The West Coast of Scotland Trip 2017. Dates booked.

[Ali and Gail]

PS

Cant wait to come back

[Gary Taylor]

It was great meeting up with everyone and a fantastic week just wish I could have had the second one but next time

this is what the club is all about friendships, adventures and memories 

haste ye back

[Ali and Gail]

HOME after 11 hours 10 minutes drive, knackered will write tomorrow, night night.

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

I am now home....got in at 9.20pm.

All but one hour in the rain.

I don't know how they do it in Kingsterland without screens and hoods....I was so pleased for mine today.

Ears are ringing but what a drive and well happy.

[Kingster]

1 minute ago, Geoffrey (Buttercup) - North Yorkshire AO said:

I don't know how they do it in Kingsterland without screens and hoods....I was so pleased for mine today  

We get very wet!

[windy]

Glad you liked Orkney. You go once then you are hooked on the place. If you want some tips for your next visit drop me a pm

[Ali and Gail]

1 hour ago, windy said:

Glad you liked Orkney. You go once then you are hooked on the place. If you want some tips for your next visit drop me a pm

I will indeed and thankyou.

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

4 hours ago, windy said:

Glad you liked Orkney. You go once then you are hooked on the place. If you want some tips for your next visit drop me a pm

That would be brilliant.

We have already discussed altering the route next year to spend more time on the islands.

What threw me though was the amount of ferries required and the expense if you want to take your car.

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

I thought I would post up a few posts of some of the places that we went and a bit of history about them, in case anyone was interested.

This is Corrieshalloch Gorge.

Its near Ullapool.

You stand on a suspension bridge that carries 6 people.

In one of the photographs you can see the bridge in the distance.

http://www.nts.org.uk/Visit/Corrieshalloch-Gorge

 

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

This this one of the Churchill Barriers on Orkney.

If you love history, especially naval history then you will love the Orkneys.

One thing about the barriers, there is no pedestrian footway for pedestrians to safely cross.

Also attached are a couple of pictures that show the visible block ships that where sunk.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churchill_Barriers

 

 

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

This is a clip from the ferry when going over Scapa Flow.

The water was like glass and in areas, the water "boiled" where the different currents met.

I was surprised at the lack of shipping and we basically had the whole of Scapa Flow to ourselves.

The second clip shows the raising of the German Fleet that was scuttled there.

The link will send you to a site that allows you to explore the remains wrecks and it is really interesting.

http://www.scapaflowwrecks.com

 

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

This is Ben Lawers Dam.

The roads up to the Dam from Fortingall are spectacular and as it says on the local school sign....."Twentys Plenty"....I am thinking of making that as our motto for next year.

As we where there, the waves appeared to be standing in the same spot and it was brilliant to see.

If you like walking, then you can do the "Horseshoe" in a good day and this is a ring of peaks that are just before the dam.

The road from Fortingall is really scenic and you get forestry, river and "nothingness" complete with rivers and waterfalls in one short trip.

For anyone who goes to the dam...The rough road at the bottom has been relaid with smooth tarmac.

 

http://www.killin.info/guide/lawers-dam/

 

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

These are the Balfour Coast Battery at Hoxa head.

There is also another set just a few minutes walk away and also another Battery across the bay.

The video shows a view from the first floor of the command tower and this is the level from where the searchlights where controlled from.

The Battery's did not ever fire in anger.

There is a local cafe but you have to book to even get a cup of tea as its so popular.

The three concrete slits in the concrete building are not for guns.They are for searchlight beams.

The link below details a lot of information.

https://canmore.org.uk/site/9622/south-ronaldsay-hoxa-head-balfour-battery

 

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

This is the Ring of Brodgar on Orkney.

When you visit, you can imagine all sorts of weird goings on.

I was amazed at the amount of graffiti carved into the stones but unfortunately the carvings don't show in the picture.

I would imagine that they didn't light many fires as it certainly exposed, and the views are magnificent.

 

And its all free.

http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/brodgar/

 

 

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

This is the Italian Chapel that was constructed by prisoners of war.

When you visit, your head will not get around, what the place actually is and what the various items are made from.

The paintings are amazing.

The setting out of everything must have taken hours....the blocks on the walls are all in perfect lines and ...well....everything is just perfect.

If you look in the stained glass windows, you can see names scratched in and we wondered if these where the names of the people who made the windows.

There is a charge of £3.00 with ample parking. 

I would suggest that you get there just before it opens as the place is really busy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Chapel