Travel Blog created by KeefH Web Designs  , August 6th, 2024, 14.09 PM Motorhome trip No59: 25th-28th July 2024 Travel blog summary NOTTS-> New Lodge Farm, Bulwick, Northamptonshire -> NOTTS 160 miles This was out 3rd time at this wonderful campsite with our pals Pete & Joy and we were treated to potentially the best weather we have had over the many years of camping with them, who could ask for more, potentially better than the early 90s at Glastonbury when we had a heat surge and had to douse ourselves with water pistols, hey those were the days. If you want to see and read up on our 2 previous visits to New Lodge Farm scroll to the end of the blog and select either trip 1 (Blog 108) or trip 2 (Blog 156) thanks for looking Anyhow lots of sitting out in the sun, reading, drinking and chatting. Because of Annie's knee this year we were somewhat restricted in our movements. If you prefer to listen to the audiobook of this blog listen here Have a read through our travel blog , look at the images and slideshow, we would whole heartedly recommend this site for adults only. #recommended Keef and Annie didn't leave until after their dentist appointment, you can't miss those or nowadays on the NHS you would probably be struck off #haha Bit of a torturous journey I'm afraid due to accidents and road works en-route. Apologised for our late arrival, Pete and Joy were making use of the reworked cafe / bar / shop / restaurant here on site. A bit of a change for the last time we came, and all the better for it. After setup we joined our pals in the bar for some refreshments and an initial catch up. Joy looked well after herb knee op. She kindly gave Annie both advise and accessories for her impending op, its always nice to know someone has been thru it all before and learn from them. We tried a game of spot the difference with both the trad van they use for both advertising and collecting the rubbish. Interestingly one of the wardens uses a Segway to get around, what a great idea. We think but can't remember that the water pump had an old wooden barrel pond with water lilies last time, I have checked and it did but they are much more mature now and looked lovely with flowers fully out #flowerfun Joy cooked a lovely meal in the evening followed by apple strudel, cream and a third course of cheese and bikkies. After chatting for bit it was clear everyone was tired so we all retired to bed. The next morning Joy cooked us all her lovely scrambled eggs and smoked salmon #yummy The sun was shining so we all sat out *** ( chatting, reading, drinking , whatever ) *delete as appropriate #smile After our alfresco lunch we carried on as before relaxing and loving the chill out factor. We all got ready for our pre booked meal in the site restaurant, which was lovely. Pete and I have steak on a hot stone, what a clever idea, steak from the farm which you got to choose from the lady who bought you a choice of 4, the stone was at 400 degrees F , and after her showing you a first "turnover" you were left to cook your steak yourself to exactly how you wanted to. A great idea to rule out the usual variations when you say "medium to well done" etc. etc. #hintsandtips The ladies had what looked like a very nice beef lasagna and garlic bread. We all had puds and then retired to Pete and Joy's van to carry on the merriment after a brief sunset stroll around the site to stretch our legs. Again we retired early-ish , now we have some combined 280 years around the table we (ok I especially) #haha don't have the drinking credential I used to have. It is worth noting that whilst the site was fairly empty on the Thursday it had well and truly filled up for the weekend with motorhomes, caravans and tent of every variety, what a lovely relaxed picture, camping is many folks "happy place" Saturday we started the day with tea outside in the sunshine on our camping table and chairs, what a great start to any day. Keef then cooked bacon sarnies, via Pete's vans electrical outlet plug, wish we had one, what a great idea. Only necessary a Keef had foolishly taken his extension lead out of our van (now remedied) l so love cooking outside on both the teppanyaki and our 2 ring electrical stove. Saves on the gas as we always say, you are paying for the electrics anyhow #hintsandtips clearly though only a solution when the weather is fine although i did cook outside in the Faroes with a Icelandic hat, gloves and a blanket but that was possibly the exception to the rule #smile After brekkie Pete and Joy walked into Bulwick and the new cafe there, we stayed behind and enjoyed the sun, reading and relaxing #heaven We then all met up for a snack lunch and more story telling, drinking etc. etc. before Keef cooked tea outside. A little hounded by the odd light shower. We had lamb chops, sausages, mash and veg followed by strawberries, raspberries with ice cream all bought from the farm stall (fruit and veg setup Sundays) and cherries / cheese and bikkies all washed down with a variety of drinks. PS we cant recommend their vanilla ice cream, it felt like eating cold semolina, all very odd but the fruit was ace. After our evening meal we played travel trivial pursuit. Boys Vs Girls, it was fittingly a draw when we all called it a day. Sunday we both packed up early ready to go, unfortunately our van wouldn't start. Pete saved our bacon with his charging gadget and so all got hope safely. UPDATE had the battery replaced at Quick Fit today (6/8/24) a bit of a specialist battery so not straight forward BUT and here is the but the guy said it was the original VW battery put in in Germany so i reckon that means it was 21 years old, amazing that must be some sort of record. Here is a slideshow of our fun, cheers pals and here is to the next one. Love K&A xxx AUDIOBOOK That's all folks!!!!

Created by KeefH Web Designs  , June 14th, 2024, 7.11 AM A "hot tub-e 4 you" of a Travel Blog by KeefH Web Designs #geddit #maybe Not The Motorhome trip No 21 : May 23rd 2024 – June 16th 2024, in that time we spent a wonderful 18 days together initially in Cumbria after a somewhat fraught Brum airport collection, then time in and around the East Midlands, oh what family fun, thanks so much Doug and Phoenix for coming over, love G&G xxx By implication as this Travel Blog has many images and videos of our 4 grand children I have separated out those images / videos and made them PRIVATE on You Tube, should you wish to see them you will need ask via email keefh@keefh-web-designs.org.uk thank you for your understanding MENU Introduction Diary Highlights and Lowlights Overall Slideshow / Videos Cumbria Overview Sat 250524 Dragons fell cottage and relax Sun 260524 Maze Farm Fun Mon 270524 Station Inn lunch and more Tues 280524 Windemere Wed 290524 Lowther Castle Thurs 300524 Kendal Sun 020624 Conker's , East Midlands Mon 030624 Eaton Farm Carvery Wed 050624 BBQ Beers with Neighbours Thurs 060624 Bluebells Farm Mon 100624 Horse Riding Tues 110624 Wacky Warehouse and Carvery 2 Wed 120624-Sat 150624 London and Goodbye, sadly Bye Bye INTRODUCTION Doug, Phoenix & family flew over to us from Singapore via Istanbul on Turkish airlines from Changi. They had a long but OK-ish journey arriving at Birmingham airport. We and Craig went to pick them up. Granny & Grandpa (here after called G&G x) managed not to find a car parking slot in the nearest car park and eventually decanted to car park 5, a bit of a walk back to the arrivals lounge. Unfortunately due to a "misplaced" piece of luggage all manner of negotiations were going on. All resolved (at a price!) later in the break thank heavens. On a political front can't believe how much the cost of airport parking has increased since Covid to drop off or retrieve your love ones, shame on you british airports. #hintsandtips We returned to Hellinger base camp for sustenance / bit of relaxation before travelling up to our Dragons Fell cottage just outside Kendal. 2 cars , Leanne and kids travelled up on Saturday, us lot on the Friday. The journey was not without incident for our youngest family member, poor lad, car sickness often for him, I really felt for him, just awful. Arrived in Cumbria and had to solve the mind puzzle of why the key didn't fit the front door. Hmm, supply by Steve (cottage owner and his cohorts) was a bit of a theme in the minus column for this holiday. The week in Cumbria was lovely with the usual English mixed weather but oh so nice to spend "quality time" with our extended family. You can delve into our various trips and escapades in this travel blog under each relevant heading, maybe use the MENU. Enjoy, we did! Note all my slideshows and videos feature music by the wonderful Mike Oldfield, yes he of Tubular Bells fame and the 2012 London Olympics. Feast your ears! #music Prefer to listen to the audiobook? Return to MENU DIARY This travel blog diary will give you a simple overview. I have included the calendars for May and June, the split being Cumbria mostly in May, East Midlands in June Return to MENU HIGHLIGHTS & LOWLIGHTS Highlights Many, especially being with family, hot tub, Station inn bank holiday family day, BBQ at Craigs, meet the neighbours, Charlie's horse riding, Eaton Farm carvery, Conker's and the high wire escapades, Charlie being allowed by Mrs. Handley (ex Singapore Amber Road) inside Edie's classroom, Aquarium on Windemere, Return boat trip on Windemere and Edie learning to count in Mandarin Lowlights Rain (but hey it is the lake district) and the UK summer 2024, not ideal for Singaporeans used to 27c and 100% humidity "I'm cold Grandpa", Cottage cleanliness etc. etc., Car parking for Windemere, Glebe road car park confusions and lack of making the pay app work in the deluge #smile you have to else you would cry! Why does the boat on Windemere only have open sides upstairs (hint... don't be at the back of the tourist queue when boarding #hintsandtips) Return to MENU OVERALL Slideshow / Videos / Panoramas All 3 families took many photos and videos on their phones throughout the holidays and published them on our private FB messenger group, smartly named HOOFERS by Doug #smile "Hellinger's Only Others Forbidden" #geddit These videos and a amalgamation of the majority of those captures of what was a truly wonderful time, so nice to be able to share so much time together. The slideshow / videos or "talkies" as we prefer to call them, capturing true voice (well almost #haha ) of the time for later revisits and memories are 1) Non grandkids , you can view 2) Grandkids images, PRIVATE, need request access 3) Talkies with Grandkids, PRIVATE, you need request access. I hope that is clear. Return to MENU CUMBRIA OVERVIEW - Dragons Fell Cottage Stay We stayed for the week Friday to Friday in Dragonsfell Cottage, 2 Kinn Barns, New Hutton, Near Kendal, you can see an overview here , for a limited time as it has already been sold. Visit the unique motorhome travel blog link by KHWD The cottage sadly was a little underwhelming but that big room and hot tub (despite its sewage smells when we first took the cover off ) was a blessing for our extended family to get together for a week. Like most things there were pluses and minuses. Its location however was ideal. Lovely walks outside the cottage. Here's a map which shows you , we are off the first steep wiggly road going north on Kinn Road, and down that road any of us had the pleasure of meeting the baby fox close up. Please take care on taking up the offer of "click on larger map" it doesn't always work, just use the + or - options, they always work, thanks KeefH Web Designs #investigatefurther Kendal town was nearby, Windermere just 8 miles. Kendal is a historic market town with a fine reputation for shopping, Kendal nestles on the banks of the River Kent and is known as the Southern Gateway to the Lakes. Its old cobbled lanes and byways branch off the attractive main street, and the stone ruins of 12th century Kendal Castle sit perched on a hill with views over the town. Visit The Abbot Hall Art Gallery, its regular collection holding portraits by Kendal born George Romney and works by Turner and Ruskin, with other exhibitions through its links with the Tate. Both Sizergh Castle and Levens Hall with its superb Topiary Garden are nearby, as are limestone escarpments for easy walking, offering thrilling views of the Lakeland Mountains, the Howgills and Morecambe Bay. Kendal itself is ideally placed for exploring South Lakeland, the Yorkshire Dales and beyond. With other attractions such as Kendal Museum and the Museum of Lakeland Life, the fascinating Quaker Tapestry, Lake Windermere and the wider National Park within easy reach, Kendal provides a superb base for a relaxing break. Oh and here's the recent house sales pitch #hintsandtips #smile This exceptional barn conversion, located in a stunning rural valley, offers a unique opportunity to acquire a truly remarkable property. With five double bedrooms arranged over three floors, this property provides ample space for a growing family or those seeking additional space for guests. Upon entering the property, you are immediately greeted by a sense of charm and character, with exposed beams throughout. The spacious living accommodation is perfect for entertaining, with a well-appointed kitchen leading onto a generously proportioned dining area. One of the standout features of this property is the integrated double garage and additional parking for three additional cars, ensuring plenty of parking for residents and guests alike. The versatility of this property cannot be understated, as it not only serves as a delightful family home but also offers the potential to create a self-contained annex on the lower ground floor. This presents an exciting opportunity for anyone looking to generate additional income or provide a separate living space for relatives. In recent years, this property has proven to be a highly successful holiday let, further highlighting its desirability and investment potential. With its proximity to Kendal and the M6, it is conveniently located to attract tourism and ensure easy access to nearby amenities and transport links. In summary, this barn conversion offers a unique opportunity to acquire a spacious and characterful property in a picturesque rural location, while also only being a short 10 minute drive to Kendal. With its versatile layout, successful holiday let history, and potential for further development, this property is a must-see for those looking for a barn conversion that truly encompasses the very best of country living. Return to MENU CUMBRIA - SAT 250524 Dragons fell cottage and relax After travelling up on the Friday, which was a long journey as we all collided with the usual Friday max exodus of workers who work away during the week wending their way home, Saturday morning was spent unpacking, shopping and relaxing in the hot tub, a very useful family fun facility for the cottage. The kids seem to love it. Grandpa had got loads of water balloons from Temu which came in use later on in the week, great fun along with playing Craig's Finnish wood chucking game (sorry cant remember the name, but sounded like an IKEA product #teehee ) Leanne and kids arrived early afternoon so we were all one big happy family. We did a lovely outside BBQ as the weather was so good, eating indoors as the outside furniture was really only fit for putting on the BBQ as fuel. OK complaining over, you can tell I wasn't impressed, underwhelmed I think is the line I used with the owner Steve. Here are a couple of videos reflecting that day. Clearly the same privacy rules apply when Grandkids are concerned, sorry! Apologies for the ghastly images included of the rancid water containers in the garden, they were used to point out that having mosquitoes near a family hot tub isn't a great look. Return to MENU CUMBRIA - Sun 260524 Lakeland's Maize Maze Farm Fun Travelled to the farm park at Sedgwick, not far from our holiday cottage. A lovely place for kids. The maize maze hasn't grown tis year as yet, even though planted up on the hill but the cafe had images of previous ones, all