Scotland
I went to Scotland!
There was mountains, lochs and beer!
Day 0: Drive up. I got a lift with Mat. England seemed to disappear quickly and Scotland was upon us. Almost as soon as we where there we accidentally bumped into most of the others we where staying with. We stopped off and a few viewing spots, and took in the fantastic views sad witched between amusingly aggressive driving. Then we got to the pass (2nd highest road in Scotland) where we went over it way too fast, but not being in the front car, it wasn’t us taking the biggest risk. Then we arrived and what a location! It has a fantastic view of Skye over the lovely Applecross bay. (North West Scotland) In total, there were 9 of us. We got very drunk, and at the end of the evening, us that remained thought we'd try and reenact the cockle pickers’ accident (where the tide came in and drowned them all). Pitch dark, we went rushing across the beach, with the tide fully out, but coming in. Got very wet getting back, but thought the drunken haze was very amusing.
Days 1: For most of the guys this was canoeing. Due to my wrists being screwed i couldn’t risk taking part (Not on day 1) (which was a shame, as I’d have quite like to take part) so i just pottered around the bay with Ruth (who didn’t fancy it). It was very hot, and after a bit we ended up in the pub garden, with fine ale and a harpist performing. It was this point i gave myself sun burnt. (Doh) Well its not a holiday without risking skin cancer. :) We the drove along the coast a bit, where we saw half the canoeing party coming back. After completing our drive, we met back up with them in the pub. It was raining by this point, but we chatted and drank, and eventually the remaining turned up and we had dinner there. It had exceedingly good food!
Day 2: Some of the others went rock climbing, and some did there own thing, while me and Ruth went to Skye for horse riding. I'd never been on a horse before and the West Highland Heavy Horses where a very big first ride. It was a fairly short wander down to the sea and back though woods. It seemed that most of the way I just left the horses to get on with it, as it know what to do. But i did have to stop it acting up a few places. At the beach i was told to go off on my own, which the horses didn’t seem to like. I thought i was doing well, controlled it up the beach, stopped it, slow circle, now lets go baaaaaaack (*@?!!!) It was clearing very keen to got back and i had my first canter. Bit of excitement. The whole thing was surprisingly tiring.
After that we went on a tour of Sky. South end where we started was pretty dull, but we went right up the north end too, and thought the Cullins, which was much more interesting It was a shame the weather was a bit poo, but it would be seeing where we where. Still had good views and the sun did come out every so oftern. The whole time we saw Skye across the bay it was covered it cloud, so wasn’t unexpected. Got back to a fantastic chicken roast with all the others.
Day 3: A group of us went up the coast toward Ullapool. Had lovelry weather, and saw some stunning scenery. Some nice rocky bays, and some huge mountains (One which we later climbed). Also got to see some waterfalls. We had planned to see one, but that turned out to be closed, and the one we found on the way was much better, so it was just as well we took time and pottered about there. Had a meal at Ullapool, which is now my most northerly UK location. Drove back a different way, and stopped off at the top of the pass on the way home. The pass is one of two ways to Applecross. The other way is a very slow coastal path. The pass is the 2nd highest road in Scotland, but I’ve been the highest, and this is far more dramatic. The single track road had a succession of hair pin bends with shear drops down one side. All in all, it was almost as hairy as "half penny lane" near where i live. ;) Anyway i digress. We pottered around up there, taking pictures, as we usually just drove though it. Mat and Dan spent ages taking pictures of a puddle (it did actually look good) while a went back down to take a pic of the hairpin bends and the U shaped valley in the rock we had driven up. There was a fanatic view of Skye too. Sad thing is that while many a picture was taken, I don’t think you can really capture how it looked on film (digi or analog). We got back and naturally got drunk. (like we did every night)
Day 4: We went to the activity centre in Inverness. We started off with archery. Which I found was done more interestingly then i was expecting. After the standard target shooting, we switched to blunt weaker bows/arrows and got to shoot targets in trees. I think i scored above the average with that lot, so not ashamed. After that we did raft building. TBH the pond we got to test our rafts on was a bit less the mighty lochs I’d imagined, but it was still fun. I would have served my team better if I’d just stayed at home, as I couldn’t really risk trying to row the paddles. But hay, it was just a bit of fun. Afterwards most of the guys went to lock ness, but as our car lot had already seen it (its just another loch), we went for a far more important goal - the local brewery. We proceeded to buy a huge about of the fine ales they brewed, that me mostly drank that evening.
Day 5: This was mostly a "recover from hangover" day for me. I think everyone individually pottered around the bay, which was nice. I had my potter later, just before anther fine meal. I should mention that pretty much every meal we had was a fine meal, as they either was eaten out, and the area is know for its fine cooking, or we eat in, with some of our resident chiefs cooking. It seems some of them are rather good, and I felt slightly shamed. But I don’t get to cook at home, so there is my excuse. It did all taste bloody nice.
