14/04/2022
Day 5: Brora
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12/04/2022
Day 4. : Cullen to Brora
In planning this little tour I had set a couple of parameters that I thought essential to the enjoyment of the trip. The first being driving for no more than 3 hours a day and the second to find time to explore and actually see Scotland and not the trunk roads. I can tell you now, this was flawed.
Firstly whilst the distances remained more or less the same each day, the time taken to do them got longer and longer, thus we started to arrive later and later at the destinations which left us little time to look around. And, secondly, we seemed to be seeing less and less of the places we were staying at. Partly because camp sites are not always near towns or shopping centres.
This leg of the journey was a bit shorter than the average even after making a number odd diversions to take in bridges. I like bridges. Even so we arrived later than expected in Brora. We had set off later also.
Now Cullen on a warm sunny day is quite a nice place. No denying that. The thing is I don't imagine that Scotland gets many days as nice as the one we woke up to, especially in late March.
The park up overlooked the rocky bit to the right of the beach and harbour and under the cliffs. The night was a little chilly but exceptionally clear as there was little light pollution from the town. By 9.30pm on the day we arrived we had settled down in bed, tucked up under the duvet telling each other jokes or things that made us laugh. All this with the sounds of wave crashing on the shore. I think by 9.45pm we were both fast asleep.
By 6am we had woke up to another glorious day and by 9am we had walked from beyond pet cemetry, passed the harbour, beyond the long sweeping beach up to Fiddle Bow rock and back to the van in lovely warm sunshine. We had breakfast with the barn doors open overlooking a stretch of sea that becomes the Moray Firth. We sat there for hours drinking tea and coffee and reading books. It was very pleasant. Not the sort of place you wanted to leave in a hurry. Except we had to because it was now 2pm and we were booked at a campsite in Brora, today!
So we left Cullen in a rush but promised ourselves a return trip, perhaps on the way back?
12/04/2022
Day 3: Forfar to Cullen (harbour).
Caravan and Motorhome Campsites are well run affairs and there’s always a comforting feeling of knowing the place and what to expect. Forfar was in all respects the same as Meathop Fell - the only other CAMC campsite we had been on. Showers and toilets are open all day and night except for an hour or so around 11 am for cleaning. You are also expected to leave the site before noon on the last day of your booking - this is so there is no congestion at the barrier when the new arrivals book in.
We decided on an early departure.
After a quick shower, a light breakfast a visit to the service point to empty the the toilet and fill up of fresh water on the way out and we would be on our way. Except just at a crucial moment the sat nav stopped working. Again!
We drove around the town centre a couple of times until found the unwelcoming car park we had stopped in the previous day. The sat nav was giving us all sorts of messages such as it was connecting to the computer or it was charging or shutting down. What it wasn’t giving us was the route to Aberdeen. Surely the local council had put up a sign for the ‘granite city’. Sure enough, it had and after one last tour of the centre we were heading off in the right direction.
The journey went well and for the most part we travelled at a reasonable speed along dual carriageway which also had lay byes. How I love lay byes - they are great if you need a coffee and a toilet break and we found one that had magnificent views as well. Reminded me of the Pacific Coast Highway that runs from Seattle to San Fransisco.
We stayed at this spot for an hour or so in the warm comfortable glow of unseasonable bright Scottish sunshine, sky blue seas and freshly made coffee and a slice of almond cake that we had brought with us. Wonderfull.
I don’t know how old the A90 Aberdeen ring road is but some of it is new tarmac and it’s well laid, something a motorhome/campervan driver really appreciates.
Around Peterhead the sat nav seemed to confuse itself by first of all telling us we needed a straight on and then a left. This would have been comical had it not been for the five lorries behind me all waiting for me to disappear. We went straight on to Fraserburgh as did the lorries but each in turn overtook me. Straight into Fraserburgh and straight out again taking the A98 to McDuff, then Banff then Cullen.
The whole journey had take just over 4 hours and at around 160 miles I was averaging 40 miles per hour. No wonder I was holding them up.
Arriving at about 1.30 in brilliant sunshine, as so every day had been, we knew Cullen was not going to disappoint although on arrival I knew I had made a mistake in booking a site for the next day. Still there was the beach, there was the sea and the sun and we had food and drinks in the fridge. We went exploring.
