07-Oct-2002 -- We are going to Scotland for a few days holiday (vacation), so what's the first thing that you do? Of course, check this site for the nearest CP that I haven't visited yet! 56N 4W is only a 50 mile detour, met by groans when I inform my family about our little outing.

We left home on Sunday 6th October and stayed overnight at my wife's parents to break the journey. Up bright and early on Monday morning and we start the long trek North.

Following the motorway (freeway/interstate) as far as Junction 37 we turn left and past the wind-farm (see 54N 2W), heading on down some lovely winding and steep lanes into Kendal. A brief pause here to buy some mint-cake (Pic 7), it is a sugar candy (http://www.kendal.mintcake.co.uk/).

We followed the old A6 North for the next 40 miles, a bit slower than the motorway but much prettier scenery. A brief detour up the A7 for lunch, then on towards the A74M the major route into Scotland. As it is the first time my family have been to Scotland - I am a native - I made them do the "tourist thing" in front of the Welcome to Scotland sign. (Pic 6)

To questions of "are we there yet?" I reassure them that we are "well on our way". Only about 80 miles to go! An hour and a half later and we are driving through Banton. We go up the hill and park beside a track. At the cottage I saw a lady tending her garden. I asked if she was the landowner. When she confirmed that she was I explained the project. Not owning a computer she wondered why if people wanted to see what this bit of Scotland looked like, they didn't just come and look for themselves. Hmmm..

We were informed that the bull had been removed from the field so we could go ahead. Down the track and take the first left path as I knew we had to up and to the right. Climb the hill, turn right and straight to a ravine. Back track to the track, take the second left. Again the ravine, but only a five foot drop. Climb down and up the other side.

On up the hill, avoiding the cows and within ten minutes we are on the exact spot (Pic 2). The view North (Pic 1) is not very inspiring, but it does agree with the previous visit. If you compare it to the first visit then I believe they were in slightly the wrong place.

The view to the South is more interesting (Pic 3). (Pic 4) is myself and Dani standing on the spot. Dani wondered if there was an easier way out...well it turned out there was (Pic 5), which was directly on the track and only 100 yards past where we turned off it! Back to the car and off to begin our holiday.