having a theme and very clever and no doubt challenging. We did the simple wooden one with puzzles and that was more than enough for me. It was a little wet outside but we found more than enough to do inside. Animals, feeding the ferret. #class We then had lunch in their cafe, whilst the kids used the indoor play centre and climbing wall. Keef, Doug, Phoenix and Alfie then left for various chores but mostly to let Ned sleep and catch up his jet lag. The rest did the tractor ride and a whole lot more in between showers, it was one of those days. Want to read more? Visit the unique motorhome travel blog link by KHWD OR Here’s a bit of a summary of Lakeland Maze Farm Park , located in Sedgwick near Kendal, Cumbria, it offers delightful family-friendly experiences. Here’s what you can expect: Farm Animals and Pet Encounters : Set on a working farm, the park features a variety of  farm animals  that visitors can see and even feed. Meet llamas, alpacas, and other friendly creatures. Outdoor Activities : Enjoy  tractor rides  around the picturesque surroundings. Participate in  animal encounter sessions  (both outdoors and undercover). Explore the  outdoor play area , complete with a sandpit, trampolines, go-karting track, and more. The Maize Maze : During the summer holidays, challenge yourself in the  giant maize maze . Navigate through the twists and turns as you explore this seasonal attraction. Indoor Facilities : Rain or shine, there’s plenty to do indoors. Visit the  soft play area  for younger children. Engage in  animal handling sessions  (availability based on demand). Picnic Area and Refreshments : Take advantage of the  outdoor play and picnic area  for a relaxing break. Grab light refreshments while enjoying the beautiful surroundings. Children’s Parties and Group Visits : Lakeland Maze Farm Park is an ideal venue for  children’s parties . It’s also perfect for  group outings  and celebrations. Whether you’re exploring the maze, petting animals, or simply enjoying the fresh air, Lakeland Maze Farm Park promises a fun and memorable experience for all ages We all had great fun, even though it rained a lot and was particularly cold for our Singaporeans. Keef took Doug & Phoenix shopping and to allow Alfie a snooze as more than a little jet lagged and they were preparing a lovely Rendang meal with spice pastes etc. bought all the way from home. Granny stayed on with the other Grandkids and Craig and Leanne. It seems the tractor ride and outdoor activities in between rain showers were a highlight. See the various slideshow, clearly the same privacy rules apply when Grandkids are concerned, sorry! Return to MENU CUMBRIA - Mon 270524 Station Inn lunch and more - Bank Holiday We had pre booked dinner for 10 of us at the Station Inn, Oxenholme as it seemed to be the only pub open in the area for Bank Holiday Monday. We used the hot tun first thing as the weather was good, indeed it was great all day. We arrived at the pub, probably first customers. A lovely meal for all but the icing on the cake was the fact that the pub had a 3 day festival on in its grounds. Magic shows, bouncy castles, ice cream van, play park, obstacle course, hammer throwing, just ideal for the kids, and most relaxing and enjoyable for the adults. Many folk in costume, scooby doo, cowboys etc. The highlight was when Alfie with his bat man t-shirt on met a real life sizzed Batman #brilliant See the various slideshow, clearly the same privacy rules apply when Grandkids are concerned, sorry! Want to read more about the Station Inn? Visit the unique motorhome travel blog link by KHWD Return to MENU CUMBRIA - Tues 280524 Windemere Definitely not the best day weather wise, we travelled in the 3 cars across to our agreed meet up of Glebe Road car park in Bowness for the combo Windemere tourist boat trip and aquarium experience. Apart from 1 car in the Braithwaite car park and the rest in the other Glebe Road car park, the app to pay wouldn't work, we were all soaked to the skin it turned out to be fun. Keef & Annie , Phoenix and Ned eventually managed to get into the car park on the front of the Lake, wow that was busy and wet. Lunch in the pub was lovely then we like drown rats walked to join the queue for our Windemere experience, I'm painting a rather drab image but overall it was a fun day out for the family, we sat on top of the boat with the wind and rain howling in, all part of the Lake District charm in my humble opinion, Hellinger Boot camp was well under way. Getting off it was a short walk to the Aquarium which everyone loved especially the sea otter and leaf cutter ants. Here is some info on the boat trip. See the various slideshow, clearly the same privacy rules apply when Grandkids are concerned, sorry! Want to read more? Visit the unique motorhome travel blog link by KHWD OR Read here,  Windermere Lake Cruises  offers scenic trips on England’s largest lake, departing daily from Bowness. Here’s what you can enjoy: Scenic Cruises : Sail across Lake Windermere and enjoy the stunning views. Combined Tickets : Get combined tickets for the cruise and attractions like the  Lakes Aquarium . Yellow Cruise & Lakes Aquarium : Start at Bowness, take a 40-minute journey to Lakeside Pier, and explore the Lakes Aquarium, just a 2-minute walk from the pier. The  Lakes Aquarium  offers an immersive experience with a variety of aquatic life. You can spend time exploring the exhibits and then board a later boat back to Bowness. For more information on schedules and fares, you can visit the official website shown in our above link. Return to MENU CUMBRIA - Wed 290524 Lowther Castle & Gardens Drove over to Lowther Castle and grounds , near Penrith, as we had heard it was a great place for kids and we were not disappointed. A lovely place , free car parking, clever yellow flag displays in the initial gardens of now derelict but once hugely magnificent Lowther Castle home of the Lonsdale's. The weather was mostly good as well. Started in the cafe. After a quick stroll through the "history" bit we headed off on a lovely walk through the estate to the woodland play ground. The kids loved it and spent in fairness most of the day there. We went there in the morning returning to the restaurant for lunch, which was wonderful, and then the family minus Granny & Grandpa went back for the afternoon to the play park. Phoenix did a speeded up video of G&G #teehee to make up for our somewhat slow pace. We spent the afternoon instead doing the history section, all amazingly interesting, this family descended from the Vikings and have many colourful characters in their history. The Yellow Earl , 5th Earl Lowther / Lonsdale, probably top the ladder of reprobates. Post our history lesson we retired to the lovely cafe for coffee and cake and dare I say it holiday ice cream. The family joined us towards the end of the day, the kids gave this place a resounding thumbs up. PS especially liked the girls Tik Tok dance in the cafe #class Want to read more? Visit the unique motorhome travel blog link by KHWD See the various slideshow, clearly the same privacy rules apply when Grandkids are concerned, sorry! The famous Yellow Earl which we learnt about at Lowther Castle fascinated me, so when we got home, having done some research on him I bought the book (second hand of course, the best books #smile) What I suspect nowadays we would call a higher class cad "almost and emperor, not quite a gentleman" banished by Queen Victoria as we suspect for bedding Lily Langtree at the same time as her precious son Bertie, but once I've read the book I will know. Make their millions / billions in coal. Oh plus back in the day 1880s you didn't pay tax on "earnings" of £4k per week Hugh Lowther, known as the Yellow Earl, was the 5th Earl of Lonsdale from 1882 to 1944. He was a sportsman and explorer who donated the original Lonsdale Belts for boxing. He also founded the Automobile Association (AA), and his preference for the colour yellow is why it features in the AA’s livery, additionally, he was involved in various other sporting endeavours and was known for his lavish lifestyle. Here are a couple of notable anecdotes about Hugh Lowther, the Yellow Earl, at the age of 25, he unexpectedly inherited the title of Earl of Lonsdale along with a vast fortune, making him one of the richest men in England overnight. He owned  extensive lands and even the town of Whitehaven and its coalfields. His favourite colour was yellow, which influenced many aspects of his life. He had yellow carriages, Rolls-Royces, and even his servants’ uniforms were yellow. He also wore a gardenia in his buttonhole, grown in a hothouse on his estate. In 1907, he was involved in a famous wager with John Pierpont Morgan regarding whether a man could travel around the world incognito. These stories highlight his extravagant lifestyle and colourful personality. Return to MENU CUMBRIA - Thurs 300524 Kendal Spent the morning having our one last go in the hot tub, had some lunch, did a bit of packing and some clearing up then decided to go into Kendal to use the play park by the River Kent. Kendal has a castle as well. Doug visited an ATM and post that the kids enjoyed some exercise in the play park as did the adults pushing them. Lots of snaps were taken and the weather was good, very sunny initially. We then returned to the cottage to finish (mostly) packing, Keef cooked spag bol, and Uncle Doug and Tatey went for a final walk. A fun time was drawing to a close and the long journey back would start tomorrow , we did all mange to leave before the 10 am deadline and the journey back for all was much less troublesome than on the way up. Grandpa, Charlie, Alfie and Phoenix stopped at the service station just outside Stoke as folks were craving Greggs sausage rolls, alas there was no Greggs so coffee and cake surficed. Keef took Charlie to Greggs in Long Eaton to get 8 sausage rolls when we were back, Yummy!!! See the various slideshow, clearly the same privacy rules apply when Grandkids are concerned, sorry! Here's a bit of a write up on Kendal itself. Kendal is a large market town and civil parish situated on the River Kent, just outside the boundary of the Lake District National Park in Cumbria, England. It was historically known as Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal. The town is known for its beautiful setting and cultural heritage. The River Kent is a short but significant river in Westmorland, rising amongst the hills surrounding Kentmere and flowing for about 20 miles into Morecambe Bay. It’s one of England’s fastest-flowing rivers, descending more than 2000 feet from its source to the sea near Levens Hall. The river is culturally important, passing close to historic houses and through Kendal Return to MENU EAST MIDLANDS, Sun 020624 Conker's , Leicestershire Conker's is located in Moira. As I'd been to a Yes concert in Brum with my pal Neil the night before the family had stayed overnight at C&L's in Swannington. I headed over to join them after breakfast. We needed 2 cars to ferry people to Conker's. Leanne was with Edie at a football tournament and would join us later. It is a lovely place for kids, one moment of panic when Tate and Alfie were off with Doug looking at something (what Annie and I call our Knossos moment with Doug aged 3 all those years ago!). So much to do there with various areas, lots of climbing stuff, slides etc. etc. and lots of sunshine, who could ask for more. The train ride is fun as well. We had a picnic lunch around the lake, a few nips from assorted geese (grandpa lost it with one #smile ) culminating with both ice creams and the girls going on the equivalent of Go Ape junior version in the forest. Keef even noticed a music amphitheater in the woods with a Simon & Garfunkel tribute act, sadly we cant make the dates but would be interested in future performances, a real plus as local. Want to read more? Visit the unique motorhome travel blog link by KHWD OR Here’s a brief overview of Conkers Discovery Centre , located in  Sedgwick, Leicestershire , it offers a delightful day out for families. Here’s what you can expect: Indoor and Outdoor Exhibits : Explore a mix of  indoor and outdoor exhibits  suitable for all ages. Discover four separate  discovery zones  within the centre. Enchanted Forest Play Area : Let the kids run wild in the  Enchanted Forest Play area . Immerse yourselves in a magical woodland setting. Treetop Walk and Moving Bridge : Experience adventure with a  treetop walk  and a thrilling  moving bridge . Enjoy panoramic views from above the forest canopy. Journey Through the Skies : Take a fascinating  journey through the skies . Learn about birds, clouds, and the wonders of the atmosphere. Tractor Rides and Animal Encounters : Hop on a  tractor ride  and explore the beautiful surroundings. Get up close to friendly farm animals and enjoy  animal encounter sessions . Picnic Areas and Refreshments : Relax in the  outdoor play and picnic area . Grab refreshments and recharge during your visit. Children’s Parties and Group Outings : Conkers is an ideal venue for  children’s parties  and group celebrations. Create lasting memories with friends and family. Whether you’re exploring the treetops, playing in the Enchanted Forest, or enjoying educational exhibits, Conkers Discovery Centre promises a fun-filled adventure for everyone See the various slideshow, clearly the same privacy rules apply when Grandkids are concerned, sorry! Return to MENU EAST MIDLANDS, Mon 030624 Eaton Farm Carvery, Nottinghamshire Monday the weather wasn't great, after a simple breakfast Doug, Phoenix, Charlie and Neddy decided they needed some exercise so decided to walk up to the Eaton Farm pub where we had chosen to go for lunch having the benefits of an all week carvery, ideal for Singaporeans wanting Sunday dinners and its got an enclosed kids play park. They also walked back although we took Charlie and Alfie in the car to save their little legs. Want to read more about the carvery? Visit the unique motorhome travel blog link by KHWD See the various slideshow, clearly the same privacy rules apply when Grandkids are concerned, sorry! Return to MENU EAST MIDLANDS, Wed 050624 BBQ Beers with Neighbours, Derbyshire Been meaning to do this for years. Had a lovely evening BBQ, beer and wine with our next door neighbours. Meant Dan Dan and Phoenix could chat in their first language. The girls and Alfie played well together and the adults enjoyed the chat, food and drink. Luckily the weather stayed fair so we could cook outside, far too much food and Doug did a great job of taking over the cooking, something he said he enjoyed doing. Tom bought along some lovely real ales (as he always does when we get together) all in all a very nice evening, think the kids were all late to bed that night. Bit of a headache the next morning #teehee Return to MENU EAST MIDLANDS, Thurs 060624 Bluebells Farm, Dale Abbey, Derbyshire The weather was quote good today, made a couple of trips to ferry folk out to Bluebells Farm and did I mention it, great homemade ice-cream, #hintsandtips #icecream Bluebells Farm we have been to quite a few times with Edie but never with the Singapore contingent. It is near Locko park in Derbyshire. We had a great day there, lots of animals to feed and pet, including brushing down the goat. Charlie got to stroke the floppy eared rabbits, we enjoyed feeding the baby lambs, slow motion bouncing on the giant tramp, go carting, Grandpa even had a go but was halted by one grand daughter as she blocked his way and he never got restarted. The indoor sand play park was also a hit as well as lunch kindly bought by Doug and Grandpa got the ice creams. Yummy, so classy! We were there all day and then with 2 journeys back bit of a rush to cook a full Sunday roast which I've named the last supper. Basically the last chance we had as a full extended Hellinger family to all meet up, work and school commitments being the issue for the Swannington crew. T'was a nice evening, went to bed exhausted. lol! Want to read more? Visit the unique motorhome travel