Here's a quick report of our round Scotland trip last week.
Having decided to have a go at the Cambrian Rally this year, team "Minaun Roosters" was formed and we were promptly summoned to Berwick-on-Tweed for team training.
The drive from Stranraer to Berwick was interesting. We took a detour from the A75 at Newton Stewart up into the Galloway forest park. Some interesting twisties along this road called “The Queens Way”.
Then onto Moffat, and via the A708 to Selkirk.
This one track road takes you past the very picturesque Talla and Megget reservoirs.
After arriving in Berwick, Forry met up with us, brought us for a fish supper, and then out to Meet Farmer Palmer, his lovely wife Anne and Kim the Collie. A very enjoyable evening with, predictably, much talk of bikes, trips and farming!
Sunday was spent in offroad training! Forry put us through our paces on a run through the dunes, and out to the beach.
Eoins entry in the power slide competition
Eoins bike after the “spray eoins bike with sand” competition – which Forry won.
Then on to Holy island which is beautiful, and can only be reached across a causeway during certain hours when the tide is low. Forry showing much respect for the peace and tranquility of the island
Eoin and Forry inspecting a possible new trail
Onwards to see Bamburgh and Hogwarths castle, followed by some very cool trails up over the hills. After lunch, we were brought on yet another great trail
More pics of this outing here http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114673
After hosing down the bikes it was back to chez forry for some famous Forry's Mums cake and to plan our weeks trip around Scotland. Thanks for a great day out Forry!
Yes we have much practicing left to do.
Monday we set off north towards Glencova. Sticking to the coastal route as much as possible, we passed though some gorgeous scenery with cliffs, beaches and cosy little seaside towns. Stopped at Queensferry for lunch. The bridge was toll free, so we thought of doing a few loops on it
Still sticking to the coastal route, we headed up towards St. Andrews. Pulling into a small seaside town for a break along the way, I parked up, only to see a car reversing towards me side on I tried to sound the horn, but the keys were out of the ignition, and she obviously didn’t hear the shouting, as she kept coming, and bang into my side pannier, knocking the bike over the side stand and into a wall. 
I only just hopped out of the way in time. The damage wasn’t the worst, its mainly the inconvenience. Windscreen and indicator broke. Panniers banged up and mounting broken. We were on the road after a bit of taping and cable tying. I’m thinking of naming the bike Jack (a la Jack Duckworth, cos of the tape around the windscreen)
Stayed in Glencova hotel on Monday night. We opted for the bunkhouses which were cheap but clean and comfortable. The food in the hotel is worth mentioning though – top class.
Tuesday we headed up towards Rogart.
Eoins new GPS sent us on the windiest track to get us onto the Glenshee road,
it tried to send us across this!
and then sent us down this
it wasn’t even set to off-road mode! We weren’t complaining, but would have needed the “Achill 11” with us before attempting the river crossing!
The road through Glenshee to Braemar is fantastic,
and Braemar itself is a lovely little village
The A939 to the Skiing areas at Lecht
After a quick gander at Loch Ness from a height ..
..we passed through Inverness. It didn’t have the same sparkle as Edinburgh. But maybe we saw it on a bad day!
Stayed in Sleeperzz http://www.sleeperzzz.com in Pittentrail, which was a novelty. It’s a train station with some carriages off the track converted into accommodation. You get your own cabin with bunks and train seating.
Wednesday, leaving Rogart, after buying breakfast from the local Spar, we came out to find a small crowd (well 3 people in here is a crowd
) admiring the bikes. One chap hung around to chat with us about bikes while we ate.
On to John O’Groats via the A9 Coastal road
Having visited the souvenir shops we headed off across the north along the A836 coastal road, passing Dounray (very fast). The heavens opened so we stopped for lunch at a hotel on the way into Tongue, and decided to modify the route to cut down to Lairg and on to Ullapool. This turned out to be a gorgeous single track road. We couldn’t get over how barren and unpopulated the place was. There was also very little traffic apart from the odd campervan heading the wrong way. After reaching Ullapool we decided to push on a bit further to Aultbea where the GPS had found us a lovely hotel with good seafood cuisine http://www.aultbeahotel.co.uk
Thursday we took a high speed trip around Skye. The road to Skye had some very heavy traffic!
