Stalked By A Mistle Thrush

TheTamshee: is keen to get up close and personnal with the birds of prey but on my recent visit to the Trossachs Holiday Park outside Aberfoyle, I was stalked by this Mistle Thrush -which followed me home to take up residence in the Swift Speedbird.

Cullen Bay

TheTamshee clan: travelled North from Huntly to explore the shoreline at Cullen Bay. Sal pointed out some very interesting (to a geologist) rock formations, while the kids diced with the dangerous surf, meanwhile i kept tabs on the low flying spy plane skimming the cliff tops

Huntly Castle "Caravan Park"

TheTamshee's: looking forward to our trip to Huntly Castle Caravan Park.
The Bogie Dragon's adventure castle should keep the kids amused for a couple of days.

Barn Owls "Tyto alba"

Owls are fascinating birds and there are many different species with the tawny owl and the barn owl, the most common varieties in the UK. Because owls are birds of prey unless you live in the countryside or in a similar area which attracts a good population of rodents, such as in an area with a good amount of rough grassland nearby, it’s unlikely that an owl will take up roost in your garden. However, if your surrounding environment is suitable or you’re aware that owls do, indeed, frequent the area in which you live, it’s worth providing an additional nesting site in your garden if you want to attract them. If you’ve a large garden or have acres of land, it’s useful to leave some grassy areas unmown as this will attract rodents as it provides cover but is also a good hunting ground for owls. Also keep grassy edges alongside hedges and ditches unkempt and provide lookout posts for the owls to perch on. TheTamshee: is hooked, the graceful owl is a majestic creature of great beauty. The Indy kids have listened to the Twit-twa-Woo on many occasions in close proximity to Inchgarth. This lead to TheTamshee getting the 10,000,000 million candle torch, with kids in tow, out searching the surrounding big sycamores and chestnut tree to see if we could track down this solitary and nocturnal bird with the piercing eye's. The Indy kids interest in owls was first ignited when we pitch up at Cayton Bay Caravan Park close to Scarborough. After flying the kites in an adjacent field for some time, we headed back to the park while walking through an area set aside for wildlife - when we came across a large nesting box with the big eye's of two young owls jockeying for prime position at the nesting box entrance. We observed the birds for some days thereafter but left for home before the fledglings made their first flight. These great memories have inspired me to make a nesting box in an attempt to attract our very known resident owl. Time will tell.

Tantallon Castle

Tantallon Castle is a mid-14th century fortress, located about three miles south-east of North Berwick, in East Lothian, Scotland. It sits atop the rugged coastline opposite the Bass Rock, looking out onto the Firth of Forth. TheTamshee: and family enjoy hooking up the Speedbird and taking the short trip to Tantallon Caravan Park. North Berwick has lots to offer, with a visit to the Seabird Centre to track the wildlife on the Rock, well worth the entry fee. The castle is one of the most impressive land marks that I have come across on my travels, with recent stories of ghosts adding to the charm of the castle that was badly damaged by
Oliver Cromwell's forces in 1651 Click Here for ghostly video footage.

The Indy Kids

The Indy Kids had a great holiday up Stirling but the wheels finally came off the Speedbird, totally tyre'd out

View from "Cuthill Brae"

The fine view from Cuthill Brae to the distant Trossachs.

Blair Drummond Caravan Park

TheTamshee's back: there's been a bit of a hiatus regarding the blogging due to a family trip to wonderful Stirling-shire! our preferred choice of site is the immaculate
Blair Drummond Caravan Park, situated 1 mile or so passed the Safari park, take a right turn up Cuthill Brae then straight over the hill while being mindful of the three speed bumps en-route. The space-ish pitches are sited in and around magnificent walled gardens with rhododendrons in full bloom. It's also offers a wonderland of exploration for the Indy kids with an abundance of woodland for tree climbing and foraging. The play area is well equiped with zip wire and monkey bars.

Blair Drummond Caravan Park

Blair Drummond Caravan park is situated near Stirling in a delightful and very attractive site, set in and around a walled garden, sheltered with mature trees and bright flowering shrubs. There are many local attractions and places of interest that you can visit during your stay.
The caravan park opened for the season on the 20th March 2009 and will run through until the 4th January 2010 The park is well equipped with amenities to suit all your needs.
Please tour the title link web site to discover more about Blair Drummond Caravan Park and complete the book online form if you wish to make a booking or if you have any queries please

contact us.

TheTamshee says: this is my top site to date, peaceful, well maintained and the facilities are second to none. There is always something different to find on the woodland walks and the Indy kids enjoy the freedom of the comprehensive play area.

