Sunday: A nice hot and sunny day today. We drive up to Kendal and spend a couple of hours there, including a visit to the bakery and then eating the caramel slice in the town square.

Next stop Dumfries. Again we spend about 2 hours there before the final leg of the Journey to Cairnryan. This is a small village with a few houses and a ferryport. Our hotel: the Cairnryan Hotel was lovely. We had a large room with a view of the Loch, and the owners were welcoming and helpful.

Monday: After a very nice breakfast we pop into the ferryport across the road and make the short crossing to Larne. Here we have an even shorter journey to the Hilton Hotel in Templepatrick.

After checking in we drive to Antrim. First we explore the town centre then we drive to a park on the shore of Lough Neagh where we enjoy the sunshine by picnicing and going for a stroll. After a swim and evening meal we go for a walk in the extensive hotel grounds and golf course.

Tuesday: Today we visit Belfast. A nice enough city, but in our short visit it doesn't seem to have anything to distinguish it from other cities. The cathedral quarter is pleasant and we enjoy an interesting tour round the cathedral.

We decide to drive down to Strangford, and stop off in Downpatrick. The town is busy and the traffic queues on its way through. Strangford is picturesque with houses painted in different colours overlooking the Lough. We watch the cars boarding the ferry to cross the Lough, though we choose to drive back along the same side that we drove down.

Wednesday: Today we take the coastal road to the Giant's Causeway. First stop Larne in the rain. Then we drive the coastal road, and the views are breathtaking even in the rain. We pass through several attractive coastal towns and eventually decide to stop off in Glenarm. The rain has mostly stopped and we enjoy our walk round the town.

Then more stunning scenery before thick fog steals our views. Then the fog lifts and we stop off in a resort town called Ballycastle. Now in warm sunshine we explore first the harbour and seafront and then the town centre.

Finally we drive on to Giant's Causeway. The walk from the carpark to the Causeway heightens our anticipation. We join the multi-national, multi-lingual crowds on the trek and we are not disappointed. The causeway is a little tricky to walk on but we walk across, taking in the strange rock structures. By the time we have returned to our car we decide to go back to the hotel for our evening meal.

Thursday: Oh dear! It is raining today, but we still get out. First stop Newcastle. Very nice, even in the rain. We start off with a walk along the promenade. Then back through the town centre. Then on to Bannbridge with it's unique underpass through the town centre. Then on to Armagh with its impressive cathedral.

Friday: A hot sunny start. We travel to Larne and spend time there before dashing back to the hotel to pick up a gadget accidentaly left behind. Then we catch the ferry to Scotland where the rain is falling heavily. We drive to Ayr and spend an hour there as the weather improves. Then on to the Hilton Strathclyde where we enjoy a lovely evening meal.

Saturday: Glasgow today. We drive in and park up - No problem. Then a lovely time wandering the busy streets and soaking up the atmosphere with a continental market, street musicians and singers galore. The weather is lovely and sunny. In the end we have to dash back to the car because our 4 hours parking is up. We buy a dutch marzipan slice on the way and eat it at our next destination: Stirling.

In Stirling the weather deteriorates but we still have time to wander round the town centre before a heavy downpour. This does put us off on our plans to walk up to the castle though.

Sunday: Edinburgh today. The town centre is being prepared for the Festival. We walk up to the castle and then head down the Royal Mile which is very busy and full of performers promoting their acts and shows. A believable Basil & Sybil Fawlty along with Manuel. A daredevil knife juggler and a multitude of good musical acts (and one or two bad ones - with bagpipes!). We have to take cover at one point for a heavy downpour of rain.

Then we make our way to Princes Street. The road is prepared for a parade but this did not take place whilst we were there. Eventually our walk took us back to the car and we drive the beautiful coastal route to the resort of North Berwick. By now the sun is shining strongly. We explore the town and its sea front overlooking the Firth of Forth. We regret not having more time to explore but are grateful for the sunshine. The rain holds off until we are driving back to the hotel and is absolutely torrential.

We decide to pop into Bellshill for an Indian take-away. As we drive through a deserted industrial estate we see a marching band heading towards us. We stop and watch and listen as they march past displaying their banners and playing their music.

Monday: Today is the long drive home, but we have a lovely time because of the hot sunny weather and our stops in the Lake District. First stop was at the Old Blacksmiths Shop in Gretna Green. Next stop a coffee overlooking Ullswater, in my opinion the most beautiful of the lakes. Then a short stop at Glenridding also by Ullswater. Then our longest stop at Bowness on Windermere which was hot sunny and very very busy. It was particularly nice down by the lakeside with swans, boats and people eating icecreams. We then moved on to Windermere town where we enjoyed another coffee, this time with a gooey caramel slice. Then the final drive home which was helped by very easy traffic conditions.