Day 1
14 May 2019
Miles 184
Location New Abbey, Dumfries and Galloway
GPS 54.98002, -3.62009
Following the Europe trip I spent several months in the north west with family, and while there had a few repairs done to the little Autocruise Vista, sold it and bought a new motorhome. The Vista is a cracking little camper for short periods away but after spending 6 months in a small space certain things like making the bed up every night become a chore and you long for a bit more space.
So we’ve gone from a 4.8m compact coachbuilt motorhome to a 6.5m A Class. Space to swing a cat, something which Eric would approve of as he doesn’t much like cats. Made by Frankia, one of the top German manufacturers of luxury motorhomes. Rather than being referred to as “the van”, or the camper, this one will henceforth known as Frankie (Howerd) – titter ye not!
There is already a refillable gas system installed, already a couple of solar panels too, although they look a bit small, perhaps 80 watts each. Not sufficient for my needs so I’ll be adding more in the summer, after a shakedown trip to Scotland.
So after a week of frantic cleaning and loading up with clothes and provisions, off we set for the highlands.
Having never driven an A Class before it feels very wide and takes a bit of getting used to. Single track lanes in the highlands should be interesting.
I’d planned to stop overnight in the Lake District but kept on going into Scotland.
Eric is a proper little canine Alan Whicker having travelled all over Europe, as far afield as Moscow, Istanbul and the Arctic Circle but Scotland is new territory for him and country number 35 on his “Bark at” list.
We stopped overnight at Sweetheart Abbey outside Dumfries. A 13th century monastery built in memory of Scottish noble John de Balliol. After his death his wife kept a casket containing his embalmed heart until her own death, so that they could be buried together at the Abbey.
Day 2
15 May 2019
Miles 237
Location Clatteringshaws Loch, Dumfries and Galloway
GPS 55.05723, -4.27302
One night spent with three other motorhomes for company, comprising a chatty group of retirees from Yorkshire travelling by convoy. It was a quiet night on a lay by with spectacular views overlooking Clatteringshaws Loch in the Galloway Forest park. Just up the road there is a visitor’s centre for the Loch and a short walk to Bruce’s Stone where a Scottish hero, erm Norman French warlord named Robert de Brus is said to have rested after defeating the English here in 1307.
Bruce’s Stone
Days 3-4
16-17 May 2019
Miles 237
Location Raiders Road, Galloway Forest Park, Dumfries and Galloway
GPS 55.04910, -4.27410
Two nights spent at a lovely quiet spot on a small parking area next to a brook at the start of a tourist forest drive known as “Raiders Road”. Neighbouring motorhomes with British and German plates, also a group of youngsters with tents heading into the forest.
Days 5-6
18-19 May 2019
Miles 261
Location Bladnoch, Dumfries and Galloway
GPS 54.85810,-4.46168
I spent two nights catching up with friends Jan and John who live in a little cottage a few miles from the village of Bladnoch, having moved up from the north west about 20 years ago. It mush be 12 years since I’ve seen them. They have a couple of dogs, the daftest, most docile rottweiler ever named Bertie, who thinks he’s a lap dog, and the grumpiest little terrier who rules the roost and was a bit snappy with Eric, so we had to keep the dogs apart. Jan and John are thinking of selling up and moving somewhere warmer for their retirement, seriously considering Portugal so we had a great time catching up and talking about travel.
I’d forgotten what a mean brekkie John cooks!
Note: GPS co-ordinates for this stop are for the centre of the village of Bladnoch.
Day 7
20 May 2019
Miles 382
Location Duck Bay, Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire
GPS 56.01955, -4.61674
Duck Bay
Next a brief stop at the village of Dailly in Ayrshire, where my grandfather was born in 1908. I have a record of his parents listed in the 1901 census where they lived on Main Street, but at the time I carried out this research the 1911 census had still not been released due to the 100 year disclosure rule. These census returns are now available for viewing so a subscription to Scotlandspeople is on the cards soon.
Main Street, Dailly
The village war memorial lists two family members killed in the Great War. Brothers, my grandfather’s uncles David Robertson of the Royal Field Artillery, killed 1917 at Ypres in Belgium and James Robertson of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers killed 1918 near to Soissons in France.
From Ayrshire I had to drive though Glasgow as the van has a leaky water pump. This is the pump supplying water to the taps, shower and toilet flush NOT the water pump that circulates coolant around the engine, which would have been a much more serious matter. Tradition is that my water pump always packs in at the start of a new trip. As I bought from a dealer the habitation equipment is under warranty but the dealer is now 300 miles away, for the sake of a £48 pump it’s not worth the diesel or the hassle. The Caravan Shop in Glasgow has a good range of spares.
Then a quick overnight stop at Duck Bay, on the The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond.
Day 8
21 May 2019
Miles 431
Location Glen Lochy, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs
GPS 56.41077, -4.85549
After a stunning drive along the shores of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park we arrived at Glen Lochy. There is a small Forestry Commission car park here marking the start of several walking trails. No restrictions on overnight parking. A very quiet at night but only 2g reception!
Days 9-10
22-23 May 2019
Miles 476
Location Oban Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Barcaldine, Argyll and Bute
GPS 56.52588, -5.30920
North of Oban there is a wonderful Camping and Caravanning Club Site, a peaceful location in a large, enclosed walled garden. Only £8.15 per night to members (extra for electricity etc), so I decided to stop for a few nights to use the washing machine, empty the cassette and fill up with fresh water. Frankie has two toilet cassettes and a massive 150 litre water tank so I can go off grid for quite a long time before needing services. But it’s nice to relax on a site once in a while, roll out the awning and take Eric on long walks around the perimeter.
Next port of call will be Fort William, stocking up at the last major town of note before heading out into the wilds.
Woolly Ramblers 