Short tales about my experiences and travels with my two Spaniels in an Eriba Caravan.
400 miles around Scotland
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This trip was planned to be my last 'touring' trip in my Triton for 2024, although not the last of living in the caravan as a autumn/winter seasonal pitch awaits just shortly. So, it was myself, my Triton, and my two Spaniels, Bonnie and Hamish.
The weather was forecast to be pretty dry and I couldn't really make up my mind as to which site or sites I should stay at. I therefore simply planned a circuit around some areas I really enjoy visiting. I would probably have stayed in Nairn, but unfortunately I read reports that the floor had collapsed in on one of the 'portacabin' style toilet blocks which had been introduced a few years (yes, years) ago when the existing toilet block suffered a fallen roof! So, Craigellachie by Speyside was my chosen substitute.
The site is actually nearer Archiestown than Craigellachie, but it's a nice location. The facilities are a bit dated, but interesting as it's on the site of a former POW camp and the toilet block is a building used back during WW2.
Great weather as we regularly walked along the sites dog walk. This walk can be continued for a few miles into the town of Aberlour.
The site is in the heart of real Whisky country. It is next door to numerous including Macallan. My walk the next morning was along a stretch of the Speyside Way, and I passed Cardhu, Knackando, and Tamdhu.
The Tamdhu warehouses.
The Speyside Way.
The old railway station which stopped at Tamdhu has been beautifully preserved. The building looked like they were private function rooms for the distillery.
I only stayed on the Speyside site for one night. I then headed to my next stop, Dingwall.
I really like Dingwall. The site is located directly opposite the Ross County FC Stadium and I can imagine could be very difficult to access the site on a big match day. Great location providing brilliant walking direct from the caravan, along the canal and into the town itself. I used my folding bike quite a bit to get groceries in the town.
My early morning dog walk took me along the canal to the Cromarty Firth. A lovely quiet path.
The canal bridge allows a fine walk out to the Firth, returning via the opposite bank.
The canal was built in the early 1800's and abandoned in the late 1800's with the coming of the railway.
The canal path is tree lined along its north bank.
Another lovely circular walk is along the canal, then following a coastal path returning to Dingwall via the impressive MacDonald Memorial Tower.
The town of Dingwall from near the Tower. The stadium and caravan site are upper centre of the picture.
A short drive away is one of my favourite spots in this area, a walk along both banks of the Black Water near Little Garve. It takes in two very old bridges.
The Black Water at Little Garve.
The Silver Bridge alongside it's modern replacement on the Ullapool Road.
The Silver Bridge from above.
The Little Garve Bridge.
I spent four nights in Dingwall and was treated to really outstanding weather, dry and sunny almost my entire stay. Not bad for September.
My third site of this trip was the C&CC Site at Barcaldine which they call 'Oban' although it is 12 miles from the town!
It is a nice site. I am very familiar with Oban, having occupied a autumn seasonal pitch here back in 2019.
It's located in Barcaldine Forest and has some great walking and cycling opportunities direct from the site. A bus also stops outside.
Again, I had stunning weather for my entire stay. Although the site had signs out indicting the site was full, it did not feel busy at all.
It got very sunny and I was glad I'd packed the shades for myself, and the van!
Barcaldine Forest is brilliant walking straight from the site.
Being West Coast, the sunsets were impressive.
The site was just a great place to spend a few days in this weather.
I got some great short trips from the site with the dogs. This is looking north up Loch Creran, with the Oyster Beds showing on the Loch.
The lovely SWT Nature Reserve at Shiah Woods.
A fine hill track above Loch Creran.
The gorge walk in Barcaldine Forest.
My final site of this tour was Maragowan C&MC Site in Killin. Good location for me as it's almost the halfway point for my return home from Oban.
Stopped at Crianlarich for some egg sandwiches I had made, and a good leg stretch around some of the village trails.
Just stopping for one night, so not venturing too far. This is the remains of Finlarig Castle, just outside the site.
We walked an old rail line into the village which crossed some nice parts of Loch Tay.
A thoroughly enjoyable trip, and maybe a decent alternative to the NC500? Maybe call this the CH400? (Central Highland!).
I thought that after having spent 50 nights this year in my Troll, this would be a good opportunity to offer my views and opinions on this caravan. Overall, I'm very impressed and there are some features which I really like, and others not so much. I've only ever owned Eriba's, having switched from campervans a few years ago. The switch was really an attempt to minimise the ongoing costs associated with a 'leisure vehicle'. I've had a Puck (a 120), a Familia (a 320GT), and now own this Troll (a 530GT). The Troll was a substantial investment for me, it's a (used) 2017 fixed bed model with a number of extras fitted, such as awning, high back seats, 3 ring hob, etc. I first started touring in the Troll back in April of this year and have covered a good part of Scotland and North England in my travels. The Troll is actually probably a bit 'overkill' for my needs. I normally tour alone with my 2 spaniels, and rarely have guests. However, I do sp
I'm often asked what arrangements I have for generating power when I'm touring 'off-grid' in order to keep the 12v electrics operating. This equipment needing 12v includes the lights (all bulbs changed to LED), my 12V TV, and inverter (which powers my MacBook), and also for charging of phones and speakers etc. I have a 100W folding panel which even over a good few days, I find this works fine with my fairly small leisure battery and I've never ran out of power yet. I've used this panel for years which is an advantage of a portable panel. I've used it on 4 different Eriba's I've owned, and a camper van before that. Importantly, it has a solar charge controller mounted on the rear of the panel. This is essential for any solar panel. I do move the panel during the day to get optimum light and try to avoid shadows from the van or trees and buildings. It fits behind the cars front seat when travelling. I didn't want to have an arrangement where I r
With the weather being really nice today, and with the prospect of touring again in the next wee while, I took the caravan out of the garage where it was being stored and returned it to my drive. I really didn't have any projects for the van over the winter, unlike last year when I completely re-upholstered and redone the internal decor like curtains, carpet, door facia's and the likes. Like my 3 previous Eriba Caravans, I've had trouble with the original plastic door shelves and decided to order an improved aluminium set from Darren at Eribastuff. I've ordered other odds and ends from Darren over the years and everything has always been top quality. He's an enthusiastic Eriba Puck owner himself, a Scot based in France. The original door configuration above, plastic shelves (or rather shelf fronts?) which turn the Eriba door into effectively a very useful storage area, just like a fridge door! I purchased the van 'set' which comprises one with an 'Erib
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