Travelers stories

Barbados My Place in the Sun, The Best that the Caribbean Has to Offer

Friday, May 30th, 2008

For me Barbados is a fantastic choice as a holiday destination, in fact I love it so much I chose to get married there last year. It may not be the prettiest Caribbean island, it sure isn’t the cheapest island in the Caribbean  and the roads aren’t the smoothest either. But the island has a unique charm and style, which I find truly captivating and it has drawn me back on numerous occasions.

The beaches are some of the best in the world; you have the calm Caribbean side of the island and the rougher and more rugged Atlantic side, both of which are lined with beautiful, must visit beaches. The island offers virtual year round sunshine and warmth, and when the rain comes, it is nothing that someone from the UK or colder countries cant easily cope with.

It is one of the easiest   islands to travel around,  that I have ever been to, to travel around, in fact you could travel around the island in a day, if you were in a hurry, but of course your in the Caribbean and there’s no need to hurry, as soon as I board the Virgin flight at Gatwick bound for Barbados, I leave that rushing around mentality at home. I go to Barbados to take things easy and relax.

Barbados offers a reasonable good choice of visitor attractions and sites such as Harrison’s Cave, St Nicolas Abbey, Welchman Hall Gully, Sunbury Plantation house, The Barbados Museum, a huge choice of boat trips, submarine trip, vast choice of waters sports, international standard golf courses, a vibrant nightlife, with a vast of choice of cuisines to chose from including local to international.

From a personal point of view Barbados was and is an excellent choice for getting married, we couldn’t have had a more memorable wedding day, the beach front location was stunning, the ceremony was a relaxed and  beautiful experience, the Marquee reception was truly a fitting climax to the best wedding day we could have ever hoped for. The Hotel we stayed in, The Southern Palms was a fantastic place to stay and help provide the most memorable honeymoon experience anybody could have  ever wish for! For anybody thinking about getting married in Barbados I would recommend  Celebrations Caribee  they offer exceptional value for money and a very high quality service. Unlike many Bajan businesses, this company runs on UK time not Bajan time, i.e. they turn up and do things when they are meant too!

For me what makes Barbados so special is that you don’t have jam packed beaches like you do in countries like Spain, Greece, Italy or Croatia, or huge groups of drunken louts roaming the streets, also it doesn’t seem like a whole council block full of people have moved home and are staying in your hotel!

Barbados at a Glance:

• The Capital of Barbados is Bridgetown.
• Barbados is the most eastern island in the Caribbean and has a land area of about 430 square kilometres.
• The official language is English and the island has a population of around 280,000 of which 90% are of African decent.
• The island is made from non-volcanic composition and is predominantly composed of limestone-coral.
• It has a tropical climate with constant trade winds off the Atlantic Ocean, which help to keep temperatures mild.
• There is an average of 8 to 9 hours of sunshine daily, with a temperature of between 75 F to 95 F year round.
• Barbados has one of the highest standards of living and literacy rates in the world. The human development index currently ranks it 31st in the world and third in the Americas, behind Canada and the USA.
• It has a democratic government and political stability.
• Barbados has good communications and utilities are available island wide.
• The Time Zone is GMT -4hrs, electricity is 110 volts/50 cycles, currency is the Barbados dollar and USA dollars are accepted everywhere.
• Barbados has strong links with Great Britain and was ruled by them until its independence in 1966, they even drive on the left side of the road.
• The best rum in the world is distilled in Barbados, which is called Mount Gaye rum.
• St Lawrence Gap a 1.3 km stretch of road in Christ Church is the main nightlife area of the island, a vast array of hotels, bars, restaurants, clubs and shopping.
• Crane Beach, which is located on the south east coast, was voted one of the 10 best beaches in the world by “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”.
• You can arrive in Barbados and get married in one day.

Barbados in my opinion is one of the best holiday destinations, not only in the Caribbean but  in the world and this beautiful island  offers something for everyone.

