Scorching Scotland!

OK -not scorching but given that it was May and we were in western Scotland the sky was blue and cloudless virtually every day and temperatures rose to 18 degrees. The slight breeze meant no midgies or clegs (that`s horseflies to you)  and we had a perfect week for touring.

It had long been a wish of mine to take in a couple of the "best drives in Scotland" and see Mull.  As we merged this with a chance to see brother in law David it meant we didn`t get as far as Skye and had to endure a few clouds on our first days around Comrie / Crieff in Perthshire. What  great hosts he and the Comrie hotel owner June were. Great room and fantastic food - I have to say that as David is chef there! Seriously though - never had a better breakfast than the 2 we had there. Full Scottish of course and full of local produce with the best haggis and black pudding I`ve ever tasted.

Comrie Hotel

Comrie High Street

Church at Comrie

I loved the sentiments in this local newspaper headline. An outlander is a foreigner i.e. not local. I bet they were well pleased with the description!

As David was working first day up there me and Sue went off on one of the drives I wanted to do taking in Loch Earn, Killin, The Falls of Dochart ,Loch Tay and it`s Crannog and Kenmore. Such a beautiful drive with lovely places along the way.

Still an art installation

Falls of Dochart

Crannog

We saw Nessie

 Next day we set off with David and his new caravan to stay in Tyndrum with would be our base for tours of the west. Great campsite with all mod cons. Wi fi, power / tv points. water with David`s system meaning constant supply and all the facilities you could want in a gorgeous setting.When the time came to hitch up the never before used / tested awning we hit our first problem and it didn`t work whatever we tried. Led us to rent one of the wooden camp huts for David which again had all the facilities you could want but cos more than you can get a Travelodge for down here. Scottish prices are high - whether for hotels or pub food. largely due to lack of competition and it being such a short season with businesses  maximising their profits.
With David we were able to drive through Glencoe, up to the Nevis range, taking it all in in a cable car trip before driving the Fort William to Oban drive down the Argyllshire coast noted for it`s stunning scenery.

David`s hut

From a layby

David prepares a snack on the roadside

Castle Stalker - would love to have gone back there at sunset

All too soon David was on his way back to Comrie, coming back the next day for the caravan  - what a star! us we were off to Mull! Fantastic.

Just a 40 minute crossing and less than £50 for a car and 2 passengers

Tobermory - so pretty

Local shop wares

Liked the cards

Cafe Fish was fantastic and we sat in the sun

Gorgeous langoustines

Monkfish, scallops, mussels, cod and prawns in this beauty but not cheap!

Calgary Bay ice cream hut

A near deserted Calgary Bay with white sands

Me and my shadow

The boats everyone has to shoot on the way to Tobermory

The ferry back - still moving with bow doors oen!

Mull was lovely. Quaint little island with proper gift shops and lovely scenery all accessed by single track roads with passing places and no-one on them in fantastic weather! After another night at the caravan it was then off to Glasgow. A lovely route took us by the banks of Loch Lomond before the sat nav mistakenly asked us to access our hotel by driving off a flyover on the M8 to our bed 100 ft below.

Woven Sound installation near Loch Lomond

On the bonnie, bonnie banks of...

A special burger with stout ad black pudding bread bun, haggis in pastry and pulled pork - delicious at the Mini Grill

Glasgow has really steep hills - the top of this one shows the handrails down each side

A middle class tenement we visited

The Riverside Transport Museum was fabulous

Glasgow University

Loved this art work

Great place for afternoon tea with Mackintosh theme

The Lighthouse

Loved the tower stairs

Duke of Wellington dressed as usual

The cathedral

The Necropolis - would have loved to visit if more time

Cathedral windows

Had such a good time in Glasgow but needed more time to see it. The scenery in Scotland was stunning and we will be going again , venturing a bit further north next time. Who knows we might get the weather again. A big thank you to David for putting us up and showing us the sights. Great fun.