It’s great to be back with another episode of Passing Places. I briefly review a few personal travel highlights from 2013 and go on to mention that 2014 is the Year of Homecoming Scotland. As well as the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles we have the independence referendum to look forward to.  It’s going to be the biggest year in Scotland certainly in my lifetime. It is also the seven hundredth anniversary of The Battle of Bannockburn which took place a few...

Motorhome Discrimination in the UK Passing Places this week touches on the topic of motorhome use in the UK and some of the discrimination and negative perceptions that persist particularly in the more scenic parts of the country where there is pressure on car parks and local beauty spots. What a difference to my experiences in France where motorhomes are actively encouraged and great facilities ensure that local towns and villages benefit from the economic contribution that travellers in...

Living The Dream How can you live the dream in a motorhome all year round in Scotland?  I touch on the subject for the first of many times in future episodes. I also include the second part of our USA visitors experience in Scotland, including Skye and Plockton.  So are you living the dream or planning to jump off the hamster wheel, escape the rat race and take off? Giving up the security of a career, a home and employment can sound daunting.  If that security however is gnawing away at...

USA - Scottish Travels Featuring Part One of Joyce & Carlo from Boston on their recent Highland adventure as well as other listener conversations about some great locations to visit in Scotland over the winter months. Many listeners who got in touch favour the North West coast of Scotland as well as the North coast. Gairloch, Lochcarron & Gruinard Bay near Ullapool are all covered.  So whether you live in the UK, the USA or anywhere else in the world, if you have a travel story...

Winter in Scotland Ideas for short breaks in quieter parts of Scotland are on my agenda this week. Where would you go for a short break to escape the crowds? I cover places on my bucket list for the winter : Moffat, Pittenweem, Elgol, Portmahomack and Durness on the north coast. Get in touch with Passing Places and share your experiences and ideas with all our listeners.  You can leave a comment here on the website, leave a voicemail or join us on The Passing Places Podcast Group on...

USA Visitors to Scotland I'm in the village of  Killin in Stirlingshire.  In this weeks episode of Passing Places I catch up with Joyce and Carlo from Boston, USA, to say hello and to hear first hand how they have enjoyed their vacation in Scotland.  I also have an in-depth interview with Bonnie Hofkin from her home in California.  I also touch upon the feedback I have had about Passing Places and how I might improve the weekly podcast of my travels around Scotland in the coming...

The Sounds of Scotland In Passing Places this week I review the progress of the podcast over the past seven months and seek listener feedback on how to take the podcast forward in the coming weeks and months over the winter here in Scotland.  My podcast to date has been largely in a monologue format with a few interviews of people on my travels and a fair sprinkling of the sounds of Scotland. I'm keen to record more audio out and about and I'm very interested in what you the listener...

Autumn in Scotland In this weeks episode of the podcast I consider why visiting Scotland is a great idea in the autumn. There are very few tourists around, no midges and the autumn display of our woodlands can be a spectacular sight for photographers and all visitors alike.  I suggest some great woodlands that you might like to visit and I look forward to the onset of winter, the shorter days and longer nights and the arrival of snow at any time from now on. The jewel in the crown for...

Talbot Motorhome Owners Club - Tarland Mini Meet. What a fantastic week-end on Deeside.  I'm on a campsite at Tarland in the the North East of Scotland on a Sunday evening and I have just enjoyed such a good time with owners of  Talbot motorhomes and similar vans. In this weeks episode I cover the week that was but focus on the mini-meet on Deeside.   If you are thinking about buying a van for the first time or you have a van consider joining the Talbot Owners Club as you will meet like...

Dumbarton Castle A week spent in and around Glasgow & Ayrshire with a visit down to Dumbarton Castle. Dumbarton Castle is an excellent place to stop off on your way towards Loch Lomond to enjoy the great views from the top of the castle and to reflect on the amazing history surrounding the ancient fortress.  From vikings, William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots Dumbarton Castle has played a key role in Scottish history. The castle sits on a prominent volcanic plug guarding the...

Touring the Scottish Highlands Some advice tips and information around planning a trip in the Scottish Highlands.  In this weeks episode I discuss possible routes through the Highlands and including a visit to the Isle of Skye.  We travel from the central belt as far as Ullapool and return via the Trossachs. Its is possible to plan and book your trip around Scotland before you arrive but there advantages in being flexible too, not least the changeable weather.  I also mention a few...

Loch Ness and the scenery around Dores is just wonderful.  This week  I enjoyed a long weekend near the banks of Loch Ness in the highlands, with a group of like minded folk in their campervans and motorhomes.  It's the first time I have attended a meeting of motorhome users and I can't speak highly enough of the experience. If your interested in campervans and motorhomes or if you are a new owner attending a meet is a great way to meet people and pick their brains in terms of advice and...

I enjoyed another visit to The Mull of Kintyre this week amid some glorious late summer sunshine.  As I headed back I was acutely aware of the end of summer both in terms of less tourist traffic but also a real sense of Autumn being in the air.  In the coming weeks I hope to spend a lot more time in wild areas rather than on campsites. I'm off to a motorhome mini-meet today on Loch Ness.  It will be the first time I have attended such a gathering so I'll provide you with an update on my...

Well I did head over to the East coast after all and what a great few days I had.  I  based myself  in Johnshaven, a small fishing village between Montrose and Stonehaven.  The weather was good for the five days and I managed to visit the beach at Lunan Bay, the open air swimming pool at Stonehaven and a very brief visit to Dunnattor Castle, one of the most photographed castles in Scotland. If you are visiting Scotland don’t discount this coastline.  There is so much to see and do.  From...

Back from France Well I'm back from France and returning to my weekly podcast schedule about my ongoing travels around Scotland. France turned out to be a great trip and a country I would like to live in on a more full time basis at some point in the future.  However in the meantime let's get on with celebrating and enjoying the more remote and rugged parts of Scotland. In this weeks episode I reflect on my time in France and look forward to getting back out in the motorhome next week...

The podcast is recorded in Stirling this week with some reference to Birnam & Dunkeld in Perthshire where I stayed last week-end but also some outdoor recording of a local livestock sheep auction and reflections about my preparations for my up an coming trip to France.  I don't intend to produce my normally weekly podcast over the next five or six weeks but I will be podcasting during my trip on an ad-hoc basis. A big thank you to everybody who is listening to Passing Places.  I have...

I enjoyed a wonderful sailing back from Tiree to Oban on Monday.  The views and weather were superb and entering the harbour at Oban gave excellent views of the town and McCaig's folly on the hill as well as the cathedral and other prominent buildings. I stayed the night at  a campsite a few miles south of  Oban.  In the morning I headed off from Oban and scouted a few possible overnight stops on my way back towards Stirling.  I ended up staying at an overnight stop near Dalmally.  In one...

A fantastic week on the wonderful and remote island of Tiree

Catch up on my travels and a chat about the Inner Hebrides.

The remarkable story of the small island of Gigha, a short ferry trip from Tayinloan.

Podcasting from Muasdale about my recent travels.  Chatting about cycling and the West Highland Way.

My very first trip to Orkney, a magical group of islands off the north coast of Scotland.

Enjoying the beaches and malt whisky on the wonderful island of Islay.

An enjoyable week-end in the lovely coastal village of Portpatrick and the Mull of Galloway.

A few days in Arrochar and climbing Ben Arthur (The Cobbler).  Encountering a fox in the dead of night.