Our SHAKEDOWN trip continues through DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY SCOTLAND
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- čas přidán 22. 08. 2024
- Join us, Carol & Ken, on our first ever trip in our new Consort Nova Motorhome called Snoopy, as we continue to get used to driving and living in a larger van.
In this video, we visit the site of the burial of a loved one’s embalmed heart, the departure point for emigrants to the New World in 1775 and the old lighthouse at Southerness. As our planned forestry park up is closed we make do with a lay-by for the night. The following day we head into the pretty “Artists’ Town” of Kirkcudbright and Carol has her first go at driving the new van.
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🔶 About us 🔶
Welcome to our channel! We're Carol and Ken, retired professionals turned van life enthusiasts. We share our adventures across the UK and Europe in our camper van, which we have just upgraded to a slightly larger model.
Our goal is to provide a relaxing, honest account of van life, with no scripted drama - just the real, day-to-day experiences of our travels. Many of our viewers find our content calming, and we hope you will too.
We're passionate about wild camping and love to share our knowledge and tips, from staying cool in the van to choosing the right toilet. We're always learning and look forward to sharing our campervanning experiences with you.
While we love the freedom of wild camping, we also enjoy supporting local businesses by indulging in delicious local food. Expect to see plenty of one-pan meals and restaurant visits in our videos.
We like historical sites, country homes, towns, villages, and the occasional city. We aim to share interesting facts and stories about the places we visit.
We post new videos every Friday at 6pm UK time, sometimes more often.
Our channel is perfect for armchair travellers, those considering a caravan or motorhome, or anyone looking to unwind after a stressful day. If this sounds like you, hit that subscribe button and join us on our journey. Your support, whether through watching our videos, subscribing, or contributing to our 'Buy Me a Coffee' fund, helps to keep our adventures going. We appreciate every bit of it. ❤️
🔴 Contact us @ lifeistooshortwildcamper@gmail.com
This episode was filmed 10th & 11th February 2024.
#vanlife #lifeistooshort #relaxing
I put the bird sound into my free Merlin bird Id app and it came back that it was a herring gull.
There were 2. The other is a Kookaburra. 👍
How amazing to hear a Kookaburra in the UK! such beautiful birds ❤
Glad you said that I was like “Kookaburra? Surely not!” 🤣🤣
The bird sounds like a kookaburra. Enjoy your adventure Carol an Ken
Thank you. It appears a couple of them escaped from a local wildlife park 🙂
My absolutely favorite channel thank you Ken for your years of service as a policeman no wonder you are so smart Carol so sweet and brilliant on her histories I’m a widow now so I look forward to tea time with you each night love from Florida
Aww,thank you Priscilla. Greetings to Florida 👋🇺🇸
The BIG man in the field is called the Wickerman sculpture
The Wickerman is a sculpture made from wicker, by Trevor Leats. Trevor and his company, 'Leatrigg', have become well known for making similar sculpters, that are used as dramatic and beautiful burning figures at Scotland's 'Wickerman Festival'. There is a sense of ritual as the 10m high sculptures are set on fire and then spectacularly burnt. The 1973 British folk horror film, The Wicker Man, was also largely set in Dumfries and Galloway.
Thanks for that information 👍
Hi Carol and Ken, I love 💕 you both you tell me all about the local history of the places that you travelled too.
And at this moment in time I enjoyed it, instead of thinking 🤔 about other things.
Thank you ❤
Aw bless. How sweet. I wonder if Carol will be keeping Ken’s embalmed heart by her bedside after he’s gone. Little known fact for you - Mary Queen of Spots died on Valentine’s Day- November the 11th 1587. Nice to see you having a laugh. Some fab old buildings and history too. Carol looking like a natural in the drivers seat. Take care x
We have already got the casket. A used KFC 20 nuggets box is perfect 😁👍
@@LifeistooshortCK 🤣🤣🤣
I love your history you tell us on the places you visit ❤
Hi Carol & Ken. Gutted I didn’t bump into you both when you visited Dumfries and Galloway. I live in the area, and it really is a hidden gem. I hope you both enjoyed your visit. The Wickerman you passed was where Wickerman Music Festival was held. It took its name from the Film of the same name.
