MULLing around the idea of Scottish Island Life

Posted on April 28, 2018 by wonko

We awoke at stupid o’clock, finished packing,  breakfasted (this time not setting off the fire alarm thankfully) and wended our way on largely empty back streets to the vehicular ferry station for our trip to The Isle of Mull. The morning was grey, it was raining and a little windy, meaning the seas would be rougher than my tummy would like (thank goodness for Travelcalm).

We lined up, were shepherded aboard and retired to the poop deck (well, in truth a rather comfortable and mostly stable cabin) for cups of tea and sympathy. The trip was fairly uneventful, we broke through the rain a few times and had sun, then got rained on again but arrived on the island in the dry.

We had previously received information about “passing places” on the island, necessary protocol while driving there as nearly every road is a single lane, with regular pull-overs alternating side to side. After meeting a few drivers, and infuriating at least one local, we realised we totally misunderstood what the instructions said, used common sense and got it right, mostly from there on – mind you when you are pootling up a hill and out of a blind crest some bastard hurtles towards you it is everyone for themselves sometimes. Read more »

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Introduction To Scotland

Posted on April 27, 2018 by wonko

We awoke bleary, I picked up some fresh pork pies, we packed and motored away from Ripon on our way to the border region as our bridge to Scotland. Our first stop for the day was High Force Waterfall, in the Area of Natural Beauty in the North Pennines. Due to poor signage and our poor sense of direction we walked off in the wrong direction (without rain gear) and had to rush back because of rain (quite predictably). We then found the correct path and a forceful waterfall, obviously bolstered by recent rains.

We then motored on to Chester’s Roman Fort. Built as part of the fortifications connected to Hadrian’s wall, this fort lay buried until a farmer chanced upon it when digging a drain. Quite complete and fairly well preserved, we wandered among barracks (each tiny room was designed for 3 guards and their horses to conserve heat, imagine the smell), houses and a rather splendid bathhouse with intact hypercaust (thanks Timeteam) floors. We originally were going to picnic here, but the weather once again was cold and wet so we ate lunch in the warmth of the car – our take on a ploughmans.

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Return to Yorkshire

Posted on April 26, 2018 by wonko

After our time in Ireland, a return to “normality” seemed in order. As a gateway drug to Scotland, we decided to visit Yorkshire again with the added benefit of being able to visit our good friends, Mike and Colette in Boroughbridge.

After the flight into Leeds Bradford, we picked up a hire car (a rather gutless Fiat Tipo) and managed to fit all our goods and chattels in, set up the cockpit, revive the phone and check the maps worked, then set off for Skipton. After an uneventful car orientating drive and a flummoxing parking adventure we went on a lovely ramble along a canal through forest parklands in Skipton Castle woods.

We then headed on to Linton for a pub lunch (Fish and Chip Friday) and a pint of local ale – a flat, warm pale ale that was hand-pumped meaning the barkeep essentially filled the glass twice. Lovely bit of fish, light lunch and then on the road again. We passed a quarry and turned into mystery (to me) location, Jo said “you will need your camera”, we puffed up a hill to a massive stone maze-like structure on top. Called the Coldstones Cut, a mega sculpture overlooking a huge quarry (or Diggosaurus hive), it is brilliant.

Suitably brisked (underestimating the windchill factor and ambient temperature), we drove on to Ripon to meet up with Mike and explore the cathedral (which is what you do in Ripon as a day visitor). Suitably cathedraled, we walked to find our in-town accommodation (a renovated apartment in an old stone building, fabulously quirky, more levels than should be allowed) and checked what was supplied before going provision shopping to set us up for a couple of days. We then went over to Boroughbridge for catchups and a bang-up Indian feast at a local restaurant, brilliant end to a busy day. Read more »

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