For those of you that have never been to Barbados the official language is English, but like many countries they also have a local dialect know as Bajan, here is a great article which, teaches you some of the most commonly used words 20 Bajan Words That Will Make Your Trip to Barbados More Fun!

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Why You Should Go On Holiday, Travel is Good For You

Thursday, May 29th, 2008

All of us need something to look forward too, and going on holiday is defiantly something that falls into that category. Going on holiday or travelling doesn’t need to be about heading off to some far flung place for 2 or 3 weeks, it can be as simple as jumping on the train by yourself or with your family and going some place different for the day.

For me it doesn’t matter if it’s a 3 week holiday in the Caribbean, a week in a caravan, a weekend camping, or even a day trip somewhere, I look forward to it with the same sense of adventure and excitement. I get a real buzz out of getting away from my normal day-to-day existence, and going somewhere different, as the saying goes, “travel broadens your horizons”.

Some of my best holidays have being unplanned camping trips to superb campsites, in beautiful locations, such as on the banks of Loch Lomond or in the wilds of the Scottish Highlands. I have had as much enjoyment out of such trips, as I have when I visited the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids, the Grand Canyon, or when staying in 5 star hotels.

In my opinion it is almost like a criminal act, for families not to holiday and travel together, to experience new things as a family unit, to share precious family time together. It is an important part of any child’s development and growing up, to go and experience new places with the family. Family holidays are something that will be remembered for the rest of your life.

Going on holiday or travelling doesn’t need to be about money, it’s a willingness to seek out new horizons, to see new places, to be part of a new adventure. Life for me, would be so dull without the joy of travelling and knowing that I have many adventures ahead of me, seeing new places, meeting new people, getting away from the cocoon of normal living and much, much more.

Travel is so much more than just good for you, it makes life worth living and not to do so, is a waste of your life!

For those of you that are seeking a wee bit of inspiration to travel here are some great travel quotations 10 Inspirational Travel Quotations, Which Will Get You on the Next Plane Out of Here!

Or for those of you that, perhaps would like to make a little bit of extra money I recently read a great atricle at the 2milliondollarbills.com blog eBooks as a Business Opportunity, How to Make Your Own

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Aberdeen, Why Not Visit the Granite City?

Wednesday, May 28th, 2008

Aberdeen, situated on the coast of the north east of Scotland is a great holiday base. Not only does the city itself offer a multitude of visitor attractions, but it also has hundreds of great places within 1-2 hours drive nearby, including castles, mountains, near deserted beautiful beaches, picturesque wee villages and much more.

I feel Aberdeen even though in my opinion it is a fantastic holiday destination, many visitors who come to Scotland often overlook it. This is probably down to the Scottish tourist board and the Scottish Governments Edinburgh and Glasgow bias!  Also the local councils inadequate promotion of the city, and the many virtues that the city  offers  for tourists.

For those of you that have never been, or for that matter haven’t even heard of this great city, jump on a plane, train or car and make your way to Aberdeen, you wont be disappointed, it will make a great holiday base.

Things to do in Aberdeen:

Marishal College and Museum, is the Second largest  granite building in the world, it is a very impressive building and  a great free museum. Which features a collection of high quality material, most notably Egyptian and Classical antiquities, non-Western ethnography, Scottish prehistory and numismatics, which rank alongside the largest in Scotland.

The Gordon Highlanders Museum, this is a vibrant military museum located in the heart of Aberdeen and is home to the regimental treasures of the world-famous Gordon Highlanders.

Maritime Museum, Visitors can discover what it is like to live and work on a massive oil platform in the middle of the North Sea. Using models, real equipment and computer displays, the exhibitions bring the North Sea experience to life. The museum has sleek models of fast clipper ships, fishing displays and outstanding views of the harbour, another great free attraction.

Provost Skene’s House, This elegant 16th century town house now contains an attractive series of period room settings, recalling the graceful furnishings of earlier times.

