Passing Places Around Scotland

Saint Conan's Church, Lochawe Village, Argyll.

The area around Loch Awe offers the visitor many attractions.  I focus this week on St Conan's Kirk, a real gem, located in the village of Lochawe.  The church is a truly unique, one off example, of an amateur architects vision of a church.  It's free to visit and never busy. Almost every period of architectural design is included in the building. I can't recommend a visit highly enough.

The whole area around Loch Awe from the fishing, the hill-walking and the various visitor attractions creates a must see part of any trip around Scotland.  I mention The Cruchan Visitor experience to the Hydro-Electric scheme as well as the Bonawe Iron Furnace at Taynuilt.

I also mention the week that was and discuss the plans for including guest contributions on the podcast in the weeks ahead.

The Clyde steamers mark a remarkable period in Scottish history where people from the central belt, from the poor to the rich, enjoyed the dramatic scenery and landscapes of the The Firth of Clyde.  For over a hundred years until the 1950's over 300 steamers transported passengers throughout the area.  I also talk about the The Kelpies, the dramatic new horse head sculptures on the Forth Canal near Falkirk.

I also rejoice in the fact I'm finally back in my van. I make what turns out to be a dreadful trip to Moffat in Dumfries & Galloway.  It's a lovely wee town and a place I really like but we all remember weekends that just didn't work out.   The whole week-end was instantly forgettable.  I came down with a chest infection and the rest is history. Thankfully.

The Rob Roy Way & Camping in the Loch Lomond National Park

Out and about in The Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park in search of Rob Roy MacGregor, a Scottish Robin Hood romanticised in Scottish history and a half baked notion to walk The Rob Roy Way, a lovely long distance footpath from Drymen to Pitlochry.  I also drop into the newly completed visitor amenities located on Loch Lubnaig just north of Callander.

The national park have a development plan for the five lochs in the area which includes regulating camping on the loch-sides, in part by providing new facilities including car parking and camping.  There are also elements of the plan that include attempting to meet the needs of motorhome owners.  I will cover all these topics in more detail in future episodes but  I can't recommend the countryside around the national park and The Rob Roy Way.  It really is a great mix of Scottish landscapes.

Get in touch if you visit the new facilities on Loch Lubnaig and let me know your thoughts.

A Happy New Year from Scotland to everybody who listens to Passing Places. In this weeks episode of the podcast I make a few New Year resolutions and a couple of predictions for 2014.  This year is the most significant year in the  history of Scotland. As a nation we face the momentous decision on regaining our independence for our country.  I'm confident that Scotland will vote positively for such a change. I also feel certain that 2014 will redefine our place in the cosmos.

The knowledge we have gleaned in the last twenty years about astronomy and the cosmos is difficult to fully comprehend. So I fell confident that this year will see the announcement of an earth like planet in the Goldilocks zone and whilst that for me is profound I also feel certain that we will be able to confirm the existence of life beyond earth.

So what an historic year we have ahead.  Join me on my travels around Scotland and get in touch with our listeners if you share an interest, an affinity with, or a desire to travel around Scotland.

Happy New Year.

It’s great to be back with another episode of Passing Places. I briefly review a few personal travel highlights from 2013 and go on to mention that 2014 is the Year of Homecoming Scotland. As well as the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles we have the independence referendum to look forward to.  It’s going to be the biggest year in Scotland certainly in my lifetime.

It is also the seven hundredth anniversary of The Battle of Bannockburn which took place a few miles away from my home. A major refurbishment of the visitor attraction is just nearing completion as well as restoration of the monuments on the site. So if you are visiting Scotland during the year of homecoming a visit to Bannockburn, Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument would be highly recommended.  I think Stirling is rightly justified in being called the heart of Scotland.

Motorhome Discrimination in the UK

Passing Places this week touches on the topic of motorhome use in the UK and some of the discrimination and negative perceptions that persist particularly in the more scenic parts of the country where there is pressure on car parks and local beauty spots. What a difference to my experiences in France where motorhomes are actively encouraged and great facilities ensure that local towns and villages benefit from the economic contribution that travellers in motorhomes can make during their visits.

