Bongo Fury

Last year we went to five 24-hour sportscar races, at the Nürburgring, Le Mans, Spa-Francorchamps, Zolder and Silverstone. This year we decided to take things a little more steady and embarked on a three-week tour of the Scottish Highlands & Islands. This has been at the planning stage for months, with places being added to the itinerary all the time, even up to less than a week before the ‘off’, I’m sure I’m on Caledonian MacBrayne’s speed-dial due to the number of times I’ve amended the ferry bookings

There are some fascinating historical sites going way back between 2,000 and 3,000BC, and plenty for the kids as well, plus the Outer Hebrides was where I took Mrs Muz on our honeymoon

We saw a total of 58 other Bongos on our travels, we received some enthusiastic waves from some and some blank looks from others – if any of you are reading this – “Hello!”

We spent 20 days and 19 nights á la Bongo, and gradually became immersed in the wild-camping life. Our cost for the campsites etc turned out to be this:

Week 1 £4.61 per night per person
Week 2 £1.03 per night per person
Week 3 Nil

The Bongo proved to be the ideal assault vehicle yet again, just big enough for our needs as a family yet small enough to get onto the ferries as a standard car, and with the 4WD, onto some excellent camping spots. 2,300 miles and no issues at all.



As you might expect, we took photos – lots of them






Gretna Green Old Blacksmith’s Shop, scene of many a marriage since 1753.


Falkirk Wheel – the only rotating boat-lift of its kind in the world, which lifts boats 24 metres from the Forth & Clyde canal to the Union canal.


Falkirk Wheel from above


Antonine Wall – the most northern point of the Roman Empire. Only half as long as Hadrian’s Wall and not so visibly impressive....


....but this was as far north as the Romans got Looks more like a ditch to me but hey ho
Actually they did get further than this, there are archaeological sites at Braco, Clathy and Kirkton (all in Perth & Kinross) but for whatever reason the Romans retreated to the Antonine Wall and called anything north of this line Caledonia


Antonine wall defensive pits (lilia) which would have contained sharpened stakes and been concealed by brushwood.


Stirling castle – like Edinburgh castle but without the tourists.


Fortingall parish church, dedicated to Coeddi, Bishop of Iona


Fortingall yew, at between 3,000 and 9,000 years old the oldest living thing in Europe which came as something of a surprise to me, I had always presumed that honour went to the mother-in-law


Castle Menzies near Aberfeldy


Scottish traffic jam


Pitlochry fish-ladder, a 310-metre salmon ladder where diadromous fish can be viewed swimming from weir to weir within the ladder


End of day 1


Blairgowrie campsite but notice the lack of wind & rain


Meikleour Beech Hedge near Blairgowrie has been in the Guinness Book of Records as the ‘World’s largest/tallest Hedge’ since 1966. It stands some 120 feet tall at its highest point and runs for 580 yards in length. The hedge is cut every ten years taking 4 men approximately 6 weeks. It was planted in the autumn of 1745


Glamis castle gates


Glamis castle, Angus


Arbroath Abbey


Auchmithie, original home of the Arbroath Smokie


Lunan Bay, between Arbroath and Montrose


Dunnottar castle, Aberdeenshire


Drum castle, Aberdeenshire


Balmoral castle war memorial


Balmoral castle, Royal Deeside


Balmoral castle


River Dee at Easter Balmoral – Muzette in quiet reflection


After a hard day on the road


Ballater Caravan Park


Sitting pretty and ready for Day 3


Corgarff castle, Strathdon


Castle Roy, Nethybridge.


Castle Roy, Nethybridge


Castle Roy, Nethybridge


Why does she always acquire a dog wherever she goes?


Loch an Eilean castle, Rothiemurchus


Practicing that Dambusters dance for the Germans on Rannoch Moor


Carrbridge – home of the World Porridge-Making Championships where first prize is a golden spurtle. The old packhorse bridge across the river Dulnain was built in 1717 and is looking a little frail.


Inverness castle, Highland


Glen Urquhart castle, Drumnadrochit


Aha – so Nessie IS for real!


Urquhart castle, Highland


Loch Ness cruise on the Nessie Hunter


Would we get to see the wee beastie?


Scottish weather


Muz Jr in an intelligent moment


Another intelligent moment


Cherry Island, the only island on Loch Ness after they raised the level for the Caledonian canal. During the 15th century there was a castle on the island.


Caledonian canal locks – The 62 mile Caledonian canal links the east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William, and flows through Loch Dochfour, Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy.


Caledonian canal locks, Fort Augustus


Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the British Isles at over 4,400ft above sea level, and I had always been told that “the Big Ben” was in SW1A


Neptune’s Staircase, the longest staircase lock in the UK comprising eight locks and lifting boats 64 feet.


