Dunnet Head

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Pretty far north

As north as I can go

My original plan for the day was to go to John o’Groats, which is about an hour away by bus. However, I was reliably informed by my kind host that there really isn’t a lot there apart from a pub. As it’s not tourist season, the famed signpost is stripped bare. They usually charge for you to have your picture taken there so when there’s nobody there to take your money they make it not worth your while!

Instead, I checked locally and found that I was very close to Dunnet Head – the northernmost point on mainland Britain. Seeing as I’ve already done the easternmost point in Australia and the southernmost point in continental Asia, this seemed like another one to add to the “collection”.

Getting there is pretty easy. There’s a regular bus (about every 2 hours) from right outside the train station in Thurso. It’s the number 80 and a return to Dunnet Corner is £3.20. The bus driver was really helpful and made sure I got off at the right place – just tell them you want to go and see the lighthouse.

Dunnet Corner is in a town called Brough. Watch your pronunciation of this – it’s “Broch” similar to the Scots “loch”. I was pronouncing it “Bruff” as there’s a Brough Park in Newcastle where the greyhound racing and speedway take place. Staff are kindly understanding of foreigners with their silly accent, so don’t worry.

Inland boating

Where did the water go?

When you get off the bus, there’s a very obvious sign pointing north and a distance of 3 miles marked. Just start walking up that road. You can’t get lost! Apparently there’s a café somewhere on the right but I didn’t spot it. It could have been one of a handful of buildings, but I expect it’s closed right now. Again, during the tourist season it’s probably far more obvious.

The hike took me around 90 minutes as I stopped to take quite a few photos of the scenery. Fortunately I’d picked a great day. A bit of cloud, a very slight breeze but no rain. And, best of all, no other people. I saw one guy in the distance walking his dog and a couple arrived at Dunnet Head itself just as I was leaving.

It’s a lovely walk up with gorse-covered land surrounding the road. There is a handful of small lakes to break up the green/brownery and a spectacular sea view on the right shortly after the houses, complete with tower of rock offshore.

At Dunnet Head itself there are two viewpoints – a cliff edge one and one further back from the edge atop a small hill which provides a lovely panorama back over the route you’ve walked (or driven) to get there. The cliff one is protected by a small barrier that it would be easy to jump over. I decided not to chance it as there’s not a lot of ground left from there before the real edge and it’s a bit of a drop…

Highland Scenery

Water, land, air, gorgeous

It is a nice view and you can see the islands off to the east. From the higher viewing point, John o’Groats and Thurso are both visible. I’d expect they’d look fantastic at night with the lights on.

So a few photos and some video later, and I started walking back. I got to the corner in good time for the bus coming along for the trip back to Thurso where the driver asked if I’d managed to get anything to eat or not! It’s obviously a very “local” service as people hopping on and off all seemed to know him and each other.

Perhaps not a hugely exciting day out, but one I really enjoyed. Fresh air, countryside, wonderful views, quiet and a bit of exercise.

And awesome chicken fajitas for dinner. I can definitely recommend the Tesco own-brand kits at a pound a pop. Further details of that on my other blog as there are some recipe hints I’d like to give!

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A quick trip north

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South of Golspie

Scenery on the way up

My first little trip in a while and another UK-based one. Laurie is working as a schoolteacher up in Thurso, about as far north as you can go without your feet getting wet, and invited me up any time I wanted. Partly as it’s a nice place to show people around and partly as it’s always nice to have visitors to remind you that there are places with such futuristic inventions as cinemas. Thurso’s apparently shut down some years ago and the nearest is now in Inverness – about 3 hours’ or so drive.

I was tempted to drive up. It’s about 8-10 hours depending on the roads from Glasgow, but I would likely add at least an hour to that stopping and taking pictures. Add the cost of fuel these days and the train was the best option. I drove to Perth and caught the train from there – the saving on ticket price (and one less connection to risk missing) more than compensated for the cost of fuel to get there. £16.50 each way for around 6½ hours of travel isn’t too bad.

Still a fair bit of snow up here...

Passing through the Cairngorms

Of course, there are always problems. About two weeks ago a train was derailed south of Inverness in the recent harsh weather. They are still working to repair damage done, so there is an “emergency timetable” in effect. I did check thoroughly and this was having no real effect on the train I was booked on *phew*. Said train was about ten minutes late leaving Perth with my connection at Inverness departing at 13:59.

As I settled into my seat, I was informed that we were currently due to arrive in Inverness at 13:47 – over 20 minutes behind schedule. Oh dear. Still in time for my connection, but you never know…

Well, not to worry about something I can do nothing about I relaxed in the wrong seat (some open-mouth-chewing, ignorant old git had taken my reserved seat and didn’t seem keen on giving it up), popped some Fear Factory on and buried my head in back issues of 2000AD.

