Tag: Scotland

First full day in Scoland

blog Travel 2 Comments

Well OK, maybe not the best blog title in the world. Since it may make you think it’s my first every full day in Scotland. Which of course it’s not, since I grow up here. It’s just my first full day here, since driving up on Sunday.

So what have I done today then? Well not really that much, since it’s been wet and windy just about all day. Then it’s Scotland so of course it’s going to be wet. Half washing I had taken a wetsuit up with me!

Over all it’s been a good day. Went into town my Dad and Mum. First time I had been out a good run in there new car. Really like it, still find it weird, when having a 4×4, since they have never had one before. We went to a shop called GO Outdoors. Which I am sure you can tell by the the name sells outdoors stuff. So I get myself some walking boots, which my Mum and Dad, paid for as part of my birthday :).

Once back home to Killearn. I spend most of the evening, just playing around on the net. Yes nothing new there at all. And watching the first series of Torchwood, seen it before. But only when it was on TV. Back then I did not have Freeview HD or Freesat HD. So watching it on blu-ray is so much better. I watched the first 5 episodes. I will no doubt end up watching the rest tomorrow evening.

So that was my first day in Scotland. Tomorrow should be better, since I am meeting up with a friend from my Balfron High School days and going to look around the Glasgow transport museum.

That’s me in Scotland :)

blog Travel 2 Comments

That’s me up in Scotland for 2 weeks :). I am up looking after the family dog Ghille, while my Mum and Dad go on holiday. They go on Wednesday, but I drove up today, so I get to spend some time with them before they go. Since I have not seen them since April. They do normally come down in June to see me. But Ghille is getting old, so they did not want to leave him.

The weather up is here cold. Funny when I left my village in England around 11:30am, it was 20C and blue sky. Get up here and it’s 14C and very, very wet. Just hope the weather gets a bit better, while here. Since I want to get some cycling in while here. Also want to get to see some friends while here. Don’t really feel like walking around Glasgow in the pissing down rain.

I will try to post a new blog most times. Well that’s if the weather is OK. If it’s crap,you will not want to hear, about what, I have been watching on TV all day!

Updated cycling maps

Cycling No Comments

I have just updated my cycling maps section by updating the Killearn and Little Bytham maps, which show the places I have cycled to from each village.

Killearn cycling map

Place's I have cycled to from Killearn (updated 20/04/2011)

Little Bytham cycling map

Place's I have cycled to from Little Bytham (updated 20/04/2011)

More maps can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/cycling/

Went a nice walk up the Campsie Fells

blog Travel 1 Comment

If you have watched my three vlogs below then you will already know most of this… It was a really, really nice day… like 19C which for Scotland in April is very good indeed. So my plan was to go out a nice cycle maybe to Loch Lomond and back. I got all geared up in my sexy cycling gear. Then went outside, to get my bike. Only to find it had a flat tyre. If I had been in England, it would have been OK. Since I have the tools to fix it. But I did not have anything at all to fix it. So all I could do, was put the bike back away. Then think of something else, to do in the great weather.

So I went back inside, half changed out of my cycling gear. In other words I kept my cycling shorts on, just put “normal” shorts on over the top of them and changed out of my cycling top. Then I set off out towards the Campsie Fells, which was just a very short walk from my Mum and Dads house in Killearn.

The plain was only to go a short walk, but ended up doing 8.14 miles. I know this since I took my cycle GPS with me :). Now I will bore you with some of my walking stats. I spent 2:16.39 (h:m:s) walking. Avg speed was 3.6 mph, not 2 bad for hill walking if you ask me. Max speed was 12.7 mph, yes I did a bit of running also. Min elevation was 87 meters and max elevation was 535 meters. So well pleased with myself. In the whole time I lived in Killearn, it’s the highest, up point I have ever got to up the Campsie Fells.

While doing the walk, I also got some great photos. Please check them out at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/me/2011/page/5/.

Oh in that photo above did not go 2 far into the water, since it was a bit on the cold side. Also had no idea how deep it was. I have a feeling it’s a lot deeper than it looks. But next time, I go up will make sure I have my wetsuit with me, to find out :).

Campsie Fells: vlog part 3

Personal Travel Vlog No Comments

Here is my third and last vlog, I filmed while walking up the Campsie Fells in Scotland.

Here some photos from the walk…

Campsie FellsCampsie FellsCampsie FellsCampsie Fells

Lots more can be found at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/page/archive/2011-04/

Campsie Fells: vlog part 1

Personal Travel Vlog No Comments

I was planning to go out a cycle, but my bike had a flat tyre. Since it was a great day, went out a walk… Ended up going up the Campsie Fells.

Part 2 will be posted very soon indeed :).

Had a great time seeing my brother

blog No Comments

I went to Glasgow to see my younger brother Craig and his girlfriend Alison. I think I did very well indeed to place there flat. I did have my Dads car sat nav with me. But it was no help at all, since my Dad likes to get our names mixed up, so when I told it, to check me to Craig’s it had the address for Douglas on it. So I then went looking for Douglas’ address on it, hoping it would then have Craig’s on it. But no, that would have been, way, to easy.

Lucky I had been a number of times before. But never driven there before myself without a sat nav. But lucky for me if I go somewhere, two or the times, I can find the place. You also have to remember that Glasgow is one the biggest cites in the UK. They live on the side, of the city, I next to never been 2. Till they both moved there.

But even without a sat nav I still got there just about on time. Once there we all went out a nice walk and also called in a place called Church on the Hill to get some food. Now to do a mini review of the place. But of all, it’s a very nice pub inside. Lots of places to seat down, to drink and eat. But there on it, can’t say much good about the place. We ordered food at the bar, but then had to wait for 30 minutes to 45 minutes to get it.  Which if you ask me, is way, way to long to be waiting for food. But at least once the food did turn up, it was very nice indeed. I am sure I would go again, just hope the service is better, or I would never go again.

Then after the meal, we then went a walk around a Queen Park, and all had a good chat. Then it was back to there flat, for while and more chatting. Before I went back home. Lucky the drive back is nice and easy, just had to follow the signs for the tunnel.

So thanks to Alison and Craig for having me :).

Monday – 11th October 2010

Cycling No Comments

Today I went a great cycle from Killearn to Rowardennan on the east side in Loch Lomond. I may have lived in Killearn well over half my life, but it’s the first time I have ever cycled to Rowardennan, most times, I just cycled to Balmaha and turned back, mainly since just after Balmaha, they’re is a 15% hill to get up. Also the road just ends at Rowardennan. So it’s like cycling up a road to no where. Just got a car park for the people walking up Ben Lomond and hotel.

Buy Generic Modafinil (Provigil) for Best Price

© 2025 Gordon S Valentine - Disclaimer notice - Privacy notice

MENU

Navigation