The Gaffer Holidaying in Scotland

He was on the ferry crossing from Scrabster to Orkney a week last Saturday same day as four or five of the Caithness football teams were on the ferry to Orkney for the Highland Amateur Cup. Must have been wondering what the hell was going on.
He would have wondered even more on the way back after a Highland Amateur day in Orkney. Always a favourite away trip. A class day out for any team.

Big Phil was doing a bit of fishing in Orkney. Seemingly like a bit of that for relaxation. Those that met him said was a really nice guy very down to earth.
 
I would recommend the drive from Glasgow via Loch Lomond, Tyndrum, Glen Coe, Fort William, Glen Finnan, Arisaig, Morar and get the ferry to Skye from Mallaig. The scenery if you haven't seen it before is awesome and even if you've seen it plenty I still stop many places to take photos and enjoy the views.
That's the exact route I took last time I went to Skye.

Here's a picture I took of Loch Shiel (on the Fort William to Mallaig road)...

 
He's getting about, was in Orkney mixing with locals a couple of Saturday nights ago.

or anti clockwise. Given he was in Orkney last week.
Would recommend doing it anti-clockwise. This saves the best to last and the stretch from Tongue to Durness and down to Ullapool is the best part. Driving towards Kylestrome from the North makes Quinag seem much more impressive than the wee hill it is.
 
That's the exact route I took last time I went to Skye.

Here's a picture I took of Loch Shiel (on the Fort William to Mallaig road)...

Lovely.

You get great views of that and the viaduct from up a wee hill behind the visitor centre

Have some good pics from that spot over the years.
 
Would recommend doing it anti-clockwise. This saves the best to last and the stretch from Tongue to Durness and down to Ullapool is the best part. Driving towards Kylestrome from the North makes Quinag seem much more impressive than the wee hill it is.
Did the NC500 during COVID. Had previously been on business up to Thurso a few times so travelled past there the first day (stopped off at John O Groats to let my wife see it) The far north west and the west coast is definitely the best part. Every corner reveals another section of stunning scenery.
 
Great to see the gaffer enjoying the beauty of Scotland. Hopefully helps him recharge, whenever I get away up north I feel refreshed mentally and get lost in the environment which is such a contrast from the central belt.
 
Do you think he will pop over to Harris while he is up that neck of the woods
Is it not one of the largest Rangers supporters clubs about
 
You dont half talk some nonsense at times
there has been some competition ( any match thread) but this has to be up there with the biggest load of bollocks posted.
Sorry, I forgot.

Port Glasgow's f^cking awesome*.

Please accept my apologies.


* This judgement was reached using Greenock, Dundee & Pripyat for the purpose of comparison
 
In one of my former jobs back in Scotland.one of our customers was in Uig on Skye.our base was in Montrose and I would be up in the highlands for two or three days.i would do all the jobs around Inverness and once I had done those I would drive from Inverness to Skye,it was the most stunning drive in terms of scenery.it was breathtaking at times.

Do the drive once a year to go to uist and love it. It’s a stunning part of the world.
 
Pretty sure one of the five pictures he posted is smoo cave Durness, far north west coast of Scotland.
He was up in Orkney last weekend , was gutted I missed him but there were a few Caithness teams over on the ferry with him on the Saturday morning all getting selfies with him
 
Sorry, I forgot.

Port Glasgow's f^cking awesome*.

Please accept my apologies.


* This judgement was reached using Greenock, Dundee & Pripyat for the purpose of comparison
Mibbes have a look outside these urban areas?
 
Did the NC500 during COVID. Had previously been on business up to Thurso a few times so travelled past there the first day (stopped off at John O Groats to let my wife see it) The far north west and the west coast is definitely the best part. Every corner reveals another section of stunning scenery.
How long would you allow for the NC500? I really fancy doing this sometime when I'm back home in Scotland for a visit.
 
