[Thursday, 11th May 2023]
I wake up in the night to the sound of rain falling on the van, and it rains most of the morning – just drizzle – but a low mist surrounds the camp site and everything feels damp. No views to be seen.
So, I decide not to walk today, but make use of the laundry room and the washing machine. While waiting for the tumble dryer to be free, I get chatting with a lady cyclist who is doing some bike-trail from Inverness to John O’Groats. Her husband is supporting her with a car and a tent. Her cycling gear is wet from yesterday’s ride, but everything in the tent is damp too! Last night they were in Durness where it was very windy (surprise, surprise!).
Later, she and her husband come over to look at my camper van. He seems very keen, she is less so. “It is rather small,” she says, “compared to the tent.” But, they were both envious of my little fan heater. Yes, it’s another cold day today. Summer hasn’t reached Scotland yet. Brrrrr.
After a day of inaction, I can’t settle to sleep until 11pm. I’m full of optimism for tomorrow – all this rest should give me renewed energy, and the weather forecast is very good.
Ruth's Coastal Walk (UK) 
Happy New Year & Travels Ruth
Thank you Russell.
I don’t know how far you got last summer, but this map of Scottish paths might occasionally be handy:
https://ramblers-msp.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=cce6c804b7694ffea83408d7b637b4ab
Please let me know if the link doesn’t work for you and I’ll see if there’s an alternative way of posting it.
Hi Tony. I usually check the core paths map, which is similar to this one but I use a Scottish site to access it. Very useful, and thank you for posting this linke for others to use.
It’s; Dr Livingstone I presume!!!!
How are you, and a belated Happy new year to you!
Looking forward to getting more emails about your walking trips.
Me, I’ve been through a rough period last Autumn after an infection that caused Pericarditis.
Thankfully following a 10 night stay in Hospital with it, I’ve fully recovered and have resumed walking the coast again locally.
Hopefully, when the day’s get longer, I can once again hit the SW Coast path in North Devon.
Cheers for now!
Hi Philip, sorry to hear about your pericarditis. Must have been a painful and frightening experience. Glad you are recovered and hope you can start walking soon.
Thank you so much!
I was struck with severe chest pain whilst on my first day of a holiday to Tenerife.
Don’t ask me how I scaled the final ascent of Mt Teide the next day!
Nice to see a new post from you Ruth and a belated Happy New Year. I have to wonder what size of tent the other lady had if she thought your campervan was small in comparison – presumably they were staying at places without power otherwise a fan heater would have kept their things warm and dry.
Happy New Year to you too, Eunice. I bet you can’t wait for some nicer weather so we can all start travelling again. The cyclist lady had a huge tent – the sort you can stand up in and house your family – so I’m not suprised she thought my van was rather small.
My van is about the same size as yours but not converted – as long as everything I use is foldable or adaptable I can live quite happily in it for two or three days, any longer than that and I use the tent. That’s a 4-berth with enough headroom for someone 6ft tall to stand up straight, 2 bedrooms and a large living space.
Billy Connolly’s description of weather in Scotland
“There are 2 seasons, June and winter”
Glad to see another write up Ruth and hope you will be able to get back to the coast some time in 2024.
Here is hoping I can get back in the spring, Jon. I’m thinking of flying up to save the long flight and hiring a car. The next bit of coast actually has a 2hrly bus service!
Thanks so much Ruth. A belated Happy New Year from me too. Your van sounds like a little oasis!
It is. I was so glad of the heater. On my first night of this trip the temperature dropped to 3 degress. I really don’t like the cold!
Good to see another post Ruth. Happy walking in 2024.
My aim is to finish the English coast this year. The Wirral next week, then mainly North West Coast. Not sure whether to attempt Scotland next year.
Wow, Rita. You must be making great progress. Scotland is waiting for you… 🙂
I wonder what sort of tent they must have, if it makes your big blue campervan seem small… a bedouin sheik’s tent palace maybe? That’d be nice. Although if it’s wet inside I’d still prefer your van 😊
Can’t say I blame you keeping out of the rain. My most miserable sections along the coast have been on A roads or in the rain. Actually, both.
I am such a coward when it comes to rain. Yes, they had a big family-sized tent, I think mainly to keep the bikes safe and dry inside.