Thanks for letting us know 🙂👍
Lovely, video . Always interesting and lovely to see you both enjoying Snoopy . He seems to be giving you a very enjoyable journey ☺️
Loving it so far ❤️👍
Unbelievably, the bird sound is a Kookaburra ! Its documented, the Sun (dreadful rag) also did a feature on it. Believed to have escaped a wildlife park, Galloway wildlife conservation park, now closed. A long way from home but definitely a Kookaburra.
Exactly what I thought a kookaburra, thought it would be to cold to survive in South West Scotland, but then again I'm no bird expert..🤔
That’s amazing 🤩
It can get pretty cold in Tasmania, where kookaburras also live (although not native to that State). They have thrived enough to be almost considered an invasive species. They were introduced in the hope of reducing snake numbers, but they are a problem for many small native species.
Great video, some very nice scenery 😊thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it
Aww you were in our neck of the woods. Yes that’s a Wickerman, (made by Trevor Leat) who lives in Auchencairn. His nephew plays Jamie Fraser in Outlander who is also local to the area. There used to be a music festival there every summer ‘The Wickerman Festival’. I got married there! The original Wickerman film location was in Dumfries and Galloway, lots of locations in Kirkcudbright, Gatehouse of Fleet and out west at Burrowhead. There are two Kookaburras in Kirkcudbright. Both males so they can’t have babies. Lovely town with lots to do. Dumfries and Galloway gets more beautiful the further west you go, the Mull of Galloway is stunning on a nice day. Xx
Thanks for all the info. We only had a limited amount of time to explore Dumfries & Galloway on this trip but we have since returned. There will be another series of videos from the area coming up in the future, after the New Forest ☺️
Embalmed heart and buried with her, pretty gruesome but at the same time true love ❤️ Thanks for sharing.
He probably said, "My heart will always be with you," and she took it to heart. Literally.
Jon in rural BC, Canada
Mother of scottish King
Thank you both nice one well done and good luck 👍👍👍🏴🏴🏴🇨🇦🇬🇧🦢
Thanks guys 🙂
Watching as per on a quiet Sunday morning with a cuppa tea 🍵 and dunking biscuits 😋 ❤looking at those home made scones 😊😍🤣❤ some little thief stealing Snoopys dust caps eh🤔🤔thieving sods! 😠😠 Nice area,around Dumfries & Galloway 👌Nice relaxing watch this Carole & Ken 🎉
Hi David. Thanks for watching 🙂
Wonderfully filmed and narrated, as always.
Lovely Video, We just found your channel and you have totally changed our mind on a new camper van. Thank you so very much Snoopy is absolutely amazing thank you. Enjoy your trip xx
Glad it helped
Lovely video, thank you. Amazing to hear the kookaburra 😄 Well done Carol for being filmed on your inaugural drive. I love driving our VW LWB Bilbo''s campervan. I drove Victor from Bilbo''s to our house in East Sussex on collection day, Chris followed me in the car. I was very nervous, but I love it 😄🚐 Tomorrow I'm off to the Campervan Camp out Warner's Festival at the South of England show ground for the day, cheers ❤️🚐🍾😄 xxx
Enjoy the show Janet. Hope the weather is better this year 😁👍
Lovely trip out along the Kirkcudbrightshire Coast. Those are amazing abbeys, too, but such places can be shut a long time as any repairs would be a continual problem. Missed your great teas/coffees and meals, this time. Great to see 'she-who-must-be-obeyed', taking the reins for a while, well done Carol. Take care & stay safe. Kia Ora from New Zealand. 💜💜
😁👍
We use Kitchen paper to wipe out our pots & pans before doing the dishes 😊 I think there might be a Kookaburra loose in D & G I’ve seen people post about it, so that could be the bird noise you heard. Well done Carol 🚐 Thanks, Em 💜
Cheers👍. Lots of people saying its an escapee
That’s a kookaburra! What’s it going there? Hello
From Australia. I hear these birds regularly but especially heralding the rain!
