A weekend on Arran

 21-23 August 

The weather was perfect for the Over the Hill Club weekend at the National Trust hostel just outside Brodik on the Isle of Arran.

Claonaig to Lochranza ferry

The evenings were spent in the hostel with excellent meals organised by Issy on Friday, Fran and Allan on Saturday and Cath and Rob on Sunday. Thanks to you all and especially Issy for organising the whole weekend.

Lounge at the Hostel 

On Saturday morning I walked up Glen Rosa before turning up Garbh Allt towards Ben Nuis and the start of the horseshoe of hills around the glen.

Glen Rosa

I met Graham on top of the first Corbett, Beinn Tarsuin, which he had ascended from a different direction. Beinn Tarsuin was the only hill on this circuit that I hadn't climbed before. I had a look at climbing over A'Chir, a rocky section of the ridge before the next top, but decided that it was too technical for me so retraced my steps and took the bypass.

Interesting rock formation

I met Graham again and we stopped for lunch before he went to climb Caisteal Abhail and I continued on the ridge to Cir Mhor. I found out later that Graham slipped on his way down Caisteal Abhail and broke his arm. Luckily there were two people nearby who helped him off the hill and took him back to the hostel.

Looking back to A'Chir 

There is a steep rocky descent to The Saddle followed by an even steeper and rockier ascent to North Goat Fell. From there the ridge continues over or around some more awkward, rocky lumps before the final climb to the top of Goat Fell.

North Goat Fell and Goat Fell from The Saddle 

The first part of the descent is steep but it soon eases to a good path that goes back to the Hostel.

Goat Fell

The next day I drove round to Pirnmill to climb Mullach Buidhe and it's associated ridge. This would complete all the major hills on Arran.

First top along the ridge

This ridge was a much easier walk than yesterday, starting with a steady climb up to Beinn Bharrain. The ridge has three tops, Mullach Buidhe being the highest at 721m but the other two are almost the same height at 717 and 711 with relatively small drops between them.

Goat Fell from Mullach Buidhe 

The descent becomes quite steep as it drops off the end of the ridge to Coirein Lochain where there is a beautiful camp spot by the lake.

Coirein Lochain

Down to the road then for the short walk back to the car and the Lighthouse Restaurant at Pirnmill for Coffee and cake before driving back to Brodik for the final night at the hostel.

Looking back to Coirein Lochain

An excellent weekend that was enjoyed by everyone except perhaps Graham, who I hope recovers quickly.

Leaving Arran

Driving home 27-30/07/26

Stowmarket to Burghead

After a weekend of putting in the engine and curing a persistent oil leak I at last started on the journey home in the van that Sarah and Jamie had built up from a pile of parts over the last eight months.

About to leave Stowmarket 

They did an amazing job rebuilding it and it is now as good as it was when it came out of the factory in 1979.

Andy out for a walk 

I should have brought it home a few weeks ago but the gearbox wasn't behaving itself and had to be taken out to be reconditioned.

Evening tide in at Newport 

The first day was a trip to Bristol where I stayed with a school friend. The journey went well on motorways and other roads apart from a very slow section of the M25. There were some peculiar noises that I was slightly worried about but after investigations revealed nothing I realised that they were coming from the cooker and other useful bits in the interior of the van that I was taking home to build into it to make a full camper. For some reason I don't have any pictures for that day.

On the way to Aberystwyth 

Day two was a trip over the Severn bridge and on down the M4 past Swansea to Pembroke where I had lunch with another old school friend who had been rather ill but I'm happy to say that he has is recovering well.

Lancaster services (Forton)

On then over the Preseli hills to my brother's house near Cardigan where I exchanged a bed for the night for a nice meal in the pub in Newport.

The Queens 

The van was going well the next day, great driving on the little Welsh roads only holding a few people back until reaching the M6 and a steady 55 to 60mph run up the inside lane all the way to Carlisle.

Entering Scotland on the M74

I had previously stayed at The Queens outside Carlisle and noticed that they allowed band to use their car park overnight so I thought I would call in and ask.

More fuel

No problem, so I stayed the night near a T4 from Holland. Good food and nice people, I thoroughly recommend it.

Heading for Perth

The last day was a drive up the M6 to Scotland then M74 / M75 past Glasgow to Perth before taking the A9 to Aviemore.

Drumochter Pass

It was a really nice drive, not much traffic, a little light drizzle but the wind did pick up later in the day.

Dalwhinnie Distillery 

By the road to Dava

It was good to get home and see the van parked on the driveway. Now I just have to finish the interior.

950 miles 

25 mpg 🤗

Stockholm 21-23/07/26

Tourist stuff.

I had a sandwich of two bright sunny days with a wet one as filling between them.

New buildings

And old

The train arrived at Stockholm Central exactly on time but we didn't have to vacate until 06.15, time for breakfast in the dining car and a chat with the driver who was waiting to move the train to the cleaning area before going off duty.

Coffee shop

I walked to the hotel, which was about an hour and a half away, to leave my rucksack before returning to the centre on a commuter train.

Traditional boatbuilding 

Nice view when drinking coffee 

The public transport system is excellent. Trains, commuter trains, metro, trams, buses and ferries all accessed with a single 3 day pass that only cost about £25.

King Eric the something surveying a museum entrance 

At the waterfront 

The centre of the city was very busy but it is the height of the tourist season so only to be expected.

Commuter line sttion

Seagull feeling important on a statue outside Central Station 

It is a big city with a prosperous feel with it's wide streets and many shops and cafes. I was staying in what I can only describe as a business suburb with lots of new office buildings but even here it is as clean and tidy as the tourist spots.

Old bits between the new

Wide streets and trams

I wandered through the streets looking at architecture, shops, etc. until I reached the waterfront, not difficult here as Stockholm is built with waterways all round and through it.

Lots of open spaces

Metro station painted like a dungeon 

The waterfront is amazing, there are boats old and new of all types, shapes and sizes. It was even good when it was pouring with rain.

A passing squirrel 

The hotel area

The Vasa museum was excellent but very popular, I went early in the morning which seems to avoid some of the queues and congestion.

The Vasa

An unfortunate sailor from the Vasa

The ship and the conservation efforts are incredible but how on earth they thought that such an obviously unseaworthy vessel would survive is unbelievable.

The Vasa

Model of one of the Salme ships

Another museum, Stockholm is full of them, had an exhibition called "Vikings before the Vikings" which was about the Salme ship burials in Estonia. All fascinating stuff.

Stockholm waterfront 

I took a couple of ferry trips rather than pay extra for a tourist boat which was good way to explore the area.

One of the many ferries

Prices are high but not ridiculous and the shrimp sandwiches delicious.

Sailing in

It is the Baltic sea here but there are almost no tides and the water is only brackish which is why the timber wrecks can survive as there are no shipworms.

From the ferry

Lots of things to do and see, it wouldn't be difficult to spend at least a week here and there would still be plenty more to experience.

Coming back to the centre of Stockholm 

The new EU passport control measures held things up a bit but the airport was otherwise easy to negotiate with plenty of shops to waste money in.

Going home

The plane left on time and arrived half an hour early but things got back to normal on arrival.

Typical British Rail