martinvrs
Registered user
12 July
up bright & early for a run to Belfast for the 07.30 to Cairnryan, dry roads all the way up and no traffic, lots of ferry traffic at the port as its a publuc holiday this side of the water.
Off the ferry and onto the A77 just before 10 but had to reroute to A+E in Stranraer for a medical problem with one of the group. An hours messing about there and soon we were back on the A77 heading the proper way
Once over the Erskine bridge the skies darkened and the heavens opened - with a vengance. North of Loch Lomand the traffic at the road works was as bad as the weather. A foreign bus driver took a slight dislike to me here and gave my pannier a tap on the way by, no major damage, exchange of hand signals & swear words and I was looking forward to a rest at the Green Welly.
Fueled up & fed it was back out into the rain. Decided to go the A82 towards Glencoe as we were advised there was a diesel spillage on the A85
No let up in the weather heading to Fort William.
All ideas of camping had gone out the window by now so after Fort William we decided to look for B&B but no luck. Every place we tried was full up. A On north it was and the skies were beginning to clear at long last.
Towards Dornie where we had intended to stop the roads were nice and dry at long last and we could admire a little of the scenery the west of Scotland has to offer.
Customary touristy stuff at Eilan Donan needed to be done of course.
Time wasted at the castle allowed the rain to came as hard as before, thankfully the local hotel had one room left, a chance to get clothes dried, bit of grub and an early night. It was a long tiring day.
13 July
Woken up to the sound of birds singing not rain drops, morale had been raised again.
Checked out of the hotel and on the road heading for Skye.
Wasnt long till we were over the bridge and sampling Skye for the first time. Up the A87 to Portree then continue along the coast.
The previous days weather conditions had all been forgotten now we were on this cracking place.
After Staffin it was left over towards Uig, what a road, what a view!
Over to the west coast the scenry was just as spectacular
Before long it was back on the A87, over the bridge and Skye was in the mirror as we headed to Applecross and our first night under canvass.
Thankfully it was still a nice evening as we headed over the Cattle Pass, very little traffic to contend with.
14 July
Wee jaunt into Applecross for a nosey before we headed over the pass again & spotted a submarine in the Inner sound
Over to Lochcarron & the rain returned, nothing as bad as our first day mind you. Onwards to Ullapool for lunch & fuel
Onwards north to a mixed day of sunshine & showers, thankfully more sunshine.
Met a considerable amount of arseholes on the single track roads this year on the road to Durness, no respect for bikers what so ever. All in all it was a good day and arrived at Durness feeling good. Pitched tent on the edge of the site over looking the sea and all was good. Until the wind got up. My tent was getting its first test (Coleman Phad X2) and was standing up to the wind very well. Same can not be said for mates Vango. He had to dismantle and move to a more shelted part of the site before his poles snapped. Once both tents were set up (again) we could relax.
15 July
Another dry morning as we headed east on the A838, a lovely road I remember from last year.
Down the A836, a very bleek and barren landscape, through Bonar Bridge, and skirting round Inverness it wasn't long till we were in Grantown on Spey for yet more fuel & looking forward to seeing what the A939 was like. First few miles were impressive, but what lay ahead was just perfect. Once past the ski centre it was like a bob sliegh run made of tarmac.
Ballater was our stop for our last night under canvass, and what a lovely wee village it was, my first time there but won't be my last.
16th July
Up early, showered tent down & packed just before the rain came. Breakfast in Ballater at Bean for Coffee and got chatting to some friendly locals. Back out into the rain, on the bikes and head south. Through Glensee the mist & rain was terrible, standing water everywhere so gingerly picking our way towards Perth. Decided to take M90 towards Edinburgh and stop off at Queensfeery at the bridges.
Just the A71 & 77 to contend with till we were back in Stena Cairnryan.
Sun shining, was nice sitting reflecting on the few days we had. The miserable first day, lovely time in Skye, A939, Ballater, the lovlely people we met along the way. Soon we were onboard the 19.30 back to Belfast, in the comfort of Stena +
door to door 1210 miles.