blog link by KHWD Whilst at the Farm we met our next door neighbours pal Ella who owns Bluebells with her hubby #namedrop had a nice conversation about the ludicrously large lorry full of sugar for the ice cream making it's may up the very narrow and long dirt track that acts as an entrance to the far #howsillyisthat One thing that fascinated me was the fully automated cow milking machine, using clever technology to enter one cow at a time to the milking station, lasers to line up the udders, clean them, then attach them and milk them, whilst keeping the cow busy with a regulation amount of feed / treat that is dispensed into a food tray from above, once it is eaten ... timed to perfection... the cow is let out. How clever is that? Want to read more about automated cow milking and see some images ? Visit the unique motorhome travel blog link by KHWD See the various slideshow, clearly the same privacy rules apply when Grandkids are concerned, sorry! Return to MENU EAST MIDLANDS, Mon 100624 Horse Riding, Nottinghamshire Doug and Phoenix did some shopping in Long Eaton and Chilwell, we looked after the kids and gave them lunch. Yet another wet day and Keef's sat nav took him right past the equestrian centre even though he has seen it and known about it for the last 30 plus years DOH! Charlie got to ride Stanley and had a full one hour , 1 on 1 lesson from a nice lady. Not something you can do very easily in Singapore so she loves getting the opportunity here in the UK. Luckily there is an inner covered track and we all sat at the far end, dry and watching or was it cheering? #teehee After we left there was an amazing skirmish on the bridge involving more police than I have ever seen, 2 ladies and 3 blokes, who knows, tried to research but to no avail. Maybe it was Mr. BIG #smile Want to read more about the equestrian centre? Visit the unique motorhome travel blog link by KHWD See the various slideshow, clearly the same privacy rules apply when Grandkids are concerned, sorry! Return to MENU EAST MIDLANDS, Tues 110624 Wacky Warehouse and Carvery 2 Weather not great and we had planned on the doing our traditional Strawberry picking at Wymeswold farm but as it was pouring changed our minds, decided on some indoor play activity. Chatted with Craig for ideas but in the end decided upon the Wacky Warehouse at the Plank and Leggitt up by Sawley marine, a place we had looked in upon once when we had Edie for a sleep over. A good choice, the grandkids loved it and could run off some energy before the carvery round 2 back at Eaton Farm. Also adults could have a nice coffee. Want to read more about the wacky warehouse? Visit the unique motorhome travel blog link by KHWD we had been to the Eaton Farm carvery the previous week a 30% off voucher suddenly appeared in my inbox, who am I to refuse a "Gift Horse" so I booked us all in for today, it seemed somewhat more crowded than the previous week but we got the prime position oval window table, much sought after let me tell you #luxury Want to read more about the carvery? Visit the unique motorhome travel blog link by KHWD See the various slideshow, clearly the same privacy rules apply when Grandkids are concerned, sorry! Return to MENU LONDON, Wed 120624 - Sat 150624 London and Goodbye, sadly Up early to get them ready for their train journey from Long Eaton station, luckily the road closure had ended and we got there in time. They were staying at a hotel near Hyde park for 3 days and did lots of London experiences, especially seeing Big Ben without scaffolding this time. Very kind of them to go by train, saved a somewhat aging Grandpa the drive to Heathrow. After some lovely sight seeing and variable weather they used the tube to get over to Heathrow, many bags in toe as well as children, ready for the long trip back to Changi and Singapore via Istanbul. Once home they encountered the horrid oil spill off East Cast park, although it was a day off for the Muslim celebrations Eid al-Adha which in theory enabled an extra day to get over jet lag, that for most was taken up helping with the massive clean up operation. Want to read more about this disaster? Poor sea otters! Visit the unique motorhome travel blog link by KHWD With Charlie's prolific reading of Harry Potter whilst here they had to visit platform 9 and three quarters at King's cross, after all Long Eaton ends at St Pancras right next door. Want to read more about this experience? Visit the unique motorhome travel blog link by KHWD Learn more, see the slideshow, clearly the same privacy rules apply when Grandkids are concerned, sorry! Return to MENU THE END "missing you already" and thanks for a great time, Singaporean Hellinger's! Love G&G xxx Return to MENU

Created by KeefH Web Designs , April 29th, 2024, 11.58 AM A Travel Blog by KeefH Web Designs Motorhome trip No58: 22nd-27th April 2024 NOTTS-> Ludlow & Bridgenorth, Shropshire, Stokesay Castle & Boscobel House and Charles 2nd's Royal Oak -> NOTTS 278 miles If you would prefer to listen to the blog there is an audiobook version available via the MENU. MENU Introduction Diary Panoramas Friends Ludlow Ludlow Town Quiz Stokesay Castle Bridgenorth Boscobel House and The Royal Oak The Talkie Videos Campsite Recommendations Audiobook Summary and Sign Off INTRODUCTION A travel blog Return to Menu DIARY Was due to be 3 days in Ludlow and 3 days in Bridgenorth for us well known motorhomies. Day one in Ludlow the Sunday was removed after 7 hours stint in A&E Nottingham for Keef and the Monday and Tuesday where we were due to meet up with friends didn't quite make it this year, must be an age thing as the assembled crew teeter on the edge of being all septuagenarians, wow that will be a lot of years, experience, knowledge and fun when we next get together around the table. Anyhow here a summary of the days away Mon 22nd April 2024 Travel to Ludlow Campsite Tues 23rd April 2024 Catch bus into Ludlow from outside the site, Town Quiz, Coffee & cake at Costa in Tesco's near the station, town quiz, 6 hours 3 miles , great fun Weds 24th April 2024 Leave Ludlow, Stokesay Castle then onto Bridgenorth campsite at Stanmore Hall Thurs 25th April 2024 Took van into Bridgenorth, parked man street, funicular railway, castle gardens, east street, then on for carvery lunch at the Royal Oak Alveley #yummy Fri 26th April 2024 Day of rest at the campsite, Peacocks, Great lake, Reading and relaxation, not really enough sunshine but we did sit out Sat 27th April 2024 Travelled home via Boscobel House and White Sisters Priory and this time the REAL Royal Oak, did you know it is the most used name for British Pubs, a great story of Daring do.... Return to Menu PANORAMAS & ART WORK These are a few of the shots KeefH Web Designs Artworks Inc shot for this travel blog. I have many more images to muse over in my Flickr Art Collection #artforartsake Note not sure about this but you may need a Flickr account (free join) to view those Return to Menu FRIENDS Such a shame we were due to be away in Ludlow with our dear friends Neil & Marice, Mandy & Colin and Chris and Allyson in Ludlow with meals at the George and Feathers restaurants booked but for various reasons this years get together didn't quite work out, but hey if you look back at Blog 198 (see bottom of blog for link, thanks) you can see what fun we had in Shrewsbury, hopefully next years extravaganza will prove more fruitful, the only thing I can say is I'm on the look out for the elixir of eternal yoof before them #friends Return to Menu LUDLOW What a lovely town Ludlow is. We travelled there in mostly total rain having rung the day before to let the campsite know we would be missing on the first day of our booking. They kindly said we could arrive whenever we wanted on the Monday. We used M42, M5 and our usual route via Kidderminster and Bewdley etc. etc. We arrived just before 1 and set up camp. Very helpful staff , a useful site shop, gin van (which sadly wasn't open #haha ) and great facilities. Bit nippy and blowy but by the time we arrived the rain had finally stopped, This year I have felt like Noah!!! Here is a video of us arriving and a site setup image, pitch number 109, last time we were here we were on pitch number 3. Want to know a little more about Ludlow and its history , well here you go! Boy there are elements of AI I love... Ludlow, located in Shropshire, England, is a charming market town with a rich history. Let’s delve into its fascinating past: 1.     Medieval Origins: ·        Ludlow’s recorded history dates back to the late 11th century after the Norman conquest of England. ·        The town was founded as a medieval walled town centered around a small hill on the eastern bank of the River Teme. ·        Key landmarks on this hill include Ludlow Castle and the parish church, St Laurence’s, which is the largest in the county. 2.     Geographical Setting: ·        Ludlow lies near the confluence of the rivers Corve and Teme. ·        The town is nestled beneath the Mortimer Forest and the Clee Hills, providing picturesque views. ·        Its sheltered location contributes to its charm. 3.     Architectural Heritage: ·        Ludlow boasts nearly 500 listed buildings, including well-preserved examples of medieval and Tudor-style half-timbered buildings. ·        The town’s aesthetic beauty has led it to be described by Sir John Betjeman as “probably the loveliest town in England.” 4.     Etymology and Names: ·        Ludlow was known as Dinam in ancient times. ·        The British name for the town was Dinam, which translates to “The Palace of Princes.” ·        The Modern Welsh name is Llwydlo. ·        The Old English name Lodelowe referred to the site before 1138, combining “hlud” (loud waters) and “hlǣw” (hill or tumulus). 5.     Weirs and River Control: ·        Originally, the River Teme had rapids near Ludlow. ·        Weirs were added along the river to tame the rapid flows, making the area more hospitable. 6.     Ludlow Today: ·        Ludlow continues to be a vibrant town, attracting visitors with its historic charm, cultural events, and stunning architecture. ·        Whether exploring the castle, strolling through the streets, or enjoying local cuisine, Ludlow offers a delightful experience. Want to know more about Lawrence of Ludlow? Return to MENU LUDLOW TOWN QUIZ We caught the 11.01 bus into town, bus pass pleasures, nice chat with a couple and Betty the dog, from the campsite who had camped at a CL nearer the town (caravan and motorhome site) during the Covid times, which was when we last stayed in Ludlow. The bus is semi rural so there are only 3 trips per day and on the way back for the last 2, we got the latest, you have to request that it stops at the Ludlow Touring site else it goes a different way to Castle Richard. #hintsandtips We had fun doing the Town Quiz, great fun, locals were helpful on a couple of occasions and there was a young couple with a dog doing the same whom we traded the odd hint, well it did say use ALL RESOURCES. #haha We certainly could have done with the bigger gang of friends, many brains make light bulbs work as the old saying goes. Anyway this was by far and away the hardest one we have done so far, it was our fifth one and the only one we didn't get right for a myriad of reasons, Ludlow is very steep and Annie's knee was certainly playing her. It also didn't help that some questions were deeply obscure and in one particular one the building was being renovated so the answer wasn't even visible, I used google to find an old image and blew it up. 2 old lead drainpipes at the tip of the building showing the repeat year 1728. I reported this change in environment to the quiz masters to ensure future quizzers didn't have the same problem. Anyhow that all said and done we only got fooled by 1 question which meant overall we failed. How many city gates added to the century (year) the last original drum tower survived until. Boo, totally flummoxed. Would have given us TWENTY which was in the middle of Katwen Tyson #geddit Anyhow it was enormous fun and whilst it estimated 1.75 miles and 2 hours we walked 3 miles and took about 6 hours, including a fab lunch at the George and a coffee break at Costa coffee to rest our weary legs. So just in time to get the last bus back. What fun, we loved it, onwards and upwards to the next one. Here is a video of the day with Colin's traditional shots of the clue sites (mostly) and a slideshow of the salient parts about the quiz. Return to Menu STOKESAY 13th CENTURY CASTLE AND MANOR HOUSE We packed up camp at Ludlow and left by 11 a.m. We travelled the short distance , about 10 miles, outside Ludlow to Craven arms, past the lovely railway station at Onibury we had been to before. We parked in the English Heritage car park and strolled through the old church to the shop and checked in. They gave us the usual audio guided tour kit, very useful. The gatehouse entrance is an old manor house with amazing carvings. Indeed all I can say about the mistress of the house at the time is back in the 13th century they must have loved sunbathing topless #teehee We had a fabulous time going around the old castle. It was a Royalist stronghold but cleverly they gave in immediately the New Model Army arrived so unlike Bridgenorth castle , which is no more than a large stump, Stokesay survives almost in tact. The gardens are lovely as well. After seeing the castle and grounds we retired to the cafe for coffee and a lovely slice of passionfruit and lime cake #toodiefor Although the castle is 13th century built by Laurence of Ludlow the gatehouse was built by William , 1st Earl Craven. It is worth saying that William Craven never married as only had eyes for queen Beatrice of Bohemia (allegedly) and he looked nothing like the carving above the gate... you do the spot the difference, even down to the beard and type of moustache #teehee Here is the travel blog video of our fun time at Stokesay, so worth a visit #recommended It's so good to have helpful friends #smile If you fancy know a little more about Stokesay our travel blog AI pal can help here, read on descendants of Lodelowe.... Stokesay Castle, nestled in a peaceful Shropshire valley near the Welsh border, has a captivating history that reflects medieval life in England. Let’s explore its fascinating story: Laurence of Ludlow and the Wool Trade: Stokesay Castle was built in the late 13th century by Laurence of Ludlow, a local merchant. Laurence had amassed wealth through the wool trade, which was booming during that period. His vision was to create a fortified manor house that showcased his prosperity and power. Unique Features: Stokesay Castle is one of the finest fortified manor houses in England. Its military appearance is deceptive; it was not designed to withstand a serious siege. Almost everything visible today was constructed in the 1280s and 1290s by Laurence of Ludlow. Medieval Treasures: Among Stokesay’s many treasures are: A medieval staircase that stands as a testament to craftsmanship. A richly carved 17th-century chamber that exudes elegance. A tiled floor that whispers stories of the past. Preservation and Restoration: In the 19th century, early conservationists sympathetically repaired and preserved Stokesay Castle. Thanks to their efforts, the castle remains remarkably intact, offering a glimpse into medieval England. Significance and Survival: Stokesay Castle’s importance lies not only in its buildings but also in their survival with minimal alteration. It stands as a living link to a bygone era, where wool wealth and architectural finesse intersected. Explore Further: If you’re curious about Stokesay Castle’s full history, consider reading a comprehensive account. The castle’s story intertwines with Laurence of Ludlow’s rise, the wool trade, and the taste of medieval England. Want to know more? Stokesay If you want to know about William Craven , 1st Earl Craven and constructor of that fine manor gatehouse, click HERE Return to MENU BRIDGENORTH & ALVENEY Annie's distant rellie Joseph Lloyd Whatmore (3rd great uncle) was Mayor of Bridgenorth back