Lovely area. We lived in Moray for nearly 10 years and loved it. Beaches, mountains and a more relaxed life style. Much better weather than the west or Highlands but still 5deg colder than down south! Not 100% sure if I’d move back permanently, as it’s just a bit too far from family, but certainly visit often.
And no Midges!
They used to be even cheaper! Lovely 4/5 double bed, detached stone Victorian house with big garden for under £100k in Moray. Then people started buying from down south and the prices rocketed and a few years later the same house was £450k. Still better value than many areas of England though!And no Midges!
As you say, decent quality of life but still within reasonable reach of civilization. Oh and house prices... compared to down here in the SE. Don't get me started on what 300k gets you here vs there!!!
Yep, 300k gets you a 2 bed terrace with no garage, no driveway, 2 up 2 down in a 'decent' area round here. If you want to live in an actual nice village, or have a driveway, or no neighbors on each side, then you're onto 400k or more.
@Ali-G i feel like we'd get on - i'm sat here nodding at everything you've said on this thread so far!!
Back on the mainland again and after visiting Cape Wrath lighthouse that marks the Western end of the Pentland Firth we’ll head inland past Inverness to the Scottish Lighthouse museum at Fraserburgh. Finally along the Firth of Forth and down to St Abbs Head, just North of Berwick on Tweed.
That is a LOT in 10 days!Another circular route of Scotland planned for next May. This time I’ll be doing it with my son and we’ll make a documentary, In the manner of the numerous father/son travelogues on the telly over the last few years. Lighthouses will be the main theme but the West coast and Outer Hebrides will include a number of ferries. The whole trip will take no more than ten days because of my sons work commitments.
Once over the border we turn left for the iconic Mull of Galloway. We’ll then head North again to catch a ferry across to Dunoon continuing up towards Oban for the Ferry to Barra. Apparently the Outer Hebrides is a 150 mile road trip using six causeways, bridges and two ferries. Should be lots of filming opportunities in that part and maybe even some pubs.
With GoPros, regular cameras, a drone and clip on microphones we’ll record all the good, bad, funny and ugly bits. It means a daunting amount of editing but hopefully we’ll make something watchable.
That is a LOT in 10 days!
We've done a number of these whistle stop tours. A few years back we did a 1400 mile top gear style "best driving roads' in England and Wales in three days. Then a year later hired a car in Edinburgh to do a similar circuit of Scotland in three days. In 2022 my son and a team mate cycled the NC 500 in four days with me as a support vehicle.Did Tuscany in our old Bay Window. Furthest so far in the T6 was Budapest this summer to watch the F1. Stopped in Amsterdam, Germany somewhere for the night, Prague, Seefeld in Austria and back via an unplanned visit to Spa for the F1
Only 2 weeks each time due to holiday constraints!
Are you planning the Butt of Lewis?Another circular route of Scotland planned for next May. This time I’ll be doing it with my son and we’ll make a documentary, In the manner of the numerous father/son travelogues on the telly over the last few years. Lighthouses will be the main theme but the West coast and Outer Hebrides will include a number of ferries. The whole trip will take no more than ten days because of my sons work commitments.
Once over the border we turn left for the iconic Mull of Galloway. We’ll then head North again to catch a ferry across to Dunoon continuing up towards Oban for the Ferry to Barra. Apparently the Outer Hebrides is a 150 mile road trip using six causeways, bridges and two ferries. Should be lots of filming opportunities in that part and maybe even some pubs.
With GoPros, regular cameras, a drone and clip on microphones we’ll record all the good, bad, funny and ugly bits. It means a daunting amount of editing but hopefully we’ll make something watchable.
I was hoping get from Barra Head lighthouse at the extreme Southern end up to the Butt of Lewis. Unfortunately Barra Head is an isolated island about 2 miles south of Castlebay on Barra. Impossible without a boat but with clear weather and a long lens perhaps I can get a photo. So it'll be just the Butt. Thanks for the Eilean Glas info I hadn't realised there was a bridge. It's one of the Stevensons classics so If we're under time pressure we might have to miss the pubs at Stornaway
Looking at Google Maps, I don't think you can see it from Barra or Vatersay, as Mingulay is directly in the way and is quite hilly and very close to it in comparison. I certainly can't recall seeing it when we walked to Vatersay's south coast.I was hoping get from Barra Head lighthouse at the extreme Southern end up to the Butt of Lewis. Unfortunately Barra Head is an isolated island about 2 miles south of Castlebay on Barra. Impossible without a boat but with clear weather and a long lens perhaps I can get a photo. So it'll be just the Butt. Thanks for the Eilean Glas info I hadn't realised there was a bridge. It's one of the Stevensons classics so If we're under time pressure we might have to miss the pubs at Stornaway
Bet you don’t call her that to her face ?
It seems you have me and my interests correct @CAB. Unfortunately, as I said at the beginning we'll be under time pressure because of my sons work commitments. However, although he's not particularly interested in history or lighthouses, we are both interested in beer and whisky. I feel a modified theme to the film coming on.Looking at Google Maps, I don't think you can see it from Barra or Vatersay, as Mingulay is directly in the way and is quite hilly and very close to it in comparison. I certainly can't recall seeing it when we walked to Vatersay's south coast.
I think there are boat day trips from Castlebay out to some of those southern islands which will get you closer.
Make sure you do the Isle of Harris Brewery at Leverburgh (its right on the harbour) - the Belgian Saison is incredible! Also you will pass the Loomshed brewery outlet on the way to Scalpay
