Day 6: Highland scenery & ferry to the Orkney Islands

Thursday 18th August - 2022

Day 6: Today, from the whitewashed Ullapool, we drove the far remote Northwest coast of the Scottish mainland - doing the North Coast 500. Taking in the incredible rugged coast and scenery on roads that were no wider than our coach at many stages.

What is the North Coast 500? The North Coast 500 (NC500) is named this way because it is around 500 miles long. In fact, it is an 830-kilometre (516-mile) long scenic route. This complete circuit winds its way along the coastline of the north Highlands.

It was launched and branded as the 'Scottish Route 66' in 2015 and has grown in popularity since. The route is dotted with historic sights, charming fishing villages, and whisky distilleries.

(Above) Travelling along the North Coast 500 - you can expect these kind of sights almost around every corner.

You can also expect an impressive natural backdrop to it all. The entire route is dotted with gold sand beaches awash with turquoise waters, heather-covered hills, and rocky cliffs with sweeping sea views.

Today, we traveled a distance of only 160 miles or 257 kms, actual driving time 5 1/2 hours which works out to be approximately 30 mph or 48 kms per hour, not too shabby under the conditions.

(Above) Gary concentrating behind the wheel of our brand new C·I·E coach that has only covered 22,000 miles or 35,500 kms almost brand new, hardly run in.

We rotate all the passenger seats every day on the coach and today it was my first opportunity to be up the front with the driver and what a day to snag the best seat in the house.

(Above) The 'North Coast 500' road is unique, as you can see by the way the motorcyclists are waiting for us in the passing bay.

The scenery on today’s North Coast 500 road (A838) was breathtaking, spectacular, rugged, expansive, exquisite, inspiring, awesome, challenging, all of the above plus some.

(Above) Arriving in the seaside coastal town of Durness

(Above) The coastal town of Durness has a strong connection to singer, songwriter and Beatles member, John Lennon. He spent his boyhood seaside holidays there. It is said that he wrote the song 'In My Life' about his early memories in Durness.

Earlier on in the morning the weather was very overcast, later on around midday the sun came out from behind the clouds & we enjoyed glorious weather for the rest of the journey right up until we arrived here at the Orkney Islands this evening.

(Above) A local family in the old style general store, once they knew l was an Aussie wanted to know if l wanted to go surfing with them at there local beach at Thurso where they regularly surf.

(Above) Some sections of the road are only as wide as out tour bus. Our driver Gary has to concentrate every inch of the way.

(Above) Our ferry, the MV Alfred, awaits us at the Gills Bay Ferry Terminal to transport our C·I·E Tour Group motorcoach to the Orkney Islands.

(Above) Our ferry, the MV Alfred, awaits us at the Gills Bay Ferry Terminal to transport our C·I·E Tour Group motorcoach to the Orkney Islands.

Ready for our 10km journey across the Pentland Firth from Gills Bay in Caithness on the northern tip of Great Britain to St Margaret’s Hope in South Ronaldsay, Orkney.

(Above) Our C·I·E Tour Group motorcoach onboard the Pentland ferry MV Alfred and headed for the Orkney Islands off the northern tip of the Scottish mainland.

It was a 1-hour ferry trip on enclosed waters of the Pentland Firth from Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope in South Ronaldsay, Orkney.

We spend two local nights at the Kirkwall Ayre Hotel on Orkney and we get a chance to explore around the main island tomorrow.

Warbo

Day 5: Inverewe Gardens and Ullapool

Wednesday 17th August - 2022

Day 5: Our fifth day on the road for us today. We are still in the western highlands of Scotland. Continuing our journey to northern Scotland, we departed our hotel, the Balmacara Hotel in Kyle this morning.

(Above) Coach outside Balmacara Hotel in Kyle before we hit the road this morning.

(Above) Looking towards the Isle of Skye from the restaurant while enjoying breakfast.

(Above) John (our Guide, the big fella on the right) & Gary our C·I·E Tour Group motorcoach driver loading all the punters suitcases onto the coach while we enjoyed breakfast inside the hotel.

(Above) What a gorgeous Scottish morning. Our coach preparing to leave the Balmacara Hotel in Kyle with the Isle of Skye visible across Loch Alsh in the background.

We made a stop into the Inverewe Gardens. A lochside garden amid a barren wilderness on the Atlantic coast in the North West Highlands.

This impressive garden was designed & built by Osgood Mackenzie, some of the mature specimen trees of pine, beech, eucalyptus and abies date back to garden founder Osgood Mackenzie's original 19th century plantings.

(Above) Inverewe Gardens. Rare species thrive in this heritage garden as the effects of the Gulf Stream meet the Highlands.

(Above) A layout map of the huge Inverewe Garden.

(Above) The wonderful name tag tree where l discovered the P. Warburton name tag.

