England, Wales, Scotland, May 2006 − Travels − Captain Tom

1 The ride to England

For getting to England I booked a P&O ferry from Rotterdam to Kingston upon Hull. Something new and quite ok. Befor this trip I used always Scandinavian Seaways.

On the way to the ferry I notice the elevation (upper right corner). I am in the Netherlands obviously.

Pride of Rotterdam is waiting for me in Rotterdam

P&O

Boarding is ongoing. The narrow bridge high over the water is quite unusual and not so easy to pass for motorbikes

Departure requires an experienced captain. The ferry turns around in the narrow dock in between two other boats with the rear still tied

Rear still tied ...

... the bow passes in little distance another boat ...

... and then leaves the dock

Container terminal

Harbor exit

Rotterdam roadsted

Kingston upon Hull receives me the next day with sunny weather and Late May Bank Holiday

In a distance Humber Bridge. I missed watching passing through but I will have closer look later on.

On the island.

Humber bridge was in the year of opening 1981 the world's longest suspension bridge (1410 m/4626 ft between the pylons). It is still in the top 10.

Unfortunately it started raining on my way to the Yorkshire Dales so I was not able to take more picture of the ride

2 Wales ride

One day of my stay with the Mahler family was reserved for a big tour through Wales. It was in particular about refreshing memories. I wanted to revisit places I knew. But I found something new too.

Llangollen, hometown of Debbie in the valley. On the opposite side the ruins of Dinas Bran Castle

My favorite viewpoint on Panorama route on the other side of Llangollen valley with a brilliant view to Dinas Bran Castle and Llangollen

Same place, view to Llangollen

The mandatory Worlds End picture

I proceed to Anglesey

Convy Castle

Convy Bay

Already on Anglesey island: Castle Beaumaris

Bull Bay on the eastern side of the island

In Holyhead depart the ferries to Ireland

Back to the mainland I pass Cernafon Castle (where Prince Charles got crowned Prince of Wales)

On the way back I have a break at Llyn Celyn Reservoir.

And in the end I found solitude where I did not expect it. Klaus recommended Shropshire Hills in England and there is nothing but hills, sheep and solitude. Very nice.

3 Mount Snowdon

A tour together with the complete Mahler family. We climb Mount Snowdon again. The last time we went up the Tourist's track from Llanberris. This time we tried Pyg track. Difficulty was supposed to be between Tourist's track and the partially quite steep Miner's track. We did not really understand this classification. We had the feeling that Pyg track is much more difficult so we took Miner's track on the way back.

Both boys are ready ...

... and went ahead in the beginning

Pyg track - quite challenging

Klaus as mountaineer

View back to Llanberris

Happy (more or less) hikers

Vie down to the start of the steep section of Miner's track. We are already much higher but still have to climb

Brilliant view on the edge

Anglesey island in a distance

Summit picture Max

Rebecca is already half the way down. Benjamin too.

And Debbie finds her way down too

Sky shadows on mountains

4 Ride to Scotland

It is quite a distance between Shrewsburry in England and Crianlarich in Scotland and so I make it a two days tour with an overnight stop in Grange-over-Sands at the southern edge of Lake District. On my way there I pass two very scenic areas: Peak District and Yorkshire Dales.

Nice cultured landscape in Peak District

Hilly loneliness in the Yorkshire Dales

The Lymehurst Hotel in Grange-over-Sands

Lake district seems to consist of more mountains than lakes

View from the northern ramp of Kirstone Pass. Not high but quite mountainous

But there are lakes too. This is Lake Ullswater

Solitude on single track roads

The section to Glasgow is a little bit boring but then it gets scenic again

Almost there: Loch Lomond

5 Scotland holidays

In Crialarich I have meet friends who have had a week of Scotland holidays already. We will have another week in a small cottage in a resort called Portnellan next to Glen Dorchart below Ben More. So I have named the most important geographic words: Glen, Ben and Loch are river, mountain and lake. We learn quite quickly that many lochs are indeed sea bays with tides. The resort is quite extensive with it's own stream and a nice view to Ben More. The mountain is 1174 m (3852 ft) high - almost the same elevation as Mount Snowdon)

Our cottage with Ben More in the background

Möni explores the stream

The little one too...