Aberdeen Art Gallery, Housed in a Neo-Classical building, purpose built in 1884, Aberdeen’s splendid Art Gallery houses an important fine art collection with particularly good examples of 19th, 20th and 21st century works. The Gallery has a wide range of exhibitions with an emphasis on contemporary work and an impressive permanent collection featuring such names as Damian Hirst, Ian Hamilton Finlay, Francis Bacon, Monet and Renoir.

Torry Battery, Torry Point Battery has commanded the entrance to Aberdeen harbour since 1860. The Battery has had a long and varied history: by turns, it has been a coastal defence battery, emergency housing and a sanctuary for migratory birds. Today it is one of the best-loved historical monuments in Aberdeen. Free entry.

Duthie Park, the park has many artefacts including a bandstand, fountains, ponds, and statues. Within the park is the Winter Gardens, which were rebuilt in 1970. These house many exotic plants including the largest collection of cacti in Britain. This is a park for all the family, with activities from boating in the ponds to cricket on the lawns.

Old Aberdeen, a huge array of places to visit in this part of the city including, St Machar’s Cathedral, The 14th century Brig o’ Balgownie, Kings College, Powis Gate, and many more.

Aberdeen Beach, Amusement complex, including multiplex cinema, amusement park, ten-pin bowling, bingo, bars, restaurants etc

Aberdeen Beach and The promenade, a great place to hang out, walk and enjoy the fresh sea air, at the east end of the harbour is a former fishing village called “fittie” which is worth visiting.

Aberdeen also has a host of shopping centres, designer shops, restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs which are as good as, or if not better than most cities.

Nearby Aberdeen:

Countless Castles, Including, Crathes, Fraser, Drum, Dunottar, Craigivar, Huntly, Fyvie, Balmoral.

Distillery Trail, the start of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Trail can be found in Grampian and features eight of the most famous Scottish distilleries and one cooperage.

The trail is famous for being the only malt whisky trail in the world and guides visitors through the North East and onwards into picturesque Speyside. The trail is about 70 miles (110km) long and weaves through some of Scotland’s most breathtaking countryside while taking in the traditional and distinctive distilleries.

Costal Trail, the trail takes in over 165 miles of unspoilt coastline and will take the tourist on a stunning journey featuring some of the North East of Scotland’s most breathtaking sights.

Stone Circle Trail, The North East of Scotland has an impressive history and heritage and this can be seen in the many stone circles, standing stones, Pictish ruins and centuries old cairns.

The Victorian Heritage Trail, the trail takes tourists on a grand tour of Queen Victoria’s favourite sights and locations and features a wide range of attractions that will leave the visitor with a lasting impression of the country and it’s rich history.

Royal Deeside, an area of outstanding beauty, sparkling Highland rivers and misty mountains.

Loch Muick, The wild expanse of Loch Muick, almost totally encircled by steep mountains, is surprisingly accessible. Located on the royal estate of Balmoral, under the shadow of Lochnagar, its surrounds are home to many types of wildlife, including mountain hare, grouse and herds of red deer.

Burn o’ Vat, situated on low-lying ground, Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve (NNR) consists of extensive Birchwood, wetlands and heather moor. In its centre are two large lochs, Davan and Kinord, which provide a winter home for thousands of geese. To the west, you can find the hidden Vat, a spectacular geological feature famed for concealing the 18th Century outlaw, Gilderoy Macgregor.

I have just giving you a wee sample of what Aberdeen and its surrounding area has to offer, I would run out of space with my web hosting company if was to write a complete list of all the great things to do and the fantastic places there is to vistit.

For those of you that would like to learn some Aberdeen and north east of Scotland local dialect, here is couple of great article that will help you  For Those Heading to the Granite City This Summer, Learn The Language! and Advanced Doric Phrases For Tourists Heading to the Granite City

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11 Amazing Historic Scottish Sites That You Must Visit

Tuesday, May 27th, 2008

Scotland is a country that has a fascinating history behind it. Fortunatley due to the great work of organisations like Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland many historic buildings and sites have been preserved for the benefit of the nation. There are literally hundreds of buidlings, monuments and sites that are worthy of a mention.

