Water and whisky are the two top Scottish drinks. Some people enjoy one or the other straight, whilst others mix them. A bottle of pure water has become a constant companion for many of us over the past years so that we can avoid dehydration in order to stay fit and healthy. Other drinking delights […]
It was a leisurely start to the day, waking up to our beautiful view of the Firth of Clyde. We had had this spot all to ourselves overnight. Today, was the day where we would pick up our dog George before heading to Glasgow for one final adventure. We had chosen to go whitewater rafting […]
Today was our final day with Go West Sailing. We set off fairly promptly today and had breakfast on the move as we had around 10 naturical miles to cover – from Port Bannatyne to Largs – and then we needed to re-fuel and unload our belongings, etc. all prior to lunch. We had to […]
Portavadie is much more than just a marina. It’s a luxury resort with a variety of accommodation options from luxury apartments and lodges to guest bedrooms, couples hideaways and motorhome facilities. It’s also home to a restaurant, bar and shop, as well as spa and leisure facilities. We took the opportunity to use the gym […]
We practiced on the moorings at Otter Ferry today – both hooking on to them and safely leaving them. We had arrived in darkness the previous night and anchored just a short disstance away from them. Whilst we were fine with what we had done, the moorings would have given added peace of mind (particularly […]
We did a bit of pontoon practise with Go West Sailing this morning – practising our ‘spring starts’ where the stern stays close to the pontoon, as well as practising coming into a pontoon – before heading out to sea, when something immediately caught our eye. We motored out to what looked like dolphins or […]
Last Summer our eldest son did his RYA Day Skipper qualification (which you can do once you turn 16) with Go West Sailing and our plan this year had been for him to do the next step up – his RYA Coastal Skipper. You do need to quite a bit of study for this but, […]
With six double bedrooms, comfortably able to accommodate a dozen guests, this is the ultimate self-catering house. Stylish contemporary decoration, with Orla Kiely fabrics, makes this spacious house a luxurious place for grand reunions of family and friends. Though, in such a large house, it is always possible to find a quiet corner for a […]
Our plan was to travel to Largs today, for the next stage of our Scottish Summer adventure: a sailing holiday, much like we did last year. But before we took the two-hour drive north, we went for one last mountain bike ride at Glentrool. Some of the routes at Glentrool are short enough for us […]
In the morning, we let the dog stretch his legs and took him for a short stroll just out of the campsite. Turning left out of the site, we by chance stumbled upon the Glentrool Kindness Path where the local villagers had taken it upon themselves to decoarate stones along a 200m or so stretch […]
After a good night’s sleep, we took the opportunity to go for a quick dip in the sea (brrr!!) whilst the boys went paddleboarding. Once the initial shock had passed, it was actually surprisingly pleasant. In recent years the water quality hadn’t been rated so highly in parts of southern Scotland but, thanks to efforts […]
With the pandemic still dragging on, our Summer holiday plans were never looking likely to go beyond our own shores. Not that we minded at all – we actually love exploring the UK! And having upgraded our modest campervan to a slightly more spacious (but equally modest) motorhome the previous year, it made sense to […]
Blenheim Palace will throw open its gates this week to give car enthusiasts a rare chance to marvel at more than 1,000 super and hypercars. And Sunday promises fun for all the family when the lawns of the UNESCO World Heritage Site play host to an astonishing collection of vehicles for Salon Privé Classic & […]
Good food is part and parcel of any holiday experience. Some people enjoy local produce such as herbs and ingredients which give a dish this distinctive taste different from the cuisine in one’s own home country. Others are intrigued by novel ways of food preparation and might try something new like unfamiliar side dishes or […]
Though swimming naked is still taboo in some countries, it is perfectly acceptable in many parts of the world to bare it all and enjoy a swim without fear of judgment. But where are the best countries for skinny dipping? New research from Outforia has revealed the world’s top 10 skinny dipping countries and France […]
Looking out across the Irish Sea and to the world beyond, Liverpool has its own take on life. In its heyday, in the early decades of the twentieth century, Liverpool was the gateway to the world. The warm and welcoming locals, the Scousers, with that unique singing accent, usually see the funny side of life. […]