... and takes a bath

I put at least my feet into it

Parts of our fleet

6 Sightseeing 1

Stirling Castle was residence of the Scottish Kings in medieval times and location of many battles

Sightseeing starts

Max looks around ...

... and sees Wallace Monument. It reminds a very succesful commander

The cemtery below the castle

The castle is hard to conquer but it happend several times

Coat of arms in the throne room

Majesties take their place

After all the old stuff we visit something very modern. Falkirk Wheel is a boat lift built in a very unconventional way.

The little houseboats use the channels which have been the infrastructure backbone during the times of industrialization

End of sightseeing

7 Ride with Möni

My ride with Möni brought us along some lochs at the western coast. Quite nice there.

Loch Leven

Castle Stalker - looks quite small

Short break in the solitude at Loch Creran

Max goes canoeing while we are away

8 Ride with Andreas

The ride is a loop towards South West

Nice view over Seil Sound towards the islands of Luing and Shuna

We are excited

During the tour we had a ferry ride from Tarbert to Protavadie over Loch Fyne

View over Loch Fyne

Ferry terminal

Ferry

View to island Arran in the background with Skipnesspoint in front of it

Andreas aboard

We get a very nice view to Loch Riddon shortly after leaving the ferry. Isle of Bute to the right.

Andreas is impressed too

9 Swimming in Glen Orchy

Glen Orchy is a small river in a very scenic area and offers good opportunities for a swim. We needed it in this warm weather

Möni and Max use the opportunity

The dam project gets executed

I am rather sceptical

Later on I will have a short tour with Möni. The little one prepars himself too

We find more splendid solitude above Loch Tay on freshly prepared single track roads

Water power plant at Lochan na Lairige

Loneliness

10 Sightseeing #2

This time to Jacobite Steam Train and ot Oban Whiskey Destillery

Jacobite Steam Train goes from Fort William to Mallaig. You can get out earlier. The train is know by everyone having seen Harry Potter. We decide to let Möni and Max ride one stop with the train and we collect them at this station.

Before departure

Details of the locomotive

The train goes over the viadukt close to Glenfinnan

We can watch the train directly after the stop from a road bridge

We proceed to Oban. On our way we have another ferry crossing over Loch Linnhe with view to Fort William and Ben Nevis (highest peak of the UK) - if you can see it. 300 days of fog do not leave much opportunity to do so. We have not seen it either.

Loch Linnhe towards Fort William (northbound)

The ferry arrives

Aboard

Loch Linnhe view to Isle of Mull (southbound)

Max checks that everything is alright

On our way to Oban we see Castle Stalker again

We even get some sun in Oban. It is a tiny city opposite of Isle of Mull and with much ferry traffic. The island group of Hebrides are majorly accessible via port of Oban

Destillery directly at the main street. On top of the hill a building called McCaighs Tower

We visit the Destillery. No photos allowed. The we go up to McCaighs Tower

We get a gorgeous view to the harbor, island of Kerrera and behind it in a distande Isle of Mull

11 Having a bath in the stream

There is a stream in the resort coming from Ben More. You can have a swim when it is too hot outside

12 Red telephone booth

Also in the resort there is a red telephone booth which is well suited for mandatory telephone booth pictures

The last evening we get an amazing sunset. Sun is already behind the mountains but the clouds get nicely colored

13 Journey back to Berlin

The journey back starts with a ride to the ferry in Newcastle. Andreas escorts me while Möni takes Max, car and trailer. I pass the Norththumberland National Park with Andreas before we all get onto the ferry in Newcastle. It will bring us to Amsterdam overnight.

Getting Andreas' bike onto the trailer