The weather was pretty miserable, so I don’t have any photos, but it is a very beautiful place. We took the small ferry back to the mainland instead of taking the bridge, and the road down to it is really nice.
We got a free wildlife lesson on the way across from the ferry operators. Forry told us to do the road to Applecross, but we opted to skip it and looking at pictures on other posts now, we know we have to go back!
Friday took us down the road to Kintyre. The weather was wet, and misty. Boots were soaked, and the general mood had dropped. So we decided to hop across the Isle of Arran to make it back to the Ferry at Troon. From what we saw of Kintyre and Arran, they definitely deserve a return trip. Anyone fancy a hopscotch week, visiting all the islands?
On the way down through Kintyre, I spotted a sign for a ferry to Ireland. Eoin thought my visor was probably misted up, or I was delusional, but right enough we saw another one, which had been partially blanked out. Don’t know if this ferry ever runs any more, but there must have been one once.
The price of the island ferrys aren’t cheap - 64stg for two bikes and an extra charge for the rider
for the two ferries, onto and off Arran to the mainland. We found out to our horror that you have to book well ahead, the next two ferries were booked out. But we had a cunning plan, turn up at the port, drive the bikes on, let them load everything on behind you, and then see if they discover why the last car wont fit! 
Waiting for the ferry in Troon we met up with a nice chap from Belfast on a shiny new R1 who was very kind to us in Belfast when we came across a closed M2, and brought us round some backroads to get us back out onto the M1, and bound for home. Just goes to show you its not just GS bikers that have kind hearts!
The road back to Dublin had changed since our trip up the week before - what was a windy bumpy road from Dundalk to Newry the week before had miraculously turned into a gleaming new motorway! Much praise to the efficiency of the NRA!
Made it back Home at 2:30am, knackered, sore, ears buzzing, but very happy after a great trip.
Having decided to have a go at the Cambrian Rally this year, team "Minaun Roosters" was formed and we were promptly summoned to Berwick-on-Tweed for team training.
The drive from Stranraer to Berwick was interesting. We took a detour from the A75 at Newton Stewart up into the Galloway forest park. Some interesting twisties along this road called “The Queens Way”.
Then onto Moffat, and via the A708 to Selkirk.
This one track road takes you past the very picturesque Talla and Megget reservoirs.
After arriving in Berwick, Forry met up with us, brought us for a fish supper, and then out to Meet Farmer Palmer, his lovely wife Anne and Kim the Collie. A very enjoyable evening with, predictably, much talk of bikes, trips and farming!
Sunday was spent in offroad training! Forry put us through our paces on a run through the dunes, and out to the beach.
Eoins entry in the power slide competition
Eoins bike after the “spray eoins bike with sand” competition – which Forry won.
Then on to Holy island which is beautiful, and can only be reached across a causeway during certain hours when the tide is low. Forry showing much respect for the peace and tranquility of the island
Eoin and Forry inspecting a possible new trail
Onwards to see Bamburgh and Hogwarths castle, followed by some very cool trails up over the hills. After lunch, we were brought on yet another great trail
More pics of this outing here http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114673
After hosing down the bikes it was back to chez forry for some famous Forry's Mums cake and to plan our weeks trip around Scotland. Thanks for a great day out Forry!
Yes we have much practicing left to do.Monday we set off north towards Glencova. Sticking to the coastal route as much as possible, we passed though some gorgeous scenery with cliffs, beaches and cosy little seaside towns. Stopped at Queensferry for lunch. The bridge was toll free, so we thought of doing a few loops on it
Still sticking to the coastal route, we headed up towards St. Andrews. Pulling into a small seaside town for a break along the way, I parked up, only to see a car reversing towards me side on I tried to sound the horn, but the keys were out of the ignition, and she obviously didn’t hear the shouting, as she kept coming, and bang into my side pannier, knocking the bike over the side stand and into a wall. I only just hopped out of the way in time. The damage wasn’t the worst, its mainly the inconvenience. Windscreen and indicator broke. Panniers banged up and mounting broken. We were on the road after a bit of taping and cable tying. I’m thinking of naming the bike Jack (a la Jack Duckworth, cos of the tape around the windscreen)
Stayed in Glencova hotel on Monday night. We opted for the bunkhouses which were cheap but clean and comfortable. The food in the hotel is worth mentioning though – top class.
