry on the road back to Portavadie. Someone had to drive, and the toss of the coin was hotly anticipated; unfortunately, I lost….again! The restaurant came recommended and pleased to say 100% bang on. Lovely staff, and with yet more fresh seafood, we happily filled our bellies. A special note to the coffee Argyll Coffee - one of the best Americanos I have had in a long time. After dinner, we had a beautiful wander along Otter Bay to walk off some of those calories. What a perfect day.

Back to the Marina, we popped in for a few drinks and wind down before heading to the campervan. The place was full and had such a great atmosphere; it was hard to leave—a real mix of people all with bright red faces from their day’s excursions and stories to share. We, however, had our eyes on the infinity pool and the Spa hahaha hardly your traditional camping trip! A nice easy start to our Sunday morning and the perfect preparation for a slow drive home.

A final note to say our full Scottish breakfast the next morning in the Marina was spot on and also reasonably priced. We would recommend it. 

Argyll is such a gem; we just couldn’t do it justice over a weekend. There are so many places to discover we didn’t scratch the surface. We will 100% be back, and in particular, we can't wait to rock back into Portavadie Marina as #basecamp  

12 Days of Christmas - Stonehaven

On the third day of Christmas, the wee yin said to me…….. Hows about Stonehaven... fit like? 

We had our eye on Stonehaven for a while after lasts years #NC500 #roadtrip. The town is very well known for several things including the Castle, Harbour & beach, so it seemed a perfect locale for a weekend campervan away. 

The morning started with a very refreshing dip in Stonehaven’s outdoor pool. We are so blessed coming from Inverclyde and having the Gourock Outdoor pool, growing up and spending long summer nights there.  I guess you think every town has one. This is one of the few remaining in Scotland, and we weren’t going to miss the chance. It’s open from June to September and also has a midnight swim on Wednesdays throughout July and August, now that would be a trip? 

Now feeling completely bulletproof we ventured off along Stonehaven beach with a hot mug of coffee  Leaning headfirst into a bracing North Sea hoolie, thats how you kick start a day my friends. 

When doing her research Co-Pilot, McKendrick had identified a very popular award-winning local cafe The Bay, famous for its Fish and Chips. Absolutely magnificent and even better it has a lip-licking ice cream parlour, Auntie Betty’s, next door! You can’t do one and not the other …..I mean, come on, we’re on holiday!

Next up, the picturesque Stonehaven harbour. Unfortunately, we couldn’t take a cruise this day; however, it’s just one of the many things that will bring us back. The coast around here is absolutely teaming with wildlife, check out Stonehaven Sea Safari the website looks fantastic.  The tour will take you for a unique view past the magnificent Dunnottar Castle and with luck, you can take in the dolphins, seals, puffins and guillemots along the way. Sounds amazing.

You can’t come to Stonehaven and not take a trip to Dunnottar Castle with it’s deep historical links to Mary Queen of Scot, its a must. If you don’t know the Castle have a look at some of the amazing pictures online, quite stunning.  You can either drive there (3km south of Stonehaven just off the A92) or do as we did and take the lovely coastal walk starting at Stonehaven harbour.

Freedom Fact: During Oliver Cromwell's invasion in 1651 the Scottish Crown Jewels were brought for safekeeping to Dunnottar Castle. The Castle survived an eight-month siege thus temporarily saving the Honours of Scotland (a 1.3-metre sword, crown and sceptre). Unfortunately, the castle was eventually sacked the following year :(

With time against us, we had limited time to wander around the local shops. It was hearting to see so many small local businesses prepared to throw everything at their dreams. Local artists and entrepreneurs do deserve our support, image small towns like this without them #ghoasttown We have to stop that from happening. 

The beer-o-clock had already started counting down so we stopped off at the Marine Bar Hotel on our way back. It has a fantastic selection of craft beers including the gorgeous sixdnorth which had Lorna all excited. If you fancy a bit of casual dining, then they have a great selection of hearty meals and at great prices. If we hadn’t already booked a table round the corner, the great atmosphere and amiable locals would have tempted us to spend the night here. 

Tolbooth was a real treat with exceptional views across the harbour and a building that just oozes history. The menu boasts an array of locally sourced fresh seafood and shellfish that had Lorna in her element. Washed down with a glass or two of wine and topped off with the most delicious sweets ever, we had a wonderful meal and a great finish to a brilliant day.  