Apparently two of them escaped from a local wildlife park here in Scotland! 😁
Hi guys did you say your inverter to 240vac buzzes. If it does then its possible the load on is not compatible and its likely to fail. If you are charging low voltage batteries or other equipment then you are approaching it wrongly. For example 12Vdc converted to 230Vac then back down to say a 15Vdc is wrong and very inefficient. You need a buck converter so you are converting 12volt direct current to 15volt direct current. So no 230vac Alternating current is needed. Safer as well. The buzzing is generally caused by a switch mode battery charger not compatible with a non sinewave inverter. George
It has all been upgraded now thanks George. It was the fan that was causing the noise, not an electrical problem. Thanks for the info 🙂👍
Lovely video again guys. We are catching up late on this video. But better late than never.
Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Ken and Carol. Enjoy watching your travels from my armchair.
Thanks for watching 🙂
I am very impressed with your pronunciation of Kirkcudbright Carol. Took us ages to figure that one out when we first moved up here 😂 xx
I had to look it up and love how it sounds 🤗
Carol was spot on!
So maybe the absent kookaburra, was a recording to scare the seagulls, and to remind Carol how to pronounce Kirkcudbright. How typical of the Scots to get their money's worth!....
It's a real pleasure to view these programmes, while we wait for our new van in july.
Not long now then Peter. We can certainly recommend Galloway 👍
The downsize is coming. And I recommend Hardraw Force, Wensleydale.
Hi Both John Balliol the son of lady dergovilla was scottish King from 1292-6 the info board outside has no mention of this!! Edward Balliol did battle with the son of the Brus over being disinherited See Halidon hill bloody times! Great vlogs Robert and Sue lancaster uk
Thanks for the info!
Hi , I’ve been enjoying your travels ! I’m Scottish decent- my mom always wanted to visit Scotland- sadly we never did. She’s gone now but seeing all the beautiful landscapes and castles brings her ( and grandad ) closer to me !! Thank you. Enjoy and stay safe !!!
Cheers. We have another Scotland series starting soon. 👍
Lovely as always
Thanks Willie ❤️
The wickerman is where the yearly festival used to be..... Think they stopped after a while.....
I used to live in Dalbeattie.... And CD.. (Castle Douglas).... Now I'm at the wedding Central village!.... Used to pass that little stop off layby regularly, on way to kipford........ Love your vids , keep them coming, take care...
Thanks for the info 🙂👍
0:49in G'day Carol and Ken 👋 Thats love for you butying ya hubbys heart with you. My Mum and Step Dad were cremated separately 3 months apart and buried together in a sealed niche in the Ballarat Crematorium. Excellent drone driving. Check to see if Edward Woodward is in the wicker man and theres no angry villagers with firey wooden torches round. I though Carol did pretty well. Thanks m8s, stay vertical Eh! 👍👍
Cheers Greg. Pleased to report no sign of Edward Woodward in that wicker man 😂
Hi Carol and Ken. It’s a kookaburra bird. Sounds like laughing. If you Google the sound and also it comes up that the locals in the area have had noise issues with it in that area! Great trip, lovely scenery although it seemed most places you wanted were shut! I always enjoy listening to the history of the places too. Thank you Carol and Ken ❤
That sure is what it sounded like. How in the world did on get to Scotland???
A shopping centre near me has a similar kookaburra sound but it is a recording. I was told that it sounds like a bird in distress to the seagulls which used to be a big problem for the centre as they are a protected species and you can't do much about them but the kookaburra recording keeps them away.
Thanks for letting us know 🙂
Thank you for the segment about the Nelly, they landed on the Eastern end of Prince Edward Island just 40 miles from my home.
