Big Lee`s jolly round Scotland, the report!

[Big Lee]

Hi folks,
This is my ride report of my little jolly round Scotland or basically the most interesting roads I could find to ride in 4 days & 3 nights! I covered 1100ish miles from my home town of Workington on the west coast of Cumbria. I tried to find as much info on any good roads I could on here before I went & put any routes into my Garmin 2610. Many thanks must be given to the people who`ve taken the time & effort to write up ride reports that guys like myself can pick the bones of routes out & make up their own otherwise it would be sheer luck that I got any half decent rides out at all!!
This year I decide to camp as last year I struggled to find B&B`s & did not want to be worrying if I could get somewhere to sleep after a hard days riding. I wasn`t really bothered by midges surprisingly so that made a more comfortable few days camping. I hadn`t camped for quite a few years so that was a bit of an adventure in itself! I dug the old Ultimate Peapod tent out & other camping bits & bobs & packed the bike up. As you`ll see on the pics I used soft luggage, a waterproof Ortlieb bag & a BMW Tankbag. I found the luggage to be adequate for what I was carrying but the hard GS luggage would`ve been better but at nearly £400 compared to a £40 pair of Oxford throwovers I could afford to get some stuff burned!
I always had 2 meals worth of food & water on the bike to allow me to just stop when hungry or thirsty rather than trying to find places to eat. Also a flask of boiling water was always in my tankbag for making of brews & cuppa soups etc
I had an Airhawk on the bike which was a god send not having to be thinking about how sore my bum was & also doubled as a sleeping mat for under my boney hips at night In hindsight I wished I`d bought a £45 Thermarest matress rather than using the foam kip mat
Anyway onto the first part of the report


First things first i packed Noni (not her real name!) into her box

and dropped her off to start her first job splicing the mainbrace or something

With her in good hands I set off up to Moffat & onto the A702 up to Edinburgh. A lot of the first part of the journey I haven`t got any pics of sorry

Due to the fact I`ve been messing about with pictures etc & its getting late (for me!) I`m off to then the next instalment will be most likely written up tomorrow

Lee

 

[Deleted account rno]

Like it lots so far, Lee

 

[Big Lee]

Cheers Ronno

The A702 was lightly trafficed so i made good progress, not too fast though as my screen is so noisey it limits my speed somewhat to about 70ish mph.

I passed Stirling & headed up the A84/A85 heading toward Connel just east of Oban & crossed the bidge there & followed the A828 up past Loch Linnhe

As you can see I was lucky with the weather, I kept an eye on the forecast & as soon as I got a few days of good weather I was off!

The going was good so I decided to follow the tourist route through Glencoe village & along to Kinlochleven. I was very impressed with this road very twisty & great fun although an eye had to be kept out for the larger HGV`s that were negotiating the road well worth a ride down if you`re in that area
I then carried on up to Fort william & stocked up with nosh at the local morrisons & headed to the campsite a couple of miles out where they relieved me of £8 & gave me a bit of grass to sleep on & somewhere to wash & wee, which was nice

So after just over 300 miles I settled down to a locally bought form of Beer & a good book

After not the best nights sleep I awoke to this

A rather cold night that had me wearing my thermals in my sleeping bag (comfy to +4 degs) with my Snugpak jacket draped over the top of me my bike jacket over my legs & the sleeping bag hood tightly drawn around my head I didn`t have much confidence in my sleeping bag now as I was heading further north & so I asumed was going to get colder I needn`t have worried though

After a hearty breakfast I set off up the A82 & onto the A 87 to the Commando memorial overlooking Ben Nevis

The A87 is a very enjoyable road with fast bits

and when you take the scenic route, slow bits a nasty trip after popping in the bushes for a wee & pressing the shutter release caused this one, after turning it 90o it comes out quite well look out for more trips later

 

[Big Lee]

Here I am again, grabbed another 5 mins to do some typing!

I stopped off at the viewpoint overlooking Loch Loyne & got the obligatory ukGSer sticker shot in

Then carried on past Loch Duich where a bit of off roading called!

The setting was so nice & peaceful I stayed for a cuppa & a snack

So anyway, I carried on the A87 past Eilean Donan castle of which there are many pictures of so I won`t post mine I turned on the A 890 onto the A896 Then onto the Pass of the cattle to Applecross I only got to the top last year & had to come back so this time I went the whole way round the coast to Shieldaig

Here`s the trig point overlooking the Isle of Skye

My GPS reading at the top

& heres the run down the other side!

