Scotland, a World Tour 2020

In 2020, COVID-19 forced us to postpone our planned European tour because of the difficulties traversing eight countries to get to Rhodes. We decided to do a World Tour of Scotland instead, not the places we have already visited, more the places people tend to miss, with the exception of the Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel which happened to be on my bucket list.

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Our Route

The Peak District to Lindisfarne – our journey to Lindisfarne took us past the twisted spire of Chesterfield parish church for an overnight pubstop at Ladybower Lake and a leisurely walk before a splendid meal, the cost of which included our overnight stay in their car park with views over the lake. The second hop took us to Bamburgh Castle which, unfortunately, we could not visit due to COVID restrictions, so instead we took a bracing walk along the beach to Seahouses watchful for the elusive seals. Lindisfarne was also restricted access only, but the tide being out did mean that we could drive across the causeway at least.   

The Kelpies to the Mull of Galloway – the Kelpies and Falkirk Wheel were on my bucket list, so we had to call in to have a look especially as we could overnight there. Both are incredible pieces of engineering, the one honouring the mythical water horses said to inhabit Scottish lochs and rivers, the other, a rotary barge lift as a modern equivalent to lock gates. We were hoping to go kayaking again on Loch Lomond, but the weather was more suited to walking, and we had fun exploring Conic Hill and the surrounding area. We had heard great things of Galloway, and as, like most people, we tend to usually drive past on our way to the highlands, we thought that we would spend some time getting to know it. It did not disappoint.

Lake Coniston – another attempt to get the kayak on the water on the final leg home, thwarted by blustery weather which resulted in a fun trip in a hire boat.