If you have any space left after all of that then head to Carron Fish bar the home of a Scots delicacy…..the deep-fried mars bars!!! Its actually very nice.

Fed watered and slightly merry we made our way back to base camp - Stonehaven Caravan Park, a lovely well serviced and maintained site next to the sea. For me waking up to hear the sound of waves crashing is an absolute luxury. A bonus is that these guys are members of the Caravan and Camping Club which means high standard, a bit of extra assurance. 

Stonehaven, another wee hidden gem 

12 Days of Christmas - Braemar, the Snow Roads

On the second day of Christmas, the wee yin said to me …… Let's go Braemar.

Although beautiful Braemar is the town, we are highlighting today our trip was actually to drive the Cairngorms Snow Roads. I’ve mentioned the snow roads to a few friends previously, and no one was even aware of the route so a bit of housekeeping first. The Cairngorm Snow Roads are a 90-mile roundtrip starting in Blairgowrie and ending in Grantown-on-Spey. The roads snake through the Cairngorm National Park and take in some outstanding towns and villages such as Ballater (stunning), Tomintoul and of course Braemar. The route has spectacular scenery from start to finish and also has the highest public road in Great Britain. Another huge factor is the potential for Wildlife viewing, keep your eyes peeled! On my first trip, I spotted a pine martin crossing a road late one night—a massive tick off the list, massive. 

It doesn't really matter what time of year you decide to take on the Snow Roads as our ever-changing seasons offer their own particular sense of beauty. I’ve done this a few times now, but my favourite is during autumn or at the start of the year when there is still snow on the ground. The road is super popular with those in the know and on my last tour we witnessed Land Rover testing their latest high-end vehicles camouflaged to hide the contours. I believe Top Gear has used it for filming.

All up to speed? Ok, so we can begin.

Starting off early from Glasgow we had got into Blairgowrie super early. Breakfast in the van of boiled eggs and toast, and then we are off. Straight away, we are into the wilderness and delighted to see some snow. Our initial drive is only for around an hour however we make plenty of stops along the way for pictures, particularly at the Devils Elbow where we have the first of the Connecting Contours scenic route installations - and then onto the Glenshee Ski Resort. 

Finally, we get into town. Braemar is such an iconic village in Deeside, famous for the nearby Royal residence of Balmoral Castle and the annual Highland Games - the Gathering! I believe Her Majesty is a regular attendee. Braemar has always been popular with walkers, skiers, climbers, bikers and travellers. The village always, always presents itself exceptionally well. For this trip, we decided to use the Braemar Caravan Park A lovely spot we've used on numerous occasions, extremely well-run, fantastic facilities and most importantly, a short walk into town for dinner and drinks after a long day adventuring. 

After getting checked in, we drove off in the direction of Ballater to visit the Linn of Dee waterfalls and forestry walks. Worth noting here there is a car park available with ample spaces however it’s £3 per day for non-members or free for National Trust for Scotland/National Trust members. Yet another reason to support our National Trust for Scotland

The falls and forest are a great walk and its fantastic to see so many brave the cold waters of the River Dee for an icy dip! Here we made our excuses and left!! In all seriousness, the falls are gorgeous, its fascinating to see the whole river squeezed down to around a meter, such force. It would be even better to see on a rainy day.

Time for a spot of food, coffee and a wander around the town. For food we thought we would give Taste Braemar a go, tasty local produce served with a smile. Simple and very effective. A special mention for the coffee here, just gorgeous.  Full up, it was time for the shops. It proved hard to get Lorna out of The Braemar Gallery it has such a beautiful collection of unique Scottish arts, a real treasure trove,. My favourite was McLean of Braemar a very particular gift shop with a solemn nod towards the magnificent Red Deer of the area. It would seem absolutely everything is better with a little horn! Who’d have thought? I have always wanted a set of antlers, perhaps next time. 

You know a wee special shout out goes to the staff of the local Co-op, always friendly, always smiling and very helpful.  These people in the shops up and down the country from early till late, day in day out deserve our praise, particularly this year. 

