Returning from the Western Isles we stayed a night in a cabin on the shores of Loch Broom where in the morning we were lucky enough to see deer in the woods nearby.

Deciding to stay off the main roads we headed north east towards the coast. We travelled on narrow lanes past lochs and mountains and some quaint settlements. We also noticed hunting lodges and important looking estates along the way. Sheep wander anywhere on the roads and the delays can be long if a farmer decides to gather her flock and shepherd them through her gate as you come along. Just like in our lane in West Dorset, whenever a car or another vehicle comes towards you someone must find a passing space – often by backing up! It makes for slow progress.

When we reached the coast we joined part of the Northern 500.  Also known as Scotland’s Route 66 and adorned with replica route markers,  this is a marked tourist route that includes some of the best of Scotland’s north coast. Past crumbling castles, tiny seaside villages and grand mansions we made quicker time on a much better road to John O’Groats. We have now visited both Lands End and John O’Groats – the most northerly and southerly points in mainland Britain.

 

Aberdeen was our next stop. We weren’t particularly taken with the city.  It seemed very grey to us but perhaps another visit in warmer weather would present it in a better light. The nicest part was a long walk along the seafront before we left for Falkirk in the morning.

The Falkirk Wheel

Falkirk is a convenient stop between Edinburgh and Glasgow and we stayed three nights there exploring the surrounding area. The Falkirk Wheel was the main reason for our visit. As you already know Jim loves a lock and the Wheel is the biggest and most interesting around.

The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift which connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal.  When it opened in 2002 as one of the UK’s Millennium projects it reconnected the two canals for the first time since the 1930s. In those days it took almost all day to traverse the 11 locks joining the canals. Now it takes just 15 minutes for a boat and its passengers to be lifted 35 metres out of the lower canal and deposited in the canal at the top or brought back down. It was a great to be able to actually experience the process along with a short canal cruise.  The Visitor’s Centre is an interesting building from which you can watch the tourist boats and the canal traffic coming and going. You can also have scones with jam and cream – which, of course, we did!

The Falkirk Wheel is a phenomenal feat of engineering as well as a stunning addition to the landscape. It stands on its own as a piece of art combined with technology of the highest order of thinking and imagination.

There are many videos on YouTube that are well worth a look.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHO9gARac-w\

The Kelpies

Just a few miles away, standing next to the Clyde and Forth Canal are the impressive 30 metre high horse head sculptures called The Kelpies. Built in 2013, The Kelpies are mythical water horses and the figures also represent the role of horses in industry, agriculture and as tow horses on the canals. Sculptor Andy Scott designed The Kelpies with a steel structure and stainless steel cladding and each weighs 300 tonnes. They are designed to look as if they are emerging from the pool that surrounds them and are an awesome sight from the nearby freeway as well as from close-up.

Leaving Falkirk we turned south and back to England. Spending just one night on the way on a sheep farm in the Yorkshire Dales we reached home tired but, as always happy to be back at Nightingale Farm.

We have some exciting plans to share with you soon but right now we are looking forward to our daughter Rachael and Richard arriving very soon. We can’t wait to see them and to introduce them to West Dorset and Nightingale Farm.

Back soon…………..