Howburn Digger
|
Re: Island Hopping In Scotland
Dec 28, 2016, 17:34
|
|
tiompan wrote: Boats are essential but walking and hitching can take care of the rest .
I spent fifteen adult years without a car. Way back then Citylink coaches took me and Mrs HD to Kennacraig, Oban, Fort William, Ullapool and Skye. We then covered all the islands (after taking the ferry of course) using local buses, walking and hitching. Once me and the OH were staying at a self catering cottage in Portree. We hitched out to Clach Ard Pictish Stone (near Borve) then hitched on to Dun Skudburgh at Uig. Hitched on to Duntulm Castle (ate our sangwidges there) and had to walk about 1km along the road to Kilmaluag, where we waited at the red phone box (it was raining - then the sun came out) for a lift.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6157/6240867527_abb489b77a_b.jpg
Flagged one down in a jiffy. Got dropped at Storr for a short scramble up to see the Old Man. Walked back down to the road just in time for another lift back into Portree where we were dropped off at the Indian Restaurant by the harbour. We then had a great Indian meal.
https://goo.gl/maps/Q6gYNjnTrpA2
We did all that just in an late morning/ afternoon. And back in time for tea (other delicious eateries are available). Trotternish Peninsula taking in quite a few sites in one afternoon hitching (and a little footwork).
|
tiompan
|
Re: Island Hopping In Scotland
Dec 28, 2016, 18:10
|
I spent the majority of my adult life without one ,pretty addicted now however . Much prefer going from A-B rather than round trip back to the start .
Three weeks mostly walking and hitching got us from Lewis to Barra ,tent and the ocassional Gatliff trust hostel did for accomodation (hardly any bothies in these days or certainly anything ran by the MBA ) .Were hardly on roads.
Picked up and dropped parcels (clothes , food , film ) off at a couple of post offices , which were the odd glimpses of civilisation , (much the same as leaving water on the Cuillin ridge ).
Did same journey in reverse with a car , wondeful holiday , but an entirley different experience .
|
Howburn Digger
|
Re: Island Hopping In Scotland
Dec 28, 2016, 21:37
|
|
tiompan wrote: I spent the majority of my adult life without one, pretty addicted now however .
RCAHMS and HS should provide you with one.
Sorry... I'm showing my age there. Historic Environment Scotland should provide you with one.
|
Markoid
|
Re: Island Hopping In Scotland
Dec 28, 2016, 22:02
|
Thanks for the info everybody. It's been 10 years + since I've visited any of the islands. Me and the then wife (she was the only driver) used to visit Scotland around the festive season, so time was limited (as were some ferries), a car was needed for us, and camping in the Winter was totally out of the question!
I had no idea about RET - what a great initiative to keep the prices down and increase demand and help communities. I've been thinking recentely about going to some of the islands which I haven't yet managed to get to. I've never been to Lewis, so that's top of the list - In the Summertime this time though. And as a non-driver, I might have to get the bus and walk a bit too!
|
thesweetcheat
|
Re: Island Hopping In Scotland
Dec 28, 2016, 23:08
|
|
Yes, thanks very much. Hopefully a car free trip to Lewis will happen one day (and the Orkneys and Shetlands)
|
Markoid
|
Edited Dec 29, 2016, 00:12
Re: Island Hopping In Scotland
Dec 28, 2016, 23:21
|
|
thesweetcheat wrote: Yes, thanks very much. Hopefully a car free trip to Lewis will happen one day (and the Orkneys and Shetlands)
I/we went to Shetland about 20 odd years ago (to see some Julian Cope gigs and a bit of scenery). It was great. It took a long time though and cost a flippin fortune! I think their sea prices were regulated by another. Possibly Scandanavian.
Orkney, I've never been too (even though it's on the way to Shetland). One day!
|
Markoid
|
Edited Dec 28, 2016, 23:43
Re: Island Hopping In Scotland
Dec 28, 2016, 23:41
|
|
Markoid wrote: thesweetcheat wrote: Yes, thanks very much. Hopefully a car free trip to Lewis will happen one day (and the Orkneys and Shetlands)
I/we went to Shetland about 20 odd years ago (to see some Julian Cope gigs and a bit of scenery). It was great. It took a long time though and cost a flippin fortune! I think their sea prices were regulated by another.
Orkney, I've never been too (even though it's on the way to Shetland). One day!
As far as I remember you have to get to Aberdeen to get ferries to Shetland and Orkney. A totally different part of the world.
|
tiompan
|
Re: Island Hopping In Scotland
Dec 28, 2016, 23:50
|
|
Howburn Digger wrote: tiompan wrote: I spent the majority of my adult life without one, pretty addicted now however .
RCAHMS and HS should provide you with one.
Sorry... I'm showing my age there. Historic Environment Scotland should provide you with one.
Lol .
Request is in the post .
|
CARL
|
Re: Island Hopping In Scotland
Dec 29, 2016, 00:44
|
|
Pity RET doesn't appear to cover Shetland. That is very expensive when taking the car from Aberdeen - although it is a long way to be fair! :)
|
Markoid
|
Edited Dec 29, 2016, 06:18
Re: Island Hopping In Scotland
Dec 29, 2016, 01:11
|
|
CARL wrote: Pity RET doesn't appear to cover Shetland. That is very expensive when taking the car from Aberdeen - although it is a long way to be fair! :)
What what we did was leave the car in Aberdeen and THEN get on the boat!
Pick the car up later!
|
