31st March 2024 - Loch Ness

It was a sad day. Today was our last day at our loch locky apartment and we were all a little sad. We took a family photo on the balcony before getting in the car where my dad said ’onto bigger and better things’… whatever that means.

The weather was stunning once more as we drove north up the west coast of Loch Ness. Our first stop - at around 11am - was at Urquhart Castle. It was downhill but there was a lift. Urquhart castle is a ruin which overlooks the loch. It can be explored and both mum and dad took it in turns to climb all over it taking a lot of photos. The weather was glorious and the loch looked beautiful. So beautiful mum and dad decided to do a boat trip once finished at the castle. I was excited!

We returned to the car and ate lunch before driving to the boat stop. For some unknown reason you couldn’t buy a ticket from a human and instead dad spent 10 minutes in the car purchasing tickets on their website. It was okay … we had time. As the boat pulled out we were at the front on our own. There was no breeze at all and I thought that I might get sunburned. The view was stunning with mountains on each side of the lock and blue skies. There was hardly anyone on the boat.

One hour in we arrived back at the ferry point at Urquhart castle. As we docked dad could see a huge line of passengers waiting to board. As the boat had turned we noticed that there would be quite a breeze for the return journey. We therefore went inside and got a seat in the warm, near a huge window, before a hundred people embarked. As the boat was busy, and the return journey was going to be the same as the journey going I decided to fall asleep. It wasn’t that easy. The commentary all the way through the trip had been interesting, but loud.

We made it back to our car 2 hours after leaving. We all got in and made the short trip to Inverness.

The hotel was very nice. It felt very old … very Scottish in the 1800s. The Kingsmills Hotel had a golf course and leisure complex attached. We didn’t stay long. We headed to the snow goose for Sunday lunch. Andy was our waiter and he was rushed off his feet. He forgot my garlic bread but came running back with it. The meal was delicious.

Due to the fact that the meal took a while, we got back rather late. It didn’t matter; what a day! I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

Toodle pip!

30th March 2024 - lazy days

I woke mum and dad up early. A bit of a mistake as the weather was awful. Mum and dad spent a good part of the morning deciding what to do. After a lot of weather searching, it was decided that Inverness was the best solution for the rain. I decided to take my time getting ready; meaning that it took 2 hours before we were locking our room door. This was actually good as the weather had changed dramatically and, so too did our plan. We headed towards Fort William instead .

We stopped in a place called Caol. Mum got a big white bag out of our boot and went into a launderette. Washing! On holiday! Actually it was good. We had to wait an hour therefore we went to the coop to buy lunch, before heading to the park to play on the swing.

With the washing done we drove back out towards mallaig. Though the weather so far today had been amazing, the clouds were starting to get darker and dad worried that we had missed the best of the weather while washing our clothes. It then started to rain. I therefore went to sleep.

We arrived at Glenfinnan and loch Shiel. Apparently the weather was awful therefore we drove on for 10 minutes and parked near a grave of someone called dumbledore. Mum and dad ate their coop lunch before paying their respects. I would have paid my respects too, but I was asleep. We then drove back to Glenfinnan.

The weather was much better when I awoke. We parked close to the Glenfinnan viaduct however we first went to Loch Shiel. It was here apparently that Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his banner and his army marched from here with London as its destination. Actually Bonnie Prince Charlie got to my home town, Derby, before going back home. I thought Derby’s nice! As we approached the edge of the loch, I could see sand followed by water. Memories of Cornwall came flooding back. I ran towards the edge of the waterfront only this time, I was stopped from getting my shoes covered with water by my dad. This made me sad.

We listened to someone play the bagpipes before we walked towards the viaduct. Dad went ahead and touched the viaduct whereas mum and I sat down close by. The weather was really hot and I didn’t need my coat.

With the time being 3:30pm we all headed back to fort William. After buying nappies at Aldi and dinner at M&S, we drove back to our apartment were we sat outside, on the balcony, looking at Loch Lochy and the mountains rising up behind it. The reflection in the water was lovely. There was also less snow on top of the peaks.

It was lovely sitting outside looking at the view however, it was getting very cold and I think mum and dad had forgotten about me. As time went on, I saw less of dad as he retreated inside his coat, woolly hat and gloves. Finally we all went inside for dinner, a bath and bed. I am sad to leave this area. I think we head off tomorrow but not too sure.

Toodle pip!

29th March 2024 - a long drive

Today dad had warned that we would be driving a lot today, however we were not packing up to leave. It therefore must be a long day trip. The weather was stunning. Best day so far. We left our apartment around 9:15am. Apparently 30 mins later than planned.

We stopped off at a cafe called ‘Jaggy thistle food stop’. It was in a lovely part of the world; just past loch Oich. Mum and dad had a big cooked breakfast and I had loads of toast. My mums breakfast came with something called haggis. Both mum and dad tried it but were not that enthusiastic about it so I didn’t. The man who served us was lovely and I gave him a high-five.

