travel advice: Scotland and Wales

Re Scotland: FWIW, it might be worthwhile heading north-west and hiring a car for a while. Whilst the rail routes described above are undoubtedly beautiful, the best sights are to be seen have no railways (Glen Coe; Skye; etc). Beware the midges!!!

Whatever you do, get here and see it before Alex Salmond screws it for us all.
Have a good holiday,
Niall
 
Another country in the UK is Cornwall, don't forget. As far as I'm aware, the Cornish Riviera Express still goes to Penzance -- and as it leaves England it crosses Isambard Kingdom Brunel's incredible bridge at Saltash Passage.

Send me a PM with your e-mail address and I'll send you a draft of the revised text for the UK entry in Motorcycle Touring in Europe for a general overview (don't worry, it covers more than motorcycling).

Cheers,

Roger
 
Niall Bell said:
Re Scotland: FWIW, it might be worthwhile heading north-west and hiring a car for a while. Whilst the rail routes described above are undoubtedly beautiful, the best sights are to be seen have no railways (Glen Coe; Skye; etc). Beware the midges!!!

Whatever you do, get here and see it before Alex Salmond screws it for us all.
Have a good holiday,
Niall
Click to expand...

Second the midges thing, August onwards industrial strength DEET and stay indoors dawn and dusk

“……….to be here in July you have the International Music Eisteddfod.” Or you could just shoot yourself...... there’s enough suffering in this world already 😀
 
Re the midges/DEET: a huge number of hill goers are now using Avon Skin So Soft. The most effective anti-midge agent I've ever tried. And it tastes and smells better than DEET etc.

Niall
 
Yep, evil stuff, 50% DEET will take the paint off a camera if you don’t wash your hands before picking it up. Not heard of the Avon stuff my wife reacts badly to the bites so has to be ultra careful
 
Well get in touch with the Avon Lady and get your wife the best outdoor present. Allegedly its anti-midge properties were 'discovered' during the filming of the Harry Potter movies- but not sure how apocrypha that is. Makes you smell like a girl, though and makes cameras greasy..

l
 
Niall Bell said:
Re Scotland: FWIW, it might be worthwhile heading north-west and hiring a car for a while. Whilst the rail routes described above are undoubtedly beautiful, the best sights are to be seen have no railways (Glen Coe; Skye; etc). Beware the midges!!!

Whatever you do, get here and see it before Alex Salmond screws it for us all.
Have a good holiday,
Niall
Click to expand...

Can I add ny own favourite area Torridon, thankfully still unspoiled, I can never forget sitting on a headland at Diabeg on a glorious evening with the sun going down watching a Humpback whale enjoying itself. In the silence its sounds were totally unreal.

BTW Niall Do you think Daphne Broon** and Alex Salmond were separated at birth, the resemblance in extraodinary.😱
** take too long to explain but those in Scotland and UK will know who I mean.
 
John,

Daphne Broon/Alex Salmond; PMSL. That's a classic! 😀 But seriously, have you ever seen them in the same room together? 😕

Niall,

Avon Skin So Soft is the dogs. I've used it for about five years. Still prefer a flamethrower though...
 
ColinW said:
John,

Daphne Broon/Alex Salmond; PMSL. That's a classic! 😀 But seriously, have you ever seen them in the same room together? 😕

Niall,

Avon Skin So Soft is the dogs. I've used it for about five years. Still prefer a flamethrower though...
Click to expand...

Ah I never thought of her being a transvestite!!😱
 
New information: my wife, the internet travel planning fiend, has suggested that we forgo Scotland and the rail pass, ss we don't spread ourselves too thin, time-wise and money-wise. Planning now just to see a small area of southern Wales: Tintern Abbey and Chepstow castle and locale.
 
FrankS said:
New information: my wife, the internet travel planning fiend, has suggested that we forgo Scotland and the rail pass, ss we don't spread ourselves too thin, time-wise and money-wise. Planning now just to see a small area of southern Wales: Tintern Abbey and Chepstow castle and locale.
Click to expand...
I think thats very wise, good excuse for further visits.😉
 
When I was going to the Lake Country and Scotland, I asked on another forum if I should take my Nikonos. The Scots, Picts, and the Brits thought that was really funny. I wouldn't worry too much about rain, I lived in Oregon and it is about the same.
 
I'm thinking the landscapes and castles would call for medium format. I've got a couple of folders, one for B+W and one for colour.

So, a windbreaker/rain jacket would be good to have, how about a sweater in the middle of July? Is it cool enough for one at times?
 
Well, I'll agree with that, but then everthing could possibly call for medium format.

This is a digital P&S from my trip:

4974204-md.jpg
 
You have had enough advice to cover three times your allotted time. For me, if you had more time, Glencoe and the Cuillin Hills of Skye afford some magificent, but bleak scenery. On the assumption that you will be going during the oxymoronically referenced period called Summer, I would recommend a light, but fully waterproof jacket, and a sweater. Enjoy!!
 
FrankS said:
So, a windbreaker/rain jacket would be good to have, how about a sweater in the middle of July? Is it cool enough for one at times?
Click to expand...

Yes, rain jacket would be good to have since the Haar will own you, and you'll never think you'll be warm again. 😉 I swear it's like walking through rain drops that just hang in midair.

I can't wait to go back. West Highland Way out of Milngavie was a ton of fun, although my feet still have memory of the bedrock. But the wind, the people, and the hope of good scotch with some characters at the end of the day made me forget my feet.

Oh yeah, don't forget to pre-visualize driving on the left for about a week before you go. Entering a traffic circle the wrong way can prove exciting!
 
Yammerman said:
I have to leap to Wales defence here as there is plenty to see in Wales….The Gower, St David’s, Offa’s Dyke, loads of Castles, Brecon Beacons, Anglesey, Ludlow, Pembrokeshire Llandudno and so much other stuff thats slipped my mind
Click to expand...
You may have some diffculty locating Ludlow in Wales - last time I went there it was firmly in Shropshire, England 😉
 
Bloody hell! Would you believe it. I decided to take my Nikon D80 with me to Scotland as I mentioned in this thread and here I am on my first day and realise I've left my battery charger behind. Off to Loch Lomond tomorrow. I knew I should've just brought my RF instead. Anyway I have got my Contax T2 with me and a few rolls of film so I'll have to use the dslr sparingly. Damn digital!
 
Sorry to hear that kuvvy. For some reason I tend to run out of batteries with my digi P+S more often and to greater inconvenience than I run out of film for my film cameras. Go figure.

So, how's the scenery up there?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom