Highlands and Islands

Ive been to Scotland quite a lot, so its fair to say I like it. Many places are amazingly beautiful if your into the water/mountains + wild/rugged combo. You have the beaches of Arisaig and the Hebridies, the jagged skyline of Cullin ridge on Skye (not neighbours), the majesty of Torridon, or bleak expanse of the far far north. Personally i believe on a perfect day you would struggle to find anywhere in the world that could match it, be it some gippo country, the far-East, the Americas or Africa. Im not saying you shouldnt go to them (it keeps here quieter), or I wouldnt find something enjoyable to do. What i am saying is sometimes you can go a lot further for a lot less reward, to me it seems crazy to go half way around the world and not even know or appreciate whats on your own doorstep. The major flaw in all this however is the most British of subjects, the Weather. Yep, Scotland can be grim - 90% of the time its wind, rain, cloud, rain, snow, wind, and extra grey - with a few midges in summer. Get clear blue skies, sun, light breeze to keep the midges off and its a world beater - just dont bet on it if your going.

Anyway, picture is taken from the promenade at Rothesay, the only real town on the Isle of Bute. It shows the £8.5million Polish built ro-ro ferry, Mv Bute, heading back to the mainland for another boat load of holidaying Glaswegians. Caledonian Macbrayne run most ferry services on the Western coast of scotland, keeping the place alive. Last week the Queen hired the Hebridean princess for her 80th birthday, but this made me chuckle, when it seems someone got it mixed up with the modern Herbrides of cal-mac when they were organising it.

Enough ramble, here is the route of my trip:

Preston > M6> border > A75/6 > Wemyss Bay > ferry > Rothesay > ferry > Cowal pensiular > A886/8003 > ferry > Tarbet > A83 > Oban > ferry > Mull > ferry > Ardnamurchan > A861/830 > Arisaig > A830, A86, A9 > Fortrose (black isle) > A9, M9, M73, M74, M6 > Preston.