Day 6: The day of mountain walking. We went up Bein Alligin (Torridon), which involved walking up a height of 922 meters. This was my 3rd monro and the highest climb. Weather was good - not too hot, but not raining. We went up and a slow rate, which was a little slower then i'd have liked, (a lot slower then some wanted) but it did mean i could waist time taking pictures of things, which was nice. The top was freezing, and you could see your breath. Fanatic view. Not sure the stop and the cold helped though, and my legs seem to have jellifed while i was eating lunch. This meant that getting off the mountain was very hard. It seemed to take forever, and no one else seemed to have any problem. If there was a shortcut i would have taken it. But I was up there, so there was nothing for it but to go forth. My slowness didn’t hold up most of the team, (all but me and Ruth) and they got back in about half the time it took me. We slowly (felt like forever) ambled down, and the sight of the car has never seemed so good! Our car load stopped off at a pub for the loo, and the bar called to us, so i had the best tasting Guinness in the world (Could have been full of pipe cleaner, but still tasted fantastic after that mountain). We then set back as we had to get back for a dinner that was originally going to be at 8, but mat was going to rearrange for 9, due to the time. As it was the last day, we went to a rather nice but expensive restaurant in Applecross. (Apparently the 2nd most romantic place in UK. . . *shug*) I must confess when i first sat down, i was feeling just glad to be sat, and not so interested in the food. But when it came it was exceedingly good, and i soon forgot about my acing legs. I started with crayfish in garlic butter started. I'd not had it since i child, and had never been sure on the way they look back at you as you eat them. But I thought I’d give it ago, and they where good, if not fiddly to actually eat. After that came the main dish. I cant remember the title, but the English for it was something like "chicken with granny's bits". And granny's bits where indeed very very nice. And then, even though totally stuffed, had pudding. It was all a bit pricy, but well worth it. We then went back for a quick and cozy drink with the fire before bed. Then there was the 1st disagreement, which I tried to keep out of.
Day 7: The journey home. Not a lot to say about it really. As i was expecting, it did seem twice as long and the journey up, although it was a flawless trip and took about the same time and it did to get up there. Got back about 11sh, Saturday.
Its now day 9, as it where at home and I’m still bloody stiff, but all in all, it was a very pleasant holiday!
Ruth put up some pictures here
There was mountains, lochs and beer!
Day 0: Drive up. I got a lift with Mat. England seemed to disappear quickly and Scotland was upon us. Almost as soon as we where there we accidentally bumped into most of the others we where staying with. We stopped off and a few viewing spots, and took in the fantastic views sad witched between amusingly aggressive driving. Then we got to the pass (2nd highest road in Scotland) where we went over it way too fast, but not being in the front car, it wasn’t us taking the biggest risk. Then we arrived and what a location! It has a fantastic view of Skye over the lovely Applecross bay. (North West Scotland) In total, there were 9 of us. We got very drunk, and at the end of the evening, us that remained thought we'd try and reenact the cockle pickers’ accident (where the tide came in and drowned them all). Pitch dark, we went rushing across the beach, with the tide fully out, but coming in. Got very wet getting back, but thought the drunken haze was very amusing.
Days 1: For most of the guys this was canoeing. Due to my wrists being screwed i couldn’t risk taking part (Not on day 1) (which was a shame, as I’d have quite like to take part) so i just pottered around the bay with Ruth (who didn’t fancy it). It was very hot, and after a bit we ended up in the pub garden, with fine ale and a harpist performing. It was this point i gave myself sun burnt. (Doh) Well its not a holiday without risking skin cancer. :) We the drove along the coast a bit, where we saw half the canoeing party coming back. After completing our drive, we met back up with them in the pub. It was raining by this point, but we chatted and drank, and eventually the remaining turned up and we had dinner there. It had exceedingly good food!
Day 2: Some of the others went rock climbing, and some did there own thing, while me and Ruth went to Skye for horse riding. I'd never been on a horse before and the West Highland Heavy Horses where a very big first ride. It was a fairly short wander down to the sea and back though woods. It seemed that most of the way I just left the horses to get on with it, as it know what to do. But i did have to stop it acting up a few places. At the beach i was told to go off on my own, which the horses didn’t seem to like. I thought i was doing well, controlled it up the beach, stopped it, slow circle, now lets go baaaaaaack (*@?!!!) It was clearing very keen to got back and i had my first canter. Bit of excitement. The whole thing was surprisingly tiring.
After that we went on a tour of Sky. South end where we started was pretty dull, but we went right up the north end too, and thought the Cullins, which was much more interesting It was a shame the weather was a bit poo, but it would be seeing where we where. Still had good views and the sun did come out every so oftern. The whole time we saw Skye across the bay it was covered it cloud, so wasn’t unexpected. Got back to a fantastic chicken roast with all the others.
Day 3: A group of us went up the coast toward Ullapool. Had lovelry weather, and saw some stunning scenery. Some nice rocky bays, and some huge mountains (One which we later climbed). Also got to see some waterfalls. We had planned to see one, but that turned out to be closed, and the one we found on the way was much better, so it was just as well we took time and pottered about there. Had a meal at Ullapool, which is now my most northerly UK location. Drove back a different way, and stopped off at the top of the pass on the way home. The pass is one of two ways to Applecross. The other way is a very slow coastal path. The pass is the 2nd highest road in Scotland, but I’ve been the highest, and this is far more dramatic. The single track road had a succession of hair pin bends with shear drops down one side. All in all, it was almost as hairy as "half penny lane" near where i live. ;) Anyway i digress. We pottered around up there, taking pictures, as we usually just drove though it. Mat and Dan spent ages taking pictures of a puddle (it did actually look good) while a went back down to take a pic of the hairpin bends and the U shaped valley in the rock we had driven up. There was a fanatic view of Skye too. Sad thing is that while many a picture was taken, I don’t think you can really capture how it looked on film (digi or analog). We got back and naturally got drunk. (like we did every night)
Day 4: We went to the activity centre in Inverness. We started off with archery. Which I found was done more interestingly then i was expecting. After the standard target shooting, we switched to blunt weaker bows/arrows and got to shoot targets in trees. I think i scored above the average with that lot, so not ashamed. After that we did raft building. TBH the pond we got to test our rafts on was a bit less the mighty lochs I’d imagined, but it was still fun. I would have served my team better if I’d just stayed at home, as I couldn’t really risk trying to row the paddles. But hay, it was just a bit of fun. Afterwards most of the guys went to lock ness, but as our car lot had already seen it (its just another loch), we went for a far more important goal - the local brewery. We proceeded to buy a huge about of the fine ales they brewed, that me mostly drank that evening.
Day 5: This was mostly a "recover from hangover" day for me. I think everyone individually pottered around the bay, which was nice. I had my potter later, just before anther fine meal. I should mention that pretty much every meal we had was a fine meal, as they either was eaten out, and the area is know for its fine cooking, or we eat in, with some of our resident chiefs cooking. It seems some of them are rather good, and I felt slightly shamed. But I don’t get to cook at home, so there is my excuse. It did all taste bloody nice.
Day 6: The day of mountain walking. We went up Bein Alligin (Torridon), which involved walking up a height of 922 meters. This was my 3rd monro and the highest climb. Weather was good - not too hot, but not raining. We went up and a slow rate, which was a little slower then i'd have liked, (a lot slower then some wanted) but it did mean i could waist time taking pictures of things, which was nice. The top was freezing, and you could see your breath. Fanatic view. Not sure the stop and the cold helped though, and my legs seem to have jellifed while i was eating lunch. This meant that getting off the mountain was very hard. It seemed to take forever, and no one else seemed to have any problem. If there was a shortcut i would have taken it. But I was up there, so there was nothing for it but to go forth. My slowness didn’t hold up most of the team, (all but me and Ruth) and they got back in about half the time it took me. We slowly (felt like forever) ambled down, and the sight of the car has never seemed so good! Our car load stopped off at a pub for the loo, and the bar called to us, so i had the best tasting Guinness in the world (Could have been full of pipe cleaner, but still tasted fantastic after that mountain). We then set back as we had to get back for a dinner that was originally going to be at 8, but mat was going to rearrange for 9, due to the time. As it was the last day, we went to a rather nice but expensive restaurant in Applecross. (Apparently the 2nd most romantic place in UK. . . *shug*) I must confess when i first sat down, i was feeling just glad to be sat, and not so interested in the food. But when it came it was exceedingly good, and i soon forgot about my acing legs. I started with crayfish in garlic butter started. I'd not had it since i child, and had never been sure on the way they look back at you as you eat them. But I thought I’d give it ago, and they where good, if not fiddly to actually eat. After that came the main dish. I cant remember the title, but the English for it was something like "chicken with granny's bits". And granny's bits where indeed very very nice. And then, even though totally stuffed, had pudding. It was all a bit pricy, but well worth it. We then went back for a quick and cozy drink with the fire before bed. Then there was the 1st disagreement, which I tried to keep out of.
Day 7: The journey home. Not a lot to say about it really. As i was expecting, it did seem twice as long and the journey up, although it was a flawless trip and took about the same time and it did to get up there. Got back about 11sh, Saturday.
Its now day 9, as it where at home and I’m still bloody stiff, but all in all, it was a very pleasant holiday!
Ruth put up some pictures here