Easter trip 22-29 March 2008
Oban, Skye, Loch Ness, Perthshire, Monifieth, St Andrews
Weather looked pretty gloomy for the week ahead, but annual leave was booked and this would be the first big trip away in the (as yet unnamed) van. We had to just go for it. As usual, we had made no real plans for where to go, and the weather everywhere was pretty glum, so we stuck a pin in the map and headed up towards Oban. Found a nice site just over the Connel Bridge run by the Caravan Club — North Ledaig. Although it was bright, nicer weather would have made this site a wee gem. Right on a long stretch of beach.
Pootle on Nessy watch
Onwards to Fort William and an essential stop off to buy some warm jackets and hats to keep off the chill. Got a great hat that looked like it was straight off the set of the Flumps which led us to christen our new van Pootle!
Drove up through the Kyle and headed towards Skye, stopping off for a few cuppas on the way and the usual picture stop at Eilan Donan. We were getting low on petrol just before the bridge and stopped off at a local garage to fill up. Raymond was outraged at 115p for unleaded (local prices were just 103p when we left home). Curiously now, writing this at end June, 115p seems quite reasonable! When we did fill up on the island the petrol gauge broke so for the rest of the trip we were doing some mental arithmetic at the pumps.
Onwards towards Sligachan, the only campsite we knew of on Skye. A couple of crazy campers were out there camping in the freezing winds (and snow flurries) in a tiny tent. Everywhere else was deserted. A quick drink in the hotel across the road and onwards and upwards through Skye. Who goes camping without a proper guide book?
None of the books we had included any sites on Skye so we kept going in the hope of finding somewhere near Portree. No luck there, so onwards towards Dunvegan. It was snowing heavily by this time, and starting to get dark, so it looked like out best option would be stopping off at a local hotel for a drink and some dinner, and camping in the car park. Nothing was open. When we headed for Skye we presumed, since it was Easter weekend, that at least there would be the odd hotel open. And actually there was an odd hotel open at Edinbane. They were undergoing renovations and really weren’t catering for visitors so we trundled up the road a few miles further in the hope of finding somewhere warm. It was pitch black when we finally stopped in the car park at Dunvegan Castle. And snowing. We were really cold and only had a wee portable gas heater with us - close to useless.
Next day was bright but still snowy. Woke early as some early dog walkers and tourists were walking through the castle grounds (get there before 9.30 to get in for free cos by the time we were up and dressed it was over a tenner!)
Off down the windy roads past Dunvegan with the red hills on the right hand side. Great views on this side of the island – totally different from the east side with the Storr. Pootling along the road we spotted a wee blue Danbury! Our first bay this trip! Baywatch has become our new sport. Lunch at Broadford where the host was a giraffe (there’s a pic), and off back down through the Kyle.
Pootle was running well – no overheating in the freezing temperatures. Couple of cuppa stops later we rolled up to another great wee site near the bottom of Loch Ness and had a great view for the Pootle to Nessie-watch. The site had a bar but was under renovation when we went. Would definitely go back mid season to check it out again. The site manager loved the Pootle and we will join his tales of a splitty they had in 2 years ago ?
Tuesday, and we head for Perthshire. Blair Atholl Castle has a great site. Wifi access and good nature rambles. Pretty much what you would expect for a 5 star site. Went for lunch at the hotel across the road but would definitely recommend the Water Mill Café round the corner instead, where we went for breakfast the following day. Had a wee look at the Castle gift shop and grounds – you get in for free if you camp there but still have to pay to go right inside the castle. Next stop looked great on paper and only a few miles down the road at Tummel Valley. When we got there though we realised it was just like any other Haven/Parkdean kind of site. Ok if you’ve got bored kids with a lot of pocket money, but we’ve been to a few of these and they are all pretty much the same. Drive down into the Valley was nice though. We got Bananas, our first claw win of the season, on this site. (The Arctic Monkeys would have you believe these are called Teddy Pickers!)
Kept going east, with a view to staying at St Andrews on our last night. Found another great beach site at Monifieth. Brilliant sauna and steam room/gym on site. We had full private use for a couple of hours for a fiver each which was great after 5 cramped sleeps in the Pootle. Really tidy site and a kids adventure playground next door beside the beach. There was also a bowl skatepark. We walked up to have a look at it after a night time stroll along the beach, and with the wind howling off the sea it made some really spooky sounds reverberating round the pool shape. Definitely try going up at night if you go there, it’s a really odd sounding thing! Again, I think we would go here on another trip; it’s great to find a site right next to a beach that isn’t too far away from Glasgow for the odd weekend away.
Over the Tay bridge and onwards to St Andrews, and one of our favourite sites, Cairnsmill. We’ve been here a few times and always enjoyed it. Again it’s quite a ‘grown up’ site (rather than the more relaxed style farm sites out there). There’s a pub and games room on site and a great pool. Going off season means that the pool isn’t full of kids all day and you can get a real swim. Only one van spotted this trip on Baywatch til the next morning when we spot an orange Westfalia LHD Bay on the site. Could the Pootle make a wee friend? Turns out to be Kevin and Audrey in their irn bru bus Denbydub ? (mistakenly refer to them as Brenda and Audrey and now it’s stuck – started for no apparent reason, but come to think of it, their van is very clean!). Invited to come along to the next West of Scotland VW Club club night?
All the fresh air over the last 7 days really began to catch up with us and we were looking forward to the 85 mile journey home where soft beds and 2 bad kitties were waiting. Coming off the motorway, 2 miles from home, and the Pootle starts groaning and grumbling. So close to home! Eeked our way home and up in to the drive. This is our first real Pootle problem and would take a while to diagnose!