Inverlochy castle, Highland


Inverlochy castle


Castle Stalker, Argyll


Oban Caravan & Camping Park


Lunch on the run


Oban & McCaig's Tower to the top left


Dunolly castle, Oban


Caledonian MacBrayne. We’ll be keeping them busy for the next couple of weeks


Clansman Oban to Barra via Coll & Tiree


Duart castle, Isle of Mull


Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point on the mainland


Arinagour, Isle of Coll


Arinagour, Isle of Coll


Breachacha castle, Isle of Coll


Scarinish, Isle of Tiree


Isle of Barra lifeboat


Catalina JX273 memorial, on 12th May 1944 a Consolidated Catalina had a faulty compass and before they could climb to a safe height they crashed into Heishival Beag on Vatersay. Three of the nine crew were killed instantly the other six survived.


The engines and large parts were removed at the time by the RAF but the rest was left there and remains today.


Catalina JX273 crash site, Isle of Vatersay


Annie Jane memorial. Launched in 1853, the first & last voyage of this ship claimed 350 of the 450 lives on board as she got caught in a gale, lost one of her masts and drifted onto rocks.


Isle of Vatersay


Isle of Vatersay


Isle of Vatersay


Isle of Vatersay


MacLeod’s tower, Isle of Barra


A888, Isle of Barra. There’s only one classified road on Barra, from Castlebay to, erm, Castlebay


Eoligarry, Isle of Barra


Eoligarry, Isle of Barra


Eoligarry, Isle of Barra


Eoligarry, Isle of Barra


Eoligarry, Isle of Barra


Eoligarry, Isle of Barra


Eoligarry, Isle of Barra – Does wild-camping get any better than this?


Muzette enjoying the sea & sun


Barra airport


Barra airport


Barra airport, LoganAir de Havilland Twin Otter


Barra airport, LoganAir de Havilland Twin Otter


Bata Fada Beag Kisimul castle ferry


Kisimul castle, Isle of Barra, home of the Clan MacNeil


Inside Kisimul castle


Castlebay, Isle of Barra, from within Kisimul castle


Inside Kisimul castle, Isle of Barra


Otter spotting, isle of Berneray


Loch Alainn Barra to Eriskay


After the SS Politician was wrecked in 1941 with 264,000 bottles of malt whisky on board (prompting the Compton MacKenzie book “Whisky Galore” and the film “Whisky Galore!”), Eriskay did eventually get its own ‘legal’ pub....


....“Am Politician”


Ormacleit castle, Isle of South Uist


Our Lady of the Isles statue, Isle of South Uist


Rocket Range, South Uist was built in 1957-58 to launch the Corporal missile, Britain and America's first guided nuclear weapon, the front line of Cold War defence. The Corporal missile was tested from 1959 to 1963. The range is still owned by the MoD as a testing facility for missile systems such as the surface-to-air Rapier missile and Unmanned Air Vehicles.


Borve castle, Isle of Benbecula


Flodda Island, population 11


Hebridean Smokehouse, Isle of North Uist, where we got some rather excellent smoked scallops....


....and smoked salmon. Excellent for a light lunch


Isle of North Uist I did have to explain the concept of shillings to the kids


Pobull Fhinn stone circle, Isle of North Uist


Pobul Fhinn stone circle, Isle of North Uist


Peat - Isle of North Uist. From a distance we thought that this was a dodgy campsite or a tip


Langass burial chamber, Isle of North Uist


Langass burial chamber, Isle of North Uist


Langass burial chamber, Isle of North Uist


Langass burial chamber, Isle of North Uist


Scolpaig tower, Isle of North Uist


Quiet contemplation, Isle of Berneray


Was the sea warm or cold?


Ah, may be a tad cold then


Chase me


That anti-gravity device seems to work well


Isle of Berneray Travel Inn


Seals, Isle of Berneray


Loch Portain, Berneray to Leverburgh




Another acquisition, Isle of Harris


Hushinish beach wild-camping, Isle of Harris


Candles – anti-midge devices


Hushinish beach – how cool is this place?


August, and the beach is rammed with tourists as usual. Hushinish beach, Isle of Harris


Well, with sheep anyway Hushinish beach, Isle of Harris


Amhuinnsuidhe castle, Isle of Harris


Abhainn Mhòr, Isle of Harris


Uig Chessmen, Isle of Lewis


High winds forecast Uig sands, Isle of Lewis


Uig sands wild-camping


Uig sands, Isle of Lewis


Crowded camping areas, can’t be doing with it Uig sands, Isle of Lewis


Get down Shep!


