Today I get up very early, and drive back towards Kilberry, arriving in good time to catch bus number 447. There are only 2 passengers. Myself and a sleepy-looking schoolgirl.
The bus driver seems surprised by my choice of destination – the turnoff to Ardpatrick. Yes, I know it’s the middle of nowhere.
It’s the last week of May, and I’m back in Scotland. Taking up a great deal of room in my car, and clanking ominously every time I turn a corner, is a monstrously heavy, folding bike. Continue reading
This morning I forget the bus doesn’t stop in the harbour area of Tarbert, but in a car park a little further up the road. Realising my mistake, I’m jogging along the road when I see the bus coming up behind me. Luckily, the driver notices my frantic signals, and waits at the stop until I got there.
He seems unnecessarily impatient when I climb on board, but later apologises. He is worried because two young Chinese-looking tourists are hoping to make the ferry crossing to Islay.
The bus drops me off, and I walk up the narrow lane from Tayinloan village, heading towards the ferry terminal.
There’s not much at the ferry port. A café, a small waiting area for vehicles, and a signboard giving details of the next sailing to the Isle of Gigha. Continue reading
It’s very early. In a village called Tayinloan, I wait with a bunch of schoolchildren for the Campbeltown bus to arrive. Luckily I’d researched the bus routes in advance, because this bus doesn’t go into Glenbarr village itself, but drops me off on the main road.
I catch the bus back to Machrihanish. It’s another bright and breezy Scottish morning.
I’ve definitely reached the top of this hill now. The path begins to go down, straight towards a group of trees.
It’s the last day of April. I catch the early bus from Machrihanish to Southend, a journey that involves one change and lasts nearly an hour.
It’s going to be a long walk today, and I’m feeling rather nervous. The official Kintyre Way website describes this section as “passing through wild and genuinely remote country where there is little shelter and no mobile phone signal”. Oh dear. Continue reading
So far the posts on this blog have mainly followed the linear sequence of my coastal trek, and I rarely repeat or try to ‘improve’ a walk… but, I simply couldn’t resist going back to Carradale. Why?
Firstly, it’s very beautiful. Here’s a photograph of the harbour, with Arran in the distance.
As I feared, from Polliwilline Bay there is no obvious path along the shore, nor along the neighbouring fields. But I’m reassured when I see footprints in the sand. Somebody must have come this way recently. Another coastal walker?
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Incident No: 1319Date: 14.08.26Site: 51.6221725, -2.5476959 Near Thornbury, South Gloucestershire1 cow, 1 walker, no dogDescription: “I was going to walk across the field, it was open with no warning signs. A cow was staring at me, I didn’t think much about it and just kept my distance. It took a few steps towards me so […]
ncident No: 1318Date: 13.10.26Site: Timberscombe Common, Timberscombe near Minehead, Somerset1 horse, 1 pony and rider. Group of cows. Sophie’s Report : “I was hacking my horse back along the bridleway across the centre of the common towards the village, when the cows saw me and charged at me. My horse and the pony I was […]
Report Number: 1315Date: 29/09/26Location: South Mundham at the bottom of Fisher Lane, West SussexGroup of black and white cattle, single walker with dog on lead Alice’s Report: “As I was walking on the path towards the exit of the field the cows were a fair distance from me. I have walked this route many times […]
