AlanAce1967
Registered user
This is a short write up of my 6 day, 1952 mile trip to Scotland.
Bear with me, lots of writing 1st then the pics.
It all started around last August just after i got my GS. I had always wanted to travel through Scotland on a bike and at last i had the perfect bike for it. Planning started back then, if you can call it a plan !
Thursday 14th June.
The day approached ! The weather reports were not good, i decided to go anyway and risk it, a mix of camping and B&B accomodation. The night before i sat at home with a huge pile of stuff that somehow had to fit into 2 panniers and a large bag. I had already done the test ride with all my gear on the bike to make sure i wasn`t overdoing it and somehow there seemed a lot more stuff now! I stripped it to bare essentials and just got everything to fit.
The Zumo was loaded up with all my routes and waypoints and had a touring map as backup, luckily!
The bike was sparkling and oil had been checked, tyre pressures and suspention setting changed, i was ready !
Friday 15th June
Start point Yaxley, near Peterborough.
Start mileage 15573
Up early, finished last minute packing, loaded bike up, was very concerned about the weight on the sidestand. Left house at 0745 with a dark sky.
As soon as i had got 20 miles up the A1 it started raining, heavily! I stopped in a parking bay and put the rain cover on my tankbag and set off again, as soon as i picked up some speed it inflated like a balloon so i had to stop again and secure it with bungies.
As i passed Doncaster it absolutely hammered it down, by now my feet were wet and cold and my 4 year old comfy gloves were sodden, i was very cold and couldn`t see more than 50 yards because of the spray.
I left the A1 and cut across the Yorkshire Dales on the A684. My intention was to stop off at Aysgarth Falls for a break and refuel but i was so cold and wet and fed up i just got off the bike took a quick photo and left, when i arrived at the garage a few miles up the road the guy wouldn`t come outside until i had removed the tankbag and petrol flap as it was raining so hard. All my money was soaked!!
There were rivers across the roads everywhere. I eventually got onto the M6 but who had the great idea of putting a big slippery cattlegrid on a fast sweeping bend ?? 
When i got to Gretna i couldn`t go on anymore so pulled into the services, i stood waiting for a coffee with the water pouring off me, as soon as i moved to a table they had to get a mop and wet floor sign out and it was worse when i left the table.
Continued through Glasgow using trusty Zumo with no problems but as i pull into petrol station in Dumbarton the GPS goes into suicide mode. Turned itself off and when i tried to switch it on came up with some strange messages. I was gutted, my entire trip was planned on it.
Drove down next to Loch Lomond to McKinver Hotel at Ardlui, very cheap and clean but basic. Nice bar and food too.
Miles for day 405
Saturday 16th June.
Up early, Scottish breakfast, tried the black pudding but hated it.
Off i went, up the A82-A85 to FallsOf Dochart, very nice. Still raining on and off. Took small road on south of Loch Tay, absolutley brilliant, saw red squirrels, red deer and plenty of sheep! At Kenmore i turned right up a very small road towards Garrow, its practically vertical with hairpin bends and its great, goes up and over a mountain.
Garrow Road
From there i drove around Loch Lomond area and back to Tarbet then left onto the A83 which is another great road which runs along a huge valley. I followed the coast around to Kilmartin where i spent the night at Burnside B&B with a meal in the Kilmartin Hotel.
Rained for most of the day so not many photos again.
Mileage today 223
Sunday 17th June (Fathers Day)
Up at 0600 and opened my cards, had breakfast and left. Only out for 10 mins and i have to stop and take off my fleece and put my summer gloves on. Its like i have woken up in a different place, its sunny and warm!
From Kilmartin i went through Ford to Loch Awe, absolutely fantastic.
I turned left up to Kilmelford along Loch Avich and again the road was great with hairpin bends and fantastic views around every corner.
Back on the main road i headed for Glen Coe. By now it was getting darker again ! Glen Coe is a huge valley and you can drive all the way around it.
The road continues up to Fort William where i spent the night in yet another B&B, this time in the top floor of a 3 storey house, great with all my bike gear on and 2 panniers, tank bag and huge bag!
Milage today 108.
Fort William
Monday 18th June.
Today is what i have been looking forward to for ages - Applecross!