(Above) Guess what l discovered hanging on the welcome tree as l entered the gardens? A tag with the name Mr. P. Warburton, my first cousin's name was Peter he has gone to heaven & l know that he never visited these gardens when he was alive.

(Above) Some of the garden flowers (yellow flowers in garden bed).

(Above) When I was sitting in the gardens having my lunch today this beautiful Red breasted Robin decided to join me & ate all my crumbs. He was so beautiful, he stayed with me within less than a metre, so tame.

(Above) The National Trust for Scotland plate. The garden and estate has been the property of the National Trust for Scotland since it was given to the Trust along with a generous endowment for its future upkeep by the founder's daughter Mairi Sawyer in 1952

The reason why these Inverewe Gardens survives is because here in this area it is a Micro Climate from the Gulf Stream with perfectly good air quality. Truly a natural wonder, because nothing needs to be nurtured especially in these very harsh conditions in the Scottish Highlands.

(Above) Our C·I·E Tour Group motorcoach at one of our many pit stops along the way.

(Above) Me watching on as they prepare the dog's life jacket before venturing out onto the freezing cold water of the Loch. Hope that you are all noticing the Blue Sky.

(Above) A dog going for a ride on a ski at one of our pit stops beside a Loch.

Our fifth day's journey will end at the Caledonian Hotel in the tiny port town of Ullapool this evening.

(Above) Our accommodation in the tiny port town of Ullapool for tonight, Night 5. The Caledonian Hotel.

(Above) Moored in Ullapool harbour, the 700-passenger cruise ship Azamara Quest. Ullapool has several cruise ships a week calling in here to western Scotland. Azamara Cruise lines is based in Miami, Florida and operates four cruise ship on worldwide itineraries.

The ferry terminal at Ullapool harbour runs a daily service to the Isle of Lewis. Routes south of Ullapool pass through Gairloch and Poolewe to Kyle of Lochalsh and the bridge to Skye. Ullapool is also the main terminus for the ferry to Stornoway.

That's it for Day 5 of 12 on the Scottish Highlands road.

Warbo

Day 4: Isle of Skye, Dunvegan Castle & Portree

Tuesday 16th August - 2022

Day 4: Our fourth day on the road we left the Scottish mainland at the Skye Crossing and headed across Loch Alsh to the Isle of Skye, where we had a tour of the remote Dunvegan Castle and then stopped for lunch in the island's largest settlement at Portree.

The Isle of Skye is the largest island of the Inner Hebrides group of islands, you access it by crossing the Skye Bridge or Skye Crossing from the Scottish mainland at Kyle of Lochalsh.

(Above) We stopped for lunch at the picturesque village of Portree, the biggest town on the island, where all the house are painted in bright colours.

Portree was chosen as one of the "20 most beautiful villages in the UK and Ireland" by Condé Nast Traveler, and is visited by many tourists each year.

(Above) On the Isle of Skye, we visited the Dunvegan Castle & Gardens which is remotely located 1-mile (1.6 km) to the north of Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, off the west coast of Scotland. It's present architectural form dates back to about 1840.

Dunvegan Castle is the oldest continuously inhabited Castle in Scotland. The castle is built on an elevated rock overlooking an inlet on the eastern shore of Loch Dunvegan, a sea loch.

(Above) A lone piper plays along the clifftops high above the Sea of the Hebrides on the Isle of Skye.

 

(Above) The McCleods Clan have occupied this Castle continually for 800-years.

Clan MacLeod ruled the wild, mountainous and very beautiful islands in the north western edge of Scotland - Skye, Lewis, Harris and Raasay. The clan descend from seafaring Norse Kings and its rich clan history stretches back over 800 years.

Check out this impressive family crest (Above) consisting of bull's head cabossed sable, horned Or, between two flags gules, staved at the first.

(Above) A waterfall flowing off the rugged cliffs into the open ocean on the Atlantic side of the Isle of Skye.

(Above) Our fearless C·I·E Tour Group Guide, John, pouring shots of 'Isle of Skye Liqueur' Drambuie on the bus.

(Above) The potent Scottish bus medicine

(Above) Flora Macdonald grave site on the Isle of Skye.

Flora MacDonald was a member of Clan Macdonald of Sleat, best known for helping Charles Edward Stuart evade government troops after the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. Her family generally backed the government during the 1745 Rising and MacDonald later claimed to have assisted Charles out of sympathy for his situation.

Arrested and held in the Tower of London, she was released under a general amnesty in June 1747. She later married Allan MacDonald and the couple emigrated to North Carolina in 1773.

Their support for the British government during the American War of Independence meant the loss of their American estates and they returned to Scotland, where she died in 1790.

Day 3: Loch Lomond, Fort William & Eilean Donan Castle

Monday 15th August - 2022

For our third day on the Scottish road, we are off to visit Loch Lomond, Glenco, considered one of Scotland’s most beautiful regions, we will travel through Fort William & visit romantic Eilean Donan Castle, spectacularly situated on an island at the meeting of three lochs & l wonder why l cannot sleep.

