Interesting article Rune. I travelled alone in Britain from 2001 onwards (more so in the first couple of years), but always managed to find a B&B for the night. Funny, as I'd bought a tent intending to camp out on my travels, but after just two nights' practice in a proper campsite at Croyde in N.Devon, I knew I couldn't do it, as I was listening for noises all night! A bit different than sleeping in a tent with your family. Felt very vulnerable.
However, I did have a great time, and the distances travelled allowed time to visit many interesting stone circles, etc., and dowse them. I bought a good B&B list book, and used that quite often to find accommodation when ready to stop each night. Usually got lucky, and often got a better room cheaper, as it was quite late and no couples were likely to turn up then.
In 2001 I'd booked a very reasonable annexe to a farmhouse near Skaill Bay in Orkney (Mrs Poke), and (doing the long journey in stages) spent a lovely week exploring, passing the Stones of Stenness and Brodgar every day, not to mention Skara Brae which was in walking distance.
The only place I do recall being in at midnight was Callanish/Calanais... I'd met a couple at our B&B breakfast in Ullapool on my way back down the west coast who said they were catching the ferry to Lewis, so I went too, and gave them a lift. At Stornoway Dennie rang Mrs Morrison at the bungalow closest to the stones, and (being a Monday?) we were lucky to get a night's B&B with her and her husband. After an afternoon visiting the stones (and Dennie filming me dowsing on my camcorder) they'd planned to go up to the circle in the night, but probably decided they had something better to do [!] as I was left to make up my mind if I should go alone. Mr Morrison assured me I'd be quite safe, and it was only about 100 yds up the lane, so off I went. In July in Lewis it was not properly dark at midnight, and there was only a chap with a camper van who we'd spoken to earlier by the gate, but I had the circle ALL to myself. It was so magical. It almost seems unreal remembering it. I didn't try to take any photos or film nor did I try dowsing... just standing there experiencing the atmosphere under those towering stones as starry night approached from the east and the golden glow of sunset still illuminated the darkening western skies.
Next day I left Dennie and his Danish girlfriend there, and after visiting Harris, went back to the north end of the island and found a massive room with super people at Aignish. (Arriving late, un-booked, is often lucky!)
I found the ferry journeys to Orkney and Lewis (and Ireland) exciting and uplifting, it is such a lovely way to visit those places, the way the ancestors would have travelled, rather than going by plane (which I hate).
Ireland was quite an adventure, but I had been once in 1999 with friends so I had some idea what to expect. Went there about 5 times in early 2000s. (Mostly travelling with nowhere booked in advance, and getting lucky, and sometimes stayed with a friend as a base for the last few days. At the time of 9/11 in New York I had rented a bungalow for a week, so visited the US Embassy in Dublin to see the floral tributes. I heard about the tragedy as the news broke, at Kildare Cathedral, so went straight back to the Holy Well to say a prayer for the victims. So many Irish were lost, too.)
Edinburgh was a problem once, but I got a very late room at a pub in Currie on my way out. Otherwise, pretty good.
Stonehenge is great on your own, just browsing around and people-watching, etc. Last visit (amazingly 2012?) was at the Motel at Countess roundabout services, though I'd stayed at a B&B in Chiseldon one year [2005?] when there was a fabulous full moon lighting my journey to Stonehenge and hanging over the circle all night, but on other times just drove up and back next day (100 miles each way). That was a magical day, having spent the afternoon dowsing Dragon Hill, Uffington, then Waylands Smithy, with the beautiful walk along the Ridgeway track in between.
Lots more could be told, but that's a sample, and I always felt blessed that I'd had those opportunities. I had to wait til my kids were all grown up, and I'd managed to afford a car, having sold my house, and got the courage to drive again, let alone drive from one end of the UK to the other. If you feel you want to do something like this, do it, but also don't put yourself in danger.
I'm getting a bit old to be going on quite such long journeys now, but can still do interesting things in shorter stages, and love to share experiences with others who enjoy reading Meg P's pages. Maybe this will stimulate someone into having their own adventure??
Something is not right. This message is just to keep things from messing up down the road