Day 6 Ullapool to Drumbeg

What a night!! The rain slashed down and the wind blew a gale which meant the Hotel rattled all night.

Check out was 11am so we decided to stay until then, by which time the sunshine was trying to push through.

A quick walk around the town and two failed attempts to get our passport stamped, we eventually called at the museum where we were told we were the first to use their new stamp.

Back on the road heading further north we took a detour from the NC500 to Achiltibuie, a fifteen mile single track road with passing places. The scenery is so barren but somehow beautiful as well. There are few people living in this area, but at Achiltbuie a shop selling everything including fuel stamped our passport and sold us lunch. Big plus, blue sky and no rain.

The wild North West coast

At Lochinver we searched for someone to stamp the passport, even trying the famous Roux family restaurant, who according to our book should have had a stamp but didn’t. A B&B far up a single track were happy to stamp us and again said we were the first this year.

At Clachtoll a winding wooden path leaves to a very pretty beach 

The beach had a lone person and dog on it while the sea lashed the rocks.

At Stoer Point stands a lighthouse with a To Rent sign on it... now that would be a different place to stay!

Our home for the night is Croft 338 Drumbeg B&B and we were given a most warm welcome.

Tomorrow we will reach the North coast.

Day 5 Torridon to Ullapool

The start of the day looked a little mixed but the sun soon came out and brightened the day.

The Torridon to Ullapool journey was very interesting, with museums and Scottish Nation Trust gardens and dramatic scenery.

A short walk to the Victoria Falls made for an interesting stop.

The view from Victoria Falls to Loch  Maree Island

A slight detour off the NC500 along a twisty single track road took us to Redpoint, where it was blowing a gale!

This area overlooks Ramsay and Skye.

One of the displays inside the Gairloch Heritage Museum.

I even managed to buy a Gairloch sock pattern here.

As members of the National Trust we are able to visit the Scottish National Trust for free.

Famous for its Rhododendrons we wandered the gardens and visited the house designed in the 30’s style.

This wonderful tinkling statue was  hung with metal leaves engraved with names of people that had donated money to the restoration of the house and gardens. 

A slate statue in the garden by James Parker

Isn’t this a great lamp shade? Three different hats hanging in the hall of the house.

It has been a long and tiring day so we will leave wandering around Ullapool, where we are staying tonight, until tomorrow.

Day 4 Applecross / Torridon

The morning looked gloomy and foggy as we left Strathpeffer but a few miles down the road the sun came out and stayed with us all day.

As we reached the West coast our first stop was Attadale Gardens to get our passport stamped and walk around the beautiful gardens famous for their Rhododendrons. Sadly being Sunday it was closed but a sneaky peak through the enterance was all we could manage.

Attadale Gardens in the sunshine

Next stop Carron cafe for hot chocolate and millionaires shortbread.. yummy! And the all important NC500 stamp.

Such friendly service and with a magnificent view of Loch Carron.

Leaving Ardarroch we took the scary journey over the mountain with narrow roads and small passing places.

You have been warned!

Twisty hairpin bends wind their way up the mountain

Chris at the highest point.

We made it!

The views all along this route are amazing, even the snow looks nice.

A herd of Highland cattle walk past ignoring the car

Love this view and don’t think I’d ever get tired of seeing it.

We have now arrived at Torridon Scottish Youth Hostel for a night. The room is basic but nice and we have it to ourselves.

Day 3 Inverness

Awoke to sunshine and a relatively warm day after the awful weather we have been having.

A Trip into Inverness to actually start the NC500 passport.

There are a choice of places to get the passport stamped, so we choose the Botanical Gardens... what a treat and all completely free.

Opened in 1993 by Prince Edward the well kept gardens and greenhouses ranging from Tropical rainforests to arid desert were a delight.

There were lots of really nice plants for sale but at this point of our adventure I was unable to buy any.

The arid desert greenhouse.

Well placed mirrors meant the gardens looked much bigger, could not resist a selfie!

The Rain forest

Inverness castle looking magnificent in the sunshine 

In the middle of nowhere we came across this tiny fabric shop, Chris gave me 1/2 hr to shop!

The owner was really nice and I could not resist a couple of bundles of fat quarters.

Back at Strathpeffer we walked to the Pump room to get the second of our passport stamps but it was closed for a week!

A local B&B was also on the list of places that would stamp our book so thank you Holly Lodge.

A little about our accommodation.

Strathpeffer owes its existence to the discovery of sulphurous springs found in the 18c.

The Highland Hotel was built in 1911 by the railway company to accommodate the many tourists who flocked here for the waters health benefits.

It is a most magnificent building.

The bar lounge area, which leads to two other lounges and two restaurants.

The grand staircase with lead light windows depicting thistles.

We are in Room number One!

Day 2 Strathpeffer

Great night at the Travel Lodge Musselburgh, definitely recommend it.

Set off for Strathpeffer via The Wool Shop in Dalkeith! Managed to buy another row counter and some needle ends, plus another ball of sock wool!

