Author: Franco

Culzean Castle

[The “z” is silent.] Yesterday evening’s lashing rain had cleared and our morning dawned with a clear view across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran and you-know-where. Today was time for me to brave the grounds of

Posted in 2026 The North

The Case of the Missing Water

[Very Erle Stanley Gardner.] Today we were leaving our Moffat campsite to make the 75-mile trip to Culzean Castle where the Camping and Caravanning Club have a campsite in the park grounds. From the campsite it is but a short

Posted in 2026 The North

A Wildlife Highlight

Our original plan had been to spend four nights at the Moffat campsite, largely to spend a weekend with Francine’s niece and husband. Then she-who-must-be-obeyed decided that, if we could, we should stay for an extra day, basically to giver

Posted in 2026 The North

Two Days with Relies

As well as having a photography pal in the vicinity of Moffat, Francine’s niece lives about a 30-minute drive away. This is the main reason we are here and we planned to spend the weekend in their company. On Saturday

Posted in 2026 The North

A Local Guide

Francine has a friend who lives about a 30-minute drive away from Moffat. She had arranged that they would come down to meet us, then take us to see something local. They duly arrived at 10:30. The something local that

Posted in 2026 The North

Off to Moffat

From our blissful overnight stay at Augill Castle, one which has certainly ruined me for any regular campsites, we continued our way along the A66 to hit the M6 before turning north to Moffat. The journey was a mere 85

Posted in 2026 The North

Augill Castle

Following Frodo’s service, our initial inclination was to break our journey to Scotland by staying at the UK’s highest pub, the Tan Hill Inn “on a lonely hill high in the Yorkshire Dales” [it says here]. The Tan Hill Inn

Posted in 2026 The North

Unnatural Habitat

Frodo is booked in for his annual habitation service on Tuesday 5th at the dealer in Newark on Trent. We are also booked into the dealer’s overnight area for Monday night, before the service, and Tuesday night after the service.

Posted in 2026 The North

Farewell Iberian Storms

I might add, “… and good riddance”. Having enjoyed a third night on a bona fide campsite with a second day visiting Zaragoza courtesy of our delayed ferry, we embarked on our 5-hour drive up to Santander on Saturday 31st

Posted in 2025 Xmas

The Expected Delay

The news we were expecting and waiting for has arrived: our return ferry from Santander has been delayed. This is because the outbound boat from the UK  was unable to sail in the weather conditions, thanks to storms Joseph/Chandra/Kristin [delete

Posted in 2025 Xmas