Holiday - Scotland Day 4 - Laggan Zip Wire, Loch Ken Kayaking, Clatteringshaws Loch Cream Tea

Scotland Holiday - Day 4

Laggan Zip Wire, Loch Ken Kayaking, Clatteringshaws Loch Cream Tea

This morning we woke up to beautiful sunshine.  We decided to go to Laggan Outdoor Activity Centre to go on their 820m zip wire!  One of the longest in Europe aparently.  We arived and had to fill out their safety forms, we were then suppled with a full body harness and a helmet.  Once kitted up we were driven up the bumpy track to the top.  The instructor set everything up and then clipped us in and with a brief countdown we were flung down the hill!  It was great and could have done it again and again!  

We had a bacon sandwich for lunch in the cafe there before going back to The Loft.  This afternoon we made our way to the Galloway Activity Centre to do some kayaking.  We had a lovely paddle round Loch Ken.  We drove on to New Galloway and then round to Clatteringshaws Loch.  

We parked and walked out to Bruce's Stone - It was just as the name suggests - A stone!!  

At the visitor centre we stopped for Tim to have a cream tea!!  Further along the road we tried to stop and walk to some waterfalls but unfortunately they were logging in that area so had shut the footpaths.  Back at The Loft we did some washing and got dinner ready - mmm Hunters Chicken :o) Tonight we need to sort our stuf out ready for an early start in the morning as we are going to the Isle Of Arran.

Holiday - Scotland Day 3 - Walk To Sel Gil Cave, Drive To Castle Douglas And Walk Carlingwark Loch

Scotland Holiday - Day 3

Walk To Sel Gil Cave, Drive To Castle Douglas And Walk Carlingwark Loch

This morning we went for a walk up to the entrances to Sel Gil Holes, it was a nice walk with lovely views.  Back at the hut we packed our stuff up and reloaded the car.  We headed to Ingleton for some lunch - they do great food in there, definately should have one near our caving club - I had chips and gravy in a giant yorkshire pudding!!  We left Ingleton around 2.30 -  Next stop was Scotland - our first place was Castle Douglas.  

We arrived at Barncrosh just gone 4.  We unloaded the car and found where we were staying - The Loft.  

Our first task was to do some shopping - we had already found out that there was a Tesco in Castle Douglas!  After doing the shopping and getting petrol we parked up atCarlingwark loch and set off on a little walk.  Tim had seen on the map that there was a walk around the Loch.  After a while we noticed we were walking further from the Loch and no longer walking round it!  We carried on thinking the path would curve round - however it never did!  We found ourselves out on a country lane!  We followed the roads back round to Castle Douglas and back to the car.  We had a look at the map to see where we had walked to find that there wasn't even a path around the Loch!!  Tim had misread it!! 

We set off back to The Loft however we didn't get far as the barrier on the car park was down.  We drove up to it and it didn't move, I got out to see if you had to lift it manually - it wouldn't budge.  I then saw a sign on the otherside that we had obviously missed saying that between 7pm and 10am you needed a card to access the car park!!!  Oops  by this time it was 7.30 so we were locked in!  We went into the caravan site next to it and found someone who very kindy lent us their card to let us out!!  Finally we could get on our way and make some dinner and do some washing!!

Holiday - Scotland Day 2 - Caving Heron Pot and Yordas Cave

Scotland Holiday - Day 2

Heron Pot and Yordas Cave

Todays activity was caving - The caves on the menu were Heron Pot and Yordas Cave.

However we had a very important vist to make to Ingle Sport - a caving shop with an amazing cafe upstairs!  We set our selves up for the caving trip with a hot breakfast roll!

After eating we set off up to Kingsdale.  We located where to park and had a look out across the fields.  We managed to leave the description of how to find the cave back at the caving club!!  We looked at the map and set off. Well the route we took out wasn't exactly direct as we had to keep searching areas to see if we could fint the entrance!

Eventually we found the entrance and had a good trip.  Rather wet in places with a nice couple of pitches to SRT down and then back up!

The Illusive Entrance

Me Going Up The Second Pitch

Me At The Top Of The Pitch

Me Climbing Out Of The Entrance

The walk back down the hill was somewhat quicker with a more direct route!

Back at the car we left the rope bags and SRT kit and walked up to Yordas Cave to have a look around.

Yordas Cave Entrance

Main Chamber

Back at the hut we showered, warmed up and sorted out all our kit while we put dinner on.

This evening we went for a walk along the River Ribble and across the fields.

The Sun has started going down so we went back to the caving to have a think about what to do tomorrow.

Tomorrow we are making our way up to Castle Douglas but we have some time in the morning to do something around here.  A tiring day today - time for bed I think!

Holiday - Scotland Day 1 - Journey to Yorkshire and Evening Walk

Scotland Holiday - Day 1

Journey to Yorkshire and Evening Walk

We had planned to leave around 9am, we were on our way at 9.15 which is good for us!!  We went via Wimborne so I could drop my car off with mum.  We were then off on HOLIDAY!!!

We stopped 3 times on the way up to stretch our legs and swap over driving.  The journey wasn't as good as it could have been due to plenty of roadworks on the M6 but still we got up here in good time.

When we arrived we went to the pub to get a key for the hut and check if and when they were seving food.  We unloaded someof the stuff we need while we are here and went back over to the pub for dinner!  We both had a lovely meal served in a yorkshire pudding - both were huge portions.  We had two things we thought we might like to do this evening.  The ringers at Horton-in-Ribblesdale had their practice and the weather was ok we thought about going for a walk.  As we drove through Horton-in-Ribblesdale we wound down the windows to listen to whether they were ringing or not.  There was no noise so we decided to go for a walk instead.  We headed further up the road to Selside.  We parked up a track and walked out to see Alum Pot.  We then also walked on to find the entrances to Diccan Pot, Long Churn Pot and Wilson's Cave.  We met and chatted to a few cavers on the way.  Definitely the right decision for the evening, it was a lovely walk.

View of Penyghent from track

Waterfall into Alum Pot

Looking down Alum Pot - can only see half way!

Stream above Alum Pot

Diccan Pot Entrance

Lower Long Churn Entrance

Wilson's Cave Entrance

Limestone Pavement

Sheep - obviously!

Holiday - Doughnut goes on Holiday and we go Climbing

Doughnut goes on Holiday

Today we took Doughnut to Portland to have his holiday with Tims mum.  She has 2 rabbits also so Doughnut will have some friends.

Doughnut and Rodney

Doughnut and Dylan

Doughnut then spent the next few hours tormenting Dylan!

Tim and I made our way to The Cuttings.

We had planned to go to the Bonsai Area but it was rather busy with outdoor ed goups of kids.  We decided to go to The Bower instead. You climb through a notch in the rocks and you can access a nice little secluded area with qite a few nice climbs in it.

We climbed 4 routes in this area...

Whispering Galery

Queen of the New Year

SunTrap

The Bumper Fun Book

It then started go get a bit busier do we moved back to the Bonsai Area where we were able to do a route called 100 Sunny Days.

We then went back to Tims mum to have some dinner and say goodbye to Doughnut.  I think he will have a lovely time.

Crochet - Crochet Course

Crochet Course

Today my sister-in-law and I attended a crochet course.  It was my birthday present.  It was a 2 hour course that flew past very quickly.  This is what we managed to make! Vicky had white wool and I had blue.

Wessex Military Band - Bucky Doo Square

Bucky Doo Square

Today I played in the band in Bucky Doo Square. My Mum and Neice Isobel came to watch.