Deleted account Cooperman
Registered user
Just got back from a glorious long weekend on the Isle of Mull.
Our plan is to tour some of the Alps in summer and so this was a bit of a dry run to see if distances were 'do-able' and what equipment we hadn't got/needed.
Coming from Yorkshire the planned route was circular heading up towards Edinburgh and coming back via Glasgow. Going up was good apart from the A84 through Callandar
The traffic was horrendous, first with a safari park and then the road through Callandar itself which must have over 10 pedestrian crossings. I would go further north in future and get on the A85.
We were booked on the late afternoon ferry from Oban and got there nicely mid afternoon to be informed our ferry had been cancelled due to mechanical reasons
Our options were a B&B for the night in Oban (no thanks) or the challange of getting to the Lochaline ferry in 2 hours - 70 miles including another ferry at Corran. We took the challange
On the way up to Corran I let another bike out, who it turned out was doing the same run, and so we came to the Corran ferry together.
This detour turned out to be a blessing as the roads and scenery were great.
The amusing observation was even cottages/farms in the middle of nowhere with miles of connecting tracks had wheelie bins at the end on the road
Councils get everywhere!!
We made it and with our guide and got on the last ferry to Fishnish
We had booked to stay at a B&B in Tobermory, http://www.cuidhe-leathain.co.uk (pronounced coo-lane) and roughly translated from the Gaelic as MacLean’s Corner, run by Jeanette and Alan. No sooner had we got off the bike than we were invited to a BBQ they were hosting and enjoyed some good food and a well earned beer care of our hosts (and their 'Beardy' dogs morag and Fergus)
The next day we headed to Calgary beach. This was part of the attraction for SWMBO as it is listed as one of the world's top 20 undiscovered beaches, and as the temperature was well into the 20's it became a must.
Around this side of the island the roads are narrow with plenty of blind bends, but we were in no rush. Soon we could see the beach.
Spectacular
Look right
Look left
And..............relax
On the way back to Tobermory looked upwards to see......
.........a sea eagle. Not the best picture but from the back of the bike OK
Just to finish off the day we got back to Tobermory harbour to see a sea otter. Even our landlady has not seen one! And no Loch Ness monster jokes please
Tobermory itself is very nice with a wide range of pubs and eating places.
but I couldn't believe that the church is now a Spar supermarket
The following morning we were on our way back home via the Craignure ferry to Oban.
We turned right after Loch Awe down to Invararay and then across to Loch Lomond - a tremendous route and well recommended
I wish I could say the same about the rest of the journey. the motorway mileage through Glasgow and then past the lakes was so boring for both rider and pillion. We finished the last bit by coming back through the Yorkshire dales to relieve the monotony.
Conclusions?
We used Scala Rider Q2 comms which was excellent
Our European route will avoid long stretches of motorways as these are not fun
Scotland has some excellent biking roads and scenery
Mull is well worth a visit, albeit we were lucky with the weather
Can't wait for our summer Alpine excursion
Our plan is to tour some of the Alps in summer and so this was a bit of a dry run to see if distances were 'do-able' and what equipment we hadn't got/needed.
Coming from Yorkshire the planned route was circular heading up towards Edinburgh and coming back via Glasgow. Going up was good apart from the A84 through Callandar
The traffic was horrendous, first with a safari park and then the road through Callandar itself which must have over 10 pedestrian crossings. I would go further north in future and get on the A85.We were booked on the late afternoon ferry from Oban and got there nicely mid afternoon to be informed our ferry had been cancelled due to mechanical reasons
Our options were a B&B for the night in Oban (no thanks) or the challange of getting to the Lochaline ferry in 2 hours - 70 miles including another ferry at Corran. We took the challange
On the way up to Corran I let another bike out, who it turned out was doing the same run, and so we came to the Corran ferry together.
This detour turned out to be a blessing as the roads and scenery were great.
The amusing observation was even cottages/farms in the middle of nowhere with miles of connecting tracks had wheelie bins at the end on the road
Councils get everywhere!!We made it and with our guide and got on the last ferry to Fishnish
We had booked to stay at a B&B in Tobermory, http://www.cuidhe-leathain.co.uk (pronounced coo-lane) and roughly translated from the Gaelic as MacLean’s Corner, run by Jeanette and Alan. No sooner had we got off the bike than we were invited to a BBQ they were hosting and enjoyed some good food and a well earned beer care of our hosts (and their 'Beardy' dogs morag and Fergus)
The next day we headed to Calgary beach. This was part of the attraction for SWMBO as it is listed as one of the world's top 20 undiscovered beaches, and as the temperature was well into the 20's it became a must.
Around this side of the island the roads are narrow with plenty of blind bends, but we were in no rush. Soon we could see the beach.
Spectacular
Look right
Look left
And..............relax
On the way back to Tobermory looked upwards to see......
.........a sea eagle. Not the best picture but from the back of the bike OK
Just to finish off the day we got back to Tobermory harbour to see a sea otter. Even our landlady has not seen one! And no Loch Ness monster jokes please
Tobermory itself is very nice with a wide range of pubs and eating places.
but I couldn't believe that the church is now a Spar supermarket
The following morning we were on our way back home via the Craignure ferry to Oban.
We turned right after Loch Awe down to Invararay and then across to Loch Lomond - a tremendous route and well recommended
I wish I could say the same about the rest of the journey. the motorway mileage through Glasgow and then past the lakes was so boring for both rider and pillion. We finished the last bit by coming back through the Yorkshire dales to relieve the monotony.
Conclusions?
We used Scala Rider Q2 comms which was excellent
Our European route will avoid long stretches of motorways as these are not fun
Scotland has some excellent biking roads and scenery
Mull is well worth a visit, albeit we were lucky with the weather
Can't wait for our summer Alpine excursion