The big treat tonight was a visit to the refurbished Fife Arms and ‘the Clunie’ restaurant. This place is an institution in the area, made super famous back in Queen Victoria’s time. The interior has to be seen to be believed. Contemporary, decadent, flamboyant! I just don’t have the words to describe it; we just loved it. The food and service were exceptional and every course containing a hint of the local area devoured. We moved into the Stag bar, again an outstanding interior, for a wee dram @thebalvenie before heading along the road for a final nightcap in Farquharsons Bar and Kitchen, an old favourite. Great beers and atmosphere the perfect finish to a lovely day.

I guess we now just need to score some tickets for the Braemar Gathering …...any offers?

12 Days of Christmas - Dunkeld

On the first day of Christmas, the wee yin said to me…...let’s go see Dunkeld Cathedral!

We happened to chance upon Dunkeld after a day trip through to the Falls of Bruar. I have driven past the House of Bruar sign on the A9 for the last 20 years and always thought it was just a shopping complex and to be honest shopping is not my forte! Lorna had read up on the falls and thought it was worth a look. I did have my suspicions with all those shops a bit close by.

We actually chose a day that was raining hard to see falls at full flow. So after coffee in the Campervan, it was on with full waterproofs off, we set. It’s a 2.5 km walk that should take around an hour and a half. It’s not a hard walk but does have a few wee climbs. All that said it is so worth the effort, the falls are absolutely spectacular. I remember seeing something like this in Australia and travelling for hours to get there. The way in which the water cuts through the rock is stunning and the size and falls breathtaking. Genuinely, if you haven’t been its a great walk and start to a day. One word of warning though, leave your wallet in the Campervan! Coming back through the House of Bruar shopping complex it’s hard not to find something you think you desperately need 

So from here, we decided to make their way to Dunkeld for a bit of brunch and to have a look at the historic Dunkeld Cathedral. Lorna had already scouted out a few spots to visit so first up was @aranbakery on the high street for some well-earned coffee and cake. Absolutely beautiful. The coffee was exceptional and the cake beautiful and light. A great find.

We then proceeded on to the Cathedral which was closed due to the pandemic. We meandered around the outside and read the information about the historical significance of the town and cathedral. Did you know that the bones of Saint Columba are said to have rested here until the time of the Reformation! A beautiful building and well worth a visit. The fact it has a wee charity shop - Three Churches Charity Shop just next door is also a bonus. Who cant resist a Charity shop? Here we also popped into Going Pottie @jaggedthistle_goingpottie, a real cool pottery studio. I was looking for a painted tile to complete an upcycled hall stand project but they didn’t have the size i needed in stock. It did, however, have some gorgeous pieces that would make a perfect gift.

A walk around town revealed a number of small independent retailers all offering individual gifts and ideas. Perthshire is also very highly regarded for its culinary offerings and the range available in town again didn’t disappoint. 

One of my favourite finds was the Corbenic Cafe and shop. Set up to help support the local community and in particular offer work experience to people with special needs. We didn’t eat here however the smell of the homemade soup did kick in my appetite. Also, some great local arts and crafts for the community workshop. One definitely to come back too. 

Lunch location was very hard to choose, Lorna had her eye on afternoon tea at the grandiose Dunkeld House, former residence of the Duke of Atholl, but seeing so many local treats on offer we decided to stay in town and try The Taybank @thetaybank. The main reason for this was she could also pop in next door into Jeffrey Interiors - one of those independent furniture shops like most towns used to have. Some really fantastic unique pieces and it was tough to get the wee yin out. She was seriously eyeing up a large 3 seater sofa!!! Back to lunch, the Tay was lovely, in particular, the friendly and courteous staff. A good choice.

Fed and watered it was back to the local shops and first up The Blue Magpie @BraeStDunkeld.  A magic wee gift shop with all the individual gifts you could ask for, particularly the card range. Lorna was keen to also visit Kat n Kat  @katnkatdunkeld which again was jammed packed with stunning locally designed silver jewellery and textiles. Again, the wee yin was ready to batter the credit card until i managed to intervene. Next was my choice and the Dunkeld Whisky Box @dunkeldwhiskybox 

really this was more a tease than anything. As I was driving I couldn’t try any of the Craft beers or spirits but what a range. 

