Loch Na Keal, Isle of Mull

Late yesterday evening we joined the other campers to watch a peach of a sun lower in the sky. At the same time the wind direction swung to the north. Coats on everyone.

This morning the cold wind continued. Cooking outside was a challenge for John. But omelettes have to be made. 

Before packing up a young couple from New Zealand stopped to take a look at our set up. Awesome, did you hear that Muddy Marge, you're starting to become the centre of attention, which is fine except when we want to be on your way. A second couple from South Africa also wanted to give her the once over. The man all over her like a rash. We can see we are going to have to accept this attention will probably continue wherever we travel. Finally ready to set off we gave the South Africans a Muddy Marge car, (yes she has cards), so they could follow our blog.

Today we intended to visit some waterfalls. But driving on Mull is a long slow process, which goes with the territory.

There is of course photographs to take, and spotting a pretty stone bridge we knew it was one for the album.

Early afternoon we arrived at Loch Na Keal realising we'd parked up here overnight on our last visit to the island. We found the same spot, settled in and then took a walk out, spotting a ravens nest on a ledge amongst the boulders.

There'd be no visit to the waterfalls today. Oh well there's always tomorrow.

Tonight we spoke to another camper who showed us the nests of an Oyster Catcher (3 eggs), and a Plover (4 eggs). These are on the beach right in front of the vans, so we will now keep off the beach.

Yes Angela was cold, and wearing quite a few layers, she had not had a few Weetabix as her son suggested :)

Fidden Farm Campsite, Isle of Mull

What a beautiful stopover Uisken beach was. Could it be bettered? The morning metallic blue sky hung high above the grey green rocks that sat just off the shore. A group of kayakers glided silently by, the boats of red and orange barely causing a ripple in the water. Idyllic.

Today we would drive to Fidden Farm Campsite just a few miles away. A few miles away doesn't mean a few minutes away here on Mull. We arrived at lunchtime to find a busy site, but Muddy Marge being very capable she negotiated her way into a spot the other vans wouldn't try to access. Our neighbours are a nice couple from Yorkshire. Live in a town house as we do. Are selling up because of a neighbour's noisy dog. It's not just us then.

The views from our pitch are amazing, yes even better than Uisken beach. After us and our washing was clean we took a stroll on the beach and up the nearby lane. Everywhere there are iris's waiting to burst forth. A few yellow blooms are visible, but within the next week or so the area will be a riot of colour and look beautiful no doubt.

It is now a week since we left home, so tonight to mark the occasion we treated ourselves to delicious vegetable pizzas with pesto from the visiting pizza van. Angela is feeling a little better today, or she was until she discovered in the shower she had a tick embedded in her chest. Expertly removed by John with our tick remover hopefully all will be well. 

Good weather is forecast again tomorrow when we will drive around the coast towards Tobermory.

Uisken Beach, Isle of Mull

Let us tell you about our day. After a uncomfortable night Angela was struggling to breath this morning, so after seeking advice at the cafe where best to receive medical attention, we set of to nearby Craignure to the hospital. Half an hour after arriving she'd been issued with antibiotics and inhaler. 

Now on our way along the coast we decided to carry on to a small camping area overlooking Uisken beach. Ten pounds placed in the honesty box, and half a dozen eggs also bought we settled in.

Our route here took us through the mountains, moody in the grey light cast on them from the low cloud. A group of people gathered at the side of the road with binoculars strung around their necks and spotting scopes set up piqued our interest, so we parked up. High in the sky soared a pair of majestic golden eagles. One of them returned to the nest and we were able to observe it through one of the spotting scopes. 

This evening we will once again cook on the beach. John is in his element, living the dream. He has his axe, his wood, his fire. Unlike Lochbuie there are only three of us here, just how we like it.

The island of Iona is close by and tomorrow we will move to the campsite near to it. Angela has been told no climbing mountains for a few days, so we'll just enjoy some gentle strolls along the beautiful beaches, collecting firewood now doubt.

We sat on a bench to take a selfie on a bench set up to commemorate Peter & Binkie Norris who camped on this very beach from 1966 to 2016. We feel something in common with them, though our adventures cover a wider area. Selfie taken, we forwarded it as requested to Leo Norris, whom we could only assume was their son. Soon after a thankyou email was returned informing us we had been added to a file of 100's of others whom had sent a photo of themselves on the bench.

Lochbuie, Isle of Mull (day 2)

Around nine o'clock clock yesterday evening a lone sheep sauntered by, stopping to check us out. Yes, we've made our five pound donation. 

What a beautiful start to this morning.

A butter yellow sun warmed us and gave the chance to have an alfresco breakfast on the beach. We were glad we'd arrived here yesterday and able to secure a beautiful spot as the site is now becoming busier.

Feeling a little better, Angela was happy to walk around to the next bay, a sandy cove just past Moy castle. As we sat and watched the calm waters of the Atlantic kiss the volcanic sand. A man from Dumfrieshire stopped to chat. Coincidentally he lives just four miles from Caeverlock castle where we spent our first night in Scotland. Talking about Scottish tourism he informed us nobody involved in the tourist industry here was poor as they ripped off the visitors. Thanks for that information. Not sure it's true. 

By the time we returned to Muddy Marge for lunch Angela was tired. So she spent the afternoon reading whilst John scoured the rocks for suitable wood to purloin for tonight's open fire on which we will barbecue. 

We have decided we will probably stay here tomorrow night as well. Hopefully by Friday Angela will be feeling a lot better and we will move further around the island.

Lochbuie, Isle of Mull

The rain fell continuously through the night, and Angela coughed continuously through the night. It is now apparent that she has a chest infection. Plenty of fluids (no, not wine), and paracetamol.

It was late morning before we set off, having enjoyed very much The Red Squirrel Campsite. As we drove along the single track road down to the nearby village the mountains emerged from from behind their cloaks of grey, and a watery sunlight lit the road.

We were on our way. Leaving behind the whisky drinking Scottish men who full of merriment last night, sat miserably in their camp chairs this morning. Their slogan last night, I'd rather die happy' Well there you go.

A short ferry crossing took us to the Ardurmuchan peninsula. We just love it there and will spend some days at nearby Ardtoe after we leave Mull.

A narrow single track road wound it's way across the heath lands and hills. It really was a case of taking the slow road. To add to the twists and turns, sheep lingered on the verges, and snow white lambs skittish at our approach darted about. At Lochaline we boarded the afternoon ferry to the island of Mull, now we felt our holiday was really beginning.

Our destination was Lochbuie, where at the end of a challenging narrow road their is a small camping area near to the cafe. We stayed here in 2022 and vowed we would definitely return. This time being in the landrover, we've been able to secure a park up near to the cafe right by the shoreline. Muddy Marge as always is attracting attention of the male variety. What's she like!

Another wet evening, but thanks to our bat wing awning we were able to cook and sit outside. Late evening a pair of inquisitive seals came close by, and in the nearby woodland a cuckoo called. Perfect.