Traffic jam, Isle of Lewis


Bosta, Isle of Great Bernera


Bosta, Isle of Great Bernera


Bosta, Isle of Great Bernera


Iron-Age village, Isle of Great Bernera


Callanish VIII standing stones, Isle of Great Bernera


Peat, Isle of Lewis


Callanish IV standing stones, Isle of Lewis


Callanish III standing stones, Isle of Lewis


Callanish II standing stones, Isle of Lewis


Callanish 1 standing stones, Isle of Lewis


Callanish I standing stones, Isle of Lewis


Dun Carloway broch, Isle of Lewis


Gearrannan Black House Village, Isle of Lewis


Gearrannan Black House Village, Isle of Lewis


Whalebone arch (Bragar), Isle of Lewis


Lews castle, Isle of Lewis


Horgabost beach campsite, Isle of Harris


Hebrides, Tarbert to Uig


Special delivery of 904 gas bottles for Bongos


Museum of island life, Isle of Skye


Duntulm castle, Isle of Skye


Dunvegan castle, Isle of Skye


Dunvegan castle, Isle of Skye


Kinloch campsite, Isle of Skye


Kinloch campsite, Isle of Skye


Glorious sunset, Kinloch campsite, Isle of Skye


The Isle of Skye Highland Games, Portree


The Isle of Skye Highland Games


Hammer throwing, Isle of Skye Highland Games


”56lb weight over bar”, Isle of Skye Highland Games


Putting the stone, Isle of Skye Highland Games. Mrs Muz was disappointed that this competitor wore Lycra shorts under his kilt


A disconsolate Muzette having lost her Tug-of-War heat, Isle of Skye Highland Games


Glenachulish, Kyle Rhea to Glenelg which then sends you over the magnificent Mam Ratagan Pass to Shiel Bridge

To quote the Undiscovered Scotland website, “Every visitor to Skye should consider going by ferry. After all, although the Skye Bridge is a wonderful structure, crossing it only takes you to Skye. To get to the Isle of Skye, you need to travel by sea. The two Skyes are equally wonderful, but somehow the Isle of Skye feels just that little bit more special.”


Eilean Donan castle, Highland


Heland coos


Bealach na Bà (Pass of the Cattle), Applecross


Bealach na Bà (Pass of the Cattle), Applecross


Bealach na Bà (Pass of the Cattle), Applecross


Bealach na Bà (Pass of the Cattle), Applecross


Applecross Inn, Applecross


Applecross Inn, Applecross


Applecross wild-camping


Heron, Applecross


Applecross – on the beach in pyjamas


Deer, Applecross


Beachcomber Cottage, home of “Monty Halls’ Great Escape”


Caisteal Maol, Isle of Skye


Knock castle, Isle of Skye


Dunscaith castle, Isle of Skye


Armadale castle, Isle of Skye


Coruisk, Armadale to Mallaig


Loch Nan Ceall wild-camping


Loch Nan Ceall wildlife spotting


Loch Nan Ceall


Loch Nan Ceall


Loch Nan Ceall


Loch Nan Ceall


Knoydart refuse collection service


Western Isles, Mallaig to Inverie, Knoydart


Porpoise spotting, Loch Nevis, Knoydart


Loch Nevis, Knoydart


Our Lady of Loch Nevis, Knoydart


The Old Forge, Knoydart, the most remote pub in Britain


Seafood platter, The Old Forge


At The Old Forge, Knoydart


Loch Nevis


Seals, Loch Nevis


Castle Tioram on the tidal island Eilean Tioram in Loch Moidart, Highland


Loch Moidart sunset


Castle Tioram wild-camping


The lighthouse at Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point of mainland Britain. You get a good view from the top


Ardnamurchan


Mingary castle, Highland


Loch Linnhe, Kilchoan to Tobermory


Tobermory, Isle of Mull. What’s the story in Balamory today?


Isle of Mull airport


Wild-camping


Wild-camp between Ensay & Burg, Isle of Mull


The Jrs cooking, oh no, what are they going to conjure up?


Ah, bockwürsts & rice


Mint sauce! Mint sauce!




Traffic jam, Isle of Mull


Glengorm castle, Isle of Mull


Aros castle, Isle of Mull


Split-second timing on the Ulva ferry


The Ulva ferry


Isle of Ulva


The Boathouse, Isle of Ulva


Scallops


Smoked mackerel & oatcakes


Isle of Ulva


Eas Fors waterfall, Isle of Mull




Loch Beg, Isle of Mull


Loch Beg, Isle of Mull


Loch Beg wild-camping, Isle of Mull


Loch Beg, Isle of Mull


In search of the biggest splash


Hoy Lass, Ulva Ferry to Staffa


Fingal’s cave, Isle of Staffa


Basalt rock columns, Isle of Staffa


They love each other really


Fingal’s cave, Isle of Staffa


Seals, Isle of Ulva


Fionnphort, Isle of Mull


Oh no, a solo effort from Muzette.....


