Welcome to the travelogue from my tour around Scotland in July and August 2002. You can also read about the preparation for the tour if you are interested. The tour started on the 1st of July and lasted until the 22nd of August. Follow me through my tour below:
The first week
From Swindon up to Scotland. Through the Southwest to Glasgow. Then to Argyll to catch the ferry to Islay.
The tour started on the 1st of July with my departure from Swindon, taking me to Penrith. On the 2nd of July I visited New Abbey and the Solway Coast near Dumfries. Most of the 3rd of July I spent in the Galloway Forest Park, before making my way to the Ayrshire coast on the afternoon of the 3rd of July. From Ayr I visited Culzean Castle on the 4th of July before driving to Glasgow. In Glasgow I visited the Gallery of Modern and the Burrell Collection on the 5th of July. On the 6th of July I visited Ardkinglas Woodland Gardens on my way to Lochgilphead. The first week concluded with the ferry crossing to the Isle of Islay on the 7th of July.
The second week
Whisky and beaches on the Isle of Islay. Day trips to Jura and Colonsay. Back to the mainland and up north
Having arrived on Islay I spent several days relaxing while walking on the lonely beaches and visiting the famous distilleries. The 8th of July I spent hillwalking on The Oa, while I discovered the eastern part of Islay on the 9th of July. On the 10th of July I visited Colonsay and Oronsay for a day, taking the 11th of July as a rest day with a visit to Bowmore. A day trip to the Isle of Jura on the 12th of July was next. But on the 13th of July I returned to the mainland. The second week concluded with visits to standing stones and castles on the 14th of July during my drive up to Fort William.
The third week
Glen Nevis, Isle of Mull, Isle of Skye and over to Harris and Lewis
From Fort William I visited Glen Nevis on the 15th of July on my way to Strontian in the Sunart region. Then I visited the Isle of Mull on the 16th of July before visiting Ardnamurchan Point on the 17th of July on my way to the Isle of Skye. On Skye I visited Elgol with its views to the Cuillins on the 18th of July during my stay at Kinloch Lodge. On the 19th of July I left for Harris, allowing me to explore the Isle of Harris on the 20th of July. The third week concluded with me driving from Harris to Lewis on the 21st of July, visiting a lovely beach on the way.
The fourth week
From the Isle of Lewis back to the mainland and on to the Orkneys
The last day on the Western Isles was spent exploring standing stones and blackhouses on the 22nd of July before returning to the mainland on the 23rd of July. I then continued through the far north west on the 24th of July to Thurso, from where I travelled to the Orkneys on the 25th of July. On the 26th of July I visited Kirkwall in the morning before visiting Holm and South Ronaldsay on the afternoon of the 26th of July. Next was the West Mainland: Historic monuments during the morning of the 27th of July, followed by cliffs during the afternoon of the 27th of July The fourth week concluded with a visit to the East Mainland on the 28th of July, defying the rain.
The fifth week
The Orkneys and on to Shetland
The visit to the Orkneys continues with another visit to the West Mainland on the 29th of July. During my last day on Orkney I visited a distillery and a few museums on the 30th of July. Problems with the ferry meant that I arrived on Shetland by plane on Wednesday the 31st of July. The first full day on Shetland I started exploring the south of Shetland on the 1st of August, I continued exploring the south of Shetland on the 2nd of August. Then I started to move north, looking at the north west on the 3rd of August. The fifth week concluded with a visit to the area west of Scalloway on the 4th of August.
The sixth week
Shetland and back to the mainland, to Aberdeen and the North East
The sixth week began with a visit to Yell in the north of Shetland on the 5th of August. On the 6th of August I left Shetland and travelled to Aberdeen with the night ferry, arriving in Aberdeen on the 7th of August. I spent the 8th of August in Aberdeen and visited Deeside on the 9th of August. I continued along the Castle Trail on the 10th of August and visited the north east coast on the 11th of August.
The seventh week
From the North East to the East, from Loch Ness to St Andrews
The seventh week started where I left off during the sixth week, driving along the North-east coast on the 12th of August. I then visited Inverness and Loch Ness on the 13th of August to start making my way south. The 14th of August I spent at the Highland Folk Museum and in the Cairngorms before moving on to Dundee via Glamis Castle on the 15th of August. On the 16th of August I visited Dundee and St Andrews before moving on to Stirling on the 17th of August. The seventh week concluded with a day in Stirling on the 18th of August.
The eighth week
Edinburgh, the South East and back to Swindon
The eighth week was the last week of my tour. I started with a very nice visit to Edinburgh on the 19th of August, returning there on the 20th of August while visiting East-Lothian. During the last full day in Scotland I visited Melrose Abbey and Jedburgh Abbey on the 21st of August before returning to Swindon on the 22nd of August. After 53 days it was over, time to look back at a fantastic tour...