A November Ride to The Highlands

[Dellis]

Well as ever I had a plan which was; a day off work on Friday, leave home (South Cheshire) bright and early and ride up to Ullapool, find a nice B&B have a few beers then ride down the coast road to Skye, stay with our friends in Kyleakin then ride home on Sunday. All was going well, we left home at 7.30 am and were in Fort William having a brew by 1.30 pm. There was a bit of sleet on the A82 between Tyndrum and Glen Coe but nothing to worry about but as we sat having our cuppa looking out of the window all was about to change - serious snow. I called my mate on Skye and suggested that we forget trying to get to Ullapool and head over to him so we duly set off only to get a couple of miles up the road where I decided that a white road is not best for biking so we turned round and spent the night in Fort William.

This was just after we arrived at the B&B

Off we went to find a pub, a few beers later and this was the result followed by an early night I really must learn not to drink on an empty stomach

Saturday morning got up to a cracking breakfast then set off on the road to Skye. The first few miles North of Fort William were a bit dodgy with quite a bit of slush on the road but things got better. This is the A87 just west of Invergarry

Things got a little more interesting than this as we climbed towards the junction with the A887 but after the junction the A87 was clear again. This is another view off the A87 looking at the eastern end of Loch Cluanie

We dropped our gear off at Kyleakin the set off for a ride round the fantastic Skye roads, we called at the Talisker distillery to find it closed

but found that the Ferry Inn at Uig was open so had a pint there

before setting off to ride round the northern coast road

Then it was a night on the town in Kyleakin with the compulsory late night before the ride home.

Tha last pic taken on the A82 south of Fort William

We did just over a thousand miles and were kept nice and warm with our heated vests

Cheers
Dave & Sandra

 

[Norrie]

Hi Dellis

Couple of nice wee photo's there,the Glen Lochy guest house is a nice wee spot and the breakfast's alway's spot on,bet you were glad of the heated vest's.Did you visit G.C.'s "The Lochy" whilst in Fort Bill if not you will have missed out on some great hospitality (he's renound for it)



Schultz

 

[Aidan1150]

Good report there Dave.

The weather looks marginally worse than what we encountered in Donegal on Saturday.

 

[Dellis]

Hi Dellis

Couple of nice wee photo's there,the Glen Lochy guest house is a nice wee spot and the breakfast's alway's spot on,bet you were glad of the heated vest's.Did you visit G.C.'s "The Lochy" whilst in Fort Bill if not you will have missed out on some great hospitality (he's renound for it)



Schultz

I've seen G.C.'s posts on here but didn't realise that he was in Fort William. I get up to the Highlands several times a year so I'll pop my head round the door next time. Thanks for the pointer.

Glen Lochy is indeed a cracking B&B with a mighty fine breakfast and the choice was made purely on the basis that it was the first B&B on the left that we came to. The proprietor was away at a wedding but the young lady who was looking after the place in her absence was great even filled a few bucket of water so I could defrost my bike on saturday morning, the snow had frozen

Dave

 

[Dellis]

Good report there Dave.

The weather looks marginally worse than what we encountered in Donegal on Saturday.

Hey up Aidan, It's good to know that Sandra and I are not the only two daft tossers on here

Cheers
Dave

 

[Deleted account rno]

That looks a wee bit cold, Dellis. Nice pics

 

[Deleted account W]

Your mad

10/10 for effort

Thanks for posting your ride pics Dave

 

[Trippy]

Looks like you had a good ride. It'll be a while before we see any of that down here in the sissy south.

 

[G.C.]

Hi Dave, I saw your bike on Friday afternoon on my way into town. I remember thinking “what nutter is on his bike in this weather”
Ill ask Hugh (Glen Lochy guest house) how he enjoyed the wedding, it'll freak him out that I read about it on t`internet
Pub pic looks like the Crofter ? I don’t get into town often.
We did have a lot of snow on Friday, a mate works at Aonach Mor, the ski slope just North of the Fort. He tells me that they measured 18 inches at the top runs and just over “6” on the lower runs and you were out on yer bike
By all means call in and say hello the next time you are passing,
Ill buy you a coffee. Directions on my website, click on the pint in my sig line.
Slainte
Gordon

 

[Dellis]

Hi Dave, I saw your bike on Friday afternoon on my way into town. I remember thinking “what nutter is on his bike in this weather”
Ill ask Hugh (Glen Lochy guest house) how he enjoyed the wedding, it'll freak him out that I read about it on t`internet
Pub pic looks like the Crofter ? I don’t get into town often.
We did have a lot of snow on Friday, a mate works at Aonach Mor, the ski slope just North of the Fort. He tells me that they measured 18 inches at the top runs and just over “6” on the lower runs and you were out on yer bike
By all means call in and say hello the next time you are passing,
Ill buy you a coffee. Directions on my website, click on the pint in my sig line.
Slainte
Gordon

Hi Gordon,

I'll take you up on the offer of the coffee next time I'm up that way

Dave

 

[Alte Wolf]

Just found your post Dellis,

What great photos, I am not sure whether to reach for my mountain gear or lift my bike keys and book the ferry

Great effort, I reckon at the right time of the year there are few places that can 'do the blues' (Sky/reflecting on snow etc) like the Highlands of Scotland. Your pics capture it well

Love the pic in front of 'The Buckle' Glencoe

 

[Yodagoat]

big respect!

I want to go winter camping/biking but i can't afford to wreck my bike with salt. (and i'm too lazy to clean it every day in winter.)
Amazing pics, got any more?

nice one

mike

 

[Dellis]

big respect!

I want to go winter camping/biking but i can't afford to wreck my bike with salt. (and i'm too lazy to clean it every day in winter.)
Amazing pics, got any more?

nice one

mike

Sorry but that's all I have - itwas a little too cold to sop!

Dave