in the day and we have visited before from a genealogy perspective, but now we have the freedom of the town we explored more. #smile Mr. Mayor was a hatter & furrier with shops at both 6 and 51 high street. Between 1852-81 he was a councillor, mayor & magistrate from November 1860. We parked in the main street by the buttercross. You have to park end on which is not an issue for our perfectly formed Wendy house van. Its only 40 minutes allowed stay, which put a bit of pressure on us but we had time to use the Funicular railway, the shortest and steepest in the UK (allegedly). If you are an English Heritage member let them know, its not advertised, but that will get you the return journey for free. On the lower level, mostly sandstone, is the River Severn and Bridgnorth's quayside, lovely views. Up above beside the bridge is the oldest seed shop in the UK. We had a quick walk around and then returned back up via the funicular railway to the north cliffs. It's called the Cliff railway. After that we walked along the circular road parallel but way about the river. Some great sites heading towards the Castle and gardens. Sadly the castle is almost just a stump after Oliver Cromwell's participation. Our informer at Boscobel told us the Royalists / New Model army disputes (if I can be so understated) were more about religion than power and corruption. Who would know to challenge the expected norm. Anyhow after the gardens we legged it back just in time to avoid a parking ticket, be warned. You don't get long, but over by the park there are a lot of parking areas. The Mercian way as indicated by the sculpture you see at the start of this video slideshow of travel blog images starts at Wyre Forest which is also well worth a visit. Return to Menu BOSCOBEL HOUSE AND CHARLES THE SECOND After a fabulous "chill" day Friday at the Stanmore Hall campsite, reading, sitting out in the sun (briefly) , eating, drinking and making merry we breakfasted and broke camp (love that expression from my boy sprout days) parked up the van and tootled off to Boscobel. The campsite was lovely and we will return. Here's a few of us chilling , literally, as you can see now taken refuge inside. tee-hee So we heard a lot about Charles the 2nd at Boscobel house. I went to see what remains of the Royal Oak a bit away from the house. It was cold and quite a walk so Annie stayed back at the farm area trying to shelter. We were so cold afterwards we went and had coffee, cake and a lovely cheese scone offering in the stable block to warm up. The current Royal Oak is a sapling of the original which apparently was taken down branch by branch by trophy hunters back in the day. Indeed this sapling although very old was hit by lightening so still not much left but from a history perspective, a joint passion of ours, well worth the walk. White Ladies priory further down the road is where Charles initially took refuge. We drove to it but as it was raining and a way off the roadside and Annie's knee wasn't great we chose not to walk over to the ruins, devastated during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries . The house was very interesting and rather than use the standard English Heritage audio guides , as the folk on the till said, on entry.... "we have real people".... some of whom whilst interesting were rather difficult to get away from. The grounds have traditional farm animals, rare breed ones at that, ideal for grandkids etc. The gardens are great and the preserved stable blocks filled with much info. All in all so glad we visited, you are never too old to learn. Whilst history and geography were not my "bag" at school they definitely are now. Want to know more about Charlie's daring do? Here you go Charles II, the son of Charles I, played a significant role in English history, especially during the tumultuous period of the English Civil Wars. One of the most intriguing episodes associated with Charles II is his escape after the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Let’s explore the story of Charles II and the Royal Oak: 1.     The Battle of Worcester: ·        In 1651, the Royalist army, led by Charles II, faced the Parliamentarian forces in the Battle of Worcester. ·        The Royalists suffered a decisive defeat, and Charles II was forced to flee for his life. 2.     The Escape to Boscobel House: ·        After the battle, Charles II found himself on the run, pursued by Parliamentarian troops. ·        He sought refuge at Boscobel House, a remote location in Shropshire, England. ·        The house belonged to the Penderel family, who were loyal to the Royalist cause. 3.     The Famous Royal Oak: ·        Charles II hid in an oak tree within the grounds of Boscobel House. ·        The tree became known as the Royal Oak and symbolized the king’s escape and survival. ·        The oak provided cover and protection, allowing Charles II to evade capture. 4.     Disguise and Adventure: ·        Charles II changed his appearance, donning country clothes and cutting his royal locks. ·        With the help of the Penderel family, he moved from one hiding place to another, avoiding detection. ·        His escape involved tense moments, close calls, and daring maneuvers. 5.     Legacy and Pub Names: ·        Charles II eventually made it to safety and later regained the throne. ·        The story of his escape became legendary, and the Royal Oak became a powerful symbol of resilience and survival. ·        To this day, many pubs in England bear the name “The Royal Oak” in honor of this historic event. 6.     Boscobel House Today: ·        Visitors can explore Boscobel House and its beautiful orchard and gardens. ·        The descendant of the famous Royal Oak still stands, connecting us to this remarkable chapter in English history. Want to know more? Charles 2nd Boscobel and the Royal Oak After Boscobel and avoiding the marching Armies in that area (Modern Model Army this time, tee hee) we spent our time trying to avoid the M6 toll (£14 last time) and used Watling Street... guess what it really is a straight Roman road, or A5 to return home and unpack after a most enjoyable 6 days away. Return to MENU BLOG VIDEOS This is a video of all out talkie vids combined. Must practice my acting voice a little more. Return to Menu MORRIS LEISURE QUALITY CAMPSITES The campsites are fab, it seems there are 6 of them. As we are now part of their Loyalty scheme and they are slightly cheaper and with good facilities if and when we are in the area we will try them all out. We stayed at Ludlow touring park and Stanmore Hall sites this time, I have included some extra details in case you are interested fellow motorhomies. #recommended if you want to know more about this lovely set of campsites Look Here Return to Menu AUDIOBOOK Return to Menu THE END Thanks for reading folks, hope it was helpful

By keef and annie hellinger, May 19 2020 07:52AM Blog first started in 2020 but it spanned 2 years of covid During this Coronavirus / Covid-19 Pandemic lockdown why not break up your day by doing my “ Where in the World “ motorhome travels quiz…every picture is a place we have visited and can be found here on the website. Answers are applied after a while so you can check back. Thanks for looking We post these on both Facebook and the @KeefHWebDesigns you tube channel . If you want to look CLICK HERE In 2023 (post Covid but during the Covid enquiry) we used the super You Tube #shorts feature to promote the Where In The World Quiz for fellow travellers and here is a reel we used to promote the quizzes, enjoy! Happy Christmas... only applicable really in December #smile Below is also my take on what's happening, recorded for memories sake, troubling times, but it sure helps one focus on what is important and what & whom you miss! In future when this appears in my memories, I will look back on hard times and will hopefully appreciate what are the important things in my life. Living life in coronavirus times , which could be a while yet! Prime Minister Boris Johnson started lockdown on the evening of 23rd of March 2020 On the 5th April he was admitted to hospital after 10 days self isolating with the Corona Virus On the 6th April he is in intensive care with deteriorating symptoms The Queen addressed the nation at 8pm on 5th April Excel now known as NHS Nightingale and will be a hospital for up to 4,000 patients, most of whom are on ventilators. Similar venues being used in cities across the country. Opened by Prince Charles at 11am on 3rd April Community support groups established, to support the vulnerable, elderly, immunocompromised and people in enforced isolation due to exposure, in their community Petrol price close to home was less than £1… the first time since 2007, but when there is no where to go hardly surprising Schools closed on Friday 20 March. Remote learning in place either via Home schooling or BBC Bitesize Self-distancing measures required Don’t stand so close to me, i.e 2m Tape on the floors at grocery stores and others to help distance shoppers (2 meters) from each other. Limited number of people inside stores, therefore, line-ups outside the store doors Non-essential stores, pubs and businesses mandated closed People who can work from home should do, Boris decreed back to work 14 May 2020 for construction workers and folk who can’t work from home Parks , trails, entire cities closed or restricted to locals only in their bubble. Entire sports seasons cancelled. Olympics postponed to 2021 Concerts, tours, festivals etc cancelled Weddings family celebrations holiday gatherings even funerals cancelled, although relaxed to allow upto 9 attendees mid may No masses, churches are closed No gatherings of 50 or more, then 20 or more, then 10 or more. Now, Don't socialize with anyone outside of your home bubble , but rather confusingly from 14 May you can see 1 person from outside your household in an open space BUT if your parents are your cleaner or buying your house you can see both of them, confuseddotcom! Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and all other TV networks are on in every home daily now Children's outdoor play parks are closed Reruns of the Chelsea flower show. Have I got news for you and just about anything else done via Zoom or Skype. Everyones bookcase as a background is the new Claim to fame, especially if you strategically place Stephen Hawkings a brief history of Time. We are to distance from each other. Shortage of masks gowns gloves for our front-line workers. Both NHS and Care Homes. Care homes sadly an afterthought. At least a 3rd are dieing there. Very worrying. Government main priority to “Protect the NHS” NOT surprisingly to “Save Lives” PPE (new vocabulary along with social distancing) meaning Personal Protective Equipment Shortage of ventilators for the critically ill in many parts of the world. Refrigerated trucks for the dead outside hospitals in the USA Italy Spain China and more. Sadly mid May UK becomes 2nd highest number of deaths in the world behind the US and highest in Europe 35k by 18 May although ONS figures show 3k higher (never explained rationally) Panic buying sets in and we have limits on toilet paper disinfecting supplies, paper towels, staple foods (Eggs & milk become issues, definite supply chain issues as farmers say they are throwing away litres of milk) hand sanitizer Flour is hard to get because the packaging comes from China and borders are closed , interestingly not in the UK until 18 May announcement (and then not for allegedly selected countries Eire & France. Weird and inconsistent) Manufacturers distilleries and other businesses switch their lines to help make visors, masks hand sanitizer and PPE , Multiple hand washes per day becomes the “New Normal”, even allowing post to sit on the door mat for 3 days, the time for Covid19/Coronavirus to go from packaging Fines are established for breaking lockdown rules Initially £30 then increased to £100 although some debate about whether or not the police can enforce them Stadiums and recreation facilities overseas open up for the overflow of Covid-19 patients. Public Park areas turned into caravan parks for stranded tourists to self isolate Press conferences daily from the PM and other government officials (Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty becomes bit of a hero, Chief Scientist Sir Patrick Vallance the opposite after his Herd Immunity idea). Daily updates on new cases, recoveries, and deaths . Initial idea in March was < £20k deaths good target , by mid May it was £35k+ Government incentives to stay home. Barely anyone on the roads initially by mid May almost back to normal yet the death rate continues to rise steadily People wearing masks and gloves outside . Mid May advice changes from probably not a good idea to YES it is a good idea. Especially on crowded public transport and narrow shop spaces Also took months to lock down our borders (mostly) and that was only for airplanes, ferries and channel tunnel still OK… Hmmm! Essential service workers are terrified to go to work with good reason Medical field workers are afraid to go home to their families , some great folk live in caravans in the front garden to protect their love ones. “Key worker” is another phrase to enter the English language. There is a national clap every Thursday evening 8pm for NHS & Care workers. Sadly teachers who kept schools open o mind the children of Key workers seem to have been overlooked. Also true of Boris’s 5% off for NHS & Care workers buying new homes in what he hopes will “kick start” the economy A 99 year old WWII veteran Captain Tom Moore raised £33 million for NHS charities walking 100 lengths of his garden before he turned 100. His target was £1000. People from all over the world donated to his cause. 319K deaths globally so far.(19 May 2020) This is the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, WHO declared March 11th, 2020. Why, you ask, do I write this status? One day it will show up in my memory feed, and it will be a yearly reminder that life is precious and not to take the things we dearly love for granted We have so much! Be thankful. Be grateful Be kind to each other - love one another - support everyone , and enjoy your garden and your grandchildren and families and friends everywhere We are all one! Despite what a US president may think! See our "where in the world" quiz slideshows below , with each questions, every answer is somewhere on our website but you may have to dig around a bit, good luck There are 12 to chose from, have fun

By keef and annie hellinger, Mar 29 2014 06:26PM Milestone Caravan Club site, Cromwell, Nottinghamshire A KeefH Web Designs Travel Blog Motorhome trip No15 : March 28th – 29th 2014 NOTTS->CROMWELL ->NOTTS 75 miles Set the van free from its over wintering by removing the covers on Thursday, was a little drizzly so put the waterproof membrane in the garage and then finished off on Saturday in the sun after returning from our 1st trip of 2014 away. Amazing to note that the motorhome started 1st time after nearly 6 months stored away, bless it. VW engines are just so good! Packed up and set off early Saturday morning. Reasonably short drive but good to get the engine ticking over again. Arrived at site just before 12. Lovely day, cold but sunny. Lovely site, 2 fishing ponds and a large fishing lake behind it. 3 motorhome filling stations and 2 toilet blocks, both heated. Mixture of hard standing and grass pitches. Set up and went for an explore in the village. Quite close to A1 so reasonably noisy but lovely old buildings, spring flowers and trees blossoming. Village has farm shop and lovely old church plus a dolls museum but we didn’t go in that. However it does have the milestone micro brewery and we had a look around and chat with the main man. They have lots of awards for best beers especially their raspberry wheat beer. Bought a 3 beer sample box and tried out the stout. Very nice Cooked lunch of Pukka pies (good meat content), ciabatta garlic bread and muffins, all washed down with lemon & mint squash. Read for most of the afternoon, very relaxing. For tea the site has the mobile chippie visit so since Keef had left the piazza’s in the freezer at home we had fish & chips, almost the best beer battered chips ever, yummy! We had a couple of glasses of our sloe gin after and watched Line of Duty series 1 on DVD, well 2 episodes anyway before retiring to bed. Tried out most of the usual motorhome things, fridge, heater, water, fire, blown air etc etc so all looks good with the “home” for the season. All in all a nice relaxing weekend! Note: The Index shows ALL blogs already published or you can find Blogs about a specific subject by clicking on a word in the TAG CLOUD or under these new blogs, thanks, motorhome-travels. 35 pictures in the SLIDESHOW Comments left on old site prior to Nov 2021 #vanswelove

