Farewell to Bonnie Scotland

After (eventually) leaving the garage in Inverness, my journey south took me via the Cairngorms where someone told me to visit the ‘green loch.’ The water really does look green and although the photo doesn’t show it, it was pouring with rain when I got there in the early evening. I continued up as far as Ryvoan Bothy, where unsurprisingly there were some weary and wet walkers seeking their shelter for the night. They were from France and had planned to walk the West Highland Way, but the weather and threat of the menacing midges had changed their plans. I don’t blame them!

I also discovered Pattack Falls, the Birks of Aberfeldy, Falkland Palace, East Lomond hill, Culross (where Outlander scenes were filmed) and Loch Leven with its RSPB reserve.

My overnight spots have sometimes been idyllic - under the canopy of trees in the forest with the sound of owls calling and the rain gently falling and, at other times, not so much - a posh hotel car park on the edge of Stirling, where although I slept well undisturbed, I did not expect a tour bus of Dutch folk to wheel their cases past my van first thing in the morning whilst I was munching my breakfast! 

My final day in Scotland today visiting Bannockburn for a dose of history and a final walk near Moffat, where the sun has decided to re-appear for the evening. Thank you Scotland, I shall be back!