Left the B&B at 0630 up to Spean Bridge then left at Invergarry past Loch Cluanie and followed A87 to Eileen Donan Castle.
Loch Cluanie
Eileen Donan Castle
Then arrived at the famous signpost......
I was worried that after all the stuff i had heard about the place that it wouldn`t live up to expectation, it didn`t dissapoint at all, great road, great view, don`t take my word for it go take a look for yourself!
Applecross.
Oh and its not just sheep you need to watch out for.....
I took the coast road out north and headed up all the way to Durness using the coast roads all the way, saw some fantasic sights and ended camping at Durness.
Mileage today 341
Tuesday 19th June
Woke up at 0500, packed up and left 0630. Continued all the way on the coast road to John O Groats. The best beaches were on the north coast, white sand and clear water.
Loch Eriboll
Dunnet Head
John O Groats.
For what its worth, John O Groats is really not worth visiting, it is a tacky little place with a burger van and gift shop. If you want a photo with the signpost you have to phone the photographer to come out and put the sign up ! Maybe i went at a quiet time.
Anyway, from there i went down to Inverness, got some petrol and on to Loch Ness for lunch, i knew the monster wasn`t there as the mother in law lives nr Huntingdon now !!
My next house ????
From there i drove to Spean Bridge and up to Aviemore then did a circuit of the Cairngorms and ended up at a little B&B at Bridge Of Cally. As you cross the Cairngorms range you really are in the middle of nowhere. The roads go on for miles and miles but are great biking roads.
Mileage today 457 !!!
Weds 20th June.
Packed up and left 0630, guess what ? Its absolutely hammering it down again !!
Down to Perth, on to Edinburgh, rush hour, solid traffic for mile after mile and im not sure where im going, filtered for miles, only hit one lorry not sure he noticed !
Found the A1 and followed it all the way back home. Arrived at 1400, it took me 7hrs riding and half hr break. My backside was killing me. Soaking wet again, as soon as i got in the gloves went in the bin !!
All in all it was a great break, i got bored after a few days of my own company so came back early, next time ill do it with someone else.
Miles home 418.
Total Miles 1952
Fuel Cost £182 approx
Bike Ave 49mpg
Hope you enjoyed this.
Bear with me, lots of writing 1st then the pics.
It all started around last August just after i got my GS. I had always wanted to travel through Scotland on a bike and at last i had the perfect bike for it. Planning started back then, if you can call it a plan !
Thursday 14th June.
The day approached ! The weather reports were not good, i decided to go anyway and risk it, a mix of camping and B&B accomodation. The night before i sat at home with a huge pile of stuff that somehow had to fit into 2 panniers and a large bag. I had already done the test ride with all my gear on the bike to make sure i wasn`t overdoing it and somehow there seemed a lot more stuff now! I stripped it to bare essentials and just got everything to fit.
The Zumo was loaded up with all my routes and waypoints and had a touring map as backup, luckily!
The bike was sparkling and oil had been checked, tyre pressures and suspention setting changed, i was ready !
Friday 15th June
Start point Yaxley, near Peterborough.
Start mileage 15573
Up early, finished last minute packing, loaded bike up, was very concerned about the weight on the sidestand. Left house at 0745 with a dark sky.
As soon as i had got 20 miles up the A1 it started raining, heavily! I stopped in a parking bay and put the rain cover on my tankbag and set off again, as soon as i picked up some speed it inflated like a balloon so i had to stop again and secure it with bungies.
As i passed Doncaster it absolutely hammered it down, by now my feet were wet and cold and my 4 year old comfy gloves were sodden, i was very cold and couldn`t see more than 50 yards because of the spray.
I left the A1 and cut across the Yorkshire Dales on the A684. My intention was to stop off at Aysgarth Falls for a break and refuel but i was so cold and wet and fed up i just got off the bike took a quick photo and left, when i arrived at the garage a few miles up the road the guy wouldn`t come outside until i had removed the tankbag and petrol flap as it was raining so hard. All my money was soaked!!
There were rivers across the roads everywhere. I eventually got onto the M6 but who had the great idea of putting a big slippery cattlegrid on a fast sweeping bend ?? When i got to Gretna i couldn`t go on anymore so pulled into the services, i stood waiting for a coffee with the water pouring off me, as soon as i moved to a table they had to get a mop and wet floor sign out and it was worse when i left the table.