By keef and annie hellinger, Jan 6 2016 07:19AM Not The Motorhome trip No6 : December 15th 2015 – January 4th 2016 A KeefH Web Designs Travel Blog NOTTS->TINTERN, WALES->NOTTS c 1500 miles (including ferrying services & days out) Lovely time with all our family with the Singapore Hellingers over to celebrate Christmas and New Year and my Mum up from Surrey and Phoenix’s cousin from Leeds and the L’boro (Leicestershire) Hellingers and Leanne’s dad Bill. Grandaughter Charlie is such a delight…. Monkey, bear, byeee, hi, bovvered,ohh-oh… walking and talking, smiling etc and oh that front door bell with Mozart’s rondo alla turka…. Hehe Such memories: West park , Wollaton & Bradgate park drone flying, Dougs’ 32nd at La Rock, Sunday lunch at Kniveton, walk around Ashbourne, Santa, Pepper & George, Food, Gas cooker down, lunch @ C&L’s, Stockings , pressies, Xmas & Kids music, a lovely week away at Tintern Abbey cottage, The abbey, the anchor, the rose & crown, road to Offa’s dyke, rain, fog, floods, raglan castle, Chepstow, Monmouth, Gwent hospital, Heathrow, M1,M25,M48,M4,M5,M42… family, love, fun Note the slideshows can also be found on the FAMILY page under Xmas, where much more family stuff can be found, thanks for looking that's all folks! maybe go and have a look at the family page #family #fun #fab

By keef and annie hellinger, Oct 14 2015 02:23PM Motorhome trip No24 : October 7th – 14th 2015 A KeefH Web Designs Travel Blog NOTTS->YORKSHIRE including Holmfirth, Hebden Bridge, Cragg Vale,Bronte Country,Settle, Grassington, Wharfdale (Yorkshire Dales) then up to NORTHUMBERLAND Berwick upon Tweed for time with friends then back to YORKSHIRE including Sutton Band Hill (25% steep avoid in future although trusty van OK),Pickering, Rosedale (North York Moors), Scarborough & Castle, Filey , Flamborough Headcand Bridlington ->NOTTS 654 miles Lovely time spent touring areas of the Yorkshire Dales we missed out on our last trip in September then a weekend with friends up in Northumberland on the Scottish borders at Berwick upon Tweed and then touring the North York Moors national park and ending up on the east riding coast. Great weather mostly for mid October, shorts and flip flop time again! 6 days away all Caravan club sites ;- 1. Hebden Bridge HX7 5RU no facilities but nice tranquil site by the edge of the river Calder 2. Wharfdale BD23 5PN beautiful site on back of major holiday park, pheasants everywhere, so peaceful, good TV hookup on posts 3. Berwick Seaview TD15 1QU fab views bus and easy walk into town over old bridge and nice fish & chip shops, pubs, esp Old Barrels Inn and Micropub (did 2 nights here with friends) only down side is it is on the main east coast railway line 4. Rosedale Abbey YO18 8SA – absolutely loved this site although it is grass (bad when wet) and no facilities but its upside is location and proximity of pub opposite, gr8 ales and food esp recommend Desperate Dan Cow pie (home made) Yummy! 5. Bridlington YO15 1DU expensive for what you get and weird enclosed area with long walk and no cut through to amenities block, would go back again and 4 miles to brid… DAY1: Wet Holmfirth, saw picturedome where Graham Parker and the Rumour will play their last ever live gig. Cleared up a bit in after noon, stayed site no 1 DAY2:Visited Cragg vale, Hebden Bridge, Oxenhope, Howarth,(interesting climb), Settle and railway station, Grassington and Wharfdale, stayed site 2. DAY3:Drove long way upto Berwick Upon Tweed arrived about 3.30pm at site 3, set up and then met Chris & Allyson and Lawrence &Yvonne in evening… walked to Barrel inn for 3 pints of Bolt maker then late fish and chips at Fowlis on Dock Road before returning to vans for more drinkies and chat, late to bed 1-ish am DAY4: Nice bacon stottie at L&Y’s van then into town for look around, scotch pie, Brewers Inn in the high road (Scotland Vs Samoa , many scots in pub happy) then onto the Curfew Micro Pub (lovely pint of Manchester’s Lagonda) then walk back to vans for lovely meal cooked by Allyson of beef stroganoff followed by Cheese and bikkies, K’s bondi banana bread and a game of Bullshit (balderdash) SPVA… (special park village abuse lol!) V late to bed again DAY5: Up early cooked egg and bacon butties for all, long natter, then said our goodbyes (until next time pals) then onto North York Moors NP (long drive) Saw Pickering just as light was fading then to site no 4. Great meal in pub opposite. Log fire, ale and class food DAY6: Visited Scarborough and most specifically English heritages’ Castle and Anne Bronte’s grave. Great views from castle and very interesting audio tour. Met aussie couple from Adelaide. Went to Filey ,walked a bit, got wet, lunched then onto Bridlington to dry out and campsite after brief stop at sea front (reminded us of Bognor) DAY7: Drove home not a bad drive about 120 miles, mixed weather All in all a nice time, very relaxing we will be back to both these areas The Yorkshire Dales and Berwick Upon Tweed Campsite Slideshows #motorhome #motorhometravels #travelsin2016 #campsites

By keef and annie hellinger, Mar 8 2015 05:06PM Not the motorhome trip no.15 ( a retrospective, hence out of order) This is a retrospective of a holiday Annie & I took to the wonderful Shetland Isles in July 2001. MENU Overview Slideshows Scottish Travel Routes Retro Scottish Family Travel vids (utubeo) The End OVERVIEW Travelled up from Nottingham in our then red ford escort estate, stayed overnight in Aberdeen , picnicked in the grounds of an open prison (unbeknown to us until we were evicted) Overnight ferry to Lerwick. Stayed in a cottage not far outside Lerwick at Gulberswick Bay. Travelled thru all the islands and even a boat to Fetlar taking the car across. We visited the island of Mousa by tourist ferry and spent the day walking around and seeing the seal sanctuary. Cold and misty mostly but very interesting islands. Met a couple on Unst who had pigs etc. were very interesting. He did IT from home and she ran a craft shop, idylllic lifestyle, used to live in London Travelled on the SS Claire Aberdeen to Lerwick. Note we went back past this on the ferry to the Faroes & Iceland in 2019 Blog 135 after leaving Denmark straight past Sumner Head where we had sat on the beach in the sun all those years ago, next to the Viking settlement and the airport. The Shetlands are a lovely set of islands, much history, green, lush and rocky. Read a wiki overview here They are made up of Fair Isle, Mousa, Nista, Bressay, Unst, Mainland Shetland i.e. the one with Lerwick (pronounced Lerick!) , Whalsay, St Ninian's Isle, Foula, Yell, Papa Stour and the outer Skerries. What a wonderful memory we have of these lovely Islands, and the wonderful festival of Up Helly Aa. Read all about it HERE . Return to Menu SLIDESHOWS Redid this old slideshow in 2023, makes it a little more watchable, hopefully My original, no sound, created with the redundant Photosnack app way back when... Return to Menu SCOTTISH TRAVEL ROUTES Return to Menu RETRO SCOTTISH FAMILY TRAVELS utubeo videos recreated by KeefH Web Designs in 2023 using Clipchamp and my original Photosnack vids created way back when Return to Menu THAT's ALL FOLKS

By keef and annie hellinger, Sep 13 2018 09:18AM Motorhome trip No35 : Aug 27th- Sept 12th 2018 A KeefH Web Designs Travel Blog MENU INTRO SUMMARY DIARY SLIDESHOWS TRAVEL BLOG ROUTES RETRO SCOTTISH FAMILY TRAVEL VIDEOS THE END OF BLOG INTRODUCTION NOTTS->Scotland and the Isles via Lake District ->NOTTS 1313 miles Troutbeck nr Penrith, Greystoke, Glasgow, Mull, Iona, Ulva, Kintyre including the Mull of Kintyre, Bute, Arran, much of Argyll & Keswick, Lake District HISTORY OF THIS BLOG Slight boo boo - we had 2 trip 34's... Eire came first so made this Trip34A on 12/7/20, no worries , hardly matters just means in reality we have done one more trip in the van than we say , updated 5/5/22 Decided to shift this and each subsequent blog on by one up to the latest at the time which was 177 (now Trip 49, was 48) Back to MENU SUMMARY OF TRIP A fab time away visiting our dear friends Chris and Allyson in their new home at Ardtun (pronounced Hard – Ton) on the oh so peaceful Isle of Mull plus pulling in 7 ferry trips, 5 Scottish islands, a lot of miles, 2 great days out in Glasgow (which is a truly fabulous city – much better than when we cowered under the bench overnight in Buchanan street bus garage 40 years ago – city of culture now), a great Sunday dinner with friends Lawrence & Yvonne, Strathclyde country park - the old lady who had lived there all her life and not found the Roman fort (lol), classy Charles Rennie & Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh, the Glasgow Boys,Riverside Museum, Hunterian, George Square, Murals, Kelvingrove, real pizzas, Sir John Moore and true scotch food, Hard Rock Cafe, HOHO bus, Bellshill station, scotch mist,wind and rain a plenty on some of the isles plus lots of sunshine, Connel, trying to find the amphitheatre in Oban, humming Mull of Kintyre, Chris reminding me about a lift we had on Mull all those years ago where the lifter played Planxty, the burg, Cnoc Mor, tea and cakes Bunessan, a revisit to Threlkeld, Keswick and a first visit to Tarzan’s Greystoke, Fionnphort, great walk to coast on Iona in the sun (now costs to go around the abbey - progress?),learning something about crofting and de-crofting,that multi-seen french yacht, 2 busted ferries to and from the Isle of Arran, Crab & Lobster soup in the Boathouse Ulva, Shiela's cottage,Lachlan MacQuarrie's mausoleum Mull (Benmore estate - born Ulva as were Dr Livingston's grand parents) , Uisken beach and the big chair, Ardalanish beach rain and red admirals,Bob Ryan MBE Ardalanish weavers,Tarbert, Campbeltown, Mull of Kintyre, Machrihanish, views of Islay, Loch Fyne, revisiting Tighnabruaich,Rothsay, Winter gardens and harbour, Port Bannatyne, Ardrossan, Brodick and castle and grounds, shifting from the dog lounge to the coughing suite on Arran ferry, the Big stone (both Arran and campsite Troutbeck), Corrie, Lochranza and castle, hills of Sannox (lunch twice),fake sheep and a very convincing seal, my first red squirrel in the UK, seal shores views - kildonan, Kinloch, Old byre visitors centre - Machrie, wild camp A83, learning more functionality on our camera, waterfalls galore in Loch Lomond NP and oh so much more, very relaxing, we really enjoyed ourselves. Back to MENU UPDATED PLAN / DIARY DAY 1 Mon 27 Aug 3hrs 30mins 178 miles Home to Penrith (straight there 6hrs 10mins 284 miles… too much for 1 day!!!) stay at Troutbeck head site, Troutbeck, Penrith, CA11 0SS (a C&M site) Booking confirmed £33 0008542092 DAY2 Tues 28 Aug 3hrs 4 mins 155 miles Morecambe Bay to Strathclyde Country Park Caravan Club Site L&Y Bothwellhaugh Road, Bothwell, Bothwell, G71 8NY Booking 0008543275 £70.50 DAY3&4: Wed & Thurs 29 & 30 Aug 3 nights with Lawrence & Yvonne, 2 days in Glasgow… note that is 12 miles away by bus.. see Y&L tues eve , they are off Weds so we will probably do 2 days in Glasgow. Park and ride (free) at Bellshill train station, only £4.40 return to Glasgow Central station. What a fab place it is. The hop on hop off bus is only £16 for 2 days. Guess what Glasgow has a Hard Rock Cafe DAY5: Fri 31 Aug 3hrs 106 miles to Oban, stay at campsite there North Ledaig Caravan Club Site Connel, Oban, Argyll & Bute, PA37 1RU, Scotland C&M club site booked ref 2450 £28.20-£10 deposit paid. Had a quick drive up to find the Victorian amphitheatre at Oban but couldn’t find it, interesting climb on single track road. Campsite wonderful, on beach front with clear views of the isle of Mull DAY6 – 11 Sat 1 Sep – Fri 7 Sep Ferry Oban to Craignure : on Mull with Chris & Allyson. Leave Fri am 6 full days. Take tickets BOOKED leave oban checkin closes 8.10… leave craignure checkin closes 9.25 £41.20 return #wow . Drive to Cnoc Mor takes about 1 hr, allow 1hr 30 on way back because of traffic. panorama, the burg from cnoc mor, ardtun, isle of mull #bliss DAY12: Fri 7 Sep Ferry Craignure to Oban Then on way back 50 miles 1hr 30 mins Oban to Tarbert ferry via Lochgilphead (all Argyll & bute) Camp near Tarbert @ killegruer caravan park, woodend, glenbarr, tarbert, argyll pa29 6xb email sent to book/ now confirmed pay cash We called in at this campsite and it was YUCK! So carried on and stayed at a lovely site just outside Campbeltown (a great town) on the Mull of Kintyre , Macrihanish Holiday Park. Such lovely views, if a little (understatement) windy. DAY13: Sat 8 Sep Ferry Tarbert (Argyll mainland) to Portavaidie (across loch fyne) Turn up and go, see timetable then around loch riddon, drive Portavaidie to colintraive ferry terminal 40 mins 19 miles, then Colintraive - Rhubodach Ferry £5 1 way for motorhome plus passengers. Now on the isle of Bute, Spend the rest of the day on Bute… camp there then head to Rothsay. Camp at Roseland Holiday park, Serpentine Road Canada Hill, Isle Of Bute PA20 9EH email sent to book response hardstanding pitch secured. Not the greatest site but high up on the hills overlooking Rothsay so close to ferry. Hardstanding was in basically a car park £20 all in so cheap. Washrooms adequate (just) DAY14: Sun 9 Sep Ferry Rothsay to Wemyss Bay , then Drive Wemyss Bay to Ardrossan 45 mins 18 miles, Ferry Ardossan to Brodick - Isle of Arran stay 1+ full days (lots to see and much bigger than Bute)camp at Seal Shore Camping & Touring Site, Kildonan ,Isle of Arran ,KA27 8SE ,01770 820320 £23/night 2 nights.. go anti clockwise around the island… 25 mins 14 miles Brodick to Lochranza, see castle… email sent to book Take tickets BOOKED Arran leave ardrossan checkin closes 12 noon… leave brodick (11th) checkin closes 9.15 £46.70 return Update… due to crane crushing drive on / off ramp had to take a later ferry so had nice lunch and coffee in Asda near the terminal. Drove up to Lochranza – nice place, hills of Sannox fab DAY15: Mon 10 Sep Day on Isle of camp at same site Seal Shore Camping & Touring Site, Kildonan ,Isle of Arran ,KA27 8SE £23/night £20 deposit paid by card, sending confirmation. Fab views across to lighthouse on an island. Bit wet and windy though! Drove right around Arran 30 miles top to bottom so about 60 miles in all. Called in at CalMac Brodick after text re ferry cancellation. As the second ferry from Brodick to Ardrossan was also damaged (how careless, winds from storm , ramp cracked – dry dock) and no vehicles over 2.8 meters high could leave we travelled (for the 4th time) back to Lochranza and got the 5.05 pm small ferry back to Cloanaig (Kintyre), very choppy and getting off was fun. Then A83 Lochgilphead, Inveraray (nice) and wild camp just outside Cairndow with own private waterfall DAY16: Tues 11 Sep then back to mainland via drive Kildonan to Brodick 30mins 13 miles ferry Brodick to Adrossan, then drive Adrossan to Penrith Lake District 3 hrs 6mins 158 miles Stay at Troutbeck head site, Troutbeck, Penrith, CA11 0SS (a C&M site) Booking confirmed £26.80 0008542045 Update from Cairndow (up early) drive A83/ A82 past Glasgow back to Troutbeck campsite DAY17: Wed 12 Sep Penrith home 3hrs 30mins 178 miles longer time wise via M6 about 186 miles See all our Scotland Travel Blog routes HERE If you would like to seen details of our other trips to Scotland most in the wendy house please have a look at Blog 38 & 152, thanks, they are associated here for your easy navigation, plus our family trip in 1988, use FAMILY page by year, thanks for looking If you would like to see details of our trip to the Shetlands in 2001 or you would like to see Slideshows of our trip to the Isle of Lewis, the Uists and Benbecula in 1988, Edinburgh in 1993 when we holidayed in Lowick, Northumberland or Tighnabruich, Cowal peninsular which we revisited on this trip and it was Craig's 1st holiday back in 1982 visit our FAMILY page here on the site and go to the appropriate year, thanks Back to MENU SLIDESHOWS #motorhome #motorhometravels #travelsin2018 #campsites #majortrip #timeline Back to MENU SCOTTISH TRAVEL BLOG ROUTES Back to MENU RETRO SCOTTISH FAMILY TRAVEL VIDEOS In 2023 i started to redo many of our very old you tube videos (utubeo) and here is what you get, better quality images and sound #utubeo Return to Menu THE END