Let me know your thoughts and any experiences you might have had, both good and bad.  Next week I will be back out on the road with some Scottish content and my own personal insights of my travels around Scotland.

Sign up for the Passing Places Newsletter by using the form on the front page of my website.

Kevin

Living The Dream

How can you live the dream in a motorhome all year round in Scotland?  I touch on the subject for the first of many times in future episodes. I also include the second part of our USA visitors experience in Scotland, including Skye and Plockton.  So are you living the dream or planning to jump off the hamster wheel, escape the rat race and take off?

Giving up the security of a career, a home and employment can sound daunting.  If that security however is gnawing away at you and you yearn for a less restrictive lifestyle, more freedom, adventure or perhaps just a simpler life in which new experience are always just around the next corner?

Get in touch and share your thoughts on full time travel in a motorhome, RV or campervan.  I am just beginning to address the whole topic of the income side of the balance sheet.  Nothing in life is ever free and travelling can be expensive.  Perhaps if you are intending to travel on a budget you may well need to think of ways of developing an income at least during some months of the year.  You might even take off to mainland Europe.

Many travelers spend some of the year out of season earning money to fund their travels during the better weather months of the year.  In any event work can be a good way to keep yourself active, meet new people and even if you don't need an income, you might even consider voluntary work as a way to share your skills and give something back.

Get in touch with your ideas and comments.  I'd love to hear from you.

Kevin

USA - Scottish Travels

Featuring Part One of Joyce & Carlo from Boston on their recent Highland adventure as well as other listener conversations about some great locations to visit in Scotland over the winter months. Many listeners who got in touch favour the North West coast of Scotland as well as the North coast. Gairloch, Lochcarron & Gruinard Bay near Ullapool are all covered.  So whether you live in the UK, the USA or anywhere else in the world, if you have a travel story about Scotland or are considering visiting Scotland, I'd love to you here from you.

in Passing Places this week I also pick up on a wonderful suggestion for a woodland gorge walk in the Cowal peninsula in Argyll.  I mention the importance of  over wintering your van to protect against frost damage and burst pipes in particular.  Part Two of Joyce and Carlo's Highland adventure is in next weeks podcast.  I have just re-listened and can't believe I called Skipness - Skipton.  Dreadful.  Apologies, will correct myself next week.

Kevin

Winter in Scotland

Ideas for short breaks in quieter parts of Scotland are on my agenda this week. Where would you go for a short break to escape the crowds? I cover places on my bucket list for the winter : Moffat, Pittenweem, Elgol, Portmahomack and Durness on the north coast.

Get in touch with Passing Places and share your experiences and ideas with all our listeners.  You can leave a comment here on the website, leave a voicemail or join us on The Passing Places Podcast Group on Facebook.

Kevin

USA Visitors to Scotland

I'm in the village of  Killin in Stirlingshire.  In this weeks episode of Passing Places I catch up with Joyce and Carlo from Boston, USA, to say hello and to hear first hand how they have enjoyed their vacation in Scotland.  I also have an in-depth interview with Bonnie Hofkin from her home in California.  I also touch upon the feedback I have had about Passing Places and how I might improve the weekly podcast of my travels around Scotland in the coming weeks.

If you are from the USA and you plan to visit Scotland in the future please get and touch and our podcast community of listeners will offer you whatever help we can to ensure you have the the very best vacation in Scotland.   You can get in touch on Facebook by typing into the search box at the the top of the Facebook screen - Passing Places Podcast Group.  Just join our group and share your passion for Scotland with all of us.

Killin is a lovely little village to visit or to base yourself for a few days.  The falls of Dochart are wonderful.  They flow through the old bridge at the top end of the end of the village.  In summer it's a great spot for a picnic and in winter the awesome strength of the river as it thunders through Killin is a really impressive sight to experience.

Subscribe to the podcast and get in touch.  Use the Speakpipe free voice-mail service here onsite and we can get your audio onto the podcast.

Thanks

Kevin