N 54.86850°, W 03.27354°
Tioram Castle was a grand location to wake up and a casual skim with the binoculars over the bay brought red-breasted mergansers before the kettle had even boiled.
It was a really dawdly morning. Contentment levels were so high that we stopped three times at nature reserves and forestry commission walks to have an aimless 10 minute wander about, and many more times to have a look out with the bins over gobsmacking loch scenes. Perfect blue skies, a tinge of autumnal cool in the air, and bright sunshine just brought every bit of landscape to life. With the heather in full bloom to boot, the feel-good factor doesn't get much better.
Only after lunch at Glencoe did I start to get serious about the ground I had to cover and reality meant the afternoon was a pretty dull-drive affair with things only improving when we finally made the Solway Firth.
After well over four hours of solid sleep Stu was up for his fourth wander about of the day and we spent a pleasant half hour watching (mainly) black-backed gulls out on the Firth (pic) where he also had some tea al-fresco. He has it rough...
A couple of non-starters for rough camps saw me heading to the coordinates shown where we've kipped before. We were last here at Easter 2014 when it was teeming with migrating geese. By comparison it's really quiet this evening but I did get a brilliant display from about half a dozen bats that were feeding like gangbusters round some gorse bushes right next to the van. On numerous occasions they virtually flew into the van through the open side door. I was literally two feet away from them - or them from me: accepting who was in charge.
Tomorrow will be a straight drive home, complete with unfeasibly well-travelled whippet.
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