Love it up north but the biggest problem is a lack of good quality modern accommodations and places with pools etc. Some great resorts would be great up there as right now it’s pretty embarrassing the standard of accommodations
 
The tutties neuk which was there when i went to Arbroath in mid 70s with the parents.

The cliffburn hotel and windmill hotel.
Likely long gone.
I must be bloody old ....I remember going to the Windmill Hotel with mother & father in the mid 50's....I remember (vaguely) watching Rangers in a pre-season game at Gayfield ...being taken down to the 'shows' with one of the chamber-maids ( I was an early starter) . Happy days.
 
See - not all parts of our nation is fucking shit.

People don’t appreciate what we have on our door step, some of Scotland is absolutely stunning , our climate stops people seeing a lot of it due to going abroad instead every year, atleast 2 or 3 times a year we go away for the weekend in Scotland somewhere.

Mallaig beach, around the end of September when you still get some days good weather if we are there the beach is dead, the dog loves it and it looks better than 99% of beeches abroad that I’ve been on.

 
People don’t appreciate what we have on our door step, some of Scotland is absolutely stunning , our climate stops people seeing a lot of it due to going abroad instead every year, atleast 2 or 3 times a year we go away for the weekend in Scotland somewhere.

Mallaig beach, around the end of September when you still get some days good weather if we are there the beach is dead, the dog loves it and it looks better than 99% of beeches abroad that I’ve been on.

I used to go to a caravan park in Arisaig when I was a kid. Absolutely loved it.
 
Love it up north but the biggest problem is a lack of good quality modern accommodations and places with pools etc. Some great resorts would be great up there as right now it’s pretty embarrassing the standard of accommodations
My advice would be to hire a Motorhome(probably works out cheaper than accommodation) week to 10 days, take your time, when the weather is great you don't need swimming pools, some of the beaches and crystal clear waters beats any swimming pool... to really appreciate the Highlands and Islands a week is required at the very minimum.
 
I did the north coast 500 with the wife a couple of years ago and tagged skye on at the end. Or more accurately I did the north coast 450 and she drove for about 50 miles or so one day. Fucking passenger princess B-)
 
I must be bloody old ....I remember going to the Windmill Hotel with mother & father in the mid 50's....I remember (vaguely) watching Rangers in a pre-season game at Gayfield ...being taken down to the 'shows' with one of the chamber-maids ( I was an early starter) . Happy days.
Edit. Reply to wrong post
 
My advice would be to hire a Motorhome(probably works out cheaper than accommodation) week to 10 days, take your time, when the weather is great you don't need swimming pools, some of the beaches and crystal clear waters beats any swimming pool... to really appreciate the Highlands and Islands a week is required at the very minimum.

I hired one a few years ago and had a great time so it’s definitely a great option. I think the point still stands though. Tourism has exploded up north which is great but the facilities are poor overall and it’s giving off a poor impression.
 
If you are going through Mallaig stop at my brothers cafe "Jaco Bites"(I know) by the station. Be aware his wife is fierce lol
I’ve been in here whilst working up there and she makes it clear to you that your custom is an inconvenience :D
 
I must be bloody old ....I remember going to the Windmill Hotel with mother & father in the mid 50's....I remember (vaguely) watching Rangers in a pre-season game at Gayfield ...being taken down to the 'shows' with one of the chamber-maids ( I was an early starter) . Happy days.
Posh boy .. the first hotel I stayed in was a one nighter in Perth for my honeymoon lol
 
Do you think he will pop over to Harris while he is up that neck of the woods
Is it not one of the largest Rangers supporters clubs about
That would involve traveling on a calmac ferry - if they're actually sailing they're stowed out with campervans, you'd be lucky to get a booked on!!
 
Nice to see he's enjoying Scotland. I'd have thought a complete break from the place would be good for him. But then he doesn't seem much of a sat on his backside sunbathing kind of guy.

I didn't know he had 3 kids from a previous marriage until I googled whether he had any kids.
 
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