Hope you enjoyed reading, looking at the pics and hopefully not too many spelling mistakes
Martin
up bright & early for a run to Belfast for the 07.30 to Cairnryan, dry roads all the way up and no traffic, lots of ferry traffic at the port as its a publuc holiday this side of the water.
Off the ferry and onto the A77 just before 10 but had to reroute to A+E in Stranraer for a medical problem with one of the group. An hours messing about there and soon we were back on the A77 heading the proper way
Once over the Erskine bridge the skies darkened and the heavens opened - with a vengance. North of Loch Lomand the traffic at the road works was as bad as the weather. A foreign bus driver took a slight dislike to me here and gave my pannier a tap on the way by, no major damage, exchange of hand signals & swear words and I was looking forward to a rest at the Green Welly.
Fueled up & fed it was back out into the rain. Decided to go the A82 towards Glencoe as we were advised there was a diesel spillage on the A85
No let up in the weather heading to Fort William.
All ideas of camping had gone out the window by now so after Fort William we decided to look for B&B but no luck. Every place we tried was full up. A On north it was and the skies were beginning to clear at long last.
Towards Dornie where we had intended to stop the roads were nice and dry at long last and we could admire a little of the scenery the west of Scotland has to offer.
Customary touristy stuff at Eilan Donan needed to be done of course.
Time wasted at the castle allowed the rain to came as hard as before, thankfully the local hotel had one room left, a chance to get clothes dried, bit of grub and an early night. It was a long tiring day.
13 July
Woken up to the sound of birds singing not rain drops, morale had been raised again.
Checked out of the hotel and on the road heading for Skye.
Wasnt long till we were over the bridge and sampling Skye for the first time. Up the A87 to Portree then continue along the coast.
The previous days weather conditions had all been forgotten now we were on this cracking place.
After Staffin it was left over towards Uig, what a road, what a view!
Over to the west coast the scenry was just as spectacular
Before long it was back on the A87, over the bridge and Skye was in the mirror as we headed to Applecross and our first night under canvass.
Thankfully it was still a nice evening as we headed over the Cattle Pass, very little traffic to contend with.
14 July
Wee jaunt into Applecross for a nosey before we headed over the pass again & spotted a submarine in the Inner sound
Over to Lochcarron & the rain returned, nothing as bad as our first day mind you. Onwards to Ullapool for lunch & fuel
Onwards north to a mixed day of sunshine & showers, thankfully more sunshine.
Met a considerable amount of arseholes on the single track roads this year on the road to Durness, no respect for bikers what so ever. All in all it was a good day and arrived at Durness feeling good. Pitched tent on the edge of the site over looking the sea and all was good. Until the wind got up. My tent was getting its first test (Coleman Phad X2) and was standing up to the wind very well. Same can not be said for mates Vango. He had to dismantle and move to a more shelted part of the site before his poles snapped. Once both tents were set up (again) we could relax.
15 July
Another dry morning as we headed east on the A838, a lovely road I remember from last year.
Down the A836, a very bleek and barren landscape, through Bonar Bridge, and skirting round Inverness it wasn't long till we were in Grantown on Spey for yet more fuel & looking forward to seeing what the A939 was like. First few miles were impressive, but what lay ahead was just perfect. Once past the ski centre it was like a bob sliegh run made of tarmac.
Ballater was our stop for our last night under canvass, and what a lovely wee village it was, my first time there but won't be my last.
16th July
Up early, showered tent down & packed just before the rain came. Breakfast in Ballater at Bean for Coffee and got chatting to some friendly locals. Back out into the rain, on the bikes and head south. Through Glensee the mist & rain was terrible, standing water everywhere so gingerly picking our way towards Perth. Decided to take M90 towards Edinburgh and stop off at Queensfeery at the bridges.
Just the A71 & 77 to contend with till we were back in Stena Cairnryan.
Sun shining, was nice sitting reflecting on the few days we had. The miserable first day, lovely time in Skye, A939, Ballater, the lovlely people we met along the way. Soon we were onboard the 19.30 back to Belfast, in the comfort of Stena +
door to door 1210 miles.
Hope you enjoyed reading, looking at the pics and hopefully not too many spelling mistakes
Martin
I'd like to get back up to Scotland on the bike again soon.
