We need to be getting home now, so headed south, to the Camping and Caravaning Club site at Moffat:

A strange route, but the A7 through Hawick, the A701 through the Devil’s Beeftub, and the A702 through Bigger, are all unpleasant, even if often picturesque, with the A702 by far the most depressing of the three, whether in a car or a bigger vehicle.  Sadly, most GPS systems will try to go on the A702, and ours kept protesting until around Harthill, when it finally gave up trying to re-route and then knocked 10 minutes off the journey time once it accepted that it was the M74 or nothing.  The A701 has the nicest scenery and is probably the most entertaining in a car, but a bit annoying in a larger, slower vehicle.

Moffat is an entirely pleasant place with pubs, hotels, takeaways, and all sorts of shops within an easy walk from the campsite.  There are also pleasant walks along River Annan.

It had been raining, just for a change

Dark Sky – that’s a laugh as it’s rained cats and dogs pretty much since we got here

Left Fishcross and headed towards Edinburgh:

There was no availability here on the Friday night so the original plan was to stay only three nights then move on to Falkirk to see the wheel.  However, cancellations, along with the Christmas market starting on Saturday, persuaded us to stay until Sunday.  The attractions at Falkirk can wait for another day.

Took the usual stroll along the prom to Cramond village:

Cramond Island from Marine Drive

On Friday we went round the interesting People’s Story Museum, which chronicles the life and times of ordinary Edinburgh folk over the centuries.

We went into town on Saturday as well.  Hibs at home, International rugby at Murrayfield, the first full day of the Christmas markets, and a distinct lack of rain meant the place was heaving.

The big wheel from The Mound

Space aliens landed on George Street?

Maybe not aliens, since they seem to have coned off the area in advance

And, of course, a picture of the castle

Off to Scotland to check up on family.  We’ll stop at Tebay Services to get food and then find a campsite in the northern lakes.  Opted for Riverside Touring Park, somewhere between Penrith and Carlisle.  Nice drive from the M6, apart from the last couple of miles, which were a bit narrow for a vehicle of this size.

Original plan was to go straight to Alloa from there, but no room at the local campsite, so stopped off at the Strathclyde Country Park Caravan Club site.

Next off to the The Woods near Alloa:

This place is close to the old railway line going from Alloa to Devon village and beyond.  It is now a pleasant walk roughly along the meanderings of the river Devon.

River Devon