Last but not least was Lon Store @lonstore for a nosey and some culinary inspiration. A really well-stocked deli also with coffee and sandwiches available. There was so much on offer we decided to make another visit and pick up those wee essentials that can be hard to find. Again, an essential stop whilst in town. 

Bellies full and wallets intact we decided to hit the road and find out spot for a night of wild camping. Dunkeld just oozes history and is one of those beautiful Scots towns you marvel at. Historical, friendly, warm and welcoming. Don’t drive past, honestly pop in, you are in for a real treat.

COVID Blues

As Lorna and I were watching the news reports from China about COVID19 I asked her if she thought this might affect my summer bookings. Within 72 hours the diaries for both the vans, Mork & Mindy, along with my fallback Airbnb flat had been cleared, all bookings cancelled. COVID19 had arrived for me! 

Initial thoughts were for the people coming to Scotland on vacation and reassuring them about their deposits. I didn't want to take a % or hold onto them; you can't punish someone for something entirely outside their control. Given the uncertainty, I expected everyone would want the money back asap! But the generosity from the majority was overwhelming; some instantly responded to my email showing more concern for me, my well-being and the company instead of their money. A few, in particular, stand out. Kirsten from Canada, aka @mistresskofos on Instagram, responded to say they fully intended to get to Scotland when this is finished. She continued that I should "hold onto the total payment" received for a two-week trip. Kirsten knew my business world was folding in on itself and wanted to help keep me going. I just didn't expect that kind of caring and understanding. Will aka @willrhickman on Instagram, mailed straight back to acknowledge what was happening. He then offered to pay the full amount and that we will rearrange, just incredible! Finally, Ethan & Laura aka @lauraramsden & @ethanconlin91 came back to say the same things, "we want you to hold onto the deposit as your service to date has been fantastic ". Just when I thought I was staring into a small business abyss, they picked me up, genuinely humbling.  

That week Lorna had some time off work and I was determined to get her away a few days respite before the anticipated “tsunami”. Lorna works for the NHS, and we expected she would be busy!  We decided to aim for Glenfinnan Monument; I’ve driven past the signs at Fort William so many times but never visited Bonnie Prince Charlie. He certainly didn’t disappoint, and we enjoyed gorgeous sunshine while wandering around also taking in the famous viaduct.—both top iconic Scottish views.

As the sun was shining we decided to chase a sunset, the nearest point being Arisaig and the breathtaking Silver Sands of Morar. We were gobsmacked; it was stunning; I mean real, not Instagram faked! Parked on the beach, we knew Mother nature was about to give us a show. She didn't disappoint! The setting was perfect, looking onto the islands of Skye, Rum & Eigg, watching the sun slowly sink we had our very own wee Cafe Del Mar. The campervan was pre-packed with all our food and drink so no need to shop anywhere else, and after sunset, we cooked up steaks and inhaled a glass or 2 of wine—what a start. 

The next day after breakfast on the beach we caught the @calmacferries ferry from Mallaig to Skye for an overnighter as Lorna hadn't seen much of the island. A short ferry trip in glorious sunshine was too good to miss. There is something special about our local ferry connections if you live near one you take it for granted. The service to these beautiful islands is essential, and it's great to see all kinds of folk, locals and tourists, take advantage of the hop between.

Once docked, we drove to see the Fairy Glens, climbed the Old Man of Storr and walk the Quiraing. Listen, if you're Scottish and you haven't been to Skye, you really need too, it's just incredible and impossible to do justice in words or even pictures. With clear blue skies, we again wanted a sunset, and that could only mean heading to Neist Point lighthouse. As we had decided to park up here for the evening, we took a bottle of wine over to sit near - not too near - the cliffs and watch the show. The ever-changing colours on the landscape, along with the iconic lighthouse, are hard to beat. We take for granted the light in Scotland, the stunning colours we accept without wonder. It's good to stop, breath and appreciate how lucky we are. After another fantastic meal - cooked by yours truly - we hit the bed early as we wanted to catch the sunrise. In the van, we tend to sleep in the upstairs bunk, leave the mess downstairs until the morning. It's a bit like being in a tent but very comfortable.

In the morning over coffee, things had begun to filter through that the locals were growing anxious about tourists, possibly bringing COVID to the remote and sparsely supported communities. Instantly we decided to drive home. Supporting our rural communities is essential, and it was disappointing to see convoys of caravans, campervans and motorhomes of all sizes going in the opposite direction. We all know that was soon to change and rightly so. Getting back to Glasgow the day before Lockdown was announced was a huge relief.