I have listed 11 of my personal favourites to wet your apetite, and give you some ideas as to where to visit this summer.

Craigivar Castle, 6 miles south of Alford:

Craigievar Castle is a pinkish harled castle six miles south of Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is currently the seat of the Clan Sempill. The setting is among scenic rolling foothills of the Grampian Mountains. The contrast of its massive lower story structure to the finely sculpted multiple turrets, gargoyles and high corbelling work create a classic fairytale appearance.

Culloden, Drumossie Moor, North East of Inverness:

A fascinating place to go and visit,experience one of the most historic and brutal battles every faught in this country.

Visiting Culloden the last hand-to-hand battle fought on British soil, takes on a whole new meaning with the opening of an exciting new visitor centre and interactive exhibition. The battlefield itself is now restored to as close as possible to that marched on by the two sides on that fateful day.

Come and find out why this battle that lasted only one hour changed the way of life of the Highlands and Islands for ever.

Dunnottar Castle, near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire:

Visit Dunnottar Castle for an unforgettable experience. A dramatic and evocative ruined cliff top fortress in a truly stunning setting.

As you wander around the extensive buildings - from the keep through the barracks, lodgings, stables and storehouses to the less-ruinous chapel and drawing room - you will discover the importance of Dunnottar, an impregnable Castle that holds many rich secrets of Scotland’s colourful past.

William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, the Marquis of Montrose and the future King Charles II, all graced the Castle with their presence. Most famously though, it was at Dunnottar Castle that a small garrison held out against the might of Cromwell’s army for eight months and saved the Scottish Crown Jewels, the ‘Honours of Scotland’, from destruction. Crown, sceptre and sword now take pride of place in Edinburgh Castle.

Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh:

Edinburgh Castle dominates the city of Edinburgh like no other castle in Scotland, and Edinburgh Castle is unequalled in the whole of the British Isles. Over one thousand years of history sit on top of the famous Edinburgh rock, and when you see Edinburgh Castle you will understand why over a million visitors a year visit Edinburgh Castle.

Edinburgh Castle is every schoolboy’s dream of what a castle should look like and if there is only one site you should visit in Edinburgh, this should be it.

Eilean Donan Castle, Dorrie, by Kyle of Lockalsh

As one of the most iconic images of Scotland, Eilean Donan is recognised all around the world. Situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by some majestic scenery, it is little wonder that the castle is now one of the most visited and important attractions in the Scottish highlands.

Although first inhabited around the 6th century, the first fortified castle was built in the mid 13th century and stood guard over the lands of Kintail. Since then, at least four different versions of the castle have been built and re-built as the feudal history of Scotland unfolded through the centuries.

Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow:

I dont think it matters what relgion you are this cathedral is a an amazing building to go and visit, have a wonder round. I love sitting down in here and just chilling out.

In 543AD, Glasgow’s patron saint St Mungo founded this cathedral on the site of a Christian burial ground. It is Scotland’s oldest medieval church and now houses the Church of Scotland. The first stone church on this site was established in 1136 by Bishop Achaius and King David I, but was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1197. The present building is in the Gothic “First Pointed” style and dates from the 13th century. Bishop William de Bondington (1233-1258) supervised the initial work but the cathedral was not completed until 200 years later. Approximately 550 years ago, Glasgow University was founded in the sacristy of the upper church, which also houses the nave and choir, while in the suitably solemn lower church you can visit the shrine of St Mungo.

Glenfinnan Monument, Glenfinnan, Loch Shiel:

A truley atmoshpheric and beautiful location, which never fails but to inspire me every time I go and visit it, no matter what the weather is like, there is also a good vistor centre nearby.

