I hope that I have offered a selection of the very best that Scotland has to offer.
I’ve even been too tired to do much on Her Travel Circle but I have lots of content to be getting on with.
Yesterday we drove from Ayrshire to Loch Lomond up through Glencoe, back down through Oban and Inverary!!
I’ll try and stick to one photo of each! (Will I be able to stick to that?!?! 😆
Loch LomondGlencoe
We stopped at the Clachaig Inn for lunch!!
ObanOutside ObanKilchurn CastleSheep!! 🐑 Inverary!! Best shot I got at traffic lights. It was POURING!I popped into the pub for an alcohol free gin and slim!
Melanie made us some lovely pasta for dinner!
It was sooooo good I had two portions!
Today we went to Stirling Castle 🏰 it was a lovely day and much better than forecast… although very windy!
We met Auntie Jac for lunch and she gave me this hat! Jules ate a sponsor of the a Tour de France!!
She took us to the River House which was really lovely!
So that’s the end of Her Travel Circle 1st visit to my house and safe to say, we tried to do it all!!!
It’s 7.35am and I’m sitting here sweating profusely because swearing like a beast doesn’t sound ladylike…. It’s pouring off me but I am buzzing and felt the need to write about it.
I woke at 5am excited for my big road trip today! Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Oban and Inveraray hopefully!! I think I’m way more excited than Melanie but I’m hoping to show her what Scotland is all about in one day!
I decided to run with the girls this morning and it was the right decision.
We had the best run. I just loved every minute of it.
Great chat, a comfortable speed and lovely to see Emma back after a while. It always amazes me when girls come back that don’t run as often and they can really keep up!!!
So a few photos of our morning as these will get lost in the day…..
What a great way to start the day!!
I may not get time to blog today but please keep an eye out on Her Travel Circle socials for photos… I’m on Fb, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube!!
Have a lovely weekend everyone! Stays the day with some exercise you’ll thank yourself.
Thanks to Claire, Emma, Lynsey and Rachel for the banter this morning.
We started the day with a dog walk and then headed to Irvine to Gro Coffee for lunch and a walk down to the very windy beach!
It was wild!!
We then went into Tesco as there is nothing better than visiting a foreign supermarket (in my opinion!!) it gives you a real measure of what life is like to live there and I’d loved going to the supermarket in Italy!! So this was Melanie’s first time in a Scottish supermarket!!
We then headed to Portencross and had a wander around to the castle. The sky was so dramatic!
We were so lucky to miss the rain showers all day as it rained a fair bit!
We drove to the little gift shop and went into to see Gayle!!
Finally home for the best dinner. Holly next door had cooked for us.
I’ll be heading to bed soon!!
Stay safe everyone ♥️🏴♥️
Check out Her Travel Circle on social media to see the reels from today!
Let’s be clear, today’s blog is nothing to do with the World Cup!! 😆
I’ve had a headache all day today.
Tablets won’t shift it.
I’ve felt exhausted and sluggish and foggy headed.
I’ve been moany and fidgety but other than that I’ve been my usual charming self!!
It was another good and busy day at work.
When I first started The Rambling Sloth, I wasn’t thinking about building a business, or even an audience. I was just trying to cope. Writing here became my way of untangling the mess in my head — the anxiety, the depression, the endless chatter of “not good enough.” Putting words out into the world gave me something I didn’t expect…. connection.
Through this space, I discovered I wasn’t alone. Every time someone wrote back saying, “me too,” I felt a little less lost. That’s the magic of vulnerability— it pulls people together.
But as much as I loved writing, something was missing.
I wanted to travel.
I found that I loved being alone.
I loved to travel alone but I loved the connection with strangers.
That raw honesty women share when they get chatting and click.
I wanted to create a space where women like me — could connect with each other, find common ground and go and stay with each other for free.
Why should solo travel have to cost the earth? Why can’t you stay with a local and live like a local. Either respecting each other’s need for solitude or spending time together. Reforming female connection.
That’s where Her Travel Circle was born.
It’s not a blog. It’s a community. A private space where you can share stories, find places to stay, connect with other women who get it, and know that you’re not doing this whole “solo thing” alone. It’s practical, yes — you can host, you can travel — but it’s also personal. It’s about belonging.
So what happens to The Rambling Sloth? Nothing changes here. I’ll still write, still ramble, still share the messy and the meaningful.
If you’ve been reading me for a while, Her Travel Circle is really just the next chapter of the same story. This space (the Sloth) was the spark. The Circle is what grew from it.
It’s so warm and lovely, I don’t want this summer warmth to end.
I heard someone say this was our last day of summer but I refuse to believe it. We’ve had a great summer this year in Scotland.
Anyway, today was Bank Holiday Monday but Tartan Campers was busier than ever.
The last two 3 day weeks has taken its toll and I’m so far behind… it just means every day is super busy.
I slept like a log last night except for the most vivid dream about work! It was so real I can remember every bit of it.
One thing I realised is that even in my dreams my ego is quick to put me down and quick to blame myself for the fact that people were in the workshop trashing the business. (Hey it was a crazy dream!!)
