Back to Glencoe and the Long Drive South
Woke up fairly early, had a bit of breakfast, packed up and we were on our way before 9.15am.
Aching a bit, but nothing too bad.
We headed back to Glencoe, not far at all, with the intention of walking around some of the impressive Three Sisters. We thought we’d beaten the crowds by arriving early, but no – the car park was already full.
We managed to squeeze onto a bank on the roadside, just about the last safe spot left. Not dangerous, and unlikely to get clipped, so we were happy enough with that.
Once sorted, we set off to find the “Secret Waterfall” – although, in typical fashion, we went the wrong way for about ten minutes before realising and turning back.
The weather was kind again, and it makes all the difference. The scenery was absolutely breath-taking – you can use every adjective you know and it still won’t describe what it feels like to be there, surrounded by hills towering above you.
It was good to get walking again, and both of us felt fitter and more energised than yesterday, which made the experience more enjoyable. We hiked up along a path beside a gorge, eventually reaching the waterfall, stopping regularly just to take it all in.
After about 45 minutes we turned back and returned to the car park for a drink before setting off in the van again, this time towards Oban on the west coast – billed as a stunning seaside town.
The drive took just over an hour but was enjoyable. Once there, we parked for a couple of hours, though in truth we didn’t need that long. Oban was fine – a fairly ordinary town rather than the breath-taking place we’d been led to expect. (Later, when I told Mum, she said exactly the same thing!) Still, it was nice enough to wander the shops, grab a coffee and buy a few presents before heading back on the road.
The next leg was a long one – down to Morecambe, a drive of just over five hours. Through Scotland it was lovely: hardly any traffic, next to lochs and mountains keeping us company, making it an absolute pleasure. The further south we travelled, though, the busier it became – and we noticed the change.
We rolled into Morecambe around 7.30pm, parked up by the sea and set off in search of fish and chips. Not easy, as most places were closing, but we eventually found one through Google – and what a find it was. We ate our food while watching the sunset, which was beautiful.
The tide went out for miles, and I couldn’t help but remember the tragedy of the Chinese cockle pickers who drowned here. Looking over that vast beach, it was easy to see how it could happen.
Morecambe itself struck me as a proper British seaside town – slightly faded but still full of character.
Afterwards, we pushed on to our campsite, just managing to arrive before dark. It was decent enough, though nothing compared to what we’d enjoyed by the loch. Still, nowhere was ever going to match that!
We’ve got efficient at getting set up now, and were sorted quickly before settling down for an early night.
A busy but rewarding day. Scotland has been fantastic – the walking, the scenery, the atmosphere – and we both feel there’s so much more to come back and see. This trip has only whetted the appetite. We need to make sure we organise another one.
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