Tour Scotland!

[AuldJock]

Stunning scenery, a rich and colourful culture, friendly helpful people and occasional (but glorious) sunshine! Yeah, there's no doubt you have to be ready for a downpour in Scotland but pick your days wisely and the rewards are great...

[AuldJock]

Perthshire:

Probably one of the best tourist areas in Scotland, plenty places to park up for the night, wild or reasonbly-priced pitch. The Pitlochry/Tummel and Rannoch areas particularly good for a stop over in the wilds(Foss Road on south side of Loch Tummel particularly good for wild overnighters)... Pitlochry and Aberfeldy are fine for dining out, tourist type shopping or re-supplying the van. Fuel prices are high just now but if you've converted to LPG there are a few pumps available. Perth itself is great for shopping and a lovely city to tour with Scone (pro: Scoon) Palace nearby!

Loads of sight-seeing to be done, with Queen's View and Schiehallion at Loch Tummel,The Hermitage woodland walk, Dunkeld Abbey, Soldier's Leap at Killicrankie battle site, Rannoch Station, the Hydro Dam and Salmon-ladder and Distilleries at Pitlochry. There's no reason to be sitting around if you're the out and about type.. so take the walking boots and soak it all up!

Here's a wee gem for those looking for a short hillwalk (not too strenuous)... Turn south at Tummel Bridge and head up the hill a couple of miles, take the Schiehallion Road west, past the Schiehallion carpark and onward until you start to come down a very twisty bit of road. The road straightens out and a gate appears on your right with a small cottage just inside. It's a private road beyond the gate but so long as you park up sensibly no-one minds! Get your boots on and follow the road past a big house, through another gate then along the shore of Dunallistair Water to a charming little holiday cottage nestled among the woods. To the right of the cottage, a pathway heads up the wooded hillside, follow the path about one mile twisting up through the wood, crossing a fallen tree over a stream then along a flat grassy path to a veiwpoint. The veiws alone are marvellous... looking west across Loch Rannoch with the ruins of the once great Dunallistair house below you. I've seen Golden Eagle, Osprey and large herds of deer from this veiwpoint, but look behind you into the vegetation growing on the rock wall... there's a square "window"! Walk either right or left of this window and you'll find concealed entrances to MacGregor's Cave... an amazing little hideaway reputed to be used by Rob Roy himself! A fine place for a picnic!

Remember the 'Skin-So-Soft' from Avon... the world's best midge repellant... and it smell great too!

[AuldJock]

Angus and Dundee:

Heading east from Perth, Dundee is a wee gem that few ever see. The city itself has a fantastic setting on the north shores of the mighty River Tay with "The Law"(Old Scots word meaning hill) dominating the city skyline. The Law itself is a extinct volcano and you can drive to the summit for a grand view of the city and its surrounds. The Law's neighbouring wooded hill, Balgay houses an observatory on its summit, good for a stargazing visit one evening!

Heading in to town you can't miss RRS Discovery at Discovery point... the three-masted ship that took Captain Scott on his ill-fated adventure to Antarctica. Easily missed is another maritime gem... HMS Unicorn. Berthed about half a mile from Discovery, she's the oldest British warship still afloat! You can get right into the bowels of the old ship, experience the cramped conditions and smell the old sea-soaked timbers... well worth the fiver for access! In the town centre, other attractions include the recently refurbished McManus Galleries and Verdant Works.. giving the visitor a fascinating insight into Dundee life and telling the story of the jute, jam and journalism that built Dundee into a Victorian powerhouse.

Did you know that Dundee is where William Wallace (the Braveheart) was educated and where in 1297, at a spot marked by a bronze plaque below the spire of St Paul's cathedral, he struck the first blow for Scottish independence when he killed the son of the Sheriff of Dundee outside the old castle gates? This act (in self defence I might add), saw Wallace branded an outlaw and the fight was on! Yes, Dundee is where it all began!

The surrounding countryside heading out of Dundee is quite beautiful. Rolling green hills and fields spattered with historic and ancient landmarks like standing stones, earth houses and some of the oldest battlesites in Scotland. Don't miss Arbroath Abbey, Glamis Castle, The Angus Glens and Kirriemuir... birthplace of Peter Pan!

[AuldJock]

Aberdeen to Ballater:

Head up the coast road from Dundee into Aberdeen and stop for lunch in Arbroath at Sugar and Spice... a charming cafe close to the town's famous fish harbour. Get your hands on a genuine Arbroath Smokie for breakfast... a great way to start your day! Don't miss the abbey while you're there!

