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Hello. This is my first (and most likely last!) trip report that has taken me quite some time to write as I'm not a writer! Hope you enjoy it.
My trip took a long time in planning due to the pandemic and then work. My brother and a few friends like to get together every few years and go on a photo workshop/tour. (Some photos I took will be in the second part). Our last trip was ending as the pandemic was beginning back in 2020, so it was time for another one. We are fans of Bruce Percy's imagery, and finally managed to book one of his photo trips that fit all our budgets and dates, a 5 day workshop in Eigg, Scotland. This report is my trip from Seattle (USA) to Wetherby (England), to the Isle of Eigg (Scotland) and back in March/April 2023.
SEA - LHR
My journey begins with a 20 minute car ride down I-5 to SeaTac International Airport. I will be flying on BA0052, Club World, Seat 7K. I was stressed a bit due to a posting here at FT about being bumped from seat 7K on a 787
After being dropped off at the departures area, check in for BA's Club World was 15 minutes, a bit long, but that may be because I joined the wrong line!! The check in agent was polite, and check in went without any issues. And still in seat 7K. I started to line up at the TSA PreCheck security line at 12:01, and through security by 12:09. Overall I consider that to be a successful check in, less than 26 minutes from drop off to clearing security! Onto the BA Lounge near the S gates, most international long haul flights leave from there, and my flight was leaving from S11, just by the lounge stairs. The BA lounge is not the largest lounge, and does not have the best food offerings, but it is a pleasant place to wait. I used the barcode on the table and was brought a coffee, water and one of the smallest "sandwiches" I've ever seen, I wish I'd remembered to take a photo. The staff there were great, and after an hour or so my flight was called. I would rate my lounge experience as 'meh', It wasn't the best, but it wasn't that bad.
The BA business lounge at SEA.
I was in group 2, so had to wait a few minutes for boarding. This is where I thought I may lose my 7K seat, but not today! I was scanned through and onto the plane I went. My flight today was on a Boeing B787-900
BA52 MODEL G-ZBKN
SEAT CONFIGURATION 216 seats
8 First 42 Business 39 Eco+ 127 Economy
The seat was the older Club World herringbone configuration (hence my "joy" at getting 7K). I feel as if we (Seattle) will be the last route to get the Club Suites. As I settled down in the seat, boarding finally came to an end, and there was no one sitting in 7E, another bonus. That's one of the major downsides to me with the Club World seating, is staring at someone for the takeoff and landing, although if I get the window seat I'll just look out of the window. The crew were sparse and I don't think I saw or spoke to any of them until we were airborne. The flight was not full (at least in CW), and after takeoff the crew came round with drinks. I tend not to drink alcohol on planes, although I will have a beer with dinner when they have anything other than Heineken, so I had my traditional tomato juice and waited to have something alcoholic later. The scenery was stunning after we had taken off as there were very few clouds (as there usually are). I truly love the mountains of the PNW, especially when covered in snow.
Today's menu.
Take off!
The view looking east after take off.
Obligitory Mt Rainier photo.
North Cascades
Time for tomato juice and nuts.
Canada
More Canada.
More Canada zoomed in!
Roasted beetroot salad (quite tasty).
Beef short rib, also quite tasty, but a bit fatty.
My view to the right for the flight
Almost there
Dinner was served and I had the roasted beetroot salad (quite tasty) and the beef short rib, (which was a little fatty, but not too bad), followed by the pistachio mousse. (just okay). Once the desert had been given out, that was the last l saw of the crew for a while. I don't know if they forgot I was in the corner, but I eventually had to use the call button to get them to come back to clear the dessert plate, an apology and an admission that they had indeed forgotten I was there! Once all was cleared I tried to sleep. Always an issue for me on planes, but managed to nap on and off and I was quite happy about that as I was looking out of the window as we flew over northern Canada or Greenland (not sure which) to see the aura borealis dancing. It is one of those things that just mesmerizes me, just stunning! I did take a photo, but thb, I'm not happy with it so won't post it.
