We managed to get off the ship in Aberdeen by 8am and headed out towards Dundee. We did stop for some fuel (41.54 Litres at 150.7p per litre) at an ASDA at Portlethen just outside Aberdeen and as there was a McDonalds, we also grabbed something to eat (if you can describe it as food). We headed out towards Dundee as I wanted to cross the Tay Bridge in the Landrover. On our way through Dundee we saw the RRS Discovery the ship used by Scott and Shackleton just before the Tay Bridge that we crossed at 9:25am. We continued down to Edinburgh and crossed the Queensferry Crossing bridge on the M90.
Crossing the Tay Bridge
The Queensferry Crossing
We had already decided that we would visit The Kelpies sculpture at Falkirk as well as the Falkirk wheel. We arrived at the Kelpies carpark at 10:45am and had a walk around the impressive structures that can be seen from miles around. We had to pay to park, the first time that we have had to pay for parking on this holiday. It was busy and we did think about walking to the wheel, but as it had started to rain and it would have taken us 1 hour and 30 mins, we decided to drive there. Plus we are both very tired.
The Kelpies
The Falkirk Wheel
We drove to the wheel (not really a wheel but a rotating boat lift) and spent sometime walking around and watching the tourist boats that shuttle from bottom to top for £14.50 per person. We then had a cup of tea and scone in the cafe, making the mistake of sitting on one of the sofa’s. As we were so exhausted, it was difficult to stay awake and I did have a 20 minute kip. The kip still didn’t get rid of the tired headache I had.
Leaving Falkirk at 2pm, we headed to the B&B at Kirtlebridge taking a small diversion to Wanlockhead, Scotland’s highest village at 1531 feet above sea level as it isn’t far from the motorway. We arrived at Wanlockhead at 2:53pm and only stopped for a picture at the sign. Leaving there, we arrived at the B&B at Kirtlebridge at 4:25pm utterly exhausted.
The Wanlockhead signs and the road leaving Wanlockhead.
Route and elevation for Day 8
Frustratingly the GPX recorded failed as we left Aberdeen and so it only recorded from just before Portlethen.
You can see the peak when we visited Wanlockhead on the elevation profile.
274 miles on the odometer