11/04/2022
Day 2: Moffat to Forfar Camp site part 2
The day was promising to be quite warm and by the time we set off for our next destination the cab was warm enough to require the air con on. Having spent a fair amount of time planning the route to take in a few bridges, 20 minutes into the journey the Tom Tom reset itself and directed us to Glasgow instead of Biggar and we missed a motorway turn off. We needed to stop to set up the sat nav again but unusually there was no lay-bye to be found. We struggled on for a few miles passing signs for Carlisle - even more worrying we seemed to be heading South instead of North. We spotted a bus stop ahead and pulled in, reset the route, let the traffic that had built up behind us pass and we were on our way again.
If the sat nav behaves itself we would now see the bridges over the Forth and Tay and arrive at the Forfar campsite around 2.30pm. The new Queensferry bridge and the Tay Road bridge between Tay and Dundee are not just there to provide short cuts for the commercial traffic to the towns and cities along the Eastern side of Scotland, they are also testament to Scottish engineering both past and present and I would love to look at them more closely but that will have to be another time.
The Dundee end of the Tay Road bridge is fairly straight forward - turn right, follow the ring road and pick up signs for Forfar on the other side of Dundee. However, when we reached the end of the bridge there was a fair amount of confusion in that the traffic flow in my lane came to a halt as it met face on a car travelling in the wrong direction! The driver took a while to sort themselves out whilst all around watched in, I suspect, some degree of patient amusement. In a short while traffic was moving and my lane moved into the ring road at which point the sat nav downed tools and I found myself heading into the busy centre but emerged at the exact spot where the ring road was sign posted to Forfar. We gave up on the sat nav until we reached Forfar parking under a sign in a car park that offered no comfort to a lost traveller in a motorhome.
It took a while to find the campsite due to the fact that there were no signs indicating where it was. The campsite have been waiting two years for Forfar Council to approve the club signs that were now in Reception.
The journey had taken much longer than expected and it was late afternoon when we looked around the town. Costa had closed, the restaraunts were uninviting and the town was deserted. This was mid-week, maybe it had more life about it at weekends.
So, back to the campsite and a walk around the loch but even this was not as pleasant as it could have been as we spent most of the time dodging joggers, cyclists and dog walkers.
In the van we enjoyed a simple yet tasty meal, a generous glass of chilled white wine from the fridge. We read our books until late and then to bed.
11/04/2022
Day 2: Moffat to Forfar
Even though we were awake an hour or so after sunrise, the sun had still to peep its head over the hills behind us and light up the valley. Kettle on ready for a brew of Pennington’s tea and within half an hour we were booted and dressed for a chilly early morning walk and we headed across the hills once more with the intention of investigating what was thought to be a stone circle we had seen the night before. Alas, we missed it. Back at the farm it was now 9am and we needed to leave if we were to arrive at the next destination in time for a lunch. Unfortunately we stopped at the cafe at the Edinburgh Woollen Mill to have a huge breakfast. In fact the breakfast was so large that we needed to rest for an hour before setting off to Forfar.
09/04/2022
Day 1: Onward to Scotland
The obligatory snap of the saltire or flag of Saint Andrew seen on the Motorway at the border of Scotland and England.
07/04/2022
Returned earlier this week from a two week tour of the lakes and Scotland where from day 1 to day 14 we had wonderful sunshine. No clouds at night and therefore pretty chilly and a couple of nights where the temperature was -3/-5 degree C. Got held up in Inverness where the overhead gantry signs were warning of ice and snow and whilst there had seen some snow during the night the gritters and snow ploughs had had cleared nearly all it away. By the time we had had breakfast and put some fuel in the tank the sun had cleared the rest away. Heading south along the A9 there was more than a smattering of snow on the tops making it very picturesque. Back in Manchester all we had had is rain wind and more rain. Planning another trip.
Pictures to follow.
04/02/2022
Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone start has been delayed.
19/01/2022
Postcards from Fleetwood
25/11/2021
From 1st January 2022 a Green Card will be required from your Insurance Company if you travel to Europe. More to follow.
21/11/2021
After waiting nearly nine months for the build to be completed I am pleased to see my Autotrail Expedition 67 on the drive.
Just finding my way around it at the moment such as how the heating works, how do you get hot water - essential skills for winter driving.
Also checking the security devices such as alarms and trackers.
There's a lot of specialist essentials that we need but we could set off today using household items but there's no rush.
Although easy to drive I will be getting a reversing camera eventually but so far negotiated the narrow streets and roads of the 'village' easily.
