Near Kildonan, Isle of Arran

Last night's stop in the woods made a nice change. Nearby someone had placed a small card on the Forestry notice board which read, thank you for looking after nature, beauty and history'.  It's our pleasure. A Scottish man who'd also walked down to the Kings Cave couldn't understand why we wanted it to be warmer, he thought it was warm, and said, he was 'roasting'. 

First job this morning, showers. John had contacted a nearby campsite who were quite happy for us to use their facilities at a cost of four pounds each. Perfect. And we were able to top up our drinking water as well.

Then on to today's destination, Eas Mor waterfall. The drive there was a little challenging. The roads here are narrow with lots of up hill and down dale and a few hair pin bends thrown in for a little more excitement. Our main reason for visiting this area was to visit the 'library in the woods'.

The walk to and from it was magical, through vibrant green ferns, past slippery rocks green with algae over which peaty water tumbled and layers of geology dating back thousands of years towered.

The little library hidden in the woods is full of visitors creations and books. We added to the messages by leaving one from Angela for her mum, and one from John on behalf of his daughter for her grandad. Despite a little drizzle we decided to take the long walk back to the car park walking up steep inclines past wooden sculptures and fallen trees.

Our reward for completing the walk, coffee and cake at the cafe, the interior stunning, with amazing woodwork a feature on the walls and five star toilets. Talking of toilets.

Out in the woods around a large fire pit, where a few nights ago a large party took place to welcome in the summer solstice there was a composting toilet. Thankfully our little Boxio compost loo doesn't look like that one!!

Kings Cave Forestry Car Park, Isle of Arran

Yesterday evening the weather was beautiful. How long had we waited? And a sunset, the sky slowly turning pink, purple and then grey. The silhouettes of the wind turbines back on the mainland visible in the changing light.

This morning it was situation normal. Rain. We know in England you are experiencing glorious warm sunny weather. Don't complain it's too hot!

Today we wanted to visit both the standing stones on Machrie Moor and the Kings Cave on the nearby coast. The car park at the standing stones soon filled up. We were a little taken back at how many visitors there were. We've become used to being very much alone when we visit anywhere. Whilst there, a lady pointed out a Golden Ringed dragonfly devouring a bumble bee behind one of the stones.

 Astonishing. We'd never seen this before, never imagined that bees would be on the menu for this flying insect. The stones were fascinating, and the views along the path superb. Back at the parking area a family of Americans were readying to set off. The mother telling the children excitingly that 'they we're going to get to walk with sheep in a field'. Something we've done almost every day since arriving in Scotland. The sheep own the land in these parts.

Next stop the Kings Cave a mile away. Another long circular walk beginning with a steep climb up through the pine trees emerging to sweeping mountain and far teaching coastal views, before a descent down to a Stony Beach. The King Cave is one among many caves. It is where Robert Bruce supposedly hid and watched a spider spin a web, failing many times, but after much persistence completing it. It inspired him to return to fight and defeat the English at the battle of Bannockburn. The caves now, home to many piles of stacked rocks left by the visitors. Many years ago they were an ideal place for smugglers to store their bounty, and we could see why, they're huge. The walk back up from the shore was difficult. John held onto Angela advising her not to look left. She didn't. 

Arran is described as Scotland in miniature, and today we could see why. Stunning mountain and coastal views. Walks over moorland and through forests of scotch pine trees grown for timber. We've been here two days now and look forward to exploring more over the next three before we leave. Let's hope the warm weather from England finds its way up here.

Imachar, Isle of Arran

This morning we were up early and down at the ferry terminal before nine. Almost immediately they began loading the ship, so we quickly discarded our rubbish bag, its contents better left on Islay, and of course there was other people's discarded rubbish to be collected from all around the bin and placed in it. Unbelievable! Our time came to board and for the third time this trip John had to reverse Marge onto the ferry. No problem. Comfortable in the lounge area surrounded by tired, hung over looking passengers, could it be the whisky, we settled down for the two hour sailing that would return us to Kennacraig on Kintyre.

Then a drive of six miles across the Mull of Kintyre to Claonaig to catch a ferry to Lochranza on the Isle of Arran.

This would be our fifteenth ferry journey of our time in Scotland. Already Marge had attracted attention from two Americans. She loves it. Men are all over her. 

Days like today always make us tired. So once on Arran we stopped off to take a look at the eighteenth century castle ruins at Lochranza before stopping at the nearby 'sandwich station, formerly the fire station, for coffee and excellent homemade fruit and nut flapjacks, and of course for Marge to catch the eye of yet another male admirer. The sun was out, and it felt warmer than we've known it for a very long while.

A drive along the coast, missing our planned overnight stop along the way found us at another, the access only really suitable for off road vehicles. Result. On the park4night app someone who had stayed at the spot previously described it as the best stopover on the island. We've yet to experience any others, but can see it's definitely right up there. So, as we're right by the shore, the beach pebbled, we will cook on an open fire this evening and hopefully with a clear sky experience a magical sunset. First we need our washing to dry in the southerly breeze that cools the warmth of the day.