Second trip with Claire

June 2023 – July 2025

Current

An open-ended adventure by Robyn Read more

Currently traveling

List of countries

France
Scotland
England
Australia

Categories

Around the world, Culture, Hiking, Sightseeing

20.6kkilometers traveled

Means of transport

Flight16.7kkilometers
Walking-kilometers
Hiking-kilometers
Bicycle-kilometers
Motorbike-kilometers
Tuk Tuk-kilometers
Car-kilometers
Train-kilometers
Bus-kilometers
Camper-kilometers
Caravan-kilometers
4x4-kilometers
Swimming-kilometers
Paddling/Rowing-kilometers
Motorboat-kilometers
Sailing-kilometers
Houseboat-kilometers
Ferry-kilometers
Cruise ship-kilometers
Horse-kilometers
Skiing-kilometers
Hitchhiking-kilometers
Cable car-kilometers
Helicopter-kilometers
Barefoot-kilometers

Oldest first

Footprints
Photos

Traveler Second trip with Claire
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 36
- Thursday, July 20, 2023
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- Scotland Fort William 56.812364, -5.11995256°48’45” N 5°7’12” W
Fort William
July 20, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
We managed to clock up 10 km by doing a loop back to Bridge of Orchy today catching a train to Fort William. Our room here is lovely; spacious, lovely gardens and a short walk to the centre of town. We are staying here two nights.

The weather so far has been kind to us; overcast but no rain. It is certainly not hot!Read more
0 likes
Traveler Second trip with Claire
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 35
- Wednesday, July 19, 2023
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 158 m
- Scotland Bridge of Orchy 56.51767, -4.76903856°31’4” N 4°46’9” W
Bridge of Orchy
July 19, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
A 22 km walk which was about as far as we want to go! The last 10 km or so were on a stoney path and mostly uphill so we were pretty tired when we arrived at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel. It’s what we have come to expect: quite comfortable but very overpriced with an esoteric and expensive menu. Wetherspoons where are you?!Read more
0 likes
Traveler Second trip with Claire
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 34
- Tuesday, July 18, 2023
- ☁️ 15 °C
- Altitude: 171 m
- Scotland River Fillan 56.392043, -4.61432556°23’31” N 4°36’52” W
Crianlarich
July 18, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
The first day of our MacsAdventure walk took us 15 km from Ardluin to Crianlarich along the banks of Loch Lomond (at least to start with). The walk was relatively easy with lovely views.

Our accommodation at the Craigbank Guesthouse is very comfortable.Read more
0 likes
Traveler Second trip with Claire
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 33
- Monday, July 17, 2023
- ☁️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 12 m
- Scotland Ardlui Railway Station 56.304012, -4.72056756°18’14” N 4°43’14” W
Ardlui
July 17, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Trained here from Glasgow. The hotel is beside Loch Lomond. Friendly staff, comfortable room. Rain when we got here but fine a little while later so we could go for a walk before dinner.

Most of the guests at the hotel are walkers like us, probably doing the same MacsAdventure walk, including one man from Australia.

We enjoyed a game of Scrabble at our table before dinner.Read more
0 likes
Traveler Second trip with Claire
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 32
- Sunday, July 16, 2023
- 🌬 16 °C
- Altitude: 28 m
- Scotland Glasgow Queen Street Railway Station 55.861882, -4.25442555°51’43” N 4°15’16” W
Glasgow
July 16, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 16 °C
It rained most of the way from Oban to Glasgow but was fine when we had to find our accommodation and return the car. Once again, Craig has found us a great place to stay. Not only is it in the middle of town and close to the station we need to leave from tomorrow, it is a fully-equipped apartment so we could eat in tonight.

The forecast looks OK for at least the next few days so here’s hoping we won’t get too wet. We bought John a proper raincoat, just in case.

All is still going well.Read more
0 likes
Traveler Second trip with Claire
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 31
- Saturday, July 15, 2023
- ☁️ 18 °C
- Altitude: 29 m
- Scotland Oban Bay 56.417947, -5.47177856°25’5” N 5°28’18” W
Mull, Staffa and Iona
July 15, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
We toured the islands of Mull, Staffa and Iona, which involved several ferry rides and a couple of coach trips. Although the weather started off a bit drizzly, most of the day was fine.

The islands are picturesque, rugged and steeped in history of clans fighting each other and religious groups usurping authority. Today, Iona, if not the other islands, are vey much influenced by an international Christian ecumenical movement.