Half way between Fort William and Mallaig on the A830 lies Glenfinnan. This impressive monumont marks the spot where the Young Pretender “Bonnie Prince Charlie”,came ashore on Monday 19 August 1745 and the uprising began.he arrived in a small rowing boat, which landed at the north end of Loch Shiel. It was early afternoon. Prince Charles Edward Stuart, “Bonnie Price Charlie” came ashore and met his escort of 50 MacDonalds before retiring to a nearby barn to await the response to letters he had sent to possible supporters all over the Highlands

Glenmorangie Disterllery, Tain:

There is nothing quite like visiting a Scottish Distillery, it is most certainly a unique and interesting tour. Glenmorangie may not be the best whisky tour out there, but it is one of my personal favourites and its my favourite whisky.

No visit to Scotland would be complete without a distillery tour, and Glenmorangie will not disappoint. The distillery tour will let you see the skilled mashmen, stillmen and warehousemen as they go about their daily work. You will also see the fermenting room, filtering processes, bottling and labelling, the cooking of the preserves and sauces.

No visit to Scotland would be complete without a distillery tour, and Glenmorangie will not disappoint. The distillery tour will let you see the skilled mashmen, stillmen and warehousemen as they go about their daily work. You will also see the fermenting room, filtering processes, bottling and labelling, the cooking of the preserves and sauces.

The National Wallce Monument, Stirling:

This monument was built in honour of one of Scotland most revered sons William Wallace.Completed in 1869 after eight years’ construction, the 220 feet high Wallace Monument sits prominently on the Abbey Craig two miles north of the city of Stirling itself. It was from this prominent hilltop in 1297 that William Wallace watched the English army approach across Stirling Bridge before leading the Scots into the battle of the same name: and victory (see our Historical Timeline). A fitting, and striking, location for the national monument to a national hero

The National Wallace Monument is packed with fascinating exhibits and displays - so come and visit one of the country’s most magnificent sights, and meet Scotland’s national hero - William Wallace.

The Royal Yacht Britannia, Leith, Edinburgh:

The most famous ship in the world, the Royal Yacht Britannia was launched at John Brown’s Shipyard in Clydebank on the 16th April 1953.

She has served the British Royal Family for over 40 years, clocking up more than one million miles around the globe, including Royal Family holidays and more than 900 official voyages.

Britannia has carried on a tradition of Royal Yachts, dating back 300 years to the reign of Charles II.

Moored at Leith, a short bus ride from the centre of Edinburgh, and with the airport less than 30 minutes away, this magnificent ship has been host to some of the worlds most famous people

Urquart Castle, 2 miles from Drumnadrochit:

It is close to the village of Drumnadrochit. Though extensively ruined, it was in its day one of the largest strongholds of medieval Scotland, and remains an impressive structure, splendidly situated on a headland overlooking Loch Ness. It is also near the castle where the majority of Nessie (Loch Ness Monster) sightings occur.

For a humorous look at the American presidential election race you must read this article I found Stewie Griffen To Run For American President

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10 Fantastic Bottled Lagers to Drink, When the Sun is shining and the World Aint Such a Bad Place!

Sunday, May 25th, 2008

On a nice hot sunny day, nothing beats sitting outside with an ice-cold bottle of lager, chilling out and watching the pretty girls go bye. On days like this, I like something that is easy to drink and basically tastes delicious when its ice cold. I’m not looking for anything complicated or with a hundred and one different flavours.

And, oh someone put on some Oasis for me and then the world will truly be a great place.

In Alphabetical Order:

1.Banks Beer, Barbados: A distinctive and unique tasting lager beer, one of my favourite Caribbean lager beers.

2.Budweiser, USA: I know all you so called experts will have a wee cry about this one being included in my list, but it does the job for me. It is a great simple lager and when its ice cold, it goes down a treat.

3.Carib Lager, Trinidad: A very refreshing crisp lager, which is extremely difficult to get hold of out side the Caribbean, which is a shame, because I love this stuff.

4.Budweiser Budvar, Czechoslovakia: The original Czech Budweiser is a full-bodied, malty lager with plenty of hoppy bite. It tastes slightly better than the American version.

5.Coors, USA: Another fantastic simple and refreshing lager that goes down a treat on a nice sunny day.

6.Corona, Mexico: This lager with a slice of lime stuffed down the neck of the bottle and you make an already great tasting lager taste a wee bit better.

