I grew up in southern New Jersey, the pine forests (except we have "pygmy pines"), swamps, moss, lichen are insanely similar. Look up Pine Barrens in New Jersey to see what I'm talking about. "One of the characteristic qualities of typical Pine Barrens streams is the unusual brown or so-called tea-colored appearance of the water. This color is the result of the water containing a high content of iron and by natural vegetative dyes such as tannin."
Water seeping from peat moorland tends to be dark brown, flowing water through red sandstone tends to have a reddish tinge which can be seen at the Devils Pulpit near Killearn.
In Canada, we call that brown lake water "tea" colour - the tannin from the decomposing foliage may look unappetizing, but it means that the lake is healthy and full of nutrients for the wildlife. Loving your trip "up north" - ENJOY!
@@craigmacdonald4987 I wonder if it has the same chemical composition as tea-colored water in the US. Here, it is caused by tannins leaching into the water from the needles of conifer trees, namely eastern hemlock. It can be seen in places like the Blackwater River in West Virginia or Avalanche Lake in the Adirondacks, for example. I wouldn't be surprised if peat were full of tannins as well.
Ugh! Sooo jealous! My family took a one week road trip through Scotland 2 years ago and we are in love. We're actually actively working to move there one day. Our country (Costa Rica) is gorgeous, but there's something about Scotland that just fills my heart with joy. Have fun! ♥️
Great video! I have a ton of suggestions (I used to work in Scottish tourism!) For the North Coast 500 if you're doing the whole thing, Dunnet Head is amazing, as is the entirety of the west coast part of the route. My fave parts of that route are Gruinaird Bay (there's an amazing viewpoint just south of the bay on the road), Gairloch beach, Loch Maree, Torridon, Corrieshalloch Gorge and everything in between. Just off the NC500 is Plockton which is just gorgeous, one of my favourite places. Skye obviously is well worth a visit but you need to be there early to see the big sights on the Trotternish loop (we were too late when we went there...) The view from Elgol is stunning but the road is atrocious, we were in a similar van to yours and had to turn back :(. Coming back down from the NC500/Skye I recommend Mallaig because you can get the ferry to Inverie (a village only acessible by an 18 mile hike or by boat). South from Mallaig is the Glenfinnan Viaduct and you can walk up and watch the steam train cross it! In Fort William I recommend the Gondola into the Nevis Range (the view is stunning). I also love Oban, and visiting the Isle of Mull (and from there Iona and Staffa (wait till next year cos if you go in the middle of summer you can see puffins up close!)). Heading south still, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is often overlooked, but it's my neck of the woods and totally worth a day or two at least to explore. Luss and Balmaha are good to visit with great walks at both. You can also visit Inchcailloch Island which has a great view from its summit. Into the Trossachs I'd recommend David Marshal Lodge at Aberfoyle (it has a great hide for you to watch red squirrels at!), Loch Katrine (Ben A'an walk is short but amazing) and Bracklinn Falls at Callander. This was a longer comment than I was planning, sorry!
I have lived in Scotland for a number of years and am fortunate enough to live a few miles from the edge of the cairngorms. Easily my favourite part of Scotland. Don't get me wrong I love many parts of the Far north and west coast but there is a special alpine quality to the cairngorms unique in Scotland and by extension the UK.
In the 60s most roads were single track with passing places. They had a charm which has been lost now so many roads have been upgraded. The coast road was just a remote road. Now it has a name it has become a good tourist route. The best routes are inland; fewer people and vehicles; loads of places to stop over night. We often slept under bridges in our waterproof padded sleeping bags. Frying bacon on a crisp morning under a bridge is one of my fond memories. So happy for you enjoying Scotland.
I thought it was funny a RUclipsr saying “they’ve done the Cairngorms” driving through doesn’t count in my opinion 😂 but yes truly experiencing it and getting a feel for it I like the quiet places and climbing the Munro’s 🏕 camping Northern lights spotting bothies lochs beaches forests , puffins on the north east coast I’ve seen wild salmon at Aberlour, and also on the north east the largest colony of gannets on the main land at troop head , I love my country enough to keep me amused and no need to go anywhere else 🏴🏔🍁🍂 Perthshire is lovely in autumn lots of trees and colours
Just returned from there and your enthusiasm on camera perfectly captures how I felt myself. I have travelled to many exotic places but Scotland rates with the best of them for scenery and experience but has the added benefit of an extraordinary ancient history and culture. A very special country.
Love it when you stay in the UK and the appreciation you have for all nature. You remind me how beautiful our country is and that I need to get out in it more!
I'm 3 weeks int my 5 week Scottish road trip in my little Berlingo, watching this a Little harbor village called Maliag! Scotland has blown my mind! now (after watching you 2) I'll be heading to the Cairngorms before I head back 👍 thanks guys 😃
The Scottish scenery is incredible!!! I saw similar water color here in the US at one of the national parks once and what I was told by one of the rangers is that high amounts of dissolved organic matter cause the water to be reddish brown...basically like a giant cup of tea.