There were long delays on the Edinburgh by pass, managed to knit about eight or nine rows of socks while the removed a broken down lorry!

Again it is very foggy but managed to get a couple of photos of the Forth Road Bridge as we drove over it. It is always said that they never stop painting it as as soon as the finish one side they have to start again iit is so long.

We then travelled through interesting countryside, would have been nicer without the fog, and stopped at Dalwhinnie for lunch in a cute little cafe with great prices. There is also a distillery at Dalwhinnie but we didn’t stop, Scotland’s drink driving rules are more strict than England’s but apparently most distilleries now give you a sample to take home. 

Dalwhinnie Cafe

Arrived at our ‘home’ for the next two nights. Shearings Highland Hotel Strathpeffer which appears to be very grand and we have a nice room with an enclosed balcony.  197 miles. Tomorrow we really start our NC500 trip getting our passport stamped in Inverness.

Day 1 Scotland trip

We set off from home at 9am and arrived at the Edinburgh Musselburgh Travel Lodge at 8.30pm..

The Angel of the North is always such a special sight as we travel north, although the constant fog made it hard to see.

The journey was broken when we travelled to Stokesley for lunch and to meet an internet friend, Marianne.

Fish and chips for him and Whitby Scampi for me in a Diner went down a treat, followed by a short walk around town.

Love the menu!

Next stop meeting Marianne, what a treat, the chat was non stop for a couple of hours before we had to continue on our journey.

Marianne and I met through a machine embroidery on line group, so it was nice to meet in person. I feel I have a new friend.

Marianne and me

Finally Scotland appeared on a sign and we now really feel on holiday, some sunshine would be the icing on the cake.

NV500 Scotland Trip

Let the fun begin: We have been planning a trip to Scotland for some time and having discovered the NC500  [ Scotlands version of the USA's Route 66] we planned 12 nights of travel in the old Land Rover Defender. Total mileage from home back to home will be about 1700-2000 miles.

We have booked a selection of different accommodation and hope to be able to blog our journey as we travel, but WiFi is not brilliant in Scotland especially in the remote areas.

Day 1 Travel to a Travel Lodge near Edinburgh via meeting an internet friend, for the first time, who happens to live 4 miles off our route.
Day 2/3 Continue on to the start of the NC500 at Inverness. Booked into a Shearing Hotel at Strathpeffer for two nights half board.
Day 4 Torridon on the West coast and a Scottish Youth Hostel [ first time in a YH!]
Day 5 Ullapool, Caledonian a bespoke Hotel B&B
Day 6 Drumbeg, Croft 338 B&B
Day 7 Bettyhill Hotel B&B on the North coast
Day 8 John O'Groats, Bencorragh House B&B
Day 9 Brora, Balranald Shepherds Hut, Hut only!
Day 10/11 Shearing Hotel at Strathpeffer for two nights half board again
Day 12 Either another Travel Lodge or directly home.

Day of horrors!

If you do not like dentist stories do not read!

On Sunday a tooth started to wobble and the crown I had fitted a week ago was not right, so Monday in a complete state of nervousness I went back to the Dentist.
The crown turned out to be nothing more than a little of the porcelain was missing and it could be replaced whenever I feel like it as it has a years guarentee.
The wobbly tooth needed removing and if I wanted to wait 15 mins he would give me an injection and remove it. I am now a complete wreck!
All went fairly smoothly and the tooth was removed. Back at the car I took a look in my mouth to find I still had the wobbly tooth!!!!
Back to the dentist and he explained he had removed another tooth that was wobbly and said he would now remove the tooth I was having problems with since Sunday.
Another injection and wait and the tooth broke off and he had to drill the root out.
I am now nearly passing out and have no idea how I drove home.

My mouth is painful and a complete mess, but hopefully it will calm down as we go on holiday on Thursday.

Holiday socks

Another pair of socks ready for our next holiday.

Made a little longer than I normally knit, to keep my feet warm while in Scotland later this month.

St Mary the Virgin, Burton Latimer

Easter Sunday and I had wish to attend the Easter service at St Mary the Virgin, Burton Latimer. Chris agreed to accompany me. This Church has a special place in my heart, although I no longer belong to the Church of England, having converted to The Church of Latter Day Saints some years ago.

My Grandfather, John Thomas ASHBY and his family, lived opposite the church and was the Verger for many years. When it was time for my mother to marry it was just a case of walking across the road on Grandad's arm. 25th March 1940.

Holding her favourite flowers, Arum lilies, Mum walked across the road to marry.

Catherine Mary ASHBY and Stanley Douglas SIMONS
A guard of honour was created by St John Ambulance sisters,
my mother being a keen member of the brigade.

Both my parents are now buried in the church yard, together with my mother's siblings and her parents.  A visit to their graves and my father's commemorative tree made for a day of reminiscence and happy memories.

The family crab apple tree surrounded by daffodils

The many commemorative grave stones of my mother and family

St Mary the Virgin Church

65 Church Street, my Grandfather's and family home.

Grandma and Grandad's burial site in the old cemetery.

A wonderful day of remembrance.