Ann and Roger travel: June 2021

Wednesday 30th June 2021

When we got up this morning it was quite rainy however as the day went on the weather improved. We visited Burghead Harbour hoping to fill up our freshwater tank but the tap there would have been very difficult to fix a hose to so we contented ourselves by emptying our toilet at the public conveniences next to this interesting building.

We moved on westwards first stopping to take on LPG, then to do a supermarket shop in Forres and finally to buy a folding step in Inverness. We turned north and crossed this impressive bridge onto the Black Isle.

We left the Black Isle heading north on this less impressive bridge. Shortly afterwards we stopped to take on water at a services area.

We stopped for the day at the town of Lairg in Sutherland. We met these lads who are cycling from Land End to John O'Groats to raise money for a hospice in Sunderland where they come from. We made them tea and coffee as our donation to their fundraising effort. You can follow their progress at: The Lads

We are parked in the public car park in Lairg. Here's the view from our van.

We went out for a meal at the Highland Hotel which is just round the corner from our parking place.

Ann had nut roast.

I had fish and chips - both very nice followed by cheese cake. Recommended.

Back at the van it was a really beautiful evening.

Here's our new folding step. It cost £4.99! I must get round to unscrewing and ditching the broken electric one. No point in carrying unnecessary extra weight.

At about 21.30 we finally closed the van door. It was still warm and sunny but the little midges were starting to become active!

Today we travelled 89 miles (143 kilometres). We are at: N58.02449 W4.40156

Lairg Street View

Tuesday 29th June 2021

Today dawned overcast. I visited the boarding school where my cousins had been students in the 1950s and 60s.

It's an impressive place. This is the main building. Prince Charles went to school here.

We moved on and stopped for the day at Burghead. Here's the view from our parking place.

I improvised a temporary replacement for our broken step.

There is an honesty box to raise funds for the upkeep of the area. We contributed £1.50. Not sure what would be an appropriate amount. There is the remains of a prehistoric fort here.

Some paddle boarders came by. We saw some dolphins but their jumps were much too quick to photograph.

As the day went on the weather improved. It was quite sunny at times.

This sightseeing trip came past. We watched England play Germany in the European Championships on TV. England 2 Germany 0 !!

Today we travelled 34 miles (55 kilometres). We are at: N57.70399 W3.49634

Burghead Street View

Monday 28th June 2021

This morning we travelled further west and stopped at the small town of Cullen. This place is famous in culinary circles as the birthplace of the famous smoked haddock soup called Cullen Skink.

We parked on a grassy area by the sea. Here's the view from our van.

There were lots of fishing boats about.

Nearby there is a pet cemetery.

Truly bizarre!

There are some other vans here.

We took a walk along a coastal track.

It has been a very nice warm sunny day.

We came back to our van along the cliff top where we could look down on Cullen Harbour.

Children were jumping off the harbour wall.

We could also see down to our parking place from the cliff top. Later on I walked into town hoping to sample the Cullen Skink but the cafe which had apparently won the world championship for cooking this delicacy was closed!

There was yet another late evening sunset.

Today we travelled 25 miles (40 kilometres). We are at N57.69420 W2.81904

Cullen Street View

Sunday 27th June 2021

This morning we started travelling west bypassing Fraserburgh and stopping at the village of Gardenstown. Here's the view out to sea from our parking place.