18/11/2021
Thinking of driving your vehicle in Europe after 28/09/21? Then make sure you display a UK badge/sticker identifier as GB stickers are no longer permitted. Get the stickers from Amazon and ebay - easily sourced!
15/11/2021
France to toughen Covid entry rules as fifth wave grips Europe.
More details to follow.
08/11/2021
FRENCH WINTER TYRE RULES
New winter tyre rules introduced in France effective from 1st November 2021 will require visitors and locals alike to have winter tyres fitted or equipment carried, such as snow chains or snow socks, where conditions dictate.
As there are no similar rules in the UK some Brits have interpreted the legislation as a slap in the face for leaving the EU but this is not so. Many mountainous regions of France have problems during winter and often roads are blocked, not just with drifts of snow following a blizzard or ice after a night of sub zero temperatures, but with vehicles that have skidded and crashed and have to be recovered causing long delays. The introduction of this new rule has also surprised many locals who claimed to be unaware of the of the rule until it was announced just a few weeks ago.
Let's be clear, the need to have 'specialist equipment' fitted applies to mountainous areas during the period 1st November to 31st March each year and there will be fines for not having the correct equipment although in the first year drivers will be issued with an educational warning rather than being frog marched (no pun intended) to the nearest ATM and handing over to the traffic police their holiday Euros.
So, if you are planning a trip to drive through France to Annecy or across the Pyrenees in the period November 2021 to March 2022, aquaint yourself with those French winter tyre rules and get down to Halfords for advice on the right size snow chains or snow socks. If you can afford it buy a set of four winter tyres - you know those with the three peaks and snow flake badge on them - ready to have them fitted for your skiing trip. Chains and socks are a cheaper option but for goodness sake learn how to fit them so the moment you pass the warning sign (more on signs later) you can stop, install them and then you are good to go but remembering to remove them once you have been given the all clear - again a sign - when it is no longer necessary to have them fitted.
14/04/2019
By the cringe. It's nearly middle of April and it's perishing. Now I know as a gardener that back home in the North West we can get late frosts but it was bitter when I got up this morning and I can't find my long johns.
14/04/2019
Sat 13/04/2019. head felt a bit 'fuzzy' this morning and within an hour of rising I had a migraine. Don't think I'll be going anywhere today.
12/04/2019
Today's dilemma. Do we carry on or make our way back but slowly
12/04/2019
Thursday, where are we now,
12/04/2019
If it's Wednesday (10th) we're half way through our tour
12/04/2019
Well, Tuesday (9th) sees us heading further south
12/04/2019
We wander around the van tidying up, making a list of things to buy. All the food provisions we brought with us have now been used up so today, Monday 8th April we go in search of a Lidl ….or an Aldi or a Netto an Intermarche or a favourite - Carrefour. Plus a butchers and a bakers.
12/04/2019
Sunday morning 7th April and Church bells are ringing, everywhere. Everywhere! There's no getting away from them and you know what - it makes a pleasant change...…..
10/04/2019
Saturday morning the 6th April and it's very sunny and it looks like the day will be a good one. There is no chill and the sea is calm. Sadly our maximum stay period on this cliff top aire is coming to an end. I walk over to the notice in the hope that I've misread it. We have to go.
Half an hour later and we're on our way south along the coast, to anywhere the roads take us...…..but later when we stop I realise progress is slow and I cut inland and head to Tancarville Bridge over the River Seine. This mainly to avoid Le Havre,
Some distance away from the bridge (Pont) I realise the sat-nav is directing me away from where I was intending to go to. It takes me a little while to understand why - there's a toll. Drat. We're committed now to cross the Seine at another bridge where there is no toll.
09/04/2019
It's Friday morning 5th April and for one horrible moment I don't know where I am. Ah, qui. Je suis en France! How could I forget, but I slept so soundly perhaps due to tiredness that when I woke up I was I wasn't sure where I was for a second or two. Anyhow, on with breakfast, which is coffee, serial with the last of the fresh milk and croissants with butter and jam We do have a carton of UHT and I suspect that's all we will be able to buy. Oh and Fish, but I read somewhere that the Market is not open on Fridays. How can this be so in a Catholic country?
We're late setting off due to me feeling tired. I fancy a lazy day and so we decide there and then to stay a second night. Down the finiculaire, along by the shops buy an ice cream then to the fish market. We spot what we think is halibut. "Fletan?" I ask. She shakes her head and points to something else. I ask again and I don't understand her reply. Cathy thinks we're being asked how to cook it and she gives a demo indicating that we will wrap it in foil. The lady nods but looks suspiciously at us. Who knows why. We ask for two and she looks disappointed it's ridiculously cheap so we ask for another two. So we set off in the general direction of the finiculaire and look for a supermarket but we don't find one but we do find a boulangerie slightly off the journey home.