Breakfast was served shortly before landing. I just had coffee and a pastry as I was going to go to the arrivals lounge after landing
DISTANCE 7,710km 4,791mi
FLIGHT TIME 9 hours 25 min
Departure 14:53 PDT (18min late)
Arrival 06:57 GMT (7 min early)
After a quick stop clearing immigration and getting my luggage I headed up to the BA Arrivals lounge for some breakfast and a shower. The shower was welcomed, but I do find the shower area to be a little too small, and a bit rundown. Food was next on the agenda, and the offerings there were decent and better (in my opinion) than the food offered on the plane. The lounge was fairly quiet and I enjoyed having a bit of time to drink coffee and eat before the train to London's Paddington Station via the Heathrow Express.
The arrivals lounge shower.
BA's business arrivals lounge.
BA's business arrivals lounge.
to be used for crew, but was reassured by a number of very knowledgeable members who said the Seattle/Heathrow flight seldom moves passengers from this seat.
Kings Cross to York
I took the Heathrow Express (£37 - return ticket) to Paddington and cabbed (£22) it to Kings Cross. It was fairly busy, so it ended up taking me about 35 mins or so. Got to KXC and straight onto the train. As I had managed to get a rewards flight I paid extra for the First Class carriage on LNER's London Kings Cross to York. ($79.58) 11:00am-12:52pm (1h 52mins, 0 changes)
Waiting for the Heathrow Express
the Heathrow Express is arriving.
On the Heathrow Express
LNER's London Kings Cross to York.
The menu on the train
(The coffee stain was me!)
Crowded, but not full.
York station
The train journey was pretty uneventful. I am originally from the UK, and I find I just stare out of the window on the train journey up to York, I really miss the UK countryside. At York my brother picked me up and off to Wetherby to stay with my parents for a few days.
Wetherby, Yorkshire
On the first evening in Wetherby I had to get 'proper' fish and chips, so it was off to the Wetherby Whaler. If you are planning a visit to Wetherby it is a nice small town, has a market every Thursday and some nice walks nearby. If after all the walking you are in need of a good beer, The Mews is the place to go, followed by a
fantastic vegetarian curry at Mango. I'd highly recommend Mango's, it is really a great restaurant, I've never had a bad experience there, both the food and the staff are fantastic.
Wetherby Whaler's fish and chips.
A typical March day in Wetherby (Thursday Market)
17 minutes later, blue skies!
Wetherby
The Mews - GREAT beer.
Mango - GREAT vegetarian curries.
Wetherby to Glencoe.
After a few days it was off to Scotland for the photo trip. Three of us were travelling up in one car, and we were breaking the trip with a couple of nights in Glencoe. The road trip was uneventful, and after about 6.5 hours we arrived at our hotel, The Clachaig Inn.
The route from Wetherby, England to Glencoe, Scotland
The road to Glencoe, Scotland
The road to Glencoe, Scotland
The road to Glencoe, Scotland
The road into Glencoe, Scotland
Glencoe, Scotland
Glencoe, Scotland
The Clachaig Inn is a hikers hotel and even in March it was pretty full. It does have three bars/restaurants, one quieter than the other, and one (Snug Bar) was closed when we were there. We, being from Yorkshire, immediately headed to the less quiet one (Boots Bar), where the atmosphere was more pub than hotel bar - much more to our liking.
The Clachaig Inn
The Clachaig Inn
The view from the hotel
The food served in both areas came out from the same kitchen and the menu was pretty much identical. The beer was good here! They had some terrific cask conditioned ales. One of the evenings we were there they had live music (Saturday). The band was quite good and a great evening was had by all!
A great pint of cask ale.
The rooms were pretty standard, but the ones my brother and I had overlooked the Boots Bar, one of the nights after closing the staff decided to play music incredibly loud which was a bit annoying. They did stop it fairly quickly, but I was wide awake at that point!
My room at The Clachaig Inn
If you stay there and tend to go to bed early I'd ask not to be in the rooms overlooking the bar. The food there was decent, much better than some restaurants I've eaten at in the UK before. Breakfast was included and was very pleasant. We spent most of our full day walking around Glencoe and taking pictures. It is surprising how busy it was in March, I've heard it is a zoo in the summer months, so my recommendation is to visit Glencoe during the off peak times.
Glencoe
Glencoe
Glencoe
Glencoe
Glencoe
Glencoe
Glencoe
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Glencoe