340 mile round trip for a decent coffee!

[mspenz]

Had a wee run out on the bike today, decided to go up to the ' The Chocolate Factory' in Durness seeing that the weather was so nice but it's a feckin long way to go for a coffee & tasty cake!
Went via Lairg then Altnaharra and that's when the fun started, turned onto the hilarious road to Loch Hope and after around 5 miles there's a sign saying road closed with no other info attached, bollocks, that's someone having a laugh I said to my (long suffering) pillion partner, lets just keep going...
This road is brilliant, it's rough/bumpy/more grass & sheep shit than tar and stunning scenery but absolutely no other traffic, strange that

20 miles on and almost at the main road to Durness (you can actually see it) you come across 'the closure', a complete bridge and 30mtr section of the road has been washed away in the recent monsoon only to be replaced with 2 channels of brown fast flowing peaty water with a fairly steep entrance/exit on mud and grass on each side. Arse!

Oh well, caffeine levels were depleting from the mornings 'hit' and I wasn't going to wait another hour plus to re-trace and then go via Tongue so decided to go for it after a bit of swearing at Highland Council roads department & some pacing around.

Bloody brilliant bikes these GSAs aren't they? Got across and up onto the road again without even getting wet feet but almost pissed myself laughing as my partner waded knee deep while coming out with some sweary's that I hadn't heard for a few years

Onto Durness and then home by Ullapool, well worth the 340 mile round trip just for a decent coffee...and a bag of whisky and honey truffles

 

[Kritou]

See .......... I told you it was Morayshire

 

[jonnyingram]

Did that road a week after the wash out on 650 as you say Hilarious, was the German land rover still there. Bows down in the Burn.? Always stay at Altnaharra B&B when we are down there.

 

[Grizzly]

Great Road - Loch Hope

Haven't been along the Loch Hope road for a few years now - but it's a great road for a GS or similar
Years ago (45 or so) there was almost nothing in the way of houses or farms from one end to the other - a very desolate and lonely road in those days, but last time I used it there was a bit more in the way of farms for both cattle and deer
I think its often missed as a route - especially as the junction at the northern end is easily missed or ignored.
Still a great road though

Cheers.......................Grizzly

 

[gerarddwatts]

Any photos of the bridge...sorry, ford? Wonder how long before it gets fixed? Mate of mine lives at Polla just round the corner, and says that storm was the worst ever known.

 

[mspenz]

See .......... I told you it was Morayshire

Naughty

 

[mspenz]

Did that road a week after the wash out on 650 as you say Hilarious, was the German land rover still there. Bows down in the Burn.? Always stay at Altnaharra B&B when we are down there.

I think that the Land Rover must have been washed away in the next flood as there's nothing there now! It's a feckin long detour for locals now I would imagine.

 

[mspenz]

I got the missus to take some pics of the wash out but there are none of me in action unfortunately

Ok, I've no idea how to post photos' here yet but I'll have a look at the FAQs..don't rush me!

 

[Kaybe]

Aye never mentioned on my trip a few weeks back, we were fortunate that the temp sections were dry mud an rubble!!

 

[jonnyingram]

No pics, cold wet and it was pissing down. Back down next month I hope. County won't do anything till next year. so pics to follow.

 

[mspenz]

Some pics of the mess!

Looks easy...once on the other side.

The easiest crossing is on the loch side (west) of the road as there's a deep muddy ditch on the other side, but the pics don't really show the drop down the bank very well. The ramp formed by the section of bridge is almost doable but there is a big hole at the top which would have to get filled in first!
It's a doddle actually but you are in a pretty remote spot and I'd no mobile reception if it all had went tits up

Must have been an impressive sight and an amazing force of water coming down the hill