Highlands Journey – coastal wonderland

As the popular saying goes “if you don’t like the weather in Scotland then just wait 20 minutes”. While it seems the main topic of conversation from January to December is the rain it did begin to lift and so did our spirits.

The beauty of having a campervan is that you are not fixed on where and when you go, which was ideal when we stumbled upon the most magnificent beach at Arisaig. We set up next to a little bay with lovely white sand (not pebbles like the England) and sat and watched the sky turn from blue to pink as the sun slowly slipped behind the isles of Eigg and Rum on the horizon. ………“Ah the serenity”.

With the sun making a welcome return in the morning what better place to spend and extra night and do nothing but enjoy this scenic wonderland. The kids played on the beach and fed the small pony which decided to graze next to us, Kathy read her book and I spent the time wondering along the coast.

Having now travelled through some of this lovely open landscape I can now see why many Scots feel at home in Australia. The heather clad mountains, wooded glens, beautiful lochs and stunning rugged coast are a natural wonder to behold.

Having made the pilgrimage to a dead guys mausoleum I thought I would see what other connections there are between Oz and Scotland apart from us beating them in the World Cup. It takes no more than a glance at the ozi banknotes to understand the role that Scots immigrants played in the development of our great country. It turns out one was born in Scotland ($5 Catherine Helen Spence), three are from Scots Australian families ($10 Andrew Barton Paterson and Dame Mary Gilmore, and $100 - Dame Nellie Melba) and one was a Presbyterian minister with close links to the Church of Scotland ($20, Reverend John Flynn). I also didn’t realise that Peter Dodds McCormick, a Scot, composed ‘Advance Australia Fair' in the 1800’s.
But enough of that – it was time to pack camp - well at least turn the gas off - and continue on our highlands journey.