It’s no wonder we struggle in life at times when our inner voice is so cruel.
So I’m sitting outside after a busy day. Poor Craig is working every night this week. The puppers are with me…… hmmmm I just work them up by talking to them there.
I slept really well but was rudely awakened by Khaleesi barking 🤦🏻♀️
Dog walks to start the day!
Then I met Gayle and we went to Gro Coffee.
There was a 45 minute wait so we went for a walk around the harbour.
The phoned us with half and hour and we headed into Gro.
Wait till you see this!!!!!
White chocolate pancakes with pistachio ice cream!!! We should have shared one. Far too much for one person 😆
I took a photo of the cakes before we left.
We had another wander around to burn off some calories.
I feel a bit flat today. Not sure why. A bit meh.
End of the weekend already and I’m still shattered and feel like I haven’t achieved much but I have… it’s Bank Holiday tomorrow and the weather’s to be lovely and I want to be off!
Hey, t’s probably just the sugar crash.
Cuddles with Calaidh always help. She’s doing so well. She’s losing weight on her diet and honestly she’s just the brightest pupper since her op. It’s lovely to see.
It’s 7.30pm and we’re all shattered so I think we’ll all have an early night!! finally got the two injured dogs out for a half hour walk today. They both did well.
This field was full of young calves! They were so inquisitive.
Khaleei spouted a farm cat in the hedgerow!
Then back home to get Bhruic and Freya for a longer walk.
They had a play in the burn.
We had a run in this field… well they did…. And this gate actually fell over as I climbed it…. Note to self… be more careful. Thankfully I got it back into position with a good bit of heavy humphing 😆😆😆
We may have just happened to go past Mocha Jaks for a quick bite of breakfast…. 😆😆
I was bright in my sloth tshirt from Helen!!
Oh and I forgot to say Gayle gave me these beautiful roses last night…. Aren’t they stunning. She had loads of autumnal artificial flowers in the little gift shop at the moment!
I’m shattered now and I yawned for the first few hours of the day!
It was really busy and passed quickly but it was much cooler today. It’s a welcome relief but funny how 16°C can suddenly seem cold after a few days of mid 20’s.
Needless to say I’m going to make this a quick one today.
I’ve done nothing on Her Travel Circle for the last week!!
I spend so much time taking photos and writing the blog I do wonder if I should be using all the photos etc for Her Travel Circle and keeping the blog to feelings for just now…
It’s hard to know what to do for the best as no one makes me write the blog but I do it because I want to.
Quiet night to regroup. Craig’s working and then the football is on so I will catch up on some quick housework then sit and either watch tv or read a book…. Or think about a post for Her Travel Circle which is probably more likely!!
I’ve made some amazing memories over the last few days. I have never spent time sitting on a beach in Scotland like we did. Going in the sea so often was a real treat and the lack of jellyfish…. Even better.
Another scorcher of a day though the temperature has dropped a wee bit. It’s 7.36pm and I’m sitting outside and it’s cool.
What an amazing summer we are having in Scotland this year.
We were so lucky to have such an amazing weekend. Imagine being used to down south temperatures, coming to Scotland and only wearing a jumper while out on a boat. you would never believe it possible!
We’ve packed in so much and been outside as much as we can. It feels like we’ve been on a holiday abroad.
So a lie in today although he who shall remain nameless. Set his alarm for 7am!!
I stayed in bed until 8.30 but I was shattered and I still am.
We stayed local this morning and walked Bhruic and Freya before we headed out for the day.
It was super hot and we ended up not going too far with them.
We left the house around 12.30pm and The Emirates flight came in to land at Glasgow Airport.
This pic does not do it justice….. there’s a massive shadow cast over the sun, which gave us a fright….. then the noise and then the plan is visible and screams of “take a photo!!” from me 😆😆😆
So today we went to Luss on the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond… cue the song.
Despite the majority of my photos showing no people, Luss was HEAVING!!!!!
Take the High Road is a Scottish TV show that was filmed in Luss.
There are lots of selfies today!
The beach was packed and sadly there was a fair bit of rubbish lying around.
We settled here but only after I’d moved a full bag up of rubbish up to the bins!
This was it nice and clean when we left.
Ben Lomond in the distance.
Of course I went for a paddle.
Under the pier!
And then I thought I’d go in for a swim. I was tired and couldn’t be bothered getting wet but I knew I’d regret it! So I did and it was lovely!!
I had a proper swim this time.
And that’s us ready to head to the airport… hair up….
Hair back down!
On the end of the pier.
It’s quieter now.
We got a huge gelato to end our lovely weekend!
What a wonderful time we’ve had.
I may have to sit in a dark room for two weeks now 😆😆😆 and that’s no slight on Helen at all… just my need for a dark room!!
Craig’s in Edinburgh today so I have to pick him up from somewhere later on. Not Edinburgh though!!
We have walked about 18k steps…. From Seamill beach down towards Ardrossan (got nowhere near 😆 and back!)
Sat here for a bit!
Had lunch up on the grass by the car and used my new umbrella for the first time.