7. Efes, Turkey:  An easy to drink, foamy bright lager, I cant wait to get back to Olu Deniz for two weeks of drinking this stuff, excellent.

8.Heather Honey Lager, Scotland: a fantastic lager which has some honey added to it, during the brewing process and somehow it works amazingly well. Recently had few bottles of this great lager while camping at Loch Lomond, now that was heavenly.

9.Kronenbourg, France: Again some great memories drinking this stuff in Paris, the best selling lager in France and for a very good reason, it tastes delicious.

10.Peroni Nastro Azzurro: Italy: This is a crisp and refreshing lager, which brings back such good memories sitting watching the windsurfers on Lake Garda.

After watching the Eurovision Song Contest last night, I sure could have done with  few more lagers to stop me laughing, so much at some of those eastern european jokers! a great article which I found and sums it up so well Eurovision Joke, Who Gives A Crap About Mickey Mouse Countries Voting For The UK !

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10 Essential Items That You Should Take On Holiday!

Saturday, May 24th, 2008

This is my list of what I perceive to be essential items that I take on holiday with me. If you have any ideas of things that you feel are essential for travellers, leave a comment.

1. Travel Insurance: Probably the most important thing you should make sure you have before you go away on holiday. Don’t be one of those cheapskates that you here saying, it will never happen to me. Make sure you do your research and study what your getting for your money. Don’t just buy it because it’s the cheapest. I have first hand experience of having to claim from an insurance policy and it saved me over £1500 in costs.

2. First Aid Kit: Get a good one, not one of those that cost £1.99 and offer you little plasters and some savlon. Get a decent one, which includes a dental repair kit, diarrhoea tablets, sickness tablets, insect repellent, tweezers etc.

3. Money Belt: A money belt is essential for keeping important items and money safe. Get one made of fabric that won’t get drenched in sweat and is waterproof.

4. Handle Scale: If you are the type of person that always buys lots of goodies when you’re on holiday, this item is essential. Nowadays you will be more than aware how strict airlines have become regarding baggage weights. If you exceed the airlines limits, you will pay heftily for it.

5. Torch: This is an essential piece of equipment; get one of those powerful mini torches that you can easily carry with you. Also make sure you know where it is when you go to your bed at night. You never know when there is going to be a power cut and believe me it will be essential.

6. Compressing Pack: Are great invention which is basically a plastic bag that you put your clothes in, which when rolled up, air gets pushed out through special valves and as a result they save you space in your suitcase.

7. Luggage Straps: These will help to provide extra support and make your luggage extra secure. We are all well aware of the rough handling that our luggage receives once you put it through check in at the airport. How often have you seen busted open bags coming through on the conveyor belt and  with the contents all over the place. If only the skinflints had spent a measly £2.00 on a luggage strap they could have avoided the stress. They are also great for quickly identifying your luggage when it comes through.

8. Neck Pillow: I would recommend one of these for anybody going on a flight, get an inflatable one which takes up very little room. Yes they do work and they are worth it, a little bit of extra comfort when flying.

9. ipod: You know when your travelling, especially when your flying that there is going to be delays, or the choice of onboard entertainment is going to be crap. Make sure you bring your ipod because when things get crazy, you can just listen to your favourite tunes and the world will seem a slightly better place.

10. Large Bag of Jelly Babies: These have saved my life along with my ipod, during  crazy airport delays. My favourites are the green ones and the black ones.

A near perfect list from my perspective, this wee lot works every time for me!

For those of you that are interested in gadgets here is a list of great essential travel gadgets Top Ten Essentall Travel Gadgets

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Holidays That Are Good For Your Health, Open Your Mind To Something Different!

Friday, May 23rd, 2008

Here are some holiday ideas that offer more than just lying on a beach and burning yourself, why not try something different for a change, you never know you might just like it. A weekend trying something new might just be the spark that your relationship is looking for!

