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Randy Newman’s song Louisiana 1927 has always sent shivers up and down my spine. There’s something about that opening line: What has happened down here is the wind have changed…Apparently a direct transcript of something said by one of the survivors of the great 1927 Mississippi flood – reckoned as “the greatest natural disaster in…

Shipping forecast said “Violent Storm Force 11” for today, Monday at 10.00 am, and this is what that looks like. Not hugely impressive, visually, but it’s a funny direction for us – south westerly and I’m not convinced it really is that strong a wind. Mind you, I didn’t really want to get out of…

Roll on next year! I mean, what other festival has EVER featured live kipper-smoking (there it is, in front of the ‘Scott’s Fresh Fish’ van)? It was wet, but it wouldn’t have been Scotland if it was dry, would it? Thanks a million to Joe Gibbs for allowing his lovely estate to be trampled and…

Sannions is one of two crofts north of Boatsgeo, Heylor, Shetland, cleared in the 19th century. The other is called Sumra, and both roofless houses were evidently carefully and strongly built.I walked out from the road end on Saturday morning, the first time I’d ever been there. And it’s amazing. Further north on what I…

We set off from Milngavie in brutally hot conditions, and soon found it was necessary to soak ourselves in sunblock, anti-midge Skin So Soft (works, by annoying the midges, not killing them) and anything capable of destroying clegs, ticks and other beasties the tourist brochures never mention. First two days ( Milngavie to Drymen, Drymen…

Well, one final post before heading off on holiday. I’m walking the West Highland Way from the 9th of July, with son J, and doubtless there will be adventures and pictures once that’s over. It’s been a tiring and in many ways very difficult and demanding past six months, and I’m looking forward to the…

…and on the way home. Possibly the best sea trip north ever on Sunday (last night). This is the ‘simmer dim’, about 10.45 pm, with the Hjaltland approaching Kirkwall. It all ended badly this morning, when merely brushing the brakelever of the Harley against a brand new Honda Pan European ripped the mirror and indicator…

Pink castle – Raven’s Craig above Achmore 

Now that’s what I call an imaginatively-named bar… 

How gorgeous can Scotland be? This is Calgary Beach on Mull.