I have finally got around to updating the blog and telling you a little bit about our 6 week road trip to Scotland.

We had always meant to explore the Highlands, but the lure of the warmer weather in France always seemed to sway our minds and it was put off for another time. It has always been too easy for us to drive the 20 minutes down the M27 to Portsmouth and get onboard a Brittany Ferry. Once you are onboard your holiday has started and 6 hours later you are in France.

This year was different as COVID had put a stop to most travel plans in this country let alone going abroad. So early in the year, about March, we started to make plans for a road trip “Up North”. It’s just as well we (when I say we I mean Jane, Kevin and Val) planned the trip early as many of the campsites were beginning to fill up and in some cases our first choice sites were not available at all!

Grange-over-Sands in the Lake district was our first stop on the way up country to start our epic 6 week tour of Scotland. It was a long 7 hour drive, mainly motorways which was tiring more than stressful, and the hardest part of the journey was trying to find a parking spot at the motorway services for the car and caravan! A few badly parked white vans can make things very difficult when you are towing!

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I find a great way to relax after a long journey is to settle down with a locally produced pork pie and a packet of Walkers cheese and onion crisps. Grange-over Sands had one of the best pie shops that I had seen for many a day, so I was able to have a nice relaxing evening…… I think the wine also helped!

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We had decided on a couple of days break in the Lake District before continuing our journey and as there was a National Trust property nearby we decided to make a visit.

Sizergh is a beautiful medieval house with lovely gardens. The house was fully booked up so we were only able to see the gardens, which were thoroughly enjoyable!

Whilst walking along the prom in Grange-over-Sands we came across this deserted lido. It’s a shame to see it in such a sorry state, and there were signs outside telling us about the campaign to restore it to its former 1932 glory. It would be sad to see it go and I miss the old Southampton lido which my nan used to take me to during the long school holidays!

Nearly there……..

Look out Nicola Sturgeon we are here………..

Although Jane is not sure where she is………….

And that comment earned me a quick kick in the “Trossachs”

One thing to be aware of in June in Scotland……watch out for the “mozzies”. I was slightly offended when Jane said that she preferred this look!!!

Loch Lomond, our first campsite in Scotland…..

I initially thought that this dog was smoking a cigar but on closer inspection it was just carrying a stick!

When you see this street sign you automatically know what city you are in……….

Glasgow!

We had taken the drive from our campsite to the city centre on Kevin’s recommendation to the world famous tea rooms. As you can imagine it is always difficult to get me involved when there is something to do with food, and it was with great reluctance that I joined everyone for afternoon tea!

The Tea Rooms were designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and first opened in 1903, and the building is internationally recognised for its design significance and as one of the finest examples in the world of a complete Art Nouveau scheme………and the cakes are lovely!