Eriba Man

This is night No.102/2018 living in my caravan. Now pitched at Bunree C&MC Site, near Onich, around 8 miles south of Fort William. I haven't been on the West Coast since back in April. The crowds and the midges can make it miserable, so an autumn trip to the area seemed a good idea. It was a fine drive here, through Perth, Crieff, and through Glen Coe. A bit drizzly, but there was the odd bright spell. I have undertaken this trip fully prepared for rain! The site is fairly quiet, and I got a waterside pitch overlooking Loch Linnhe. After setting up, took the dogs across the road from the site (that is, the main A82), to Inchree. There are some good waymarked trails here which I've walked many times. I went round the 'Waterfall Trail'. Typical West Coast weather looking south. Returned to the site to complete the unpacking and I could here the 'thumping' of helicopters. Two Chinooks were flying low level up the loch. Impressive sight. ...

This is night No 101/2018 living in my caravan. It's my 3rd and final night at Yellowcraig C&MC Site near Dirleton. Got up around 0700, and took the dogs for a quick walk at the Yellowcraig Plantation. It was still quite dark, but it was dry and the only other person I spotted was another dog walker, with a torch, and a yapping little terrier which he was having no luck in calling back. After the morning routines, I decided to take the dogs the coastal walk from here to North Berwick. It involves walking through the woods, then onto the beach for a few miles into North Berwick, then returning by the John Muir Way. I walked it many times before. The stretch of good forest. On the approach to North Berwick, again, fine views of the Law. I zoomed in to see if I could pick out the (replica) whale jawbone at the summit. Great views to the spectacular Bass Rock, just offshore. After lunch, I took the dogs for another good coastal walk. On the OS Map, I spotted...

This is night No. 100(!)/2018 living in my caravan, and we're on our second night at the Yellowcraig C&MC Site near Dirleton not far from North Berwick. Well, it took a while to get here, but I have hit the target of 100 nights living in my caravan this year, and I started late. My first night of the year was 21st March and it was also the first night I'd been away in this caravan, my Eriba 320GT. That first night was at Silverbank in Banchory. My target was really just to beat last years total of 52 nights, but once I started staying away and realising the benefits of the car and caravan combo, there was no stopping. I was helped by a great Spring and Summer, but I was also hindered with 6 weeks out due to some old idiot from Dundee 'ramming' my van! Some of the stats so far this year: Nights in Scotland: 81 Nights in England: 19 Nights on Caravan and Camping Club Sites: 10 Nights on Caravan & Motorhome Club Sites: 68 Nights on Certified Location...

This is night No.99/2018 living in my caravan. Now pitched at Yellowcraig C&MC Site in Dirleston, just along the coast from North Berwick. Taking advantage of the midweek offer of half price pitch fees, 3 nights (2 of which were discounted) totalled £40.10. I was glad to leave Bellingham in Northumberland. It was simply too restrictive for dog walking. Even a short dog walk involved a short drive. The site was also a bit shabby for my liking. What cheeses me off with these sites is that in each one I've visited over the years, the wardens tailor everything to make their work easier at the expense of hassle for paying customers. For example, the service point next to me had the waste water dump removed and a sign posted saying you have to use the only other service point across the site. Another example, at Dunbar, they've removed all the bins throughout the site so you have to traipse across the site to the entrance where the skips are located, and it's a big site....

This is night No.98/2018 living in my caravan. I'm now at Bellingham C&CC Site, situated on the ouskirts of Bellingham Village. It cost £12.95 for one night, which is reasonable considering this club charges per person, then pitch, and then a ridiculous (and robbery) £5.50 for power. If you try and book a non-power pitch, spookily they're always sold out or not available. Woke to torrential rain at around 0700. Took the dogs out into the forest a few times, I had an umbrella, but they two got soaked, twice. I'm running out of dry 'dog towels'! Had a peek out the canvas pop-up on the van a few times. It was miserable all morning, and I got a good soaking when we hooked up and left around 1200. It was about an hour to Bellingham. Pleasant enough drive along the A69 towards Hexham, then north to Bellingham. The site is OK, but the standards are far below the C&MC sites. The grounds always look a bit scabby, but maybe I'm just becoming a caravan sno...