We can't wait to get back to the van. There's a bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc bought from Lidl already in the fridge, We have tomatoes, dill/fennel, potatoes, olive oil, some black olives that need de-stoning and of course foil. Cathy is the cook not me so I tidy up assemble the table and try not to get in the way. I pour two glasses of wine and wait. It's ready in 40 minutes and it's is stunningly good. It's now late afternoon and I doze off for few minutes.
In the early evening we try and find a quick walking route down to the harbour and we partially succeed. It takes about half an hour and as we walk around we see some of the bars opening up. We're almost tempted but an hour later we have returned to the van and glad to be inside as the night is chilly.
A thought occurs to me. The maximum stay is 48 hours but I can't quite remember the exact time we left, Ah, well, Early rise tomorrow and on our way before we get into trouble...….
09/04/2019
OK, I cannot always keep my posts up to date - laptop battery flat/no wifi- etc so the entries might seem out of sync with the actual dates. This post actually relates to Thursday morning 4/04/19.
It was a very quiet night and we both slept without any disturbances. We've been up for about an hour, washed, dressed and had toast and tea and we're now going to take a walk. The day is pleasant and looks like it will be fine. One thing we have noticed is that we are not eating much and unusually for me I've been drinking water rather than coffee. But this morning I woke up with a headache and a stuffy nose. The last time I felt like this we had parked on a slope but it was not the case last night. I think I need more caffeine. Time for walkies.....
So, back from our walk. The town is pleasant enough in an urban sort of way but not enough to keep us interested so we do another shop at Carrefour (where we were greeted with a smile by the young lady on the checkout yesterday). Bottled water, fruit and some cakes and that's it.
Cathy switches the Sat Nav on "Where to" she asks. I don't know and that's the essence of this trip. We decide to follow the D111 which at the end of road we are parked on and then pick up the D940 to Le Treport. We find the aire at the Funiculaire as there is room we empty the waste, take on water and park up.
The views from the the top of the hill are great but it was extremely windy.
Le Treport is a busy little place with a station, harbour, casino plenty of bars and eating places. There's a Fish Market and lots of shops to look at. According to a Scottish couple we spoke to it can be very busy in Summer. Back up the Finiculaire to the van for something to eat.
We haven't set a budget but that doesn't we'll be anything other than frugal so there will be plenty of days/nights when we eat in the van. The late afternoon is sunny and coolish but we enjoy the walk and read when we come back. It's dark by 7pm. The aire has filled up a bit and there are still places. We settle down for the night......
08/04/2019
I guess another way of describing "the plan" could be "we're in no hurry" - and so it was that was our mantra for the day. I have to say the D940 helped as it's not a road for rushing. Along the coast, into and out of Boulogne sur mer and onward in the direction of but stopping short of Abbeville. The weather progressively worsened and as the sun disappeared behind the cloud the outside temperature drops and at some point there was a spot of rain. We needed some supplies (mainly fruit) and fuel which we found at a little Carrefour in Nouvion En Ponthieu where there is also an aire.
We don't buy much - apples, potatoes, cheese and ham - just as a try out then round the corner for 60 litres of diesel (gazole) at the same price I had paid at Morrisons before we left the UK. The aire is not marked for Camping Cars and some confusion was caused by the fact that two motorhomes had parked on the car park whilst there was none on the aire itself. Hoping we we're correct we decide to stay the night here. Before night fall we have a walk around the area but it's cold so we hurry back to listen to the ipod and a meal for two from M&S and then inspect the map books.
08/04/2019
We breakfast - bacon and toast, tasted really good, followed by another cup of tea - and set foot outside to go see what Wissant looks like in the morning sun. We head for the beach and it's chilly but breezy. We don't need food because we have a fridge full of stuff and we've never been ones for sitting around in coffee bars so we find a boulangerie, buy some bread and head back to the van. "What's the Plan" I'm asked . I laugh because it's a joke. I have said a thousand times before "There's no Plan". Back at the aire I dig out the maps and the books and declare with a certain degree of uncertainty that we will head along the coast along the D road we came on and then head inland to Abbeville. And in five minutes we are leaving Wissant .......
Thursday 04/04/2019
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