Once in a while I raised my head to admire the passing scenery, and it wss gorgeous. As we spent an hour or so going through the Cairngorms, it was obvious that not quite all the snow in Scotland had melted as it seemed to have in Perth and Glasgow. Hills, fields, and mountains were coated in the stuff. As we passed out of this cold zone, streams could be seen and rocky areas looked more like snow had been splattered on them and left to congeal.

The main town square by night, Thurso

View from the window

Fortunately, we made it to Inverness at the newly-advertised time and I swapped onto my new train where I’m currently sat, listening to Megadeth and typing this lot up. We’ve just had an announcement that we’re waiting for a southbound train to clear a single-track section before we can leave Muir of Ord, but hopefully I shouldn’t be too much past the 17:45 scheduled time into Thurso.

[update]

Pulled into Thurso pretty much on time where Laurie met me. Spag bol for dinner, a great chat and basic plans laid out for tomorrow.

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Insult? Meet Injury.

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The following morning I re-checked my new flights. Amusingly, Tenerife South Airport’s website was still listing Globespan‘s two flights as on time. I’d spoken to a couple from Aberdeen who should have been on the other flight to me and they’d coughed up £1000 to get home. Ow.

Another person told me a friend of hers had taken up RyanAir‘s generous “repatriation” offer at £60 all in. Except for the additional fees. After which her flight was then £200. Plus it landed at Prestwick Airport (not Glasgow International) shortly before midnight so she had a costly taxi far to add to that.

Just to make that point there – RyanAir ripping off people stuck in a horrible situation. Absolutely no surprise whatsoever.

We were ushered out of our room so the cleaners could assault it shortly after 10am and jumped into a taxi to the airport. We were very early, so the queues were short although none of the check-in desks were open.

The fastest queue to grow, though, was EasyJet‘s. I think they were the only airline with flights covering routes offered by Globespan and a lot of people had not found out that they didn’t have a valid ticket any more until they arrived to see their flight cancelled.

I had a quick nosey at the board to see that Christina’s flight was on time and mine was… delayed. Oh great. I had 2 hours and 10 minutes’ layover at Belfast International. That gave me around an hour and a bit to get my luggage and check in for the next flight. I was now delayed by an unknown length of time.

Fortunately, it eventually became clear that my delay would be no more than an hour. After no fewer than three gate changes, we finally boarded (Christina and her mum were already on board their flight by this time) and taxi’d for take-off.

Credit to Jet2.com. The flight was delayed due to bad conditions in the UK which caused problems with the plane being able to leave there to get to us. And it was a comfy enough plane for budget. Nice staff, too. And a decent in-flight magazine.

I snoozed and read all the way to Belfast where the couple next to me ushered me off the plane ahead of them as they knew I might be tight for time with my transfer. Fortunately, Belfast is a small airport and my luggage appeared fairly rapidly.

I ran down the corridor, got directions to check-in, ran down another corridor, turned left, spied the EasyJet check-in and gasped my way to it.

“Where are you going tonight, sir?”

“Glasgow.”

“You are aware of the delay to your flight, yes?”

AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

At that point it was an hour. Of course, it wouldn’t make a difference to checking in as they always close 40 minutes before the original, scheduled time. But that’s  no consolation. Again, weather was being blamed. And it could have been worse – I’d seen flights from Luton, Stansted and Gatwick cancelled.

I moped my way into the departure lounge and eventually settled down for a panini when my flight was delayed by an extra half hour.

And then bumped up by 15 minutes with a “boarding now” announcement just as I got my food. Typical.

I finally arrived in Glasgow at a little before 11pm. Christina and her mum had waited patiently (in a pub – surprise) for my arrival as I was driving them home. My uncle picked us all up and ferried us to their house where we swapped cars and I began the drive up towards Perth.

We didn’t die. I got everyone home safe. And it made for an interesting though tiring end to the week.

Huge thanks to Christina and Karen for inviting me out there. I really needed the break after my recent placement and other things that were messing with my head. And thanks to my dad for sorting the flights out at the UK end. More thanks to Stuart, my uncle for dropping me off at 5am and picking me up a few days later at 11pm.

Here’s hoping the excitement on my next holiday is all pre-planned.

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Are you sure you have flights home?

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Flyglobespan

Erm... who?

Up early this morning to check on the situation regarding Globespan. A quick click onto their website and all seems fine. Flights still for sale, all hunky dory.

Then onto the BBC website, the Telegraph, some travel industry site… “Globespan goes bust”, “Largest Scottish Air Carrier Collapses Leaving 5000 Stranded”.

Back to Globespan’s page. A quick forced refresh and it changes into a nice note from PriceWaterhouseCoopers saying that they’re the administrator and as I booked direct with the airline for flights only that I’m… well… screwed.

And thus the lesson prompted by the collapse of Excel a year or so ago have been proven not to have been learned. There is still no cover for those who book flights directly with an airline. Book a holiday with them and you’re fine. Book the flights via a third party and ABTA cover you. No worries.