. I worked on a fishing boat for a while out of Oban and the journey up and down from Lancashire always blew me away. Also the there’s the harbour there where you can take a ferry to the some of the West coast islands too. Seeing them from the boat was so cool. It’s all pretty amazing ✌️
I've just got back from the northen tip of the cairngorms hunting deer. I was lucky enough to see a pair of white tailed eagles, a moment I will never forget. I can't wait to go back as I'm yet to see a golden eagle.
In Australia those coloured lakes are usually caused by Tea Trees, thanks for another fantastic video, again I will say you two are hands down the best presenters on RUclips
A couple places I loved in Scotland: - Dinosaur footprints on the beach near Staffin, Isle of Skye, then across The Quiraing to the Fairy Glen. - The Fortingall Yew, a tree in a tiny village churchyard, that is probably the oldest living thing in Great Britain. - A statue in memory of Corporal Wojtek, the bear who fought for the Polish army in WWII, in Princes Street Garden, Edinburgh.
New subbie here! We are moving to UK soon and your channel is pretty amazing, making us super excited to take our family on one great adventure all over UK!
We did a big road trip around Scotland years ago and loved it! The Isle of Skye was amazing and Dunnottar Castle on the eastern cost is still one of my favorite places we’ve been - just something magical about ancient ruins at the edge of the sea. I wish I’d know about the reindeer center but will definitely be top of the list when we go back. I think our next trip will be to England and the Lake District - we haven’t been able to travel to Europe in far too long and are longing to go back soon!!!
I have just discovered your channel just now and have subscribed. I love your enthusiasm, articulacy, and your super cinemaphotography skills. Your good humour, insight into my homeland of Scotland, and sheer hard work into making these clips is well-appreciated. Thanks.
If you love the Scottish highlands you need to come to Alberta Canada. Specifically the Rockie Mountains. Banff National Park is world famous and the town of Banff is named after Banffshire Scotland. The nature views, the Mountains, the animals are all lovely. Avoid the townsite in summer- it's a total tourist trap - and is so busy. But come in the spring or fall and it is a lovely place to be.. I am loving your videos especially how keen you are to stealth camp. Lol Your little van is a little too small for me, I have a 31 fifth wheel trailer which is just right but I started out in a home made camper, the kind that goes on the back of a truck, and we camped with 2 small children. We loved it but having kids necessitated getting something bigger. Keep posting, I am looking for more great camping in Scotland ideas.
Every year when we plan our travels we think, " where to this summer" ? The answer is invariably " SCOTLAND ' We have been there 10 times over the last few decades. Its simply one of the most beautiful, friendly and calming places on earth.
I was told that,peat made the water …. Been most of the places nearby by mountain bike ,if anyone is going they need to see the mountains, the whole place blew me away .paradise
We take it all for granted , here in Scotland. You guys should also look up the Heart 200! Central belt/Trossachs drive. Great scenery as well. I’m in Kinross which I know one of you will like as it’s next to Loch Leven RSPB reserve
What a great video. I've been to many of those locations recently for my landscape photography channel and shot a couple of videos. Especialy the vantage point at uath lochans was amazing! I was blown away just like you. But that was also because I had stunning light conditions and beautiful clouds when I was up there. I'll follow you around great to see those places again. And your videos are realy pleasant to watch. I need to get a bit more b roll in my videos like you are doing 🙂 grt guido
Peat colours the water. As a kid I swam in there, Loch Garten. The streams of water run through peat on their way to the mountain Loch, thus colouring the water a deep red.
Petrichor is the smell of grass after fresh rain. We used to visit Sandwood Bay on the west coast of Scotland. A trek acoss the moorland required to get there, but we'll worth the effort for a fantastic day out
The reddish brown water colour is due to the organic compound called "tannin" It leaches from the wood etc, which is decomposing in the loch. Tannin is an essential part of the process for leather production. (Tanning)
Copper red water is because it’s been filtered through peat bogs and then runs very clean but tinted by the pest. Btw, if you find deeper coloured whisky it’s because it’s made with that peat coloured water.
There was a lake in Australia with the same brown color, the Aussies called it Coca-Cola Lake. The water was clear and warm, a lovely swim. The trees surrounding the lake lent the brown color, they were some kind of tea tree.
If you're doing the NC500 then get yourself up to Applecross on the far west coast and do the Bealach na Bà route. Then go up to Skye, where you'll get some very different landscapes.
Just got back from a Scotland road trip. 100% agree. You simply have to do this route....its not for the faint hearted though. But God is it worth it!!!
We lived in Newcastle Upon Tyne for 3 years and toured many of these areas often. My reaction was always like yours…do others know about this and why didn’t I. The Cairngorms are magnificent and so many areas around there to explore. The biggest thing I think about touring these area is I never felt that unsafe. In the US there are magnificent spots but there’s alway something that wants to kill you. Snakes, bear, large cats, etc etc. The west and north of Scotland is breathtaking and diverse. I wondered if I went through some time travel portal when we stumbled the 1st time in Braemar. It became a go to day trip for us and visitors who came over to see us. Of course, being Yanks, driving didn’t scare us. We use to covering hours on the road to get places. People, I highly recommend going and just getting lost. It’s FANTASTIC.