No matter what your interests are, whether you are looking for rest, relaxation and pampering or adventure, excitement and an adrenalin rush, there is a holiday out there for you.

1. Health Farm or Spa: Great for improving your health, you will receive a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, wellness education, healthy cuisine and special interest programming.

2. Adventure Sports Holidays: So many to chose from, find a centre which offers you the opportunity to try out a multitude of different activates, including, kayaking, windsurfing, cannoning, hand gliding, sand boarding, power kiting, pot holing, paragliding. Give it a go, you might enjoy the buzz!

3. Walking or Cycling Holidays: You can find a holiday that suits your particular level of fitness, in many different countries around the world including the highlands of Scotland, the Alps, the Pyrenees. You will experience breathtaking scenery and of course improve your health and stress levels into the bargain.

4. Yoga/Meditation: Why not take your body, mind and soul onto a different level by having a dedicated weekend or longer of yoga, meditation, and Tai Chi. Totally forget the hassles and stresses of your normal day to day life and relax like you never have.

Why not try something different, what have you got to lose, life is about adventure, and experiencing new places and things.

For those of you that are looking to improve the quality of your wellbeing take a look at this interesting article I found  Having Faith In Yourself Will Give You A Healthy Mind And A Healthy Body.

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West Highland Way Fling, The Summer of 2002!

Thursday, May 22nd, 2008

It was the summer of 2002 and I had just finished my final year of studies at Edinburgh University. I had decided I would indulge in that favourite student past time of a Gap year. I was in no hurry to join the real world and seek full time employment. So I had a whole year to do whatever the hell I wanted and that would involve lots of travel, beer and girls, well that was the plan! My friend Stu came up with this great idea to embark on the well-known walk called the West Highland Way, which is a 95 mile walk between Milngavie to Fort William, what sold the idea to us was the prospect of all those good pubs along the route and the prospect of meeting some interesting girls!

We had completed an arduous training program for our assault on the West Highland Way, which meant lots of serious drinking sessions and numerous failed attempts to chat up the local girls, we also tried to fit in at least one walk a week up to the top of Arthur’s Seat.

To cut a long story short the best part of my adventure begun on the 2nd day of the walk, we had reached a place called Balmaha campsite, which was a truly amazing location on the banks of Loch Lomond. It there that we met a couple of German girls called Ada and Helga.

We done our duty and went over and introduced ourselves to our fellow German walkers, we arranged to meet them later that evening for a few dinks in the oak tree inn which was the nearest pub, which was about 30 minutes walk away. We arrived nice and early to prepare ourselves for the prospect of getting closer to our new friends. I had my eye on Ada, she was blonde, slim, and good looking, Helga on the other hand was more like a those German shot putters that you see on the Olympics.

The German girls eventually arrived and as the evening wore on, the worst possible thing happened, I could see an attraction developing between Stu and Ada. I suppose the consolation was that Helga didn’t look as bad as I first thought, when I clapped my eyes on her back at the campsite, she was more well built as opposed to fat, she had big bouncing breasts and a extremely juicy booty. I wasn’t quite sure if all the fresh air and the beer were playing tricks with my mind!

Helga said she wasn’t feeling too good and asked me if I wouldn’t mind walking her back to the campsite, she didn’t want to spoil the rest of the night for her friend. Being a true gentleman I gladly obliged her! We decided to take the scenic route back, she slid her hand on to mine as we walked, I was beginning to warm even more to this Helga.

We arrived back at the campsite and she said the fresh air had her feeling  better again; so we ended up going for a stroll along the banks of the Loch.  We were standing beside a tree with her in front of me, when she started to rub her booty, against my crotch; she asked me if I was enjoying it, “YES”, I replied.  The inevitable happened, and it was a truly wondrous site as I feasted my eyes on the naughty half naked Helga as she was bending over tree.

We spent the rest of our trip with the two German girls and needless to say my and Helga’s evening inevitable ended in the same routine.  I will always remember my West Highland Way Fling with Helga and often wonder what ever happened to the naughty Helga.

 Submitted by Steve from London.

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