We are in bonny Scotland now arrived 1am this morning at Cairnryan P&O Ferry Terminal and drove straight to the Long Stay Parking to get some shut eye. The two hour crossing from Larne was a bit rocky due to a swell didn’t get any sleep on the ferry chaps talking and drinking in the Lounge so we ended up in the Video Room watching “The Great Wall” with Matt Damon silly video but passed the time away. Glad I have my lifesaver Edna whom I can email for help and advice, she has come up with suggestions of places and caravan sites to stay at in Scotland so now we have plotted our route around Scotland.

Nice to wake up to blue sky, white fluffy clouds with a touch of grey and no rain so far. The ferries are like clockwork come and go every two hours and there wasn’t any disturbance while we slept in the carpark getting quite used to wild camping and Scotland is apparently the place for wild camping.

We are taking A77 along the coast of the Irish Sea driving by the shoreline of Loch Ryan past the Stenaline Ferry Terminal climbing the hillside only to be stopped by our first of a few roadworks. The landscape in Scotland seems to look completely different to Ireland the section between Cairnryan to Givan is very rugged barren mountainous terrain where sheep and cattle are seen grazing. The soil is rocky marshland scrub looking with enough vegetation for the animals to graze on. Beautiful landscape views of forests and woodlands.

Gorgeous views of the rocky coastline as we drive along the Irish Sea by little villages on the shoreline with the mountains or hills as the Scots call them behind. Constantly see the island of Ailsa Craig, nice view to look at when we are held up before Lendalfoot the road is being resurfaced in a large section. This road is the main road to the ferries at Cairnryan and is very busy with semi’s. Spotted a few gypsy camps on the shoreline and on the horizon can see the outline of the island of Arran and behind it is Kintyre.

Winding round the coast we finally come to the large town of Girvan a very bland looking town of red/grey granite buildings same painted either white or cream not like Ireland with the brightly coloured buildings with hanging baskets of flowers and flags hanging across the main street, even the homes are a bit boring to look at very plain.

The scenery changes now as we travel inland from Turnberry to Kilmarnock this must be the agricultural area as the soil looks a lot richer with fields of grain, sweet corn and different types of vegetables growing. Climbing up and down through the glens we cross main rivers, streams and bridges plus you have to watch your speed as there are speed cameras mounted all along the roads in plain sight, there are signs warning you before you approach towns bends on roads, etc.

Passed the outer area of the large town of Ayr with a view of rows of lookalike little brown box houses, no colour or different style house, wouldn’t want to be drunk going home you wouldn’t know which one was your house. After bypassing the large city of Kilmarnock we entered the dual motorway of M77 at Fenwick with views of forest and woodlands, the lovely wind turbines and the sparse mountainous terrain with sheep and cattle grazing. These views we had till Newton Mearn.

The roads there are great dual motorways except for the winding coastal road, good flow of traffic even though it is very busy. Change of direction now on A726 heading towards the large city of Paisley to bypass Glasgow on our way to Loch Lomond. Need a rest stop and spotted the big Supermarket of Sainsbury for a lovely hot lunch and naughty Cream Tea (Devonshire) plus diesel £1.109lt. Supermarkets in the UK are great the one stop shop, groceries, clothing, alcohol, pharmacy, everything a Woolworths, BigW, liquor store in one.

Travelling through the built-up areas now, Paisley looks a very old city glad the satnav knows where to go as we weaving through the street to the M8 dual motorway then M898 over the Firth of Clyde River on a beautiful high expanding bridge to Loch Lomond.

As we are entering the Loch Lomond National Park it starts raining, beautiful scenery of the forest but no roads leading to the lake to wild camp for the night and we don’t want to stop in a layby like other motorhomes we have passed. Small holiday site of Luss is by the lake and with directions from the Camping and Caravan Club site (high season and expensive) we bought a National Forest Camping Permit £3.00 for one night at Firkin Point by the lake (toilet and recycle bins provided). A lovely spot we will explore tomorrow on our bikes seeing it is raining now and the mozzies are out in force.