I wonder if we will ever visit where they landed. Never say never 👍
@@LifeistooshortCK Would love to meet you if you cross the Pond and visit Charlottetown, PEI; the 'Birth Place of Confederation".
Hello lovely Carol & Ken, I recently found your vlogs, thank you for your content, very enjoyable! All the best from a fan in Seattle Washington 👍🏼
Welcome and greetings to Seattle 🇺🇸🤗
Dear Carol & Ken, just found your channel and what a really lovely video. Thank you both, What fantastic scenery. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.
Hi Michelle. Welcome and thanks for watching ❤️
Just when I thought that I had watched the best of your video’s you come out with this one. As always love the content and the I really am happy for you in your new van. BTW Snoopy is a great name
Cheers Gerald 👍
Nice little tour, the drone shots of the cathedrals were an added bonus.
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
You both seem more comfortable in this bigger Van, as we age we need a few things to make it easier to travel happier, and we think you have found it...Life is to short indeed.😅
We agree!
You use a real atlas! You are my kind of people! Enjoyed your video.
Always! 😀
Are you loving the new van?, it must of seemed huge at first.
Yes, definitely loving the extra space, especially the rear lounge and having a fixed toilet 😊
Always informative with great filming, music and commentary. Thanks Carol and Ken!
Thanks Linda 🙂
Great vlog and beautiful music 🎶
Thanks Karen 🙂
🤟🏻👍🏻👌🏻❤ Sara from South Africa🇿🇦
Hi Sarah. Hello South Africa ❤️
Agree, bird sounded like a Kookaburra (a type of Kingfisher). Thanks for most enjoyable and relaxing videos you put out. 😊
Glad you enjoyed it
Lovely drive through beautiful scenery with lots of very interesting information, thank you so much for sharing it with us all!!!!! Keep safe.
you are welcome 👍
Hi Lovly people, thank you so much for your postings, I really enjoy them especially the little excerpts giving information about the histories of the visited places, I especially enjoyed the Isle of Man as my family live there, you managed to find places that I when visiting haven’t seen, and the Isle of Wight many happy childhood rememberances, in particular getting sunstroke at the age of 9, on sandown beach, due to disability my travelling days are over, I eagerly await your next adventures. Blessed be.
We love bringing back happy memories for viewers. Thanks for riding along with us ❤️
Yet more memories of holidays with my folks. I feel lucky to have been able to walk around Sweetheart Abbey.
Hope you get to see more deer as you travel through the Galloway National Park. N&Nx
We’ve not seen anymore deer yet but we had a huge hare visit us one evening 😊
You take us through so many beautiful landscapes. Many thanks! It seems that when you are sitting in Snoopy you can see the surroundings much better than the in the little red camper.
Yes, we love the rear lounge and being able to lookout on three sides of the van in comfort 🙂
I watched a second time since I fell asleep the first time watching. So glad I did as it was a beautiful video with all the scenery, castles, food and I believe a kookaburra bird. Mary
Thanks for trying a second watch Mary 🙂👍
Great to see you out and about - are you missing little red yet ?
Bet Carol is loving the extra headroom - and for you more grunt and higher driving position.
It's amazing how quickly you adapt to a vehicle , and conversely how soon routines expand to fit the accommodation - a bit like Parkinson's law for campervans.
The width of the van will rapidly diminish - just give it time , and pick wider roads - I went from a Transit through a Unimog to a MAN expedition and back to a Sprinter - it's all relative really , some people can't cope in Reliant Robin.
Agreed. 3 months later and we are used to it now. Loving the extra space and comfort and I enjoy driving it like Little Red 👍
Good Morning Carol and Ken This video brought back very many happy memories as we have visited the area many times over the years. Before we retired we considered moving to Kirkcudbright but alas it was too far from the our family but we still love the place and Castle Douglas two gems in our opinion.Sunny at the moment down here. All the best Crawford
It is certainly a lovely part of the country. We love the peace and quiet and beautiful scenery 🙂
It’s amazing how all those birds on the wire are facing the same way.