(Above) The “Squire” is shaking hands with our C·I·E Tour guide, John, with Loch Lomond providing a nice backdrop behind us. Look who is wearing that most 'traveled sweater' in the world.

We stopped for a quick pit stop on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, I took the 'high road'. Loch Lomond was breathtaking. The photos today sure are different to the rest of my photos taken for more than 81-days of beautiful weather here in the Britain. 

Eilean Donan Castle in the western Highlands of Scotland

Last night, after 81-days of being here in the UK l was woken up in my Glasgow Hotel room to the sound of thunderstorms & lightning followed by some rain. It had to happen. Enjoy the change of scenery.

The Eilean Donan Castle is surrounded by majestic scenery and situated right where three sea lochs meet. Its one of the most visited and important attractions in the Scottish Highlands. The Castle underwent a 20-year restoration and was re-opened in 1932. 

A lone piper at Eilean Donan Castle

I have to tell you all, the scenery here in the Scottish Highlands & Glens is truly spectacular as you can see in my photos even without the sun shining. You could just imagine what they would have turned out to be if the sun was shining.

On the bonnie banks of the 22-mile long Loch Lomond

The countryside that we drove through yesterday is renowned for it’s unsurpassed beauty. We drove through Glencoe, often considered one of Scotland’s most beautiful regions, traveled through Fort William (Harry Potter country) & finally finishing up at the romantic Eilean Donan Castle.

I was talking to Gary our driver over dinner last night, he said you haven’t seen any thing yet, so God only knows what we have ahead of us.

(Above) My good-self with one of Eilean Donan Castle's local tour guides.

We now have two days at the Balmacara Hotel near the Kyle of Lochalsh Highlands.

Cheers

Warbo

Day 2: Isle of Bute

Sunday 14th August - 2022

When we departed our Glasgow hotel this morning our destination was a visit the Isle of Bute. The island is located out in the Firth of Clyde, and is 33-miles from the Wemyss Bay ferry terminal, so we needed to travel out here via a CalMac ferry from the mainland, arriving into the principal town of Rothesay. 

The Isle of Bute's Mount Stuart House estate built in approximately 1877 

Let me tell you folks you just have to Google this place it is truly breathtaking, it has left me completely speechless, any photographer would be in their element here in Scotland, it is absolutely beautiful & to make things better the weather is unbelievable at 26°C.

This island contains some of the grandest Victorian buildings and glorious gardens anywhere in the UK. And believe it not, it is known for its remote and protected sandy beaches.

Photo overlooking the River Clyde from a little town called Lyle Hill.

We are sitting having lunch inside the island's striking 19th Century neo-gothic mansion, the Mount Stuart House estate. Built in approximately 1877 was once owned by the richest person in the world, the Marquis of Bute that made his fortune out of Welsh Coal.

This was the first house in the world to have an indoor swimming pool. Richard Attenborough once had his estate on this island. Henry 'Birdie' Bowers was on the Polar Party with explorer Scott on his fatal Terra Nova expedition to the Antarctic in 1911, also lived here on the island & perished with Scott on that ill-fated trip.

The rise of the Stuarts of Bute: 1300-1700. From 1900 to the present day.

The present head and heir of the Bute family is Johnny Bute, who after a successful career in motor racing, he was British Formula 3 Champion in 1984, drove in Formula 1 in the 1986 season (wait for this) & won the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1988. 

Johnny is taking Mount Stuart, the Bute Estate and the other family business interests forward into the 21st Century.

The marble in this joint is all from Italy the same source of supply that Michelangelo used in all his sculptures, just look at this stair case, & the roof over the marble stair case.

(Photo above) Check out their library, complete with a billboard sized wall hanging tapestry, the work is about 25-30 ft long, the intricate detail would blow your socks off.

I was talking to our Tour Guide, John, on the way over here this morning on the ferry.

I asked him about the weather that we can expect into the future, he said that maybe our tour will be one of the lucky one’s as far as the weather is concerned, he said that it should not be too bad. So keep your fingers crossed for us.

Our C·I·E Tour Group motorcoach at the Wemyss Bay, CalMac ferry terminal

We are not even 24-hours into this tour & already it has surpassed all my early expectations. There are thirty punters on the tour, six short of the maximum numbers, which makes it fantastic because we have so much more room on the Coach.

There are two other Aussie’s in the group, one lady from Adelaide & the other lady from Chipping Norton near Liverpool in Sydney. The other members on the tour are from Canada & America which I think is a great mix.

The ornate Wemyss Bay railway station is 26-miles from Glasgow Central

This evening we have a free evening to do what ever we want, then in the morning we head off to Lock Lomond for the next part of the tour.

Reception is very bad in this part of the world & John advises us that it will become worse the further north we travel.

The journey continues... next stop Loch Lomond.

Warbo