Absolutely cracking video. If you’re interested, the bracket fungus on the silver birch is the Razor Strop Fungus. Way back its skin was used as an alternative to a leather strop for sharpening cut throat razors. The flesh once dried also makes an excellent tinder for fire starting.
Love Scotland! My first kayak trip was on Loch Morlich 50 years ago! Looking forward to seeing more, and exploring it ourselves when we finish our van build in Turkey!
You two make me giggle so much! It makes me laugh even more when some viewers just do not get your sense of humour. Love your videos. I dont usually comment on any videos but I felt I needed to let you know about the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick. Alex would LOVE it! Beautiful beach too. If you are near that area, I would definitely recommend. Looking forward to this series. Keep up with the great content & stay safe.
lovely video, beautiful scenery. Our first van is on order for next march so we are really looking forward to getting out there and exploring some of the beautiful places that you are showing us. Love you guys, keep up the Amazing work, love Carl & Jackie xx
Wish we could have visited Scotland when we were in Britain back in 10, Only made it as far as the wall. Which by the way might be a good thing for you to do more video of if you are able. It's a fascinating bit of history and some gorgeous scenery as well. I recognise place you filmed it as we hiked by that exact spot. Anyway. Wonderful photography. Scotland really is beautiful. Thank you for enabling others to live vicariously thru your adventures. Glad the van is working out. Oh. And I like Emmas beanie.
I (Canadian) was visiting Scotland at the same time as you. I only had 10 days (Sept 24-Oct 3). I have been watching your Scotland van life and you have me sold to do a van rental for couple of weeks to see some of the beautiful scenery that I missed. Thank you for showing me what I missed.
Peat will turn the water brown. I remember growing up and our water supply from the hills was slightly brown, you really noticed it when you had a bath. Would skillshare not have a course about foraging 🤔😉 I love the cairngorms I camped up the mountains and this 1 time I woke up and the reindeer were all around me. Great video thanks for sharing.
Feel little bit home sick. Watching this yes scotland my homeland is beautiful Love the autumn colours. So much , living in Europe not back home that often My hubby would love to live over there ( i been gone too long so much has changed ). Going on holiday visiting my family Is lovley of course . Bit of sight seeing for hubby 😜. Looking forward to your next video .🥰
Great video, and as a Scotsman in Japan making me a little homesick! Use to drive the Cairngorms weekly with work. Should check out the Spittal of Glenshee up to the Lecht Ski resort, some great scenery and roads there. Tominltoul is a fab wee village out that way too.
Aw thanks for the recommendations Grant! 🙏 We love Japan! But there's no place like home eh? Especially when home is this beautiful 🥰 hope you can visit sometime soon 😊
As for suggestions - if you're planning to travel through Ayrshire, the coastal road up to Greenock is lovely. And if you happen to be in the mood for some ice-cream, I'd recommend you stop on your way and visit Nandini's in Largs.
The colour of the water at the 'loch!' Is that way due to the peat soil. You need to stay longer in cairngorms next time, so much to see and check out companies that do wildlife tours, you'd love them
We really loved this. Gorgeous scenery and brilliantly filmed. You’ve definitely inspired to us to make the trip to visit Scotland. Have a great week. X
Lovely photography and you’ve made Scotland a place I want to visit. And as an American, Alex’s shots at the US are sometimes well deserved and quite funny.
Great video, we have just got home from 2 weeks in the Outer Hebrides. We drove straight past the Cairngorms and have put it on our list to do next year. Enjoy the rest of your trip
Well hello you two , recently found your channel on RUclips 👍👍👏👏👏. Am so enjoying your travels , After seeing you camper in USA burn ,🥲🥲 I researched and tried to go to the beginning of your travels. Currently watching” Scotland ,500 “, I’m truly enjoying seeing this part of the world .you guys are doing a great job ,so thanks for taking me along 🤣. I know from watching a few of your latest videos your plans are to return to US soon . I hope you find your perfect camper for this .excursion. Looking forward to watching more of your great videos . Thanks again , Safe travels 🙏
No question, where you guys are in Scotland is a very beautiful place! Majestic is a good description! HOWEVER if you want to be BLOWN AWAY by majestic views and the all encompassing goodness that this world has to offer then may I suggest coming to Canada. THE majesty of your surroundings except within the cities will most certainly leave you totally speechless!! Canada is by most definitions one of the most majestic and beautiful countries to behold and the friendliest people you will meet anywhere on this planet!! The first week in August is probably considered by most to be the best time to enjoy!! It is a huge country so plan to be here a long time and enjoy as much of it as you can!!!
Guys Scotland is like a multilayered sweet, it just gets better and better and.....you get the picture. You've still so so much to see and experience, stay safe and enjoy.
Just discovered your channel and loved this episode. We have a dream to road trip Scotland someday but will be restarting our US roadtrip next month, fulltime in our truck and trailer. 💡 The brownish-red loch you showed is caused by tannins. It seeps into the soil and then into the water from the nearby plants. We have many lakes like that in the US, especially in the south. 🤓 Sorry, science nerd here. 😆 Safe travels!