We first took a coach trip through Mull, then went by boat to Staffa where we clambered over rocky paths to Fingal’s Cave.

On to Iona, we were able to do a fairly lengthy walk, taking in the sights including the 13th century nunnery, monastery and beach.

On the way back to Oban we enjoyed the company of a Dutch family plus a couple of young Scotsmen. It seems our planned walk should be good!Read more
0 likes
Traveler Second trip with Claire
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 30
- Friday, July 14, 2023
- 🌧 17 °C
- Altitude: 29 m
- Scotland Oban Bay 56.417951, -5.47178956°25’5” N 5°28’18” W
Oban
July 14, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
We drove from Kilmartin to Oban (50 km but took us nearly two hours because the road is so narrow) through very picturesque landscape alongside the Sound of Jura.

Just outside Kilmartin we stopped at the Castle of Carnasserie. Built in the 1530s it was where Bishop John Carswell wrote the Gaelic translation of the Book of Common Prayer. Although the castle was largely destroyed by the Royalists in 1685, there is still enough remaining to be able to walk to the third storey and to have a pretty good idea of the size and layout. Certainly gave a good view of the surrounding area.

Continuing on to Oban, we certainly enjoyed the scenery, if not the narrow roads. Signs “oncoming traffic in the middle of the road” are a bit disconcerting!

We found our accommodation quite easily, and although we were earlier than book-in time, as luck would have it, our landlord, George, was there to welcome us. This is the best accommodation yet: spacious, suitable for eating in or playing Scrabble, within walking distance of anywhere we want to go and it has a fridge!

After dropping our things, we walked around Oban, found where we need to check in for our trip to the islands tomorrow. Saw the Tower of McCaig’s (a folly??)

Bought provisions from Tesco’s then had a picnic in our room as it was raining quite heavily. Had a game of Scrabble of course!Read more
0 likes
Traveler Second trip with Claire
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 29
- Thursday, July 13, 2023
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 37 m
- Scotland Kilmartin 56.133019, -5.4853256°7’59” N 5°29’7” W
Kilmartin
July 13, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
We left Corrie, hoping to get in a couple of walks before getting the ferry across to the mainland. However, the weather was not in our favour so only managed one walk (to Machrie Moor where we saw some stone circles and standing stones).

We arrived at L? just as the ferry was about to depart for C. We realised that book-in at our next place, Killmartin Hotel, was 12:00 so that is where we headed.

By then the weather was fine, so after booking in in we did a 7 km walk (making 11 for the day). There are about 800 burial cairns and standing stones (about 5000 years old) within a 10 km radius of Kilmartin and we managed to see just a few. Like all of Britain, the area is steeped in history.

The Kilmartin Hotel is reasonably basic but much cheaper than Corrie, and the room is twice the size! And the staff actually friendly. And the price includes breakfast. And we have face washers and a top sheet. And windows that open. And biscuits (shortbread).Read more
0 likes
Traveler Second trip with Claire
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 28
- Wednesday, July 12, 2023
- ☁️ 16 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Scotland Sannox Bay 55.643261, -5.1391655°38’36” N 5°8’21” W
Day 2 on Arran
July 12, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
We got some maps from the VIC in Brodick, did a couple of walks (11 km all up), then drove across the island (16 km) back to Corrie.

Played Scrabble in the sitting room then had a picnic in our room. Claire would be proud!

The scenery is very pretty as are the few villages we drove through. Forestry and farming are the industries here, and of course tourism.Read more
0 likes
Traveler Second trip with Claire
- Show trip
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Share
- Day 27
- Tuesday, July 11, 2023
- 🌬 16 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- Scotland Sannox Bay 55.643257, -5.13915855°38’36” N 5°8’21” W
Isle of Arran
July 11, 2023 in Scotland ⋅ 🌬 16 °C
Although the day started fine, by the time we checked out of our hotel it was pouring so instead of walking to collect our hire care we had to take a taxi.

It took about an hour to drive to Ardrossan where we caught the ferry across to Arran. We were early for the ferry so walked around Ardrosan which is a fairly ordinary place. Ferry took about an hour; good views of the islands.

We’re staying two nights on Arran, in Corrie, which is a small town with basically amenities apart from the Corrie Hotel where we are staying. The room is one of the tiniest we’ve been in; we have to walk over our bags to get in and out of bed! Picnicking in is not an option tonight. The dinner menu is unimaginative and expensive. We do have a window which opens and which gives John a good view of the Firth of Clyde.

However, the area is very pretty and we had a good walk this afternoon.Read more
0 likes