Then went for a long paddle along the beach and walked towards Portencross.
I love the sunlight on the water.
I love the ripples in the sand!
It’s so shallow you can paddle far out.
We headed up into West Kilbride for some food so we can stay longer. We have the cool box with us!
So Helen and Mike have this thing that buying a box of 3 Magnums is cheaper than buying 2 single Magnum’s but you must give the 3 Magnum to some random passerby.
A lovely man in West Kilbride was the recipient of our 3rd Magnum…. These Gold Caramel Magnums were AMAZING!!!
We headed back down to the beach and I went into the sea when the cloud came over!!
So far out and Helen still has shorts on.
And off I go!!!
It’s surprisingly cold but I think it’s because we’ve been so hot in the sun for most of the day!
I then played with the umbrella and arty shots!!!
Scotland flag!!!!! 🏴
I’ve been back in the sea and met a lady who met her husband in the pub next door to my house… 26 years ago!!
Small world.
It’s been a gorgeous day. I feel so calm and relaxed.
Ok so today didn’t go quite as planned but Helen and I have had a lovely despite it being a different to plan .
Poor Khaleesi’s sore paw turned out to be a broken claw and her claw was still attached but upside down this morning. The slightest knock put blood everywhere.
She squealed a fair wee bit. It was obviously very sore.
Armour Vets were amazing and squeezed us in as soon as they could.
The back of the car!
It’s all been cut off and we have it as a memento!
She’s back to the cone of shame and has to stop licking her paw. Bless her. She’s feeling all sorry for herself.
Calaidh had her first wee walk in ages. she was soooo happy.
Helen got kisses from Bhru.
We went to MochaJaks.
And had a wander around Beith.
We were so tired. We sat in the house for a bit….. and almost thought we wouldn’t go out….. but we did!! Down to Irvine Beach and walked for miles…. 20.5k steps.
Bad hair Julesie!
Jellyfish!!!
More jellyfish… and a lot of them.
Strange sand pile!
Then Gro Coffee for dinner!
A really lovely day apart from poor Khaleesi but she’s ok.
The forecast was for rain but there was no way we were getting rain.
I slept like a log again and woke a few minutes before the 5.25 alarm.
Claire and I were running this morning. 🌅
Before sunrise….. it’s amazing to see how quickly the mornings are getting darker! I don’t like it! 😆😆
This was us before we set off!
The sky was lovely!
Finally sunrise half way through our run.
I thought sunrise over the wheelie bins was quite cool.
Running through Spiers Old School Grounds.
My favourite gate!
Claire waiting for me at the exit!
The village was lovely when we got back.
It was sooooo hot.
The sweat was pouring out of me!! 5.4k done!!
I sat outside with the dogs with my bare feet on the morning dew grass… to cool down.
And Freya thought it would be lovely to lick off all the sweat!!
So I finally got a chance to do my stock check at work.
What a difference being on antidepressants. I count something and add it into the spreadsheet…. before antidepressants I would count it, forget the number by the time I got to the spreadsheet!!!
Today still took a while but not because of recounting…. It’s just been a few months since I did one so I took my time.
It felt really good to finally break the back of it.
I sat outside at lunchtime on my own and it was ROASTING….. about 27°C. I sat in the weeds in the car park, next to my clean car!!
I was a hot frazzled mess 😆😆
So back to the stock check tomorrow and placing orders. I’ll feel better if I can do that before I have a day off on Monday.
Craig’s home tonight for the first night in ages.
We’re sitting outside.
I’ve decided to leave last minute cleaning to tomorrow. Who knows what state the house could get into between tonight and tomorrow!!
Helen lands after 9 tomorrow and the. We have to plan our weekend in the sunshine!
Some pics of the lovely roses that are blooming just now.
I’m missing crochet tonight as I’ll have a full on few days so I’m taking a rest this evening… in the sunshine. ☀️
Up sharp straight after the alarm, dogs out, showered and dressed and in work for 7.20 and managed to wash the car and still start work early.
I’m so busy with being off at the course yesterday and having next Monday off…. I have to admit to being a little panicked today.
By default I manifested the perfect storm…. Lots of customers in, the phone never stopped, the emails never stopped coming and I just didn’t get a minute all day.
I need to do a stock check!!
I’m putting out there as I’ve said that every day for the last two weeks but I have to stop everything else and do it tomorrow. We’re running out of bits all over!! (again I’m exaggerating, we’ve ran out of a couple of things and I know it’s just going to get worse!!)
So yeah…. I flitted about from thing to thing like I was caffeined to the max! I wasn’t….
When I left work the car said 30°C….. you can imagine that I just melted until the aircon kicked in.
I got home and fed the dogs, brought the bins back round to the garden and picked my onions that I’ve been growing next door! They are not as good as Kenny’s onions but he grew his…. I just let mine get on with it and look after themselves 😆
I strung them up in the greenhouse.
I finalised our home insurance tonight.
Another massive tick off the list!
I then ate some ice cream. 🍦
I think it was well deserved.
Hope you’re enjoying the sunshine where ever you are!
The Rambling Sloth 🦥 