I believe the water looks like Tea because irs from the hemock Trees . I hike in Michigan and they have them in the Upper Peninsula and in the rivers the water is also color of tea. Safe Travels .  The graceful western hemlock - Tsuga heterophylla in Latin - was introduced into Scotland during the 19th century for ornamental purposes.
I am a born McPherson in America and I will tell you my scottish roots and how we got here, where our family took roots and what towns we started..... Haha. Yep thats true. We do take pride in our heritage.
When you get to Avimore visit a little village 5 mins drive away called Carr bridge because there’s the most breathtaking bridge to photograph which a lot don’t know about
What a great place you’ve visited, we usually go in February every year, this year we went in august and loved it, while you were near loch morlich we would recommend you visit the green loch the real name is An Lochan Uaine it’s well worth a walk, it starts around the back side of the reindeer place. Hope you manage to fit it in its well worth it.
Welcome to Scotland 🏴 When you were at Loch Morlich you should have gone up to see the Green Lochan nearby. Nice easy walk from a big parking spot and the water is a stunning green/blue colour. Sooo many places to see in Scotland that will blow your bloody socks off Emma! Enjoy your road trip xxx
You guys are so funny. Please keep up the excellent work, there are so many vloggers who went to Scotland but your laughter and enthusiasm is top notch compared to them.
I have just found you. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Could be because you are in my most favorite country in the entire world, apart from here in Oz. Love everything about Scotland, from the minute you get across the border, you feel Aahhhhhh. Peaceful, beautiful and friendly. Enjoy your travels. Stay safe.
Here for the first time and WOW. As a retired history and geography teacher you did a fantastic job of teaching me new things about your country. Last week I booked our first trip to Scotland from Canada which will take place in August. Our itinerary will have us pass through the Cairngorms when we travel from Dunnottar Castle to Grantown, which is my ancestral home. Staying there a few days will give us more opportunity to see the area. Looking forward to the rest of your journey as we will go to the Orkneys after Grantown before ending up on Lewis and Skye.
![Exploring Scottish Highlands in Cairngorms National Park [Hiking Cairn Gorm]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/AL0Um-f6-T8/mqdefault.jpg)
The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/travelbeans09211
I saw a couple of nice foraging classes on skillshare.
I grew up in southern New Jersey, the pine forests (except we have "pygmy pines"), swamps, moss, lichen are insanely similar. Look up Pine Barrens in New Jersey to see what I'm talking about. "One of the characteristic qualities of typical Pine Barrens streams is the unusual brown or so-called tea-colored appearance of the water. This color is the result of the water containing a high content of iron and by natural vegetative dyes such as tannin."
Thanks for the link! Will try it out for a month. 😆
I don't see why ppl would still pay for services like nat geo and travel channgel when channels like this exist on yt. This is INCREDIBLE!
Water seeping from peat moorland tends to be dark brown, flowing water through red sandstone tends to have a reddish tinge which can be seen at the Devils Pulpit near Killearn.
In Canada, we call that brown lake water "tea" colour - the tannin from the decomposing foliage may look unappetizing, but it means that the lake is healthy and full of nutrients for the wildlife. Loving your trip "up north" - ENJOY!
Colour is from peat. Peaty waters. Good for whisky! x
@@craigmacdonald4987 I wonder if it has the same chemical composition as tea-colored water in the US. Here, it is caused by tannins leaching into the water from the needles of conifer trees, namely eastern hemlock. It can be seen in places like the Blackwater River in West Virginia or Avalanche Lake in the Adirondacks, for example. I wouldn't be surprised if peat were full of tannins as well.
Ugh! Sooo jealous! My family took a one week road trip through Scotland 2 years ago and we are in love. We're actually actively working to move there one day. Our country (Costa Rica) is gorgeous, but there's something about Scotland that just fills my heart with joy. Have fun! ♥️
“Scotland! You cheeky bitch! “ lol .. UK truly is undervalued as such beautiful country to visit and tour around
Great video! I have a ton of suggestions (I used to work in Scottish tourism!) For the North Coast 500 if you're doing the whole thing, Dunnet Head is amazing, as is the entirety of the west coast part of the route. My fave parts of that route are Gruinaird Bay (there's an amazing viewpoint just south of the bay on the road), Gairloch beach, Loch Maree, Torridon, Corrieshalloch Gorge and everything in between. Just off the NC500 is Plockton which is just gorgeous, one of my favourite places. Skye obviously is well worth a visit but you need to be there early to see the big sights on the Trotternish loop (we were too late when we went there...) The view from Elgol is stunning but the road is atrocious, we were in a similar van to yours and had to turn back :(. Coming back down from the NC500/Skye I recommend Mallaig because you can get the ferry to Inverie (a village only acessible by an 18 mile hike or by boat). South from Mallaig is the Glenfinnan Viaduct and you can walk up and watch the steam train cross it! In Fort William I recommend the Gondola into the Nevis Range (the view is stunning). I also love Oban, and visiting the Isle of Mull (and from there Iona and Staffa (wait till next year cos if you go in the middle of summer you can see puffins up close!)). Heading south still, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is often overlooked, but it's my neck of the woods and totally worth a day or two at least to explore. Luss and Balmaha are good to visit with great walks at both. You can also visit Inchcailloch Island which has a great view from its summit. Into the Trossachs I'd recommend David Marshal Lodge at Aberfoyle (it has a great hide for you to watch red squirrels at!), Loch Katrine (Ben A'an walk is short but amazing) and Bracklinn Falls at Callander. This was a longer comment than I was planning, sorry!