Tuesday we headed up towards Rogart.
Eoins new GPS sent us on the windiest track to get us onto the Glenshee road,
it tried to send us across this!
and then sent us down this
it wasn’t even set to off-road mode! We weren’t complaining, but would have needed the “Achill 11” with us before attempting the river crossing!
The road through Glenshee to Braemar is fantastic,
and Braemar itself is a lovely little village
The A939 to the Skiing areas at Lecht
After a quick gander at Loch Ness from a height ..
..we passed through Inverness. It didn’t have the same sparkle as Edinburgh. But maybe we saw it on a bad day!
Stayed in Sleeperzz http://www.sleeperzzz.com in Pittentrail, which was a novelty. It’s a train station with some carriages off the track converted into accommodation. You get your own cabin with bunks and train seating.
Wednesday, leaving Rogart, after buying breakfast from the local Spar, we came out to find a small crowd (well 3 people in here is a crowd
) admiring the bikes. One chap hung around to chat with us about bikes while we ate. On to John O’Groats via the A9 Coastal road
Having visited the souvenir shops we headed off across the north along the A836 coastal road, passing Dounray (very fast
). The heavens opened so we stopped for lunch at a hotel on the way into Tongue, and decided to modify the route to cut down to Lairg and on to Ullapool. This turned out to be a gorgeous single track road. We couldn’t get over how barren and unpopulated the place was. There was also very little traffic apart from the odd campervan heading the wrong way. After reaching Ullapool we decided to push on a bit further to Aultbea where the GPS had found us a lovely hotel with good seafood cuisine http://www.aultbeahotel.co.ukThursday we took a high speed trip around Skye. The road to Skye had some very heavy traffic!
The weather was pretty miserable, so I don’t have any photos, but it is a very beautiful place. We took the small ferry back to the mainland instead of taking the bridge, and the road down to it is really nice.
We got a free wildlife lesson on the way across from the ferry operators. Forry told us to do the road to Applecross, but we opted to skip it and looking at pictures on other posts now,
we know we have to go back!Friday took us down the road to Kintyre. The weather was wet, and misty. Boots were soaked, and the general mood had dropped. So we decided to hop across the Isle of Arran to make it back to the Ferry at Troon. From what we saw of Kintyre and Arran, they definitely deserve a return trip. Anyone fancy a hopscotch week, visiting all the islands?
On the way down through Kintyre, I spotted a sign for a ferry to Ireland. Eoin thought my visor was probably misted up, or I was delusional, but right enough we saw another one, which had been partially blanked out. Don’t know if this ferry ever runs any more, but there must have been one once.
The price of the island ferrys aren’t cheap - 64stg for two bikes and an extra charge for the rider
for the two ferries, onto and off Arran to the mainland. We found out to our horror that you have to book well ahead, the next two ferries were booked out. But we had a cunning plan, turn up at the port, drive the bikes on, let them load everything on behind you, and then see if they discover why the last car wont fit! Waiting for the ferry in Troon we met up with a nice chap from Belfast on a shiny new R1 who was very kind to us in Belfast when we came across a closed M2, and brought us round some backroads to get us back out onto the M1, and bound for home. Just goes to show you its not just GS bikers that have kind hearts!
The road back to Dublin had changed since our trip up the week before - what was a windy bumpy road from Dundalk to Newry the week before had miraculously turned into a gleaming new motorway! Much praise to the efficiency of the NRA!
Made it back Home at 2:30am, knackered, sore, ears buzzing, but very happy after a great trip.