I love your new van. Looks so comfortable.
Cheers Larry 🙂
The wickerman in the field could possibly be the remains of what used to be the wickerman music festival, which I believe was held yearly in that area, but is no longer anj event.
Thanks Garry, that would make sense. 🙂
Most of the scenes from the wicker man movie were also filmed in Dumfries and Galloway .
This area is so lovely , we were there three times last year and will be again in June . Enjoyed seeing it with you x
We are loving it 👍
Lovely video Ken and Carol. Well done on driving the van carol. Just remember, mirrors, mirrors, mirrors and like Ken, I'm sure will advise, be aware of what's around you. It does take a while to get used to the width of a bigger van but before long you'll be a pro 😀
Thanks Torz 🙂
Calm, relaxing and informative all in one.. A very agreeable combination from Ken and Daisy-May... Have I missed somewhere the fate of Little Red..🤷🏼♂️🤭
Little Red will be put up for sale when we get home 🙂
Lovely video guys ,I'm catching up late ,thank you for sharing .
Thanks for sharing this with me 😊. You present the information so well. Very interesting. I've never traveled anywhere, so watching you two is good fun for me. Hello from Indiana USA and this 63 year old lady.
Hello Indiana 👍. Lovely to have you travel along with us Jeanetta ❤️
Little Red was my favorite love that van nice and cozy snoopy getting there need some more content you 2 are my favorite channel to watch love your channel 🎉thanks
Thanks Reginald 😀
A lovely part of the country - I know Kirkcudbright quite well, so it was great to see it. Great video, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Aside from the great video shots and editing and music choice, the placing and integration is so well done. You have a deft touch! Carry on the good work!
Thank you! Will do!
I thoroughly enjoyed that. Very relaxing and some lovely places to see. Thank you for taking me along.
Our pleasure! Thanks for watching 🙂
Carol, you did amazing driving, Snoopy. Enjoying the vlogs and beautiful scenery.
Thanks Polly 🙂
I do love Charlie Browns historical insights in your videos👍
Thanks Adrian 🙂
Enjoyed viewing thanks. Had to giggle at Mary Queen of Spots! ... Nice one Carol xx
What a slip of the tongue 😂
Loving Snoopy and all the history you are sharing!
I really enjoy your journey through rural Scotland. I have never heard that bird's voice, a real whatizit.
Another lovely video guys. I would love to visit the Mull of Galloway. It’s on the list. Thanks for posting lovely vid. 🐶🐶🐶🚐🧙♂️👍
Hi there. Galloway has been glorious 👍
I really enjoy your videos thank you for sharing them with us
Thanks for watching 🙂
Well done Carol, was it nice to be behind the wheel?
Where this year gone, May already. You were have lovely weather for February.
I'm watching you from sunny Poland 🇵🇱 the weather has been unbelievable for the last week 24c every day. 👍🐸
Still getting used to the driving. Yes, the year is flying by but at least it’s getting warmer 🤗
Loved southerness with the lighthouse, thanks for visiting as brought back my memories of getting married.
We stayed at that caravan park you drove past 😮
Great to bring back those memories for you Karen ❤️
Thanks carol and ken you always make me smile 😁 mary queen of spots 😂
Cheers Tina 🙂
The Wickerman is from a festival that used to be held annually (my very good friend’s family used to run it). Lovely to see you in her part of the world. We were there last summer n Kirkcudbright. Beautiful. Love seeing your new van.
Thanks for the info! 🙂
Beautiful scenery,i felt like i was there with you.
Glad you enjoyed it
The bird is an Australian Kookaburra by the sound. As we hea them daily in Aus.
Great video thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
As always, lovely video.
Thanks Linda 🙂
Always a great watched on on Friday ,many thanks 😊
Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Lovely area. We are off to Garlieston in 3 weeks (turn left at Newton Stewart & down to the coast), we go there a couple of times each year.