Wow this is fantastic! Thank you!! 💛🙏
Thanks a lot for your comment, so many great ideas of places to visit. I've added a lot of them to my Google map. Thank you again.
Yes Plockton well worth a visit! Also all of the west coast! :)
When visiting Plockton visit Duirinish as well - there may be Highland cattle on the village green...
Loving this series! The Scotland landscape is so dramatic and diverse. Looking forward to more ;)
I have lived in Scotland for a number of years and am fortunate enough to live a few miles from the edge of the cairngorms. Easily my favourite part of Scotland. Don't get me wrong I love many parts of the Far north and west coast but there is a special alpine quality to the cairngorms unique in Scotland and by extension the UK.
In the 60s most roads were single track with passing places. They had a charm which has been lost now so many roads have been upgraded. The coast road was just a remote road. Now it has a name it has become a good tourist route. The best routes are inland; fewer people and vehicles; loads of places to stop over night. We often slept under bridges in our waterproof padded sleeping bags. Frying bacon on a crisp morning under a bridge is one of my fond memories. So happy for you enjoying Scotland.
I thought it was funny a RUclipsr saying “they’ve done the Cairngorms” driving through doesn’t count in my opinion 😂 but yes truly experiencing it and getting a feel for it I like the quiet places and climbing the Munro’s 🏕 camping Northern lights spotting bothies lochs beaches forests , puffins on the north east coast I’ve seen wild salmon at Aberlour, and also on the north east the largest colony of gannets on the main land at troop head , I love my country enough to keep me amused and no need to go anywhere else 🏴🏔🍁🍂 Perthshire is lovely in autumn lots of trees and colours
Just returned from there and your enthusiasm on camera perfectly captures how I felt myself. I have travelled to many exotic places but Scotland rates with the best of them for scenery and experience but has the added benefit of an extraordinary ancient history and culture. A very special country.
My goal is to travel the world and would love to meet people who also love to travel
Love it when you stay in the UK and the appreciation you have for all nature. You remind me how beautiful our country is and that I need to get out in it more!
Aw thanks Maggie! We really are so lucky to live so close to such incredible places 💛
I'm 3 weeks int my 5 week Scottish road trip in my little Berlingo, watching this a Little harbor village called Maliag! Scotland has blown my mind! now (after watching you 2) I'll be heading to the Cairngorms before I head back 👍 thanks guys 😃
Its a pretty incredible place eh.. we did not expect it to be as incredible as it has been so far. Enjoy the Cairngorms. You won't regret it!
I certainly hope you will travel to the Isle of Skye - absolutely beautiful there!
I didn't know about the Cairngorms and now I just added it on my places to see in Scotland! Ilove your UK video's!
Top vlog Beans. Skye is a must, so mysterious and magical. Coral beach on Skye just past Dunvegan is a total wonder. You might see seals there too.
The Scottish scenery is incredible!!! I saw similar water color here in the US at one of the national parks once and what I was told by one of the rangers is that high amounts of dissolved organic matter cause the water to be reddish brown...basically like a giant cup of tea.
. I worked on a fishing boat for a while out of Oban and the journey up and down from Lancashire always blew me away. Also the there’s the harbour there where you can take a ferry to the some of the West coast islands too. Seeing them from the boat was so cool. It’s all pretty amazing ✌️
I love traveling, I love your comments, can I make friends with you
I've just got back from the northen tip of the cairngorms hunting deer. I was lucky enough to see a pair of white tailed eagles, a moment I will never forget. I can't wait to go back as I'm yet to see a golden eagle.
In Australia those coloured lakes are usually caused by Tea Trees, thanks for another fantastic video, again I will say you two are hands down the best presenters on RUclips
A couple places I loved in Scotland:
- Dinosaur footprints on the beach near Staffin, Isle of Skye, then across The Quiraing to the Fairy Glen.
- The Fortingall Yew, a tree in a tiny village churchyard, that is probably the oldest living thing in Great Britain.
- A statue in memory of Corporal Wojtek, the bear who fought for the Polish army in WWII, in Princes Street Garden, Edinburgh.
I didn’t know about the Dinosaur footprints but they are 100% on our list now 😍
I love traveling and love your comments
Beautiful drone shots!
Thanks mate :)
New subbie here! We are moving to UK soon and your channel is pretty amazing, making us super excited to take our family on one great adventure all over UK!
You're channel is very underrated. And I hate it when deserving people don't get the attention that they should be given
We did a big road trip around Scotland years ago and loved it! The Isle of Skye was amazing and Dunnottar Castle on the eastern cost is still one of my favorite places we’ve been - just something magical about ancient ruins at the edge of the sea. I wish I’d know about the reindeer center but will definitely be top of the list when we go back. I think our next trip will be to England and the Lake District - we haven’t been able to travel to Europe in far too long and are longing to go back soon!!!