But save cash by booking direct and if the company goes under, you lose your money. And if you’re already abroad you have to sort your own self out as far as getting home goes. Why – a year on – is this still the same? Oh, yes. Because it would mean that companies would have to fund a scheme to help people in case it happened. And they’re businesses so it would hit their bottom line.

So. All of a sudden I had no flight home. Interesting.

Had things have been different, I’d not have cared too much. I’d have got the ferry to Marakech, or picked another flight at random to anywhere and worked my way home. Sadly, now, I am living something approximating a “real life” and so these options were no longer open to me.

Shame.

My initial visit was to the Thomas Cook website. Christina and her mum were on a flight on Friday and there were apparently still seats on it at a decent price. Only every time I tried to book one, the website told me there wasn’t any room on my return flight. Which was weird given that I was only booking a one-way.

I gave up.

Next stop, skyscanner.net which put me on the track of a staggered journey: Jet2 to Belfast and then EasyJet to Glasgow. Both tickets together around £120.

Following obvious advice, I stepped through the purchase of each bit by bit until I had each seat on standby. Better this than buying one, to go to the next site and find they’ve sold out! So both seats available, both ready to be paid for, fill in details, *click to buy*, on to other site *click to buy*…

EasyJet mail comes through instantly. Belfast to Glasgow sorted. Jet2.com… erm… what do you mean SQL Error? Refresh and the site tells to to rebook from the beginning. Argh.

I checked my account and the flight was there. It just hadn’t been paid for. Still reserved, but warning me that if payment wasn’t received “soon”, I’d lose it. Nowhere, though, was there an option to pay for the bloody thing.

I started again, went through the whole procedure… and ended up in the same position. Even changing the payment method made no difference. Wonderful.

On to Skype to ring their premium rate number where I go onto a very nice chap in Delhi who took all my details and promised they’d resolve everything. Someone would call me back in the next 2-3 hours. Just in case, I rang and emailed my dad so he had all the info as well. I couldn’t guarantee being able to re-contact Jet2.

Long story short, eventually my dad got it sorted. They billed me for both flights, only sent me paperwork for one, pre-acknowledged it was their mistake and a refund would be issued forthwith and – for some reason – wiped my frequent flyer points out.

The nice chap at reception let me print out my boarding cards for no fee, despite their being a pay-per-use PC with a printer attached nearby.

Oh, we walked to Las Américas again. And sat and read on the beach. And drank heavily. Well, I did. I think I’d earned it.

Situation sorted, though.

At least that’s what I thought…

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Siam Park… and the beginnings of a problem

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Siam Park

A big sign and an old guy

Today’s excursion was to the large new water park opened a few months back – Siam Park. This is an oriental-themed water park with some pretty nifty rides, some decent places to eat and – I believe – the largest man-made waves in Europe.

We didn’t set off as early as we’d planned, but it did give us time for another hefty breakfast. Before I set off, I received a text from my aunt – “Heard on news that Globespan have gone bust. Who are you flying with? Mother worried”.

Guess who I was flying with? I checked online very swiftly and found that negotiations were underway and that Globespan were confident they’d get some cash through from their investors by the end of business. Nothing to worry about, storm in a tabloid.

*phew*

So off we jolly-welled and got the free bus up to Siam Park.

*wave*

We’d picked a good day as the rain from Tuesday and the overnight downpour had cleared the sky. Nice blue sunshine blazed down as we pattered around the park trying the rides. There are long slow ones, and scary big ones. Ones you go down in a tube by yourself, some in doublers and a couple in fours. They’re all pretty good fun.

There is also one ridiculously tall one that neither of us went on, mainly as it’s a 30 minute queue for a 9-second slide. Nah.

We spent a fair bit of time in the large pool at the top of the park with the aforementioned wave machine. For twenty minutes all is calm. Then for twenty more there’s a bit of rocking. Then in the twenty up to the hour, a gong chimes and a miniature tsunami is released with a roar every minute or two.

Seriously, it’s pretty impressive. It was the suddenness that surprised me. There’s a snort of released air and suddenly there’s a wave at the end of the pool travelling towards you. I’d love to know how they do it.

Mmm... beer

Even beer knows how to relax at Siam Park

We enjoyed lunch in the restaurant by the pool – I can recommend the overpriced but delicious red chicken curry. Very generous with the chicken, too. Then an hour or so sunbathing and listening to Steel Panther and giggling like schoolkids over their first copy of Viz. Well, they’re a silly band. Check this website to find out more.

All too soon it was time to head back on the free bus. A nice hot shower awaited to make my sunburn tingle before dinner at the attached restaurant.

Just in case, I checked further on the Globespan situation. It seemed ropey. Very ropey. But there were flights available on Friday I could move onto. I’d leave it overnight before booking something I might not need.

There are more of those rumours that we may have gone to a bar where karaoke may or may not have taken place.

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