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Mon 29th July
We hung up our towels outside the van last night and woke up in the morning to some typical east coast har which soaked the towels through. After running the genny for an hour to charge stuff up we headed on our way.
Not that far along the road we spotted a sign for Scotstown beach and decided to check it out. There is a carpark before some steep dunes that you go over to get on the beach, there is also ample space opposite the main car park if you were wanting to park there for the day or night. The only drawback is that you can't see the beach as the dunes are too high. Beautiful beach all the same
Stopped up at Asda in Peterhead to get some supplies and then headed north along the coast to Fraserburgh and then west along the Moray coast. We decided on a wee stop off at Pennan, the scene for the film local hero. It was a bit of a scary trip down to the village as the road down was very steep and windy, all be it not that long. We met 2 cars coming up the other way which was a bit nervy as it had to be on the steepest part.
My advise, PLEASE don't take a motorhome down into Pennan. Our van is a Fiat Ducato 5.4m in length and this was a struggle meeting a vehicle coming up the other way. In a motorhome it could be really dangerous.
Pennan though was worth the effort, as absolutely beautiful fishing village backed by high cliffs and the most quaint whitewashed houses. I don't know who started the craze of stone stacking, all along the front of the village are loads of little stone pyramids. We took the dogs for a walk along to the harbour. There is a small hut there which is also a cafe. Unfortunately the owner had to take his dog to the vets and it was stut when we got there.
It was a baking hot day when we got to Pennan with the sun still shining from over the cliffs. Logie Bears was struggling in the heat and we managed to find a stream for him to have a paddle and cool off
The only other drawback to Pennan apart from the steep road down is that Pennan isn't very DOG FRIENDLY. We asked if we could bring the dogs into the Pennan Inn and they refused. Plenty of parking though at the far end of the village and public toilets which are very well kept.
Kathryn was really worried about about getting back up the hill, we originally planned to stay the night and leave early in the morning to avoid any traffic coming the other way but Kathryn couldn't settle for the worry and we risked it for a biscuit.
The van got up no problem but as soon as we got to the top, 3 cars passed us. 2 minutes later and it could have been a disaster.
From Pennan we headed west along the Moray coastal trail. When we came along this way last year we stopped off in a place called Portgordon. There is a parking place just before the village off the road to the right. There is a massive seal colony in Portgordon, consisting of both grey and common seals. Most of the seals were out in the water when we arrived but you could see them sticking their heads out the water, playing and larking about. It was a beautiful sunny evening. A german couple parked their van next to ours and we had a chat for a bit. They were touring the north of Scotland for a couple of weeks and were having a great time. The woman was really nervous towards dogs, but both Lucy Liu and Logan were really friendly towards her and before long she was giving both a clap.
A number of people stopped off to watch the sun set and see some seals. We met a young couple who had an 8 week old malamute cross. The puppy was adorable !! The woman was local and the man came from Liverpool. They had a young son with them and I think the boy fell in love with our van and we gave him the ''Royal Tour''. The woman mentioned a place called Rose Isle, near Elgan. Apparently you go through some woods which opens up to an amazing beach. Going to check it out tomorrow.
Kathryn & I stayed up late watching the colours in the sky changing through a hundred different shades of purple and pink. Lucy Liu and Logan were zonked out on the grass snoring their heads off.