By keef & annie, Jun 15 2012 02:44PM A KeefH Web Designs Travel Blog Motorhome trip No3 : Scotland - May 29th – June 11th 2012 NOTTS->ALNWICK->FIFE->ANGUS->KINCARDINE->ABERDEEN->BANFF->MORAY->NAIRN->INVERNESS->ROSS & CROMARTY->SUTHERLAND->CAITHNESS->SUTHERLAND->WESTER ROSS->SKYE&LOCALSH->INVERNESS->ARGYLL&BUTE->NOTTS 1675 miles MENU Diary Slideshow Travel Blog Routes Retro Scottish holiday vids (utubeo) Audiobook That's all folks INTRODUCTION / DIARY Oh and we loved every moment of it. Scotland is such a fabulous place , breath taking views, lochs, castles to die for, interesting history and of course the deep fried mars bar. Sadly I still haven’t had the chance yet to sample this delicacy but scotch pies , white pudding etc. etc. were yummy! Pictures available under the site photos and slideshow tabs. In order to see these it is necessary to login using either your Facebook login / password or set yourself up one for our site, which will mean supplying your email address and accepting the automatic link that is sent to your inbox. EASY Remember a picture paints a thousand words! Basically keeping to the coast we travelled up the east, across top and then back down the west. As we have been to most of the islands already and the cost of taking the van over was not included in our budget we just had our memories and the views from the mainland. Maybe they are for another trip depending upon how much CalMac have ramped up the price for the multi-island passes, must check when I’ve finished this blog! So we left home and spent the night with our lovely friends Chris and Allyson in Alnwick, what a great Madar Jaffrey curry , thanks Chris. Part of this trip is inspired by a trip Chris & I did over 40 years ago when we were about 18 and we both hiked & hitched around Scotland, not been back to some of these places since and part so that Annie can get to John O’Groats as well as Landsend, I kept telling her she hadn’t missed anything and that proved to be true *smile*. Plus thanks to George & Emma for allowing us to park in Green Batt , George suggested his Auto Sleeper Executive and ours may well breed if they got a little closer. Haha – maybe an Eriba. Anyhow after a bit of shopping in Alnwick we set off for the borders. Then over the impressive Forth Road Bridge and into Fife. Did you know that Dunfermline (home of Annie’s ancestors) was once the capital of Scotland. We stopped at the Royal Burgh of Culross to visit the palace there, but sadly it was closed (something to do with a wedding and a corporate ‘do’ for the National Trust of Scotland). This didn’t stop us though and we still looked around the outside, gardens and interesting cobbled back streets. A real nice place. Give it a whirl sometime. No probs with parking the van either, 2 very big car parks that were hardly full. We discover Scotland has a lot of Royal Burgh’s an award which seems to have been bestowed the moment a Scottish King or Queen visited but I could be wrong! Then we drove onto St Andrews for the night, the home of golf, it hardly ever stopped raining. The site was a little expensive at £24 a night but they justified it by having a new indoor heated swimming pool and bar / games room. We went over for a swim but sadly it was a woman only eve, felt a bit conned. Still had a nice evening meal and some wine instead! Next day we visited Falkland and Falkland Palace, a very impressive castle. The Scots sure know how to do castles. It is also the home of real tennis, the very knowledgeable guide told us there had been a world championship there recently with the team from Ballarat , Vic, Aus represented. Blimey, we have been to Ballarat and it is the most unlikely setting for real tennis. *surprise*. It is still effectively owned by the Queen jointly with the NTS (Nat Trust for Scotland) and previously the kings of Scotland. We then left Fife and travelled into Angus staying at a lovely campsite in Carnoustie, you will need your satnav, it isn’t straight forward but Annie thought facilities wise it was the best we stayed in throughout Scotland, and it isn’t a Caravan club site. Having left there we went on through Arbroath & Montrose and visited a bird sanctuary /nature reserve in river basin with great views of Montrose. Never been in this area before but really nice, we would go back again. Whilst in the area we visited the famous House of Dun (NTS), it was owned by Lady Augusta FitzClarence, the illegitimate daughter of William IV (Queen Victoria’s dad) and his ‘actress’ mistress Mrs Johnson with whom he had 10 kids, she had over 20 in total with about 8 different partners, scandal, love it…. She never married any of them but apparently was great on the stage (or was that bed). The other things we remember were the last working damask linen handloom, big sequoias in the garden, the house had many doors that don’t open, they were just for symmetrical structure, each side was a mirror image of the other throughout, and joy of joy it had the best 1960’s stereo system I have ever seen, I want one. Mick Jagger bought the 1st apparently. It was then on into Aberdeenshire and Stonehaven which has a heated art deco pool plus we visited Dunnotair castle, are you getting it yet? castles and deep fried Mars bars with the odd Belhaven 80/- beer thrown in and a few lovely single malts and wine. Our ideal hols, hic! We avoided the city of Aberdeen as we had been there before when we went to the Shetland Isles. The onto the Feughside caravan park in Strachan Banchory Deeside, nice views, mostly a static caravan site though and a very nice pub / restaurant on the riverside less than 2 mins from the van. On this occasion we didn’t eat there however as we had fresh food to use but it looked lovely and many of the other ‘vanners’ were going there. Strachan pronounced “strawn” must be the origins of its sister town in Tasmania, Oz. The river Dee is lovely and looked like a heavily used fly- fishing area, trout apparently. Got up early the next day as much to see and big distances to travel. Visited Crathes castle & gardens nr Banchory and the craft village. There were many germans, dutch, french, italians with motorbikes, caravans & motorhomes and this repeated itself throughout our 2+ weeks in Scotland especially in the highlands, great to see! Crathes castle gardens had a floral tribute to the Queens 60th jubilee. By the time we had finished at Crathes it was getting on so I rang the Culloden Moor Caravan Club (CC) site to warn them we would be late. As long as you let them know you can arrive anytime up to 8pm in the eve. Then it was onto Cruden bay, fish & chips and Viking ships. Lovely quiet harbour and a beach to die for. Highly recommended! Then onto buller o’buchan just down the road. Similar to Pancake Rocks blow holes in NZ but not so dramatic and only one, maybe Scotland’s answer to Durdle Door in Dorset but with a wave pool. We did go thru / stop at Peterhead & Fraserburgh but not much to recommend them unless you are into industry and oil, sorry! Then turned the coastal corner into Banffshire – Macduff, don’t mention the Scottish play – did WillS really travel this far?,Banff with its own version of the Banff Springs hotel (haha – not surprisingly missing out slightly in the class / cost stakes, Then Morayshire including Portsoy,Cullen where Cullen skink comes from (a haddock soup) and thru Nairn onto Invernesshire for the 1st time this holiday. We stayed at Culloden Moor CC site for 2 days, nice setting and facilities, but v busy. From here we were able to visit Culloden Battlefield , one of the best historical presentations we have ever seen anywhere in the world and great use of technology to deliver the story. Well done them, do visit you will learn loads, we did. All about bonnie prince charlie,duke of Cumberland and what a disaster the dukes 25th b’day party was for the Jacobite clansmen. There long march and hoped for surprise (haha) just didn’t work and after 1 hour they had lost many many body. Interesting Charlie saw the writing on the wall and ran off after 10 mins (over the sea to Skye and never ever to return). The battle field is rather poignantly a war grave. In the afternoon we went in search of the Thane of Cawdor (oh no not the Scottish play again) by going to Cawdor castle, just down the road from the campsite, so all in all a great choice of site for the closeness of stuff to see nearby. The next day we called into Inverness to get fuel etc. but didn’t stay long as we have been there a few times in the past. Then it was up the A9, across the Cromarty bridge and into Rosshire, Alness (nice) and Invergordon (not so nice, oil platform restorations) there was a German cruise ship in presumably so they could visit Culloden etc., surely not Invergordon itself? Then onto Tain (brill) where there was diamond jubilee celebrations for the bank holiday including Capercaille playing for free, alas we couldn’t stay on as they weren’t playing until late in the evening but they are great and were on previously in Culross for £25. Had my 1st warmed scotch pie here *hungry* Then a visit to the Glenmorangie distillery where I bought a glass. Annie stayed in the van as she said no interest in whiskey. I bought 2 bottles of single malt whilst away, Old Pultenay & The Dalwhine, nice flavour both. Then it was onto Sutherland and many town / villages / hamlets the best of which was possibly Dornoch, nice old town and great architecture plus a good beach with the East Sutherland lifeboat station. There are also some nice lovely old towns at golspie,brora & helmsdale. Then we were into Caithness where we stayed at the Wick riverside site, quiet and cheap if somewhat antiquated facilities. The couple running it were very helpful. The SatNav guides you to the entrance under a railway bridge, watch out it is very low, We rang them and the guy came out and guided us round through the other entrance. Enjoyed our stay at the site. Found out that Caithness glass closed sadly 2006, became dartington crystal then closed in perth, may now be in crieff? Shame some great glass pieces were produced by them, real works of art! After visiting the Old Pultenay distillery in Wick (2012 whiskey of the year) and the old harbour and heritage area we set off for John o groats. There had been a fire on the heather moors the previous day that had shut the A99 but today it was open but the smoke, fire and smell still raged filling the van with an acrid stench that was fun to get rid of. We got great views of the Orkney & Stroma and did the usual tourist stuff but the craft area is not as active / busy as Landsend. We also visited Duncansby head and The Queen mums castle of Mey (v interesting) and stayed at Dunnet bay (view of dunnet head) caravan club site which has a great beach which we went for a walk on, we had it to ourselves and oh so sunny, best weather in the country. The next day onto Thurso & rain & shopping then to scrabster to revisit the ferry we used in 1987-ish for our holiday to the Orkneys when the boys were v young. Then on back into Sutherland again. Thru Coldbackie, Tongue & the youth hostel (Chris do you remember this, chores using a toothbrush before we could go to catch the one bus that left every 2nd Tuesday, Royal Mail with veg and livestock?) then round loch eriboll (wow – the best) single track with passing places and very busy then onto Sango sands campsite at Durness where we stayed for 2 days. It was windy, remote but brill views, loved it! On the 2nd day we drove down to the Durness quayside about 2 miles from site and went on a truly memorable trip to the great cape wrath (see pix – loved it) and came back to the craft village at balnakeil and visited its beach/ house/ cathedral ruins…. Walk to faraid head is rated as a must but we didn’t have time to do it so walked some of the beach, you need to be careful as families have been cut off here by the returning tide which circles round the back of the sand. Our Cape Wrath guide warned us of this. Then it was the roads to Ullapool, into Rosshire again and first Armaid and then to our Broomfield caravan park site next to Broom loch, conveniently places minutes from town and ferry terminal at Ullapool. Indeed the ferry runs past the campsite which I remember from when we went on it early 90s to Lewis & Harris. Would you believe it we couldn’t get a high tea in Ullapool although there appears to be a good Indian restaurant next to the campsite now! The next day it was the Wester ross coastline a real highlight including the Corrieshalloch gorge & suspension bridge, a lovely valley, little Gruinard beach, loch ewe (home of war time exercises),loch torridon, the brilliant Inverewe gardens nts, some of the best in Scotland based on location and plantsmanship. Then loch maree, the wonderful road to shieldaig, gairloch, loch carron and then into Skye & lochalsh. Here we saw a weird heather burn possibly that joined the smoke to the clouds, before reaching the famous road to the isles, which we have travelled many a time. Love it. We alighted at Dornie to see the most photographed Eilean doran castle, indeed Annie’s Canadian cousin Janet had this as her Facebook background pic. We stayed at Morvich CC site, very nice, for 1 night, superb beinn / mountains on all 4 sides. We left the next day to return to Fort Augustus (too touristy for us) and the wonderful Loch ness although not surprisingly Nessie was not “out to play” that day! From here it was to Fort William where the world Mountain bike champs were on that weekend at Beinn Nevis so very busy and wet *sigh*. We booked into Brumlee CC site at South Onich nearby for 2 nights overlooking Loch Linnhe. Great site great views great midges, don’t forget the spray folks! We were planning to go up Beinn Nevis on the Monday by cable car as never having been up there but sadly we had a big leak in the van overnight which mean the duvet acted as a wick and woke up wet. So rang the van people who asked us to bring it back. So sadly but sensibly we left early. Wouldn’t have been good if it had happened in Europe. We want it fixed before our next trips! So it was 400 miles back thru Argyll & Bute, loch leven , the truly wonderful glencoe, crianlarich, loch Lomond, trossachs, bypass Glasgow, Carlisle, M6 home… 6.5 hrs tired but ready to get the van into workshop the next day. UPDATE 15/6 they have found a seal leak around one of the windows so hopefully it will now be fixed. Currently undertaking serious soak test and leaving it out in heavy rain. Return to Menu SLIDESHOW 215 Photos available, go on you know you want to look , All on KeefH Web Designs You Tube ( utubeo) channel #majortrip #campsites #motorhometravelsblog #motorhome #fun #fab #weHEARTscotland Return to Menu TRAVEL BLOG ROUTE Here is roughly where we went, have a look, there are lots of other routes for our Scotland trips in our lovely Wendy house, you can see them all in the tick list here Return to Menu RETRO SCOTTISH TRAVELS Return to Menu AUDIOBOOK Return to Menu THE END