Once eaten we went back on our selves a little before turning. Using my internal compass I would say that we were heading west. The road dad was driving on had ‘road closed signs’ … but dad kept driving. At the first beautiful photo stop overlooking a lovely loch and mountain range, dad asked a couple who had driven from the west, about a possible road closure. Apparently the road was not closed. These signs were for a 10pm-6am closure. I hate it when signs are left out on the road!

We went through some stunning terrain until we reached a place called Eilean Donan Castle. Situated on a small island where three lochs meet, it looked stunning in this weather. Mum and dad both took it in turns to go inside. I had to wait outside however, the view was amazing. Both mum and dad reported that the castle was really interesting and I felt a little sad … but then I was given a biscuit!

We made a quick stop at a weird looking bakery designed around fairies. Dad said it seemed a bit ‘hippy’ therefore he bought the cheapest cake and left … hoping there weren’t any mushrooms in the cake. Why would a cake have mushrooms?

We then drove over a bridge onto our second Scottish island. The drive was a long one, but the view up to Uig on the Isle of Skye was epic. Huge mountains and lovely blue seas. The tops of the mountains were still snowy. After this we visited Dunvegan castle. We didn’t have long as it was late in the day. Once again mum and dad took it in turns to visit the castle before we quickly went around the gardens. We left with 3 mins to spare.

The drive back home was long. At first we had stunning sights however, after we had stopped at the Cluaine bar and kitchen for a lovely meal (well, mum and dads meals were lovely apparently. I only ate the chips of mine as I didn’t fancy the fish fingers) it was pitch black. Luckily the drive wasn’t that long back to our apartment. We got back around 9:30pm. We had been out for 12 hours!

Toodle pip

28th March 2024 - off to Hogwarts

The bed was really comfortable. I almost had a king sized bed to myself as I nearly pushed my dad off it. Still it wasn’t to be. I woke everyone up at the rather late time of 5:50am. Dad opened the curtains and loch lochy was in front of us. It was beautiful and the mountains were so clear on the other side of the loch. With the weather being so good I got ready quickly.

Once ready I was put in the car and off we went back to Fort William. This time, we could see the road and it was epic. There was a stop with a statue of some commandos. I didn’t know what it meant but dad said we will stop there sometime.

We were back in Fort William but this time, dad parked in the train station car park. £4 for 10 hours… we all agreed that it was a good price. The next train to Mallaig was in another 2 hours therefore we went into town to do some souvenir shopping. Mum got her Scotland jumper but, I couldn’t see dad with one. He wasn’t happy. They didn’t have his size in the colour he wanted. He did however get a lovely doughnut called a ‘99’. It was a normal doughnut with vanilla cream inside and a cadburys chocolate flake in the doughnuts whole. It looked delicious but dad didn’t share it with me. I’ll get him back on the train, I thought.

Today we were taking the train to Mallaig … but Mallaig wasn’t important, my dad said. Which confused me. The important thing was the journey. This train ride is considered one of the most beautiful in the UK. It passes over the Glenfinnan viaduct; made famous by a person called Harry Potter. Not sure who he is. As I didn’t get any doughnut I started to climb anything I could to annoy dad however, Dad did manage to see the view outside which was made up mountains, lochs and stunning heath. My mum and dad had a great time on the train. I really enjoyed it however, it was a little long.

Once in Mallaig it didn’t take long for me to realise that there was nothing here. There was a ferry port but that was it. I had two hours to kill before the return train arrived. I therefore went to sleep.

Once back on the train I was full of beans. Even better, this time we had a table therefore I climbed on that a lot. If anything the view was even better than this morning!

We made it back to Fort William around 5:15pm. I did not want to get off the train which annoyed mum. We left and headed to M&S to buy dinner before we drove on. Dad stopped on top of a mountain with a monument for some people called commandos. I didn’t know who they were but dad said they were very brave people. I therefore kept quiet as he took photos of the monument and the snow peaked mountains in the background.

We returned home for dinner. I hadn’t walked much today therefore I ran around our room before going to sleep.

Toodle pip!

27th March 2024 - beautiful driving

I had a lovely nights sleep. One of my best if I am not mistaken. Dad did not. The weather outside all night was terrible. Apparently it was windy and raining. Dad was worried about the ferry … so much so that we woke up at 6am, got ready and left for the port at 8:30am … 2 hours and 30 mins before sailing. As we arrived we were asked to get into ‘lane 2’. I was not surprised that we were the first car there.

Dad need not have worried. We were the first to board and we set sail on time. The journey was not as choppy as I and dad worried it would be. Dad stopped looking at his weather app.

