Back at Witches Craig Stirling after a short spell in Keswick now ready for our second trip in Scotland. Arrived just after lunch so a walk down to the Coffee Bothy.

22 August – Witches Craig Stirling

Rainy start so washing day. Run up onto the witches Craig and beyond good run in the afternoon visited the coffee bothy again for some homemade food for tea.

14 – 16 August 2017

Not a good day for travelling to Keswick – rain and bad spray off the road all the way. Arrived Troutbeck after picking up the car and started immediately catching up with friends as this week will go very quickly. Finished our business down here very early in the week and now catching up on exercise with a good run this morning (Wednesday) on forest trails near the campsite.

17 – 20 August 2017

Walk about in Keswick, Market Day. In the afternoon Workington Plaza Cinema to see Atomic Blonde. Usual stop down the Borrowdale Valley for a scrumptious bacon buttie. No running as bad weather. Good evening walk down to Aira Force. Quite spectacular after all the rain.

Good walk about in Keswick meeting friends. Saturday managed a run after lunch. Sunday morning had a walk up the old railway line looking at the 2015 flood damage.

Noticed the below picture on one of the tables in Costa Coffee Keswick.

Move in the morning back to Witches Craig campsite, Stirling.

11 – 13 August 2017 – By The Way Campsite, Tyndrum

Short drive from Fort William. Noticed a lot of bad drivers on this section. Who on earth could be in such a hurry in this beautiful area.

Arrived lunchtime, walk into village for coffee and lunch. As usual whilst here done lots of lovely walks and good running. Had coffee again in the Artisan tea room just a short 45 minute walk from the campsite. Easy, peasy!

4 August 2017 – Staffin, Isle of Skye

Good drive down to Tarbert via the Callanish Standing Stones. Brilliant. Arrived at the ferry port and had a walk about stopping for tea and scones at the Gin Distillery. Good ferry again landing on Skye at 18.00. Half an hour drive round to Staffin. The campsite is not one of the greatest we have been to with some sort of booking problem (not us) but it created problems on the site and one camping car driver not a happy bunny (not us).

Left next morning for Armadale for the ferry to Mallaig. Arrived early but good walk about and a delicious bacon buttie for lunch. Drove from Mallaig down to Fort William and the Glen Nevis site. Arrived late so decided to have a meal at the pub. Unfortunately not up to our expectations so will not be going there again.

Both did a short run below Cow Hill. Drove into Fort William for some food shopping and a walk about. Late afternoon did some laundry.

Walked into Fort William via the Peat Trail. 2 hours there and back. Small walk in the evening alongside the riverside due to the fact that a new bridge has been put in near the Information Centre and the path made wheelchair friendly.

Next morning ran the new path we had checked out then cycled to Neptunes Staircase for coffee. In the evening walked to the pub below Ben Nevis for a drink.

9  August 2017 – Glen Nevis, Fort William

Walk this morning up to the Fort on Dundeardail 2 ½ Hr then lots of short walkabouts.

10  August 2017 – Glen Nevis, Fort William

Maureen ran this morning 20 mins up the hill then turned, a cold wind today. After the run cycled into Fort William for a coffee and lunch then onto Neptunes Staircase again this time returning through Caol. Showed Maureen where I learned Explosives.

1-3 August 2017 – Laxdale Holiday Park, Stornoway

Relaxing morning then left about lunchtime for ferry from North Uist to Harris. Really good journey and very interesting ferry route in between lots of little islands.

Spectacular scenery driving up to Stornoway – pristine white beaches and very rocky hillsides. Campsite very good.

Walked into Stornoway town, about 1.5 miles. Quite small town but very interesting. Only able to look around the ground floor of Lews Castle but had nice coffee and scone in cafe.

In the evening had a good walk up to the War Memorial.

Last day here walked into town. Had coffee in the theatre cafe. Back to site as wet today. Moving tomorrow onto Skye.

26 -29 July 2017 Kilbride Camping South Uist

Catching late ferry today so had a short walk about between showers.

Drove up the island to see the airport on the beach. Saw one aeroplane land and 2 take off.

Amazing to see on the beach as they can only land and take off when the tide is out. Ferried across to Eriskay and then drove across the causeway to South Uist.

Plenty of beach walking, walked along the roads left and right for an hour each way looking for otters and small beaches. Last day the wind had dropped so we cycled down to the causeway connecting to Eriskay.

30 – 31 July 2017 – Shell Bay House (Bagh an T-Slige) Camping, Benbecula

Slow journey up enjoying the scenery, stopped off to look around the Kildonan Heritage Museum – very interesting. Had coffee and cake in adjoin café – yummy.

Arrived at campsite and enjoyed a walk along the beach. They were just removing the last of the music festival which was on over the weekend.

Most people left today after the festival only 6 Campers here at the moment. Good long walk on the beach today moving early in the morning.

23 July Oban

Good journey over from Tyndrum. Campsite well out of town down a narrow road where we saw a 56 seater bus drive down the 1.5 miles of narrow road then have to reverse all the way back to Oban – impressive. Good walk about down to the Puffin Dive Centre. Topped up with food and petrol ready for the Outer Hebrides.

24 -25 July Borve Camping Barra

Good ferry journey over – 6 hours, flat calm sea. Saw one basking shark and some dolphins. Campsite good right next to the Atlantic.

Tuesday cycled down to Castlebay for coffee and cake at the Post Office that was in the film Whiskey Galore. Cycled right round the island – 14 miles. Visited the Heritage and Fishing Centre. Wonderful place. Move on tomorrow.

19 -22 July By The Way Tyndrum

Good drive over to our favorite campsite at Tyndrum great walking, coffee at The Green Wellie and good for running love the site . Visited The Artisan coffee shop. Good running on the west Highland Way (be it raining ugh!)

17 – 18 July – Witches Craig Stirling

The Witches Craig In the seventeenth century Scotland was gripped by a fear of witches. The ruins of the nearby Logie Kirk (Church) date back to 1178 and today are an eerie place filled with mystery. It is said that a coven of witches was based in the hills behind the kirk, the most prominent of which is Carly Crag, or the Witches Craig. An eighteenth century minister at Logie is said to have spotted the Devil dancing there with his witches; the Devil was given away by the cloven hooves he was unable to hide. The presence of witches all along the Ochils is remembered today with place names such as Warlock Glen and Devil’s Loch. The most likely place to spot witches today is in the caravan and camping park reception where you can buy toy witches as a souvenir of your stay!

Maureen running up the hills Darian walked it good to be on some steep ground. Bus into Sterling for a walk about. £2.40 each single bus pass no good here.

Walked down to a farm shop for some cake. Had a lovely 1 hour walk in the evening under the hill side.

16th July – Witches Craig Stirling

Good journey across via Falkirk to take a look at the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel. Both amazing and well worth a visit.

Arrived campsite about 1.00, had some lunch then had a walk to the Wallace Monument. Had a coffee and cake then walked back and decided to take a look at the Logie Kirk.

What an experience. They had volunteers there that told the history of the new and old churches and they also had an amazing graveyard.