Heading further up the coast, Stonehaven is worth a beer-stop and perhaps a wander up to Dunottar Castle will loosen the legs up! Aberdeen itself doesn't offer a great deal to the visitor except good shopping, but be prepared to walk your legs off as the shops are spread over the city... still, on a good day, Aberdeen's well worth the stroll!

More appealing to the visitor on wheels is the road out to Ballater. Where HM Queen Elizabeth has her highland hideaway, Balmoral Castle. For the keen hillwalker there's always a hike up Lochnagar, the mountain made famous in song and plenty of woodland walks for the not-so-adventurous!

Continue round the coast roads if you can to sample some of Scottish coastal life.. small villages and towns with bags of charm and character and some surprising geological features and hidden gems.

[john1]

Your doing a Grand job there Jock,

[DarkPoet]

All well & good but how come I've never met a Scottish Widow like the one in the advert?

[AuldJock]

Cheers John1, gotta spread the word!

Hey Darkpoet... maybe they'e avoiding you!! Besides, you've nae chance... she married me last year!

[AuldJock]

Aviemore and the Cairngorm:

Heading north up the A9 from Pitlochry, make sure you stop by Blair Castle, where Europe's last private army resides under the command of the Earl of Atholl. It's a grand residence! I recommend visiting when the highland games visit, then you'll see the tartan-clad Atholl Highlanders pipe their way into the arena. Spectacular! The house of Bruar, just ten minutes up the A9 from Blair Atholl is a fine place to stop for a bite to eat and a browse through the quality clothing on offer... but be prepared to part with a few coins if your buying!

Back on the road you climb up through the Brander Pass, a place to avoid in the depths of winter, until you reach Dalwhinnie, where the finest of Distilleries awaits your attentions. You have an option here as far as navigation goes... you could head west by Loch Laggan to Spean Bridge and Fort William, where there is plenty of the finest in Scotland's scenery on display and much to be done... but I'll leave that for another post! For now, let's head north to Aviemore!

Aviemore is a vibrant and growing town at the foot of the Cairngorm mountain range, so busy is it that wild camping can be tricky... the estate is quite protective of its well-organised and tidy image and rightly wants to keep it that way! One spot I've found is atop a hill that has grand views of the Cairngorms... head east from the mini roundabout as you enter Aviemore, a mile in you pass a small gathering of shops and houses by a turnoff (right) to Loch An Eillean. Just beyond this collection of dwellings is a smaller turnoff to the right to Tullochgrue, head in there! Follow this narrow road through the woods then up the hill (turning left at a fork). You'll cross a cattle grid and find yourself by a clearing with a fine big Scots Pine to shelter under. I've parked up there a few times without any fuss.. but no fires please, you're in a large pine forest!

Aviemore is fine for the tourist, there is simply LOADS to do, too much for me to start telling you about! Just get yourself there and get around, the pubs are fine and the welcome friendly. Don't miss a ride on the steam train and get on your bikes!

[donnieg]

Here AuldJock you don't happen to work for the Scottish tourist board do you

[AuldJock]

Hehe... naw DonnieG, more's the pity... that bunch are pretty useless!!

I took up the van last summer and had such a fantastic time touring around my home country that I thought somebody ought to be telling you guys about it!!

BTW... it's England for me this summer!!

[donnieg]

Same as us we are heading down south this year

[T'Onion]

Keep the idea's coming as we are heading North for Easter

[donnieg]

Keep the idea's coming as we are heading North for Easter

What area are you heading for?

[T'Onion]

West coast up to Skye , then across to Inverness , down to Edinburgh

[donnieg]

There are some nice campsites on skye.There is one in sleichigan not sure about the spelling,ond in dunvagen which is nice also one in edinbane again a nice site another in Uig and Staffin and there is one on the outskirts of Portree.If you are into roughcamping then you will be spoiled for choice.In Inverness there are two campsites within easy walking distance of the centre one is council owned and a nice site the other is 100 yards up the road by the canal.If you don't want to stay in a campsite you could park on my drive on in my garage .When we go down to Edinbrugh we always stay at Morton Hall campsite it is a large site with good shower and toilet blocks.There is a bus stop by the entrance which will take you into the city centre. When you leave Skye you should go to Applecross if it is a clear day the views are stunning from the top of the hill.It is a big circular if you go to Lochcarron then over to Applecross (the hill up to applecross is very steep and single track)once in applecross head for Sheildaig then to Torradon then to Inverness.There is a campsite in Applecross and the food at the hotel is to die for.

Hope this is of some help to you
Donnie