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Monday 1st June Day 11 Luss on Loch Lomond
After our pleasant stay at Gretna we left on Sunday morning for Loch Lomond. Another camper, who said they would wild camp, told us that Luss Campsite was very busy and a booking was needed. Oh, yes, how right he was! We booked and are thankful for that.
The drive, avoiding motorways was picturesque if a little slow. However, we had the time so all was well. We managed to call at such high spots as Kilmarnock and Glasgow, places not to be missed on any Scottish itinerary. It was a little windy, but no rain. Indeed Glasgow fairly basked in the afternoon sunshine and Loch Lomond looked delightful as we dropped down to its shores. The Clyde, however, looked rather less inviting, its surface ruffled up into some serious looking waves by the wind.
The campsite lies by the loch and in the sunshine it looked attractive and busy. The wardens were friendly if occasionally a little curt but as they are under pressure from some tourists demanding places I suppose it can add to the pressure.
Settled, we wandered down to the town/village. In reality it's a stop on the coach tourist routes and aims to extract as much cash as possible from as many as they can. Of course, it's all tartan hats and scarves, although surprisingly no Cameron tartan to be found anywhere. Apparently it sells out fast!!
Supper was a small piece of salmon. Earlier in the day we had tried to explain to a French couple in a Tesco super(?)store why there was so little fish on sale, none of it Scottish except some rather dubious looking smoked salmon.
As we sat enjoying our meal, accompanied by a glass of white Rioja, it began to rain. It had been promised for our drive northwards but failed to arrive. Now it was with us. And it went on raining, and at times it thundered on the roof alarmingly.
Monday dawned to a continuing rattle of rain, dark brooding clouds that hung about all morning. By midday it had stopped so we took another walk into town as any idea of cycling or golf had been washed away. A decent cup of coffee (we rejected the stall in the car park near the coach stop which was offering Nescafe) and a scone with cream and jam in a local 'Bistro' lightened the gloom before we wandered back to the camp site under darkening skies.
More rain, heavy and continuous followed for the next 4 hours. Large puddles appeared on the grass and the ducks began to swim in them. What a day and tomorrow offers but a little respite!
Travel News
After some carful thought we have changed our plans!
Our outline for the next few weeks is a follows. Of course, they may change!!
Wednesday 3rd June we are off to Braemar in the Cairngorms for 3 nights, hoping for better weather.
Saturday we head towards Aberdeen
Monday 8th we catch the ferry to Shetland as planned and we now think we will return to the mainline form Orkney on, or about, the 24th June.
We will spend 4 days somewhere on the north coast before heading to the Black Isle and Rosmarkie; apparently it has a golf course, whales and dolphins. We will probably stay there for 3 nights.
Next, via the Great Glen and the Lock Ness we will head for Fort William and Glencoe, staying there for about 2-4 nights. A possible side excursion to Oban, then we will head south and Dawlish.
The Open? Abandoned and I will watch it on TV. I was becoming more and more unhappy with our chosen campsite feeling he was packing people in and it would end up being uncomfortable.
But, however, watch this space; we may change our plans again!!
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