Allanaha Farm

-

 This is night No.14/2020 living in the caravan. We (that's me and the dogs) are at a CL near Nairn, Allanaha Farm.


Allanaha Farm is a real stripped back CL. Water, waste disposal, and a bin. No electricity, and no toilet block. This is the way CL's should be. And all for £5 a night.

It's actually only about a mile from the last CL I stayed at, the CL at Geddes House. I really do like this area, and it has fantastic walking and great scenery. It's got beaches, rivers, hills, and towns all nearby. Cawdor and it's castle are a few miles away, and the famous Brackla Distillery is around a mile away.

Booked the CL in the morning, and left around lunchtime for the 2hr drive north. We left in great weather.

It's also my first trip towing with my new car, a more up to date RAV4.


Stopped at Bin Forest near Huntly, where I normally do, and gave the dogs a good 40 min blast around the woods.

They're both really familiar with this walk as it's a great half way break for me on trips up north.


After arrival, set up the solar panel which was pushing out some good power to the battery. With this output, I can watch TV, charge phones and charge my MacBook.


The dogs enjoying running around mad. We're the only folk here! The lady who owns the site had told me this morning that I'd have the place to myself! What a contrast to regular sites which, when I checked, are all booked out full?


And as per usual, the Moray weather was warm and dry with a light breeze.


A lovely patch of ground with a drinking water tap and waste point. Some beautiful mature trees to pitch between.


And I always like to see something a wee bit different. The farm here are growing oats.




This was the first time I'd pitched my new Kampa Air Awning. I had one of these with my previous Puck, but this 2020 model definitely has a few minor improvements. There is now a door (the panel in the picture) and the material now wraps around the front and rear of the van, I assume, to avoid water ingress.
A very heavy but easily pitched awning.


I'm intending to stay a few nights here, but I'll see how the weather pans out. Looking forward to some great walks.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

50 Nights in my Troll.

-
Image
I thought that after having spent 50 nights this year in my Troll, this would be a good opportunity to offer my views and opinions on this caravan. Overall, I'm very impressed and there are some features which I really like, and others not so much. I've only ever owned Eriba's, having switched from campervans a few years ago. The switch was really an attempt to minimise the ongoing costs associated with a 'leisure vehicle'. I've had a Puck (a 120), a Familia (a 320GT), and now own this Troll (a 530GT). The Troll was a substantial investment for me, it's a (used) 2017 fixed bed model with a number of extras fitted, such as awning, high back seats, 3 ring hob, etc. I first started touring in the Troll back in April of this year and have covered a good part of Scotland and North England in my travels. The Troll is actually probably a bit 'overkill' for my needs. I normally tour alone with my 2 spaniels, and rarely have guests. However, I do sp
Read more

Solar Power in my Eriba Puck

-
Image
  I'm often asked what arrangements I have for generating power when I'm touring 'off-grid' in order to keep the 12v electrics operating. This equipment needing 12v includes the lights (all bulbs changed to LED), my 12V TV, and inverter (which powers my MacBook), and also for charging of phones and speakers etc.  I have a 100W folding panel which even over a good few days, I find this works fine with my fairly small leisure battery and I've never ran out of power yet. I've used this panel for years which is an advantage of a portable panel. I've used it on 4 different Eriba's I've owned, and a camper van before that. Importantly, it has a solar charge controller mounted on the rear of the panel. This is essential for any solar panel. I do move the panel during the day to get optimum light and try to avoid shadows from the van or trees and buildings. It fits behind the cars front seat when travelling. I didn't want to have an arrangement where I r
Read more

Replacing the Door Shelves

-
Image
  With the weather being really nice today, and with the prospect of touring again in the next wee while, I took the caravan out of the garage where it was being stored and returned it to my drive. I really didn't have any projects for the van over the winter, unlike last year when I completely re-upholstered and redone the internal decor like curtains, carpet, door facia's and the likes. Like my 3 previous Eriba Caravans, I've had trouble with the original plastic door shelves and decided to order an improved aluminium set from Darren at Eribastuff. I've ordered other odds and ends from Darren over the years and everything has always been top quality. He's an enthusiastic Eriba Puck owner himself, a Scot based in France. The original door configuration above, plastic shelves (or rather shelf fronts?) which turn the Eriba door into effectively a very useful storage area, just like a fridge door! I purchased the van 'set' which comprises one with an 'Erib
Read more