Matt's Travel Blog

Scotland Part 4 – A Long Time to Get Home!

—

by

jadoon45

in

,

31st July – Last day

After having a nice long Sleep, it was time to have a look around Lochcarron, and Strome Castle was just down the road.

After this, I was going to Strathcarron, which is the next village over to get some food, but came across this. Someone had been going at quite a bit of speed and hit the side of a small stone bridge, please if you do come up to Scotland do be careful, especially if you aren’t familiar with your car or width of your car. If you rent a car or motorhome, please also be extremely careful as they might be wider than you are used too and driving safe if more important than getting there quickly.

So instead of the 2-hour detour that I would have had to take, I went back across the Bealach Na Ba to Applecross as I enjoyed the food at the inn last time and the weather was much better at the top.

Curving paved road beside rocky, grassy hills under heavy gray clouds on top of Applecross Pass.
Curving paved road beside rocky, grassy hills under heavy gray clouds on top of Applecross Pass.
View from the top of Applecross Pass over rugged hills under cloudy skies.
View from the top of Applecross Pass over rugged hills under cloudy skies.
Applecross Pass view of hills, water, and mountains beneath heavy cloud.
Applecross Pass view of hills, water, and mountains beneath heavy cloud.
Applecross Pass view with winding road, camper van, and cloudy highland scenery.
Applecross Pass view with winding road, camper van, and cloudy highland scenery.

When I got to the Applecross Inn, I was struggling to decide what to have as everything sounded delicious. After a little while I decided to have Haggis flambeed in Drambuie for my starter and a 10ox Scottish Sirloin Steak for my mains and both were delicious.

Plate of haggis with buttered oatcakes and a fork on the side.
Plate of haggis with buttered oatcakes and a fork on the side.
Steak served with fries, onion rings, mushrooms, grilled tomato, and dipping sauce.
Steak served with fries, onion rings, mushrooms, grilled tomato, and dipping sauce.

1st August – Heading Home!

The day after, it was time for the long drive home which I was aiming to do all in one day with a stop off at my cousins on the way back, but fate had a different idea as where the A82 and A85 meet at Tyndrum had been closed off due to a crash further down the road. The detour was going to take me back via Inveraray, but there had also been a crash there as well, so things were not looking good.

Roundabout in countryside with traffic, wildflowers, and forested hillside.
Roundabout in countryside with traffic, wildflowers, and forested hillside.

Instead, I booked a last-minute hotel at Connel near Oban, called the Oyster Inn, as there was no way I was even going to make it to see my cousins anytime soon, plus I was getting tired. The Oyster Inn was awesome and was well worth the £99 per night to stay there including breakfast the next day.

Balcony view of road, water, and anchored sailboats with hills in the distance.
Balcony view of road, water, and anchored sailboats with hills in the distance.
Neatly made hotel bed with white linens, grey throw, and folded towels.
Modern bathroom with glass shower, pedestal sink, and grey tiled walls.
Modern bathroom with glass shower, pedestal sink, and grey tiled walls.
Scottish breakfast plate with egg, bacon, sausage, black pudding, beans, potato scone, tomato, and haggis
Scottish breakfast plate with egg, bacon, sausage, black pudding, beans, potato scone, tomato, and haggis
Waterfront view with road, parked cars, boats, and hills under a partly cloudy sky.
Waterfront view with road, parked cars, boats, and hills under a partly cloudy sky.

2nd August – Heading Home, again???

The next day before setting off, I went to the Connel bridge, which used to be used as a railway bridge, but is now a single-track bridge with traffic lights at each end and was opened in 1903 (over 120 years ago).

Connel Bridge, a single‑lane metal truss bridge under cloudy skies
Connel Bridge, a single‑lane metal truss bridge under cloudy skies
Close‑up of Connel Bridge steelwork with 1903 maker’s plaque.
Close‑up of Connel Bridge steelwork with 1903 maker’s plaque.

The views from the bridge were amazing too.

View from Connel Bridge overlooking water, houses, and misty green hills.
View from Connel Bridge overlooking water, houses, and misty green hills.
View from Connel Bridge overlooking wide river, hills, and village under cloudy sky.
View from Connel Bridge overlooking wide river, hills, and village under cloudy sky.
View from Connel Bridge over calm water, houses, and green hills under cloudy sky.
View from Connel Bridge over calm water, houses, and green hills under cloudy sky.

After stopping off at my cousins on the way back, Cairn Lodge Services was my next destination, which is one of the sister services to Tebay Services, which is always busy and is a famous farm shop service station on the M6 in the lake district. I got some fish and chips and some sticky toffee pudding.

Plate of fish and chips with peas on a wooden table.
Plate of fish and chips with peas on a wooden table.
Sticky toffee pudding topped with warm toffee sauce on a white plate.
Sticky toffee pudding topped with warm toffee sauce on a white plate.

Unfortunately, it was getting late again, so I stopped off for the night at a place called Warrick Hall near Carlisle. It was a nice estate and included a really nice breakfast as well.

Cozy bedroom with floral headboard, loveseat, and tea set on a small table.
Cozy bedroom with floral headboard, loveseat, and tea set on a small table.
Small table by window with two chairs, suitcase, and bags in a cozy room.
Small table by window with two chairs, suitcase, and bags in a cozy room.
Bright bathroom with glass shower, white fixtures, and large window overlooking greenery.
Bright bathroom with glass shower, white fixtures, and large window overlooking greenery.
Modern bathroom with beige tiles, white bathtub, and pendant lights.
Modern bathroom with beige tiles, white bathtub, and pendant lights.
Warrick Hall, a large historic stone building with parked cars in front.
Warrick Hall, a large historic stone building with parked cars in front.
Elegant foyer with columns, red rug, and curved staircase.
Elegant foyer with columns, red rug, and curved staircase.

3rd August – Getting Home, finally!!!

The next morning, I woke up, had breakfast, wondered around the estate and then made my final part of the journey down to my home.

Plate with English breakfast of eggs, beans, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, and tomato.
Plate with English breakfast of eggs, beans, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, and tomato.
Formal garden at Warrick Hall with hedges, statues, and a paved walkway.
Formal garden at Warrick Hall with hedges, statues, and a paved walkway.
Riverside view at Warrick Hall with stone steps, planters, and grazing sheep across the water.
Riverside view at Warrick Hall with stone steps, planters, and grazing sheep across the water.
Tree‑lined driveway at Warrick Hall with shrubs and a building in the distance.
Tree‑lined driveway at Warrick Hall with shrubs and a building in the distance.

I stopped off at Tebay services to get something to eat as well and then left and finally make it home after a while.

Entrance of Tebay Services with timber roof, stone pillars, and people entering.
Entrance of Tebay Services with timber roof, stone pillars, and people entering.

I plan to come back to Scotland again, after passing my motorbike licence and going round the NC500 in 2027, but next on the agenda is a trip back to Japan.

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.