Sounds great! Enjoy ❤️
Hello from SF! Lovely video this week! I live in a very old apartment building (100+ years) and the kitchen sink does not have a disposal. I found a fine mesh tea strainer style strainer that fits the drain and it works quite well to keep food debris from going down the drain. It’s a lot living in a camper van here, I can use 1 electrical appliance at a time, there’s only one counter and that’s where the countertop dishwasher lives, and not much storage so I have things stashed all over. My fancy porcelain chicken shaped roaster and ice bucket and tagine live under the coffee table 🤣 I used to live on a boat so I’m used to tiny living.
Tiny living forces us to be inventive. We feel less stress as everything is easily managed. I think we will look for a tiny home one day 👍
Enjoyed this very much thank you.like the little history info
Carol you did brilliantly. Super driving
Thank you! 😃
The scenery was beautiful
New subscriber, I absolutely love your channel, I'm catching up on all your previous videos! I'm 45 and this is my dream to have a lovely campervan and tour around. Thank you so much for uploading these lovely vlogs, safe travels x
Welcome Lisa. Thanks for watching. Hope you get to realise your dream one day. We were nearly 60 when we got Little Red. Wish we had tried campervanning when we were much younger 😊
Your music is spot on ❤❤❤❤
Hello Carol and Ken 🖐. Hope you are doing well? I enjoyed this vlog and loved the scenery at 8 a.m., the landscape looked so mystical. Mary Queen of spots, loved it 😂. Take care
Thanks Anita ❤️
Kircudbright. Home to the Proof and Experimental Establishment years ago. (Proof firing the guns). Don’t know if it was just Army or MoD as a whole. Nice to see the small villages again!
1:03 - That looks nice with the SatNav directions in the middle of the instrument cluster
John Paul Jones was born on the Arbigland Estate between Carsethorn and Southerness, his place of birth is still there, a museum now I think, and he widely credited as the father of the US Navy.
Re the wickerman you saw - The 1970s Wickerman movie with Christopher Lee was filmed in the area and there used to be an annual music festival of the same name until recently .
Thanks for the info 👍
Hello you two, what beautiful villages you have on the west coast. A bit of a shame so much sites where closed but the drone did alright. I am off to France next week looking for a some nice sunny weather and jummy croissants and baguettes. I will look at your former vlogs in France. Thanks again.
Ooh that sounds lovely. Have a great time in France ❤️
Fabulous Video Thank You
I lived in a little village near where you are travelling called Kirkcowan near Newton Stewart like the video.very informative thank you.
We were in Newton Stewart 2 days ago 👍
We really enjoyed your video. I looked up the lovely Nelly. It gave a list of all the passengers. There were families on it too. Prince Edward Island is so far away. Must have been such a long crossing. Your scone and soup looked tasty. Take care.
Yes, they must have been desperate for a better life to have embarked on such a long, uncertain journey.
Hello. Dont put the pillow on the Inverter! He need fresh Air! Not again, please! Your car get on fire! Dont do it again please! Greetings from Germany
Correct
Definitely a kookaburra. They are very territorial, and if used to people, will happily swoop and take a ham sandwich from your (as in my ). hand while sitting at a picnic table with 2 others! Love your vlogs and the history! I’m taking notes for my trip next year. You don’t have a spare camper van do you? Lol! 😊
We do at the moment but will be selling it when we get back 😁👍
The bird sounded like a Kookaburra😮
You can get them for the plug hole saves all the hassle
Well yesterday I picked up my consort and had a handover with Dan. One of the things he mentioned was food 'bits' going down the plug hole and, he advised a filter to go over the hole. I've a one cheap from Amazon at £6.99 for two, and although I'm doubtful, I'll give them a go.
Good luck as they don’t seem to fit very well as the plugs are too shallow. Let us know if you find one that works well 👍
Hi, very nice video, thank you ❤❤
Thanks for watching 🙂