Bellingham "Brown Rigg"

Spent the weekend at Brown Rigg caravan park near to Bellingham. The weather was rather blustery on the Friday which posed a few problems trying to erect the awning. Abandoned, before we were carried off like some rag dolls in a deflated hot air balloon. The site also offers an alternative to camping with these wooden pods which accommodates four persons comfortably

UFO's In London ?

Derek Burdon was left stunned when he took a scenic picture of the UK capital then noticed four flying saucers on the far right of the picture. The photographs were taken 16 floors up on the roof top of Orion House in Covent Garden in the morning. Although invisible to the naked eye, the shapes can be clearly seen on the picture. Derek, 40, of Leverington, Cambs, said: "We couldn't believe it when we came to look at the photo. I just thought I would take some scenic shots of the London Eye and also Big Ben. There was nothing unusual in the photo and it was only when we flicked through them later that we saw them and then it started a big UFO debate. I have not tampered with the photo and you would not be able to fake it. It was taken on my mobile and I guess I am just lucky to have it. These shapes were not visible to the naked eye so it's not as if I was looking for them. In Feburary video footage of a UFO hovering above the British coastline was captured by holidaymakers in Somerset. Caravaners were left baffled when the mysterious cylinder hovered over a busy campsite in Brean, Somerset. TheTamshee says: you need to take a look here - surely the picture below is the alien mothership - guised up as our very own spy base GCHQ - yes, all sorts of secrets flying around in the corridors of governments buildings.

Berwick Law

The time is fast approaching when the Bell's will be loading up the Speedbird. We are heading to Tantallon at North Berwick, I have promised the kids that we will climb to the top of Berwick Law, a volcanic plug that towers over the town. On top sits the famous arch made from the jawbones of an Antarctic whale - or is it? In fact, this 6.5 meter high version is formed from 560kg's of fibreglass, built to replace the last, which had become dangerous and had to be removed by heli-copter after 70 years in 2005. The first arch was installed at the top of the Law in 1709 to help guide sailors safely home along the Firth of Forth and it has had three sucessors, their presence becoming a symbol of North Berwick. However there had been an empty platform for 3 years until June 2008 when the replica, made by Ralph Plastics from nearby Macmerry was winched into position by heli-copter.
The direction plaque was erected in 1959 as a memorial to John Wallace Menzies, Town Clerk 1926-1956.

Castle Howard

Pitched up at Cayton Bay near Filey with the Speedbird, great beach for the kids to explore. Visited Castle Howard,which much to my surprise was more enjoyable than i expected. Great gardens, with plenty of interesting stuff for the kids as well as the adults. If you are in the area, take a look you won't be disappointed.

Dinosaurs Gaints of Patagonia

Travel back over 80 million years in Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia and see these amazing creatures come to life. Soaring over breathtaking Argentinean landscapes, this film visits sites of major discoveries and tells the remarkable evolutionary life stories of two of the largest living animals ever to have walked the Earth. Narrated by Donald Sutherland, we are taken from the emergence of the dinosaurs from their eggs, to the arrival of the comet that triggered their demise, and reminded that their descendants are still with us today. Watching this movie on Rheged's big screen is the closest you will ever get to the real thing! Kesock in the Lake district has been a favourite location for the Speedbird, great walking and ma wee lass found the best Conker tree in the world, as far as she is concerned anyway

Tarland by Deeside

Talked with the blokes at Crossburn Caravans today to check on progress, the Speedbird went into there workshop at the end of our touring season for the end of year maintenance service / body work! but I'll not go into the details regarding my tussle with the Dumpsters on exit from our last outing to Tarland by Deeside, we tagged along with some like minded friends to enjoy the delights of this quality site situated five minutes walk from Tarland Village. It is a good starting point for walks, with lovely open views towards Mount Keen, Lochnagar and Morven. Aberdeen, the Granite City - is some thirty miles East if you prefer the hussle and bussle of Union Street. Aboyne, six miles from the site, has shops and a swimming pool. The theatre is central to the Aboyne and Deeside Festival in July with the local Highland Games held in August. The Royal Deeside Station at Ballater, where Queen Victoria used to arrive is now a Vistor Centre and has a replica railway coach restored to how Queen Victoria used to travel up from London. Part of the line at Crathes Castle is being rebuilt with steam train rides. Glen Tanar and Muir of Dinnet are two superb local nature reserves. The fairytale Craigievar Castle is pinkish in colour and on Scotlands Castle Trail. For the petrol heads out there you can take a run along to Alford and visit the transport museum, there is everything from Penny Farthing to F1 racing car. On entry the kids were set a task of identifing various treasures, which they loved, believe me you will not be disapointed.