Quite excited for this series. It may be a long time before I can go see these places myself. Gotta live vicariously.
I have just discovered your channel just now and have subscribed. I love your enthusiasm, articulacy, and your super cinemaphotography skills.
Your good humour, insight into my homeland of Scotland, and sheer hard work into making these clips is well-appreciated. Thanks.
If you love the Scottish highlands you need to come to Alberta Canada. Specifically the Rockie Mountains. Banff National Park is world famous and the town of Banff is named after Banffshire Scotland. The nature views, the Mountains, the animals are all lovely. Avoid the townsite in summer- it's a total tourist trap - and is so busy. But come in the spring or fall and it is a lovely place to be..
I am loving your videos especially how keen you are to stealth camp. Lol
Your little van is a little too small for me, I have a 31 fifth wheel trailer which is just right but I started out in a home made camper, the kind that goes on the back of a truck, and we camped with 2 small children. We loved it but having kids necessitated getting something bigger.
Keep posting, I am looking for more great camping in Scotland ideas.
Every year when we plan our travels we think, " where to this summer" ? The answer is invariably " SCOTLAND ' We have been there 10 times over the last few decades. Its simply one of the most beautiful, friendly and calming places on earth.
Completely agree! This may have to be an annual trip for us 😂
You guys seem truly happy…and the video quality is great! Looking forward to the road trip videos!
Thanks, we really are 😊
I was told that,peat made the water …. Been most of the places nearby by mountain bike ,if anyone is going they need to see the mountains, the whole place blew me away .paradise
We take it all for granted , here in Scotland. You guys should also look up the Heart 200! Central belt/Trossachs drive. Great scenery as well. I’m in Kinross which I know one of you will like as it’s next to Loch Leven RSPB reserve
Thank you! 🙏
What a great video. I've been to many of those locations recently for my landscape photography channel and shot a couple of videos. Especialy the vantage point at uath lochans was amazing! I was blown away just like you. But that was also because I had stunning light conditions and beautiful clouds when I was up there. I'll follow you around great to see those places again. And your videos are realy pleasant to watch. I need to get a bit more b roll in my videos like you are doing 🙂 grt guido
Peat colours the water. As a kid I swam in there, Loch Garten. The streams of water run through peat on their way to the mountain Loch, thus colouring the water a deep red.
Petrichor is the smell of grass after fresh rain. We used to visit Sandwood Bay on the west coast of Scotland. A trek acoss the moorland required to get there, but we'll worth the effort for a fantastic day out
The reddish brown water colour is due to the organic compound called "tannin" It leaches from the wood etc, which is decomposing in the loch.
Tannin is an essential part of the process for leather production. (Tanning)
We have done the entirety of Hadrian's wall, all 80 Roman miles! What a wonderful experience!
Copper red water is because it’s been filtered through peat bogs and then runs very clean but tinted by the pest. Btw, if you find deeper coloured whisky it’s because it’s made with that peat coloured water.
Emma’s use of the word bloody is absolutely fantastic, it’s my favourite word by far I say it constantly, keep up the good work Emma👍🥰
Ha I bloody love it
There was a lake in Australia with the same brown color, the Aussies called it Coca-Cola Lake. The water was clear and warm, a lovely swim. The trees surrounding the lake lent the brown color, they were some kind of tea tree.
If you're doing the NC500 then get yourself up to Applecross on the far west coast and do the Bealach na Bà route. Then go up to Skye, where you'll get some very different landscapes.
Recommend the Applecross Inn at the end of the Bealach Na Bà, wonderful food!
Just got back from a Scotland road trip. 100% agree. You simply have to do this route....its not for the faint hearted though. But God is it worth it!!!
Thanks guys. It’s very much on the plan but just hoping the weather is kind to us
We lived in Newcastle Upon Tyne for 3 years and toured many of these areas often. My reaction was always like yours…do others know about this and why didn’t I. The Cairngorms are magnificent and so many areas around there to explore. The biggest thing I think about touring these area is I never felt that unsafe. In the US there are magnificent spots but there’s alway something that wants to kill you. Snakes, bear, large cats, etc etc. The west and north of Scotland is breathtaking and diverse. I wondered if I went through some time travel portal when we stumbled the 1st time in Braemar. It became a go to day trip for us and visitors who came over to see us. Of course, being Yanks, driving didn’t scare us. We use to covering hours on the road to get places. People, I highly recommend going and just getting lost. It’s FANTASTIC.
Absolutely cracking video.
If you’re interested, the bracket fungus on the silver birch is the Razor Strop Fungus. Way back its skin was used as an alternative to a leather strop for sharpening cut throat razors. The flesh once dried also makes an excellent tinder for fire starting.
Love Scotland! My first kayak trip was on Loch Morlich 50 years ago! Looking forward to seeing more, and exploring it ourselves when we finish our van build in Turkey!
You guys are the best in all you do, videos, descriptions, information and humour. Keep traveling please
You two make me giggle so much! It makes me laugh even more when some viewers just do not get your sense of humour. Love your videos.
