Apart from the 1st day when the rain started 2 miles away from home and didnt end till 9pm, 400 miles away - we were entirely dry and had great weather all the way. Even managed to skip the midges till the very last day. The evening of which we met all 500 billion of them(!)
So the first day we thought the kids are fresh lets go up as far as we can. However, with work stuff running till almost 1am the night before I wasent too keen on a very early start. Finally only getting going at midday and making it to Readsdale arms, Northumberland. Nice little pub, restaurant and b&b. Next day we had a lazy start, big breakfast and made a stop go stop fo trek upto Fortrose bay campsite, just past Inverness. Its a very nice campsite, Right by the water, and completely deserted. There were maybe 2 other vehicles and 1 person on a cycle camping there, with good facilities and plenty of walks heading out. Next day we just chilled out, kids got to stretch their legs and we did a couple of walks around, including some dolphin spotting at the bay. In the evening we met somw friends who had come over from Harris island, and were heading south for the weekend. Then aomething weird happened at 6pm. In a matter of minutes the site went from 5 pitches ( our friends had pitched up next to us, in their defender), to 60 pitches. Mind you it was Friday of bank holiday weekend... so perhaps we should have expected it.
Next morning woke to the sound of what seemed like a dog taking deep breathes at the tent door, came out and saw it was dolphins in the water, 30 to 50yds away! Lazy breakfast and then a stop go stop go drive to John O'Groats. Most stops were touristy castles and getting off the A roads, but near Wick we went inland and had a lovely late afternoon lunch in a small little tea room. Middle of literally nowhere.
Spent 2 nights again at John O'Groats. Couple of sea walks, lazy hanging around, lots of icecream! And then drove to Durness staying at the Sango Sands campsite. I had wanted to go down from Tongue on the a839 towards Lairg but that road had a 'unfit for motor vehicles temporary sign about 2miles from Tongue ao we turned around and went onto Durness. Next day was the drive to Ullapool and onto Badrallach. Stayed there for 2 nights as well, the initial plan was.to just do 1 night there and move on, but the place was just fantastic. The weather was in the 20's blue sky with a nice breeze. Did the 5mile walk to Scoraig along the cliffs. Again its was really amazing to see what allthe people have done up there, just bringing kit and equipment over in a boat and walking it on a track.
After 2 nights there, it was onto lock lomond where we met, the midges! We were just not prepared (emotionally and psychologically) for the wall of insect that comes at you. We were however prepared with suitable sprays.
The drive down past fort william and through the valleys was absolutely fantastic (a82). Even though we had been driving and living in the georgios landacape of the highlands at that point for 8 days, it was still awe inspiring. Except for the wannabe rally drivers in their orange and bright blue cleo's and astras driving like nutcaps. But ignore them.
We left lock lomond and made the only real navigtion error of the trip, deciding to follow the coast to Largs and then Stranraer. This meant driving through the Glasgow urban sprawl at 15mph avg. Once past largs the route opened up nicely and we drove up through the dumfries then got onto the A and M roads through to the a68 into the north pennines and stopped at Alston for the night at a b&b. Final day was spent much like the very 1st day, on M roads heading home. Got in through the door, after ~ 2k miles, at 5pm.
Thoroughly enjoyed the trek. Lots of lessons learnt. Got to know the truck a lot more. And even though we had been on the go, all of us felt quite fresh and not tired at all.
Cant wait to get out again.