To survive in Lockdown, the company has had to make some big cuts. Firstly giving up my van storage unit which we had worked so hard on last year. I had no option, we had to remove all overheads straight away. I've also taken a job delivering groceries to get me through this lean time. This, along with my customer's generosity, means the company will be ready to rock and roll as soon as we are in more understanding time.

Through the company, we have met some lovely people, in particular, the @adventureharlots who describe themselves as "Fi and Shirl taking on adventures in Scotland. Living our way, our terms, over 50s inspiration and giggles". The girl's regular messages and upbeat attitudes have made things so much easier. I look forward to getting up the Munros with the girls soon as we are allowed back.  

On a positive note, as we begin to look forward, I've now received two pre-bookings and several notes of interest. Obviously, that's great to see; however, as I mentioned earlier, I will always put our local communities first. Only when the local communities are ready and comfortable with visitors will I be allowing my vans to travel. If areas such as the Hebrides have requested no visitors, I won't let my vans to go in that direction, no arguments. Mork and Mindy themselves will be thoroughly sanitised before and after any trips, and I will have done my utmost to ensure the safety of my guests. Customers always have been and will remain to be the priority. If you're wondering where you can go on holiday safely when Lockdown lifts, think about all that Scotland has to offer. Do your bit and help support local businesses and enjoy the flexibility, freedom to roam in your self contained home away from home. Drop me a message for further information.

Looking to the future, I'm working on a more cost-effective 'long weekender' van. This will be aimed at those wishing to go hill walking, snowboarding, running, cycling and all the outdoor pursuits Scotland is famous for. The van will be whatever you want with different options on kit available. Something I think will be more appealing to people on tight budgets or with limited time. Keep your eyes posted.  

Stay safe, be kind and keep believing.

Comfort zone

Good to go!

A couple of years ago, I decided to visit my eldest son in Australia; we hadn't met in a long time. Before going, we had talked about making a campervan trip around New Zealand !!, not something I was relishing in my late 60s, completely out of my comfort zone. All-inclusive on the beach is my style.

We eventually landed in Christchurch and picked up the van, looks ok I thought, but I will reserve judgement while looking keen for my son's sake. I had made up an itinerary which was agreed on, similar taste in what we wanted to see. The first day out we went opposite to the intended direction to have a little look at a place that caught our attention in the brochures we had picked up, decided to stay the night. Here we go, I thought, how will the old bones cope with this. Not a problem as the beds were comfortable and I slept surprisingly well, early breakfast cooked in the well-equipped galley and eaten on a picnic table al fresco.

The Comfort Zone

On the road, chatting, joking and generally ocatching up with each other while taking in the sights, there's a beautiful spot for a look at the view, kettle on, chairs out, lunch rustled up and taken while taking in the vista. Back on the road with various stops for whatever we wanted to do. Evening food in a little village pub and great conversations with the bar regulars. Every day after that was basically similar, except for the fact the views, breakfast, lunch and dinner destinations were never the same, the table and chairs out and the kettle on wherever. My son and I, after a day or so, had caught up with each other while having endless quizzes, best top ten this and that, best players in our favourite team, best films etc. I may have rambled on a bit but what I wanted to do was give an idea of how time spent on the road, in any country in your mobile accommodation can be something amazingly enjoyable.

The itinerary was, roughly adhered to, but once moving, it changed to suit our surroundings. Short example being the day we drove through a well-recommended pass, stopped at the other end for a cuppa, looked at each other and knew we were going back through the same pass. I guess that kind of summed up what the Campervan added to the adventure! The flexibility to go at our own pace just made things easy. You get into a natural flow and that applied to everything. From setting up for breakfast, setting up the beds for the night or simply doing the dishes. We had our jobs and knew when to move in or out the van and let the other person get on.

Would i do it again? 100%. Not a day goes by when I don't have a wee chuckle at our many many escapades - if we ever meet remind me to tell you about the nudist camp - or repeat what became our in-jokes. It was an adventure of a lifetime.

Right turn Clyde !!

Arthur’s Pass , New Zealand