Continued through Glasgow using trusty Zumo with no problems but as i pull into petrol station in Dumbarton the GPS goes into suicide mode. Turned itself off and when i tried to switch it on came up with some strange messages. I was gutted, my entire trip was planned on it.
Drove down next to Loch Lomond to McKinver Hotel at Ardlui, very cheap and clean but basic. Nice bar and food too.
Miles for day 405
Saturday 16th June.
Up early, Scottish breakfast, tried the black pudding but hated it.
Off i went, up the A82-A85 to FallsOf Dochart, very nice. Still raining on and off. Took small road on south of Loch Tay, absolutley brilliant, saw red squirrels, red deer and plenty of sheep! At Kenmore i turned right up a very small road towards Garrow, its practically vertical with hairpin bends and its great, goes up and over a mountain.
Garrow Road
From there i drove around Loch Lomond area and back to Tarbet then left onto the A83 which is another great road which runs along a huge valley. I followed the coast around to Kilmartin where i spent the night at Burnside B&B with a meal in the Kilmartin Hotel.
Rained for most of the day so not many photos again.
Mileage today 223
Sunday 17th June (Fathers Day)
Up at 0600 and opened my cards, had breakfast and left. Only out for 10 mins and i have to stop and take off my fleece and put my summer gloves on. Its like i have woken up in a different place, its sunny and warm!
From Kilmartin i went through Ford to Loch Awe, absolutely fantastic.
I turned left up to Kilmelford along Loch Avich and again the road was great with hairpin bends and fantastic views around every corner.
Back on the main road i headed for Glen Coe. By now it was getting darker again ! Glen Coe is a huge valley and you can drive all the way around it.
The road continues up to Fort William where i spent the night in yet another B&B, this time in the top floor of a 3 storey house, great with all my bike gear on and 2 panniers, tank bag and huge bag!
Milage today 108.
Fort William
Monday 18th June.
Today is what i have been looking forward to for ages - Applecross!
Left the B&B at 0630 up to Spean Bridge then left at Invergarry past Loch Cluanie and followed A87 to Eileen Donan Castle.
Loch Cluanie
Eileen Donan Castle
Then arrived at the famous signpost......
I was worried that after all the stuff i had heard about the place that it wouldn`t live up to expectation, it didn`t dissapoint at all, great road, great view, don`t take my word for it go take a look for yourself!
Applecross.
Oh and its not just sheep you need to watch out for.....
I took the coast road out north and headed up all the way to Durness using the coast roads all the way, saw some fantasic sights and ended camping at Durness.
Mileage today 341
Tuesday 19th June
Woke up at 0500, packed up and left 0630. Continued all the way on the coast road to John O Groats. The best beaches were on the north coast, white sand and clear water.
Loch Eriboll
Dunnet Head
John O Groats.
For what its worth, John O Groats is really not worth visiting, it is a tacky little place with a burger van and gift shop. If you want a photo with the signpost you have to phone the photographer to come out and put the sign up ! Maybe i went at a quiet time.
Anyway, from there i went down to Inverness, got some petrol and on to Loch Ness for lunch, i knew the monster wasn`t there as the mother in law lives nr Huntingdon now !!
My next house ????
From there i drove to Spean Bridge and up to Aviemore then did a circuit of the Cairngorms and ended up at a little B&B at Bridge Of Cally. As you cross the Cairngorms range you really are in the middle of nowhere. The roads go on for miles and miles but are great biking roads.
Mileage today 457 !!!
Weds 20th June.
Packed up and left 0630, guess what ? Its absolutely hammering it down again !!
Down to Perth, on to Edinburgh, rush hour, solid traffic for mile after mile and im not sure where im going, filtered for miles, only hit one lorry
not sure he noticed !Found the A1 and followed it all the way back home. Arrived at 1400, it took me 7hrs riding and half hr break. My backside was killing me. Soaking wet again, as soon as i got in the gloves went in the bin !!
All in all it was a great break, i got bored after a few days of my own company so came back early, next time ill do it with someone else.
Miles home 418.
Total Miles 1952
Fuel Cost £182 approx
Bike Ave 49mpg
Hope you enjoyed this.