Once back on the mainland the weather was much better. After stopping at McDonald’s we headed for Glasgow to take the A82 to Fort William… apparently. I choose now to have a little sleep.

Mistake! All night my dad said how amazing the scenery from the A82 was. Apparently mum and dad stopped over 10 times to take photos of the views. Locks, woods, snowy mountains, deer and marshland as far as the eye could see. Dad said it was like being on a different continent! And I had missed it.

Once I had woken up we were in a place called oinch. Dad had stopped at a set of houses called Arun houses’. Apparently 30 years ago my family had stayed there for a holiday.

We arrived in Fort William around 6pm. I was expecting … more from the name. The main shopping street was nice but that was it. We had a nice Chinese and then left. Mum fell over going back to the car. She hurt her knee but managed to walk on. We went to Morrisons for supplies and my nessy stuffed toy before driving 30mins north to Letter Findlay. Tonight we were staying in a converted house with a balcony overlooking the loch. The room was amazing. Another bunk bed with a ladder however, mum and dad blocked my access with a rocking chair. As it was dark the balcony will have to wait until tomorrow.

Toodle pip

26th March 2024 - whisky

Just like yesterday I decided to wake my parents up early. Apparently this was our last day and I guessed my dad wanted to make the most of it. My mum opened the curtain. The weather looked great; cold but dry. This should have been good news however, I could see that my dad was worried about tomorrow. He checked his weather app.

We took our time and got ready slowly. We went to the communal kitchen and had breakfast before we headed off. I heard yesterday that we were going to a distillery… whatever that was. Apparently Scotland has loads of them… and that was good. 

First of all though we stopped in Brodick for a walk along the coast. My mum and dad jumped out but I was more wary. It was freezing. It wasn’t raining; just windy. Eventually my parents forced me out of the car however, i wasn’t going to walk. I got in my push-chair and closed the roof to stop most of the wind. The walk was lovely. We went a long the coast before turning in-land and walking back to the car via the main road. Once back at the car we returned back to our hotel for lunch.

I was in trouble. For lunch we had hot bread, cheese, sausages and crisps. I spilt mum and dad’s expensive cheese on the floor leaving only three pieces for tea. I went to the car, sat in my seat and fell asleep.

This afternoon we went to Lagg distillery. I was still sleepy but I knew that It was a very impressive building however, once inside a horrible strong smell made me feel very lightheaded. Apparently it was whisky. Dad wanted to do a tour however, I wasn’t allowed in making it difficult. We therefore went to the shop and bought some whisky before reading a lot of signs on walls.

We then took the coastal road back to Bodick where mum and dad made the interesting decision of visiting the islands heritage centre. £5 each it cost to see 6 or 7 Arran buildings from the 1940s and further back. Though there was some interesting bits (during World War Two, Lamlash was used to practice beach assaults) it was a little expensive and I felt that the soft play from yesterday was better value.

With the wind picking up and it being 4pm there wasn’t much to do. We drove back to Lamlash where mum bought soup, pizza and crisps. We sat in the kitchen looking at the sea and island in front of the building. I had enjoyed the isle of Aaron. When I am bigger I want to come back again and do some serious walking.

Maybe in the summer though.

Dad is still checking his weather app.

Toodle pip!

25th March 2024 - Island driving

Aren’t mum and dad lucky! Not only did I go to bed late … I woke up early too! As the weather was terrible we stayed in our room watching TV. We then went downstairs for pancakes. We left the hotel around 10am. Dad checked his weather app again.

Today we were going to finish driving around the island. The isle of Arran is stunning. I loved our journeys along the coast and through the inland mountains. Sadly, probably due to waking up early, I couldn’t stop myself from sleeping. I was asleep for two hours having a lovely dream. In that time apparently mum and dad completed the circuit of the island and had stopped at a lovely perfume shop called Arran … and a cheese shop. We were now back at Bodrick.

We went to a couple of shops however the weather was terrible. We gave up shopping- which was good- and went to a cafe. Mum had fish and chips whereas dad had a wrap sandwich. Both shared their meal as normal and said both were nice. I had some chips and nachos.

The rain had stopped! Sadly mum and dad took this as a good sign to see the rest of Bodrick’s shops … but not before dad had checked his weather app again.

We visited a chocolate shop for some lovely locally produced chocolates. Dad also bought a hat. After this the weather turned for the worst. This was good as we ended up going to a soft play. This was the first time my dad had seen me at one of these therefore I decided to show him all my tricks … like trying to stand on a slide … I fell over.

All to soon two hours had passed. We went to coop to buy dinner and then back to the hotel to cook it. A girl from the Netherlands had just come off the ferry… which gave my dad some relief however, he still checked his weather app. We cooked dinner before heading to bed at 9pm … and I was still awake.

Maybe this holiday I will have very little sleep!

Toddle pip!