I dont usually comment on any videos but I felt I needed to let you know about the Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick. Alex would LOVE it! Beautiful beach too. If you are near that area, I would definitely recommend. Looking forward to this series. Keep up with the great content & stay safe.
Haha we find those comments so funny 😂 so many people think we are being serious.
Thanks so much for the recommendation 😍
lovely video, beautiful scenery. Our first van is on order for next march so we are really looking forward to getting out there and exploring some of the beautiful places that you are showing us. Love you guys, keep up the Amazing work, love Carl & Jackie xx
Wish we could have visited Scotland when we were in Britain back in 10, Only made it as far as the wall. Which by the way might be a good thing for you to do more video of if you are able. It's a fascinating bit of history and some gorgeous scenery as well. I recognise place you filmed it as we hiked by that exact spot. Anyway. Wonderful photography. Scotland really is beautiful. Thank you for enabling others to live vicariously thru your adventures. Glad the van is working out. Oh. And I like Emmas beanie.
Thanks Peter!!
This is a lovely video. You are immensely likeable as well as super positive without being fake. Love your energy and your humour.
I (Canadian) was visiting Scotland at the same time as you. I only had 10 days (Sept 24-Oct 3). I have been watching your Scotland van life and you have me sold to do a van rental for couple of weeks to see some of the beautiful scenery that I missed. Thank you for showing me what I missed.
Nice video. Good to see you spent a night in my home town, Tomintoul. ( The place with the bird hide)
Peat will turn the water brown. I remember growing up and our water supply from the hills was slightly brown, you really noticed it when you had a bath.
Would skillshare not have a course about foraging 🤔😉
I love the cairngorms I camped up the mountains and this 1 time I woke up and the reindeer were all around me.
Great video thanks for sharing.
love it! You guys set the stage so well for your videos. Your happiness radiates
Thanks, we are very happy 😊
Feel little bit home sick. Watching this yes scotland my homeland is beautiful Love the autumn colours. So much , living in Europe not back home that often
My hubby would love to live over there ( i been gone too long so much has changed ). Going on holiday visiting my family
Is lovley of course . Bit of sight seeing for hubby 😜.
Looking forward to your next video .🥰
Great video, and as a Scotsman in Japan making me a little homesick! Use to drive the Cairngorms weekly with work. Should check out the Spittal of Glenshee up to the Lecht Ski resort, some great scenery and roads there. Tominltoul is a fab wee village out that way too.
Aw thanks for the recommendations Grant! 🙏 We love Japan! But there's no place like home eh? Especially when home is this beautiful 🥰 hope you can visit sometime soon 😊
Absolutely lovely. Reminds me of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska in the US. Very similar.
As for suggestions - if you're planning to travel through Ayrshire, the coastal road up to Greenock is lovely. And if you happen to be in the mood for some ice-cream, I'd recommend you stop on your way and visit Nandini's in Largs.
The colour of the water at the 'loch!' Is that way due to the peat soil.
You need to stay longer in cairngorms next time, so much to see and check out companies that do wildlife tours, you'd love them
We really loved this. Gorgeous scenery and brilliantly filmed. You’ve definitely inspired to us to make the trip to visit Scotland. Have a great week. X
Aw that's fantastic! We hope you have as much fun as we've had here!
You’ve found some amazing hidden jewels of Scotland! Stunning! Alex I too am fascinated with birds! Great drone shots too! Lovely video!!! ~Cara 😊
Lovely photography and you’ve made Scotland a place I want to visit. And as an American, Alex’s shots at the US are sometimes well deserved and quite funny.
Haha we love anyone who can laugh at themselves.. the Americans who get our sense of humour are the best 🥰🙏 love you guys!
And thank you!!
@@TravelBeans My pleasure! Can’t wait for your next video!
The deer seen from the bird hide were Roe Deer, not Red Deer. And thebrown/coppercolour of the water in theloch comes from peat.
Beautiful ♥ love and light for everyone 💐 greetings from 🇦🇹 #lightforaustria ♥
Have to check out North Wales, Rhayader dams, Pistyll Rhayader waterfalls, devil's Bridge, the mach loop
Great video, we have just got home from 2 weeks in the Outer Hebrides. We drove straight past the Cairngorms and have put it on our list to do next year. Enjoy the rest of your trip
" Ancient Mounds " LuvIt!!!!! 🗻⛰️🏔️
Well hello you two , recently found your channel on RUclips 👍👍👏👏👏. Am so enjoying your travels ,
After seeing you camper in USA burn ,🥲🥲 I researched and tried to go to the beginning of your travels.
Currently watching” Scotland ,500 “, I’m truly enjoying seeing this part of the world .you guys are doing a great job ,so thanks for taking me along 🤣.
I know from watching a few of your latest videos your plans are to return to US soon .
I hope you find your perfect camper for this .excursion.
Looking forward to watching more of your great videos .
