Author Archives: Michael

While we’re here in Glencoe we decide on a hike, to see as much of this magical place as we can in the short time we have. “The Lost Valley” (it’s always in the last place you look) sounded far too intriguing to pass up, so we take Nettle down the road a little way to where it branches off … Continue reading

Time always has a habit of sneaking up on us. Somehow, we’re almost out of time here in the UK: it’s hard to believe, but our two-year UK visa expires in just a few weeks. We’re going to head over to Europe, next, and we have a ferry booked from Hull. But first, we’ve an errand to run. Back when … Continue reading

With the success of our evening walk yesterday — having the entire place to ourselves, and walking during Golden Hour — we thought we’d do the same thing again for our next walk. Being in a motorhome and thus having the ability to stay anywhere gives us a huge advantage in getting to see places from a different perspective! We … Continue reading

“What’s that burning thing in the sky??!” Oh — it’s the sun. So it does still exist, then. We jump on the opportunity to do some sight-seeing unmolested by the elements in this rainy, cloudy land, and take off. It’s beautifully clear and sunny, a few delightfully fluffy clouds here and there. We set off back the way we’d come, … Continue reading

We spend a couple more days in Portree on some final errands, including getting Nettle’s annual MOT check sorted, then it’s time for a change of scene. We’re only headed to another caravan park — a cheaper one! — as we’ve still got some things to do before we’re ready to enter travel mode again. It’s been a windy week, … Continue reading

Having arrived after a quite dramatic introduction to Perthshire, we awake beside our very own loch to howling wind and rain (which kept Katherine up all night and dogged her dreams with visions of a flooding Nettle), and rather quickly our plans for a day-long hike dissolve. To be honest, I’m personally not so shattered at the idea of spending … Continue reading

An oft-abroad friend had waxed lyrical about a spot in the lower highlands called Loch Tay, and so it’s there to which we point our trusty steed as we leave the sheep-dotted fields and tidy urban sprawl of Edinburgh. The countryside rapidly increases in prettiness, as we pass by escarpments adorned with ancient-looking rocky buildings that might well have simply … Continue reading

Here’s what the Lonely Planet has to say about the hike up to the peak of Helvellyn: …the ridge narrows to about 2m in width and you’re on the jagged teeth of Striding Edge, with precipitous slopes on either side. You’ll need to use your hands in places and less experienced walkers may feel decidedly vulnerable. Our actual experience of … Continue reading

An early start (well, for us), and we drive into the little village of Ambleside, all cute slate cottages and outdoor gear shops. We park in the overnight motorhome parking area, whip up some sandwiches, dutifully put our wet weather gear in the pack despite the summery day unfolding outside, put our hiking boots on, and set out for the … Continue reading

We set out towards the Lake District, scooting around Manchester and then back amongst the emerald fields that are becoming so familiar. Some scouting ahead I did in Google Earth while sitting in a supermarket car park along the way revealed a few possibilities for wildcamping by Lake Windermere, so that’s where we are headed. The roads narrow, and soon … Continue reading

So far in this leg of our journey, we’ve planned to take things fairly easily. One of the surprises of the past year and a half has been the prominence that our projects has taken: Katherine’s art, and my software development. We both take great enjoyment in “working” — as much, and possibly more, than the actual travelling around. This … Continue reading