Skye to Harris

At last met up with others in car queue ready for 6 pm ferry. Good crossing, fab fish and chips, Arrived Croft Cottage about 8.30. WOW-fantastic location across the bay and the cottage itself immaculate and very spacious and well equiped-palacial! First morning bright and dry. Did first walk about 5 miles - scenery breathtaking-beached amazing. Stat and Steve ventured into water wearing wet suits and did a bit of body boarding. Second day strted miserable, but cracked on regardless. Rewarded by sun ans blue skies for a fabulous 7 mile circuit that showed off the islands to their best. Very lucky with weather so far.

Oban

Long, but lovely drive to Oban on Thursday. Booked into camp site, and had bike around across to north of Oban along the coast, Saw first Otter! Met with Lara and Bethan for evening meal-very enjoyable night. Following morning set off again for Skye, stopping off at Plockton for an enjoyable walk and, of course, tea and scones. Arrived at Broadway, mizzling, but warm. Decided to stay camp site outside Portree, Quite blowy and wet. Planned a coastal circuit near to Uig for next morning.

Mull of Galloway

Went all way down to the mull point and had a guided tour of RSPB cliff tops. Weather fine and saw lots of gulls. Drove back to Port Patrick-absolutley beautiful horseshoe harbour. Got a camp site out of harbour overlooking bay and booked in couple of nights. Lovelu coastal walk doen into harbour. Did short evening walk along coast the other way. Next day got up early-misread clock and found ourselves on coastal circuit walk at 7 am! Very enjoyable 3-4 hours - ready for tea and scones at 11!. Meandered around harbour and had lovely supper at local pub that night. I had delicious fish soup. Folloing morning set off for Oban.

First 2 days

Set off pretty prompt Sunday morning and made great time-arrived first bird reserve after Gretna in time for a brilliant guided walk. They only do 3 a year across areas of the reserve usually out of bounds and it was magic. Disturbed 2 baby roe deer in the grass and spotted a peregrine rsting next to a cow- I spotted the white blob first! Highlight was a small pool with a new species of bugs- tadpole shrimps, from prehistoric times-look a bit like horseshoe crabs with tails. They were re-discovered in 2004. Apparently the eggs lie dormant in mud for decades until right amount of water and warmth and then hatch. Wandered around the coast until found camp site overlooking the bay-Sandybanks. Decided to stay two nights as was dry and warm. Following day up early, went to Loch Ken and Ken Dee reserve on bikes, Saw red squirells and red kites before rain came. Headed back to warm, dry coast and walked a local RSPB reseve. Moved on today towards the Mull of Galloway, warm, bit wet, but very pleasant.