Thanks again , Safe travels 🙏
No question, where you guys are in Scotland is a very beautiful place! Majestic is a good description! HOWEVER if you want to be BLOWN AWAY by majestic views and the all encompassing goodness that this world has to offer then may I suggest coming to Canada. THE majesty of your surroundings except within the cities will most certainly leave you totally speechless!! Canada is by most definitions one of the most majestic and beautiful countries to behold and the friendliest people you will meet anywhere on this planet!! The first week in August is probably considered by most to be the best time to enjoy!! It is a huge country so plan to be here a long time and enjoy as much of it as you can!!!
Guys Scotland is like a multilayered sweet, it just gets better and better and.....you get the picture. You've still so so much to see and experience, stay safe and enjoy.
Haha love it.. thanks 👍 😊
Your enthusiasm is so infectious! (The type of infection we all need…)
A pandemic of happiness sounds great
Thanks for the nice words about my homeland 🏴. I don't know if you're still in the area but you need to go to Torridon.
Martin.
Torridon is STUNNING! 🤩
Foraging courses. The Roaming Radfords did one at a 2021 van meet up last year.
Just discovered your channel and loved this episode. We have a dream to road trip Scotland someday but will be restarting our US roadtrip next month, fulltime in our truck and trailer. 💡 The brownish-red loch you showed is caused by tannins. It seeps into the soil and then into the water from the nearby plants. We have many lakes like that in the US, especially in the south. 🤓 Sorry, science nerd here. 😆 Safe travels!
Emma and Alex, great channel, when you get chance, you need to go over Wrynose Pass and Hardknot Pass in Eskdale.
Thank you for your lovely videos. Second day after chemo for me, so I’m just going to watch some back to back and veg out. Joan in Calif
I believe the water looks like Tea because irs from the hemock Trees . I hike in Michigan and they have them in the Upper Peninsula and in the rivers the water is also color of tea. Safe Travels .

The graceful western hemlock - Tsuga heterophylla in Latin - was introduced into Scotland during the 19th century for ornamental purposes.
Amazing. Love the smell of nature when it rains too. Stunning
Sorry got no blood to put on the thumb's up. Be safe no more Stanley knives. Enjoy your the rest of your NC 500.👍👍🥂
I really enjoy your presentation style and personalities and reckon you'd smash it as a TV series.
The water color is from the pine trees. I think it's called tannin. It leaches from the trees into the water.
I am a born McPherson in America and I will tell you my scottish roots and how we got here, where our family took roots and what towns we started.....
Haha. Yep thats true. We do take pride in our heritage.
When you get to Avimore visit a little village 5 mins drive away called Carr bridge because there’s the most breathtaking bridge to photograph which a lot don’t know about
Wonderful video, and feel you need to do some of the smaller islands - such as Uist, or perhaps the Kintyre 66, as something different.
the red water is cedar water. The color comes from the wood
10:30 Birch polypore mushroom. Has antiseptic qualities and can be used on wounds.
That fresh after rain smell is called petrichor.
Outstanding filmography in a gorgeous location! ❤️❤️❤️
What a great place you’ve visited, we usually go in February every year, this year we went in august and loved it, while you were near loch morlich we would recommend you visit the green loch the real name is An Lochan Uaine it’s well worth a walk, it starts around the back side of the reindeer place. Hope you manage to fit it in its well worth it.
Just found your channel.. brilliant.. I’m hooked 👍👍👍👍
That's actually the best "beans ooot" you've ever done. It was the build-up.
Welcome to Scotland 🏴 When you were at Loch Morlich you should have gone up to see the Green Lochan nearby. Nice easy walk from a big parking spot and the water is a stunning green/blue colour. Sooo many places to see in Scotland that will blow your bloody socks off Emma! Enjoy your road trip xxx
You guys are so funny. Please keep up the excellent work, there are so many vloggers who went to Scotland but your laughter and enthusiasm is top notch compared to them.
Nice timing with Emma's narration matching the reindeer. Great vlog and enthusiasm, cheers.
I have just found you. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Could be because you are in my most favorite country in the entire world, apart from here in Oz. Love everything about Scotland, from the minute you get across the border, you feel Aahhhhhh. Peaceful, beautiful and friendly. Enjoy your travels. Stay safe.
Great video 👍👍 you two are so happy and energetic it makes me want to get in my van tonight and go on an adventure
Do it!!!
Great video guys. I recently did the NC500 in July. The west coast is by far the most beautiful of Scotland!
Here for the first time and WOW. As a retired history and geography teacher you did a fantastic job of teaching me new things about your country. Last week I booked our first trip to Scotland from Canada which will take place in August. Our itinerary will have us pass through the Cairngorms when we travel from Dunnottar Castle to Grantown, which is my ancestral home. Staying there a few days will give us more opportunity to see the area. Looking forward to the rest of your journey as we will go to the Orkneys after Grantown before ending up on Lewis and Skye.
Was just driving from dunottar heading to granton (Grunt-ton) yesterday at work .be there next week too .not bad really 😉
1. Red colour in nature often is the result of the presence of iron.
2. Wouldn’t it be a wonderful coincidence if Skillshare did a course on foraging.
The water is stained from Pete.
This is where local knowledge has an advantage over guessing.
Yeah this isn’t from iron
Great video guys loving your travels x