by keef & annie hellinger 15 April 2022, 9.51 a.m. A KeefH Web Designs Travel Blog Motorhome trip No 49 : 30th March – 14th April 2022 NOTTS->The North Coast 500 route and Isle of Mull with Friends, Scotland ->NOTTS 1633 miles Use the MENU #hintsandtips time suggestion do the NC500 clockwise, that way you are always on the coastal side in wester ross and Sutherland, which in our humble opinion are the best bits scenery wise, means on single track you are not crossing the road for your photo opportunities, just a suggestion, of course it is entirely up to you! MENU Calendar Maps Campsites we stayed at Diary Slideshows Video (The Talkies) Audio Diary Scottish Travel Blog Routes Retro Scottish Family Holidays Tags & Comments If you would like to see the associated Image Slideshow please click HERE , thanks Suggestion , use the side menu to go directly to Blog 177 Calendar Go to Menu Campsites Go to Menu Maps Go to Menu Diary Feel free to use the Audio Diary if you would prefer to just listen to the audiobook or combine it with a full slideshow HERE This trip was the repeat of the one we tried last year when sadly our Motorhome cambelt snapped near Birnam – Dunkeld off the A9 past the gulf garage and opposite the Erigmore Leisure park. See Blog 152 . This time we paid tribute to it as we passed but our lovely motorhome, which we had a full engine service on just before the trip passed with flying colours, up hills, and down dales or should it be glens. 😉 I had no ideal Birnam was so famous. The pretty village of Birnam lies 15 miles north of the city of Perth and sits opposite the twin town of Dunkeld, across the river Tay. The village is well known for featuring in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. You can visit Dunsinane Hill, to the south-east of the village, where the ancient Birnam Oak stands as the sole survivor of an attack by Malcolm III on Macbeth. Birnam is linked to Dunkeld by a seven-arched bridge built by Thomas Telford. The village is surrounded by lovely Perthshire countryside, especially the Hermitage, a beautiful, wooded gorge. The area inspired Beatrix Potter, who spent her childhood holidays here. She is celebrated in the Birnam Institute’s Beatrix Potter Exhibition & Garden. Anyhow to the trip. I suggest you read (or listen) to this in conjunction with the Calendar. Day 1 Having packed up the van beforehand we set off and drove the 250+ miles on the way up to Berwick Upon Tweed in Northumberland. The weather wasn’t great with rain and sleet to keep us company and lots of spray from the many lorries on the M1, M18 and A1, A1M. We stopped for lunch in the snow in Darlington. A place I had bad memories from my Boots days and EPOS of logging out prescription methadone to addicts BT and here is the good news it was actually a much nicer place than I remember. The chip shop we found was in a rather scruffy area but provided the best fish and chips I have ever had, Harry Ramsdens Leeds you are relegated. It had won northern chippie of the year 2020. Yummy. Having feasted we travelled on past where Chris’s rose cottage was in Detchant and beyond Lindisfarne to the Caravan and Motorhome club (C&MC) site at Berwick. We have stayed there before with friends. The icy winds made filling up with water not very nice, anyhow we were in for the night, warm, fed and bedded. Day2 A further 230+ miles today up to Grantown on Spey in the Cairngorms National Park. We left Berwick after a healthy breakfast, it was still incredibly cold and sleety. Packed up the van wearing my Icelandic hat and gloves, it seems they are essential on this trip, indeed overnight after the heating is off, I wore both a jumper and my hat nearly every night bar one, that will give you a measure of the cold temperatures for this trip. As an aside the motorhome Therma heater is amazing, warms the van in no time, either on electric when hooked up or gas for wild camping #hintsandtips So after Berwick we used the A1 up as far as Burnmouth having stopped for photos as we crossed the border into Scotland, touristy I know but you have just gotta do it, we then turned off onto the A1107 or the Eyemouth coastal path . We loved Eyemouth both the harbour and the town centre and beach. We had a look at each which you can see in the picture show. Having left this coastal loop we came back to the A1 and left again on the scenic coastal route, the A1087, to Dunbar. When Keef was a child living at 10 Lessar Clapham the Scottish family living upstairs where named Dunbar, not sure they came from there though, sadly mum can no longer tell me. #sigh It is worth noting we travelled passed the Belhaven brewery but didn’t stop. Dunbar Highstreet we stopped in, this also contains the birth place and museum of John Muir , OK confession time, I had to look him up as well #smile Naturalist and Preservationist, but big in Dunbar by all accounts, apologies to friends of John Muir. After our Dunbar visit, we re-joined the A1 bypassing Edinburgh as best we could and crossed the 4th road bridge at Queensferry, I remember in my 20’s South and North Queensferry having a ferry crossing available for the Firth of Forth, a very distant memory. It was then on through Fife and turning off to visit Loch Leven at the Kinross turnoff. We parked up for a walk, the sun came out and sadly so did a few early midges, out damn spot! Annie remembers visiting here with her parents and them taking the hire boat out on the loch to visit the castle prison where Mary Queen of Scots was held but Anne’s Mum freaking out when the motor cut out, suck memories not. We had a good look around a very nice spot. We then headed past Birnam turnoff where the van conked out last time and onto Blair Atholl, a lovely place, stopped near the heritage area with its wood carvings, old bridge and post office, a bit of sun and a few people picnicking. Irn Bru and fish suppers. Keef took pictures of the River Tilt. We then hit some snow, pretty strong through the Grampians and the Cairngorms National Park arriving at Aviemore a tourist mecca we had never been to before, quite liked the place, especially the Strathspey steam railway station and the views of the snow-covered Grampians Boy it was cold and snowy. We saw the train being readied for the season as we left Grantown the next day outside Aviemore. We then went onto our campsite at Grantown on Spey just outside the main town, a lovely site and a very helpful warden on his Golf buggy greeted us. Set up for the night, it then started snowing quite heavily, a little worrying. Kept the heating on for quite a bit. Had our usual day 2 lasagne and garlic bread supper with strawberry yoghurt pudding, delicious. Then to bed we start the NC 500 tomorrow snow allowing. Day 3 Nice and sunny this morning which meant the snow dump we had had overnight melted quickly. When we first work and drew back the roof light the snow – ice crystals that met us were fascinating to watch from the comfort of our beds as it melted. After breakfast we parked up in Grantown on Spey near the kilt shop and walked from one end of town to the other. What a lovely place it is, with some very interesting buildings and gardens. We liked it so much we have decided in the future we will come back to this area and probably stay at the same site. It is a Caravan and Motorhome club affiliated site which means a discount is applied when you show your club card #hintsandtips We took a drive out in search of the River Spey but could not find it so returned to Grantown and started heading off to Inverness to start the North Coast 500, allegedly 500 miles hence the name but from our Odometer a bit more that that at 550 miles and we left out the steep climb over to Applecross via the Bealach Na Ba Road (Battle of the Cattle). So glad we did miss this bit out as it was snowing and it said NO MOTORHOMES 😉 We did indeed cross the Spey on quite a few occasions on our route. We travelled to the City of Inverness, then Beauly to see the town, trees, priory and Shinty ground, must look up what that is, if interested look HERE. We passed the Glen of Ord distillery but did not go in. At Marybank Keef stopped to take both his first picture of the NC 500 road signage and the wonderful old metal school gate, quite a classic. After that we joined the main A835 through Contin past the Museum of Childhood (seen one of those in Sudbury Derbyshire so didn’t stop) onto Garve where we stopped for lunch overlooking the loch. We then turned off onto the A832 past Gorstan onto Achnasheen where we stopped in front of the remote railway station. This is the Kyle of Lochalsh line from Inverness so you can join up with a ferry to Skye. Less used now the road bridge to Skye is available but we have used the Arisaig ferry and Kyle of Lochalsh ones in the past. A little about Achnasheen which we loved, the air was so fresh, the views fantastic and the oakmoss on all the trees reflected the clear air. Achnasheen Train Station is a stop on the Kyle of Lochalsh Line, serving the small village of Achnasheen. Opened in 1870, it was an important connection point for freight, mail and passenger trains travelling from parts of Wester Ross to Inverness. Today, trains from Achnasheen train station connect the village to Inverness, which can be reached in less than 90 minutes. It is a stopping point mainly for tourists and walkers who wish to visit the village or explore the surrounding area. The original Achnasheen Hotel, built soon after the station, burned down in 1994 but accommodation for visitors can be found at the Ledgowan Lodge Hotel, which is located half a mile from the station. Four trains from each direction stop here daily on weekdays and Saturdays. Sundays have one train all year round and two during the summer. The two platforms at Achnasheen station are connected by a footbridge and both have small shelters and seats. After Achnasheen we travelled through Glen Carron and on the Wester Ross coastal route past loch carron , a lovely village, very touristy where we stopped and then again on the wonderful loch Kishorn, a sea loch for many a photo opportunity. Just past Ardarroch with sleet, snow and mist in full swing we came to the start of the Bealach Na Ba Road which said no Motorhome, its possibly the steepest road in the UK. Annie convinced Keef, quite rightly that we shouldn’t do it, friends have since told us its scary enough in a car, let alone a motorhome in snow, so a good call, Keef however would love to do it one day in a car, maybe in better weather and get across the steep hills up and down to Applecross. Anyhow we took the mucg flatter single track road across to Shieldaig through the forest. We had forgot that the Torridon hotel lauded by Susan Calman, and Giles and Monica was at Shieldaig, we knew we were on the lookout for this plush hotel on the NC500, keef promising Annie via a 2nd mortgage to buy her a high tea there, sadly it didn’t happen, maybe another time. After Shieldaig it was through the Glen Torridon onto Kinlochewe and the fab loch Maree which seems endless as a freshwater loch in an area of so many sea lochs. The weather was finally beginning to clear a little making the views even more spectacular. We then went on past Victoria falls arriving at Gairloch harbour now sadly in the rain and sleet. We stopped momentarily knowing we would return tomorrow, as it was now getting late we went out along the coast road to out Sands resort campsite at Big sands for the night. Not the greatest site facilities wise but the sand dunes and views were to die for. Day 4 A nice bright but cold morning, not that we knew it at the time, but potentially the best weather of the holiday maybe bar the last day on the way back at Bolton Abbey in the North York moors, anyhow after breakfast we drove back into Gairloch, filled with diesel and Keef bought a route 500 road sign, why not you may ask. Not the tourist tat that Susan Calman is so keen on however in my defense, ha-ha. We parked up in the estate walks car park, had a look at the river Kerry from the old bridge and then crossed back over the main road to the old fishing harbour which we walked all the way along via the fabulously named sit-oot-erie, with lovely spring bulbs. Keef went to the end of the pier talking to a few deep-sea fishermen on route, mostly lobster and mussels was their catch. We called in at the little harbourside shop to buy a few things on the way back to the motorhome, we absolutely love Gairloch, what a special place. Having left Gairloch we travelled back on the A832 through the very rocky area up to Poolewe. The next bit we have done before in reverse order as we travelled anti clockwise through parts of this area on our third trip in the motorhome back in 2012 Blog 38 . So we drove past Inverewe gardens which wasn’t open anyhow and stopped once again at the WW1 lookout over loch ewe. In the current climes we by passed the Russian Arctic Convoy museum, we would have done anyhow, way too boring. Tee-hee. It was then past little sea loch Broom and then stopping at Ullapool for lunch. We love Ullapool and all of Sutherland, but the huge Viking Venus cruise liner was in the port harbour ferrying lots of American tourists off the ship into port so with walking tours led by old men in kilts it was a little too busy for us, so we moved on into the somewhat more remote and relaxing Assynt . Stopping off at the old Ardvreck castle , Annie stayed in the van after reading the tourist info boards but Keef walked along the short path to the old 1490 castle, the home of the Macleod’s of Assynt. The area also had a fascinating Calda manor house c 1730 ruin with information stating it belonged t the MacKenzies of Assynt. Some of the clear reflection in loch broom were amazing and I hope I have captured that in some of my pictures. After the castle we left onto the A837 along the side of lock assynt through little Assynt and then down 5 miles at the start of the wee mad road to our campsite at Clachtoll beach, run by the amazingly helpful Tom and Andy, a glaswegian and a yorkshireman. What a nice campsite in such a nice area. They had a fire going so you could sit out under the stars, wet suits, and body boards to borrow, plus fire pits for your own BBQs. The only downside was the stupid female couple who blocked me in on entry to the site and I had to initiate a 10 point turn to get out of it in very narrow surroundings whilst they watched, grr, no effort to move or help at all oh plus despite saying we saw 2 cases of folks lighting fires on the ground when the owners clearly pointed out that that was a no-no and you could borrow their safe grates. How silly and disrespectful is that! In the eve we took a long walk down and along the beach via the boardwalks as the sun was beginning to set, just magical. Day 5 Not the greatest weather today. Packed up and left the Clachtoll beach site early which was a very sensible move considering the challenges of the Wee Mad Road . I saw a 30-foot-long trailer pulling a caravan combo which in my humble opinion was nuts. Luckily, he went in the opposite direction and did the 5 miles back so no obstacle for us. I also did not know it was a book by Jack & Barbara Maloney. Here is a simple synopsis of that book which says more than I could. Lovesick sheep, rumours of war, storms at sea, whisky galore - a midlife escape from an 'empty nest' in America to start afresh in the wilds of Scotland. When their children grow up and leave home, authors Jack and Barbara Maloney sell their house in a Midwest suburb and run off to the Highlands. Following a one-lane track called ''The Wee Mad Road,'' they discover an isolated remnant of traditional Gaelic culture, peopled by characters as unique and memorable as the surrounding mountains. The Maloney’s settle into an old stone cottage and spend two years in repeated collisions with quaint Highland ways. Entries from Barbara's diary detail the realities of village life, while Jack recounts tales of poachers, crofters, and lairds in one of mainland Britain's most scenic and isolated corners. The Wee Mad Road is a warm and witty account of two years in the Highlands, with illustrations of everyday life in the wildest reaches of the United Kingdom. It's a 'how to' book for anyone who dreams of