On the way up to Applecross is very narrow & care must be taken passing other vehicles. He won`t cross a GS again

 

[Big Lee]

On the way round the coast & had to negotiate the local wildlife, I`m used to the odd sheep jumping out into the road or the occasional pheasant but great big wooly coows with rather dangerous looking horns prompted me to excercise more caution than usual

After wending my way round the coows I enjoyed the ride & views along the road

I carried on up to Ullapool where I set up camp & wandered into the village. After promising Mrs Big Lee I wouldn`t have any more beer I promptly wandered to the pub at the end of the street & with it being such a nice night & people sitting outside drinking beer I duely had 2 pints of the finest Tetleys bitter I could lay my hands on . While drinking this I watched the local fishing boats come into the harbour while feeding the local seals the off cuts. Suitably refreshed i wandered down to the dining establishment recommended by Rick Stein & had fish & chips sitting outside my tent
While chomping my tea a Belgian guy on a KTM Adventure pulled up & pitched his tent next to mine, he told me he had 4 weeks off work & had got the ferry up to Scotland & was gong to the Orkney islands, Sweden , Norway, Denmark , Germany & then back home

Along The A 837 was a castle which looked very nice so I stopped for a piccy

The next morning I bid him farewell & headed up the A835/ A837 & onto the B869 to Drumbeg. A very small road with lots of passing places which would be most of the roads from here on in. Another superb road with great views & very slow due to the stopping for piccys along the way of which here are a few

This one was rockier than most

i then got back onto the A 894 / A893 & headed for Durness.

More great roads!

I headed along the A838 which is a single track road with passing places although you can see for miles, it follows the bottom of a wide valley & I had a strong following wind so at 60/70 mph on a 30 mph ish wind was in my face it was great flying along that road with barely a car to stop the flow

One thing that did impress me when I got to Durness was the clarity of the sea water & whiteness of the sand. Luckily for me the sun was shining so it all looked like a tropical shore

The roads didn`t disappoint here either

I took the A836 along to the B871 which in hindsight wa a bad move It was to small to make any progress on & was quite walled in with hedges that made visibility poor. I popped back onto the A836 & turned off that onto the B9176 which was the tourist route & a very fine road it is too
I haven`t got any pics of it as I was enjoying it too much

I went back down to Glencoe that night to camp which made it a 300+ mile day

The next day was home time

I took the A 82 down through Glencoe & onto the A85 which took me to Kilmahog where did that place get it`s name from?? That took me over the Dukes pass That is one very good road If you haven`t done it, DO!!
I got to the top & decided to take the forest road for a bit of scenery for a change

Another trippy uppy pic

The Forest road brings you back on yourself so when you get back onto the road you get to ride the twisties again

I spotted a few GSers on there enjoying themselves that day

Back onto the tedious roads I spotted an interesting one on my atlas & decided to try it. It`s the B740 starting at Crawfordjohn & heading toward Crawick. I`m pleased I did as its a cracker Worth doing if you`re in that area Sorry no pics again!

Then that just left the bimble back home to do.

I`ve only done the roads in detail (!) that I`ve never done before or roads that deserve a mention. I was lucky with the weather & the GPS was fantastic not having to worry about getting lost or where the next petrol station was in the far north!
I hope you`ve enjoyed my little write up & few snaps cos I`ve enjoyed doing this

Ride safe

Lee

 

[Trippy]

Nice report and pictures

 

[Alte Wolf]

Welcome to mind fixing world of biking in Scotland.

Dont tell everyone though or they'll all be at it

 

[Mzokk]

Nah don't go up there its all horrible........you wouldn't like it.....really!! Good report and Pics Big Lee.

 

[G.C.]

Just seen this.
Looks as though you enjoyed it. Roll on Spring Time

 

[AndyT]

Nice report.

I must get up to Durness in the Spring/Summer it looks superb.

AndyT

 

[Deleted account rno]

Just discoverd your additional posts, Big Lee.

 

[Kritou]

Any chance of posting your Garmin tracks for downloading?

 

[Big Lee]

Obviously didn`t subscribe to the thread Ronno?

No gps tracks for this route Kritou but the roads are easy enough to find on the west coast, not exactly loads to choose from!

 

[farmerelli]

Nice one

Nice report fella,
roll on May, 10 days away from the war office, one mate two bikes and a couple quid in me back pocket. May be this time i'll remember me camera...

 

[orca the porker]

Just read your report BIG LEE, really enjoyed it. We mush have just missed you in Scotland because we were held up by that wagon as they dragged it back onto the road
Cheers ORCA

 

[Norrie]

Nae Place like hame, glad you enjoyed it Big Lee

Schultz