Pasta, beans & bockwürsts


Loch Buie, Fionnphort to Iona


Iona Abbey, Isle of Iona


Iona Abbey, Isle of Iona


Iona Abbey, Isle of Iona


Another intelligent moment


The Old Nunnery, Isle of Iona


Torosay castle, Isle of Mull


Duart castle, Isle of Mull


Loch Fyne, Fishnish to Lochaline


Corran, Ardgour to Nether Lochaber


River Etive, Rannoch Moor


Stob Dearg, Rannoch Moor


Rannoch Moor - Does wild-camping get any more wild than this?


Our 19th wedding anniversary on Rannoch Moor


Classy meal for our anniversary


Kings House Hotel, Rannoch Moor – Does the rainbow have any significance?


Exhausted!


Kilchurn castle, Argyll & Bute


Inveraray castle


Hebridean Isles, Oban to Port Askaig


Scalasaig, Isle of Colonsay


Loch Indaal wild-camping, Isle of Islay


Yet another acquisition, Isle of Islay


Traffic jam, Isle of Islay


Eilean Dhiura Port Askaig to Feolin Ferry


Corran sands, Isle of Jura


Isle of Jura


Classy B+B, Isle of Jura


Loch na Mile, Isle of Jura


Tràigh na Mile, Isle of Jura


Tràigh na Mile, Isle of Jura


Jura Distillery tour


Isle of Jura distillery


Whisky stills, Jura distillery


Traffic jam, Isle of Jura


Wyre Majestic wreck off Bunnahabhain, Isle of Islay. A 338 ton trawler which ran aground on October 18th 1974.


Dunyvaig castle, Isle of Islay


Port Ellen, Isle of Islay


Isle of Arran Port Ellen to Kennacraig


Levelling blocks from Fiamma’s Scottish agents


Skipness Bay, Kintyre wild-camping


Skipness Bay, Kintyre wild-camping


Those new heavy-duty rock-pegs people keep going on about


Skipness castle, Kintyre peninsula


Loch Tarbert, Claonaig to Lochranza


Lochranza castle, Isle of Arran


Kildonan castle, Isle of Arran, in typical Scottish weather


Brodick castle, Isle of Arran


Brodick castle, Isle of Arran


Caledonian Isles Brodick to Ardrossan


So, what’s the verdict on this year’s tour?

just one word for team Muz AMAZING

WOW - beats Bootle any day!

WOW FANTASTIC PICS TEAM MUZ.
Makes me want to go back to Lewis and visit the standing stones next door to my brothers house overlooking the sea loch at Ershader,Uig.

Inspirational Muz I had been waiting to see these!!!!!

Some very familiar sights among the pics matey

Thanks for sharing them......SUPERB

Dabs

Many thanks for a most enjoyable 15 minutes photo watching Stunning photography and some places I never knew existed

Vatersay's a place close to our hearts as is Eolgarry on Barra.

PS - what camera do you use?

dandywarhol wrote:PS - what camera do you use?

Just a Fuji S5600 mostly in 'auto' mode, sometimes in natural light mode. A big zoom is a must for me

Muz Jr uses the S6500, I'll have to take a look at his pics tomorrow.

Hi Team Muz, welcome home. Well took me more like an hour to view all the pics. Superb. Thanks too for all the information and history. Glad you all had such a memorable holiday. Will inundate you with questions now till we are ready to go. Getting very excited. Thanks again really enjoyed it. Trish

My favourite pic is the fourth one with Loch Nan Ceall as the title. Love it.

That's just south of Mallaig, a really quiet spot and it was completely calm that night. The road runs SW from Arisaig to a dead-end

Once again - a award winning set of snaps. We're already planning our next trip up that way

Shame about all those traffic jams though.

Excellent as usual Paul

Brian

Stunning and thank you for sharing

Fantastic pictures, very well documented tour.

All I've got to do now is take delivery of my Bongo and get out there and see the bits of Scotland I've not been to yet.

Oh, and I MUST get a set of those organic levelling blocks!

Ye Gods!!!! Outstanding Just 'wasted' time looking through the whole travelogue when I'm supposed to be packing to Bongo wild camp with some gliders in a grass field in Oxfordshire. I feel like cancelling it and heading north of the border with the kids.

You Muz's truly are Wainwrights of the Bongo world - I feel small and insignificant by comparison, with my earthbound ventures. Somehow, great adventures like these should be written up and published as they would give great joy to those who would love to make trips like that but probably never will. The young Muzes have been given some great adventures by their mum and dad. I believe that - far from worrying about what the smart thing to do in life might be in these uncertain times - filling your childrens heads with wonder, curiosity, a sense of history, and of adventure and love of the natural landscapes with their beauty and constancy can never be wasted effort. If you possess these things, you are truly rich (£1.00 per night -> nothing per night, did you say - enough to warm a Scotsmans heart Dr Finlay ).

I'll stop now - I'm getting all emotional