escaping the doldrums of suburban midlife and starting over. We were looking for somewhere to get milk along the road. We stopped at the Drumbeg viewpoint overlooking Eddrachillis bay where we met a white-haired ex-hippie who was also doing the same route as us, indeed we saw him often on our travels, next popping up at Sango sands in Durness. We exchanged witticisms about how we were only doing the NC500 to find a rubbish bin, there were none at Clachtoll beach site where we had both been the night before. We thought we would walk to the shop in Drumbeg but the wind was so overpowering we got back in the van and drove there, only to find it was shut anyhow as it was Sunday. No worries we carried on round the very twisty steeply inclined (both directions) road, its name is not without cause, but we loved it, the remoteness and views are what the NC500 is all about in our humble opinion. Back on the main road A837 at Unapool we were able to make a little more progress, we stopped at the only open shop in Scourie to get milk. After that we went to Laxford Bridge, Rhiconish then the single-track road all the way across the “rock ridges” of upper Sutherland to Durness, where we had been before in 2012 when we visited Cape Wrath. Note the single-track road was a breeze after the Wee Mad Road, I can tell you. Much of this area is a route called the rock route with tourist info boards, I read a few but rocks are just not my thing unless forgive me it is reclassified as Rock music, now you are talking! Tee-hee We checked into Sango Sands site, one we have stayed at before, choosing a pitch on the cliff edge with fab views. It was raining , we had looked for diesel here in Durness but none was available. Luckily, we had enough to get mostly across the top of Scotland. The rest of the day and night was rain, sleet, snow and what I can only describe as near gale force winds that rocked the van for most of the evening and night, not the most relaxing, and indeed our second experience of horrendous winds at this campsite. As no one was in the office when we arrived and we certainly didn’t fancy walking anywhere the kind lady came to collect our fee at the door, which almost blew off when we opened it. Not sure we will return to Sango Sands ever again although our pals from Mull went there in Storm Dennis and were the only ones on the site, not surprising, but either brave or foolhardy , I wouldn’t. We had a quick chat with the young Belgian couple next to us who were touring in his converted Sprinter van, they needed some change from us to do their washing. I think with the worry we managed to sleep at least a bit but it wasn’t great, couldn’t wait to leave. Day 6 Up early couldn’t sleep because of the wind anyhow, it had lessened a bit, we drove over to the only amenities open all the ones near us were boarded up against the weather, not great really. The two good things they had done since last time we visited 10 years ago was set up many more level graveled pitches and a breakfast bar, not that we used it but the lady who took our money was thankfully tucking into a bacon butty. We reckon the reason so much of Scottish food is grease ladened is to shut out the cold, it’s a bit like covering yourself in fat to swim the channel. It reminds me of our deep-fried mars bar experience in Blog 131 . Didn't know that there was a memorial in Durness to John Lennon. Here is a write up about the Durness stuff , indeed In My Life off the Beatles rubber soul album, which he wrote was inspired by childhood stays at the croft in Durness. We are collecting visits to John Lennon Memorials as back in 2019 just off Reykjavik on Videy Island Yoko build the Imagine Peace Tower. (See BLOG 135 ) . We then went past Smoo Caves which we still haven’t seen, to the Robb Donn trail clearance village . Then it was around loch erribol on the single-track road onto tongue across the kyle of tongue causeway which was being repaired. The famous youth hostel Chris and I stayed at back in 1974 which was a posh yoof hostel by 2012 was sadly now closed, boo! At tongue we finally found some diesel and at £1.97 a litre I had no choice, I would have paid even more. Saw castle Varrich and quite a few more clearance villages before the long scenic drive through highlands Caithness to initially scrabster where we once caught the ferry to the Orkneys back in 1985. Then into Thurso and buying some much needed provisions in Lidl there, having lunch in their car park overlooking the bay before heading on through Dunnet-to-Dunnet head and visiting the lighthouse at the most northerly point in the UK past Brough. We then returned down the awfully maintained single track back into Dunnet and then onto the wonderful Caravan and motorhome club site at Dunnet bay where we stayed for 2 days. We set up camp and whilst the weather was reasonable walked down onto the beach via the boardwalk and walked quite a long way along, it is allegedly 2.5 miles long and when the wind is up makes a great surfing beach, lovely sands, but as the tide was coming in and the wind bitter, we turned around and returned to the van for some warming soup. Then it was time to read and relax, listening to the new Bryan Adams album so happy it hurts, just wonderful. Day 7 2nd day at Dunnet Bay campsite, not great weather in the morning, rained most of the time, a clear patch mid-afternoon gave Keef time to walk into Dunnet and visit the Gin distillery there as well as walk up to the turning for Dunnet head. The gin place was closed but I was able to look into see the process and some of the Gins they sold. I was also able to stroll around their gardens where there were lots of herbs I had never heard of which they used the flavour the gin. Hugely expensive the cheapest in the shop window seemed to be £57 a bottle, wow! By the time I had walked back it was raining again but at least I got a little exercise and some learning. The viewing platform at the other end of the beach was interesting at was the displays but school kids outside the cap site. The rest of the day was spent relaxing and reading. I am reading a historical novel about Katherine De Swynford, mistress and later wife of John of Gaunt, later on in the holiday this enable us to say that Allyson and Annie are distantly related. On the site there was an auto sleeper executive very similar to ours only somewhat older, just shows they keep going. Day 8 Left the fab Dunnet bay past the Queens Mums castle of Mey (which we visited in 2012) and travelled onto to John O’Groats hoping it had improved since our last visit 10 years ago. The brochures said the quaint village of John O’ Groats, on the way we stopped at Gills Bay where a ferry goes to both the near island of Stroma and St Margaret’s Hope on South Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands which we visited in 1985. The ferry is run by Pentland Firth, I need investigate whether it carries vehicles because the John O’Groats one is only passenger. It may be an alternative to Scrabster – Stromness when we return to the Orkneys which we are thinking of doing in Wendy house as well as the Shetlands assuming there are enough campsites. Sadly, John O’Groats is still a dump, and the new holiday pods look more like WW2 bunkers, note to self never go back again. This is what was in the Dunnet Bay Caravan and Motorhome Club site marketing leaflet, we looked for it honest but didn't find it, hugely disappointing. After John O’Groats we stopped near Keiss castle, went past the lovely Sinclair Bay and after that we travelled onto Wick to buy shortbread, Scottish products and visit Old Pulteney distillery to buy Doug a rare whiskey for his collection. In wick we even visited their old castle, not that wonderful. Then it was on down the A9 past Dunbeath castle, Helmsdale, Wolfstone and onto Dunrobin castle which we had not been to before. We spent a pleasant few hours there, in what seems like a French chateau, owned by successive Dukes & Duchesses of Sutherland, the earlier ones being responsible for the Highland clearances so not that popular. Loved the fact that one so rich built his own station nearby and ran steam trains to it, he was an engineer . I personally loved the old clocks of which there were plenty. The gardens were very formal, we took hundreds of pictures and tried to spot the falconry. The images were in case we decided to invest in some solid real estate, ha-ha. It was then back to the start of our NC500 trip and the Torvean campsite on the other side of the city of Inverness, by the Caledonian canal, a very overpriced campsite for what it was, we would never use it again preferring Grantown on Spey that isn’t that far away #hintsandtips Day 9 Filled the van water tank to about half, then we left for the lovely drive along the edge of Loch Ness, didn’t see Nessie but we stopped at Urquhart castle for a squint at the relic. We then stopped at the Commando monument mostly for the view of the mountains especially a snow-covered Ben Nevis. From here it was through a somewhat built-up Fort William, along the side of loch eil and stpooing for lunch just the other side of the Ballachulish bridge off the A82. From here we motored on to Oban , got some diesel did a bit of shopping and joined the ferry queue for our 4 pm departure to Mull and Craignure. Allyson had collected Chris from Oban hospital and was in lane 1 in the queue beside us. So great to meet up with our pals on the ferry. Chris was recovering from an op and as they were in a car went ahead of us who are somewhat slow in our van across the 34-ish miles of south Mull to their house in Ardtun near Bunnessan Days 10-13 lovely times with pals Chris & Allyson plus the Harveys whom we picked up from the ferry terminal in Chris’s car which I borrowed, besides friends time, escape room games, great food, chat, music - especially Skippernish - trad scottish with a hint of sea shanty, walk to Bunnessan, chic feeding , car practise to Fionnphort , seeing Iona at a distance , Annie and I first went there and to Mull in August 1976 before we were married, walks on Uisken beach, sitting on Peter Morris’s chair, walk to Ardalanish beach across the river and Dunes, near the Weavers we went to before, Annie visiting Monica from NZ with Allyson, venison and oh so many wonderful meals, they sure did look after us, just a great time spent wih pals, so loved it. Stopped for David to take this picture on the way from the Ferry to C&A's at Ardtun. Day 14 up early washed, packed and ready for the long drive back to Craignure to catch the ferry back to Oban, from there we drove via Inverary , Rest and be thankful, Loch Lomond, Fish and chip lunch in Dumbarton with its strange castle / prison riverside, The Erskine bridge and mass traffic around the outskirts of Glasgow back to the Strathclyde country park Caravan and motorhome club site we have stayed at often, a great stopping off point. Day 15 Back across the border into England today leaving Glasgow via the M74 right next door to the campsite, how convenient. Right down as far as the North York moors, pulling off the motorway past dales through Hawes, we stopped for lunch and a bit of shopping in Skipton, quite a busy place especially as the market was on, then it was onto Bolton abbey via Bolton bridge, through the low arch next to the Duke & Duchess of Devonshire plush estate and into Strid woods and the Cravan and motorhome club site named Bolton Abbey, used to be Strid Woods. Greeted by our pals Yvonne and Lawrence who are sole wardens there, had a fab evening meal and time with them catching up, we will see them again soon. Day 16 said our goodbyes and headed back through Harrogate, Weatherby, A1 , A1M to home and unpacking the van, a truly lovely holiday doing the NC500 and seeing friends. We both loved every moment of it. 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By keef and annie hellinger, Jan 13 2019 08:37AM Not the Motorhome trip No 11 : 10th December 2018 – 10th January 2019 A KeefH Web Designs Travel Blog NOTTS->Gatwick to Singapore to China to Singapore ->NOTTS 19,346 miles Spent Christmas and New Year with Doug , Phoenix & Charlie in Singapore and China. Wonderful times and so nice to be able to spend so long with them all. It should be noted that the concept of Motor homing in Singapore (not big enough, but tent camping is possible in East Coast Park) and China (just culturally so foreign to their nature) is unlikely but who is to say in the future whether or not it will happen. When our daughter-in-laws parents visited us in the UK way back when and I showed her father around our Wendy House he asked if English people lived in them. This trip allowed us the opportunity to repay the visit by spending time with them in their home town of Foshan, Guandong province, China and most welcome they made us too. It is fair to say that language is a barrier but Phoenix and Charlie (as interpreters) and a snazzy app on the iPad meant we could communicate just a little. We loved China, what an opportunity, not somewhere I suggest westerners try without some language skills and WeChatPay and Alipay or a whole stack of cash. Most purchases are via the aforesaid app via your phone! We were extremely lucky travelling with Norwegian from Gatwick to Changi that we got a Premier economy upgrade, the extra comfort and luxury made the 14+ hours journey to Singapore a whole lot better. Top films in my humble opinion – Hoover by Clint Eastwood (way out), Bad times at the El Grande (way back) We went to Balalaki Greek Taverna in the historic Tiong Bahru heritage area for Doug’s birthday, and very nice it was too, plus a revisit to Muddy Murphy’s for Xmas dinner, although a new venue this time at the other end of Orchard Road. We flew out to China the day after Boxing day and spent time in Foshan, Guangzhou and Zhuhai (on the border with Macao). Such an experience, loved every moment. We celebrated Annes’ 65th birthday there at a local village wedding and the Western New Year (clearly not Chinese New Year.. 2019 being the year of the Pig). We returned to Marine Terrace, Singapore on the 4th and made good use of the pool etc at Nora & Michaels at Cote D’Azur near Parkway Parade before sadly saying our good byes and returning home to a somewhat cooler UK. Singapore was 34c, China sometimes 3c and UK 6c Among the many highlights in Singapore apart from seeing family were the Q8 at SAM , Singapore Art Museum's spin off for new Artists (the old colonial art museum is currently closed for refurbishment for 3 years), this is located at Bras Basah, The Singapore Heritage Museum, Muddy Murphys in Orchard Road, The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum in Chinatown, Parkway Parade, the ever wonderful East Coast park, Cote D'azur pools, Tiong Bahru heritage area, Gardens by the bay, Asian civilisation museum, Cavenagh bridge area of the Singapore river and the Paranakan Museum and restaurant in Armenian Street. Among the many highlights of our time in China I would list shop and chop house establishments, Starry Four Seasons Hotel, Lingnan quarter, Lion dancing, old orange peel, turtle soup, Zumiao museum, firecrackers, Titian village family wedding, Annies 65th, Nanfeng ancient kiln, Ming & Qing pottery, the Canton or Pearl river, Guangzhou south station (so busy), High speed trains, Yuwenquan hot springs resort, Macao boat trip, MGM studios (Macao),Tea, Dim Sum, cantonese food, deep fried scorpion, gooses intestines, worms, beef knuckle, Hong kong-zhuhai-macao bridge, Cold and Warmth, Rickshaws, Paw-Paw & Gong-Gong, straw hats, Air B&B, Chen Clan academy, Starbucks, Guandong museum, Fans & western trade historically, Canton Tower, young chinese girls wanting their photo with me (what an ego boost ;) ), Buddha in many forms, chinese weighing scales, crocodile and goat, buttons and zips. Looking forward to the next family meet up, “missing you already” Longer term 2020 Beijing for 600th anniversary of the Forbidden city but hopefully also before then! To see more family fun, visit our FAMILY page here on the site #family #majortrip