NC500 concerns.

[gerarddwatts]

Thick here too Iain, must be pretty general...

 

[Blackal]

Took a wee jaunt up to Ullapool on Friday, back Saturday on the following route:

320miles each way

Great run up, with not too much traffic, and a good evening in Ullapool. Booked the Caledonian Hotel at a pretty reasonable £55 for a single room (didn’t get lucky ). Basic but clean. Plenty of bike parking around the back. Very popular with bikers, probably due to the cheap nature of the bookings, compared to other places.

Had cracking jumbo haddock and chips in the evening, but eschewed the pint afterwards at the Ferry Boat Inn, as they were operating a system of ordering that required downloading an app first. A good idea, that obviates the need for people to queue, and licensing appears to allow groups sitting on the wall across the road, I just wasn’t that desperate for that one pint.

Roads back down a bit misty for while but cleared completely by Ft William. Green Welly was heaving with cars, and bikes.
Roads from Tyndrum south to Stirling absolutely chocka with folk heading in both directions, but mainly heading north to the Trossachs and Highlands. Callendar was almost gridlocked for the entire length of the town.

It seems like everyone with a van of any sort – had headed for the highlands, and laybys littered with crap and toilet paper. Every layby filled with vans overnight, too.
Midges up 26% apparently, and out in force when I was loading up the bike in the morning.
Some pics:
Glencoe, sun was out

Eillen Donan Castle

In Ullapool

Ullapool

Campsite only open to caravans and campervans (with own facilities)

Great Haddock and Chips

Sensible drinking in the sun

Italian beauty

Lochcarron in the morning

Glencoe heading south

 

[Udders]

Nice!

 

[big rob]

Al, who's the bird in yer Topbox (picture #3) ?

 

[Blackal]

Al, who's the bird in yer Topbox (picture #3) ?

I carry my own, in case I don't get lucky...................

 

[Lowflyer]

Is that the Seaforth fish and chips ? , or the local round the corner ?

 

[Blackal]

Is that the Seaforth fish and chips ? , or the local round the corner ?

Local around the corner. Seaforth changed hands a few years ago, and tne normally-excellent haddock meal took a nose-dive.

This was cooked to order, crisp batter, excellent fillet of haddock, and crispy chips rather than the limp things that seem to be the norm these days.

 

[Lowflyer]

Ha ha, excellent choice. Was going to say the Seaforth is more your bus tour type fish suppers. I agree, it has been going downhill for a few years now. The local boy pulls out all the stops and provides good fresh grub. If however you want something really nice, not too cheap mind, but good value, try the sea food shack up the hill. My son knows the owners and take it from me, the food you eat is normally caught that morning. They don't provide a menu until they know what he's caught that morning. The guy catches the food in the morning, his partner preps and sells it , simples eh ? The langoustines are something else !!!

 

[Blackal]

Did consider the Seafood Shack, but it was mega busy, and had been looking forward to good fish and chips.

 

[Lowflyer]

Yeah I know what you mean. If I was out with the strange one, we would probably go to the shack, but for a quick hot meal, you can't beat a good fish supper in Ullapool.
Looks like you had a great wee jaunt.
Might catch up with you next time, I know loads of non touristy twisties , but anything south of Ft Bill, I'm feked

 

[Udders]

Has it quietened down up the top now?

 

[Deleted account 220319001]

Has it quietened down up the top now?

The FB page I'm on doesn't seem to have as many posts now but think they've moderated it a fair bit more, I suspect if the English schools are still on holiday then it's likely to still be busy but most of the Scottish schools are back now.

 

[SteveT]

Train Spotting . . . Highland Styly

 

[Micky]

Train Spotting . . . Highland Styly

Train spotting Irish style

 

[Deleted account 220319001]

Train Spotting . . . Highland Styly

Wrong topic Steve

 

[SteveT]

yep - just realised

Just goes to prove that i cannot multi-task

 

[EVskiy]

The Laxford Bridge to Inchnadamph stretch is still one of the finest biking roads I've ever ridden despite is being in piss poor condition.

With a bit of luck, I shall be riding that in a few weeks time. I promise not to leave any "crap" of any type, shape or size behind me.

 

[Deleted account 220319001]

With a bit of luck, I shall be riding that in a few weeks time. I promise not to leave any "crap" of any type, shape or size behind me.

You're unlikely to get it empty like we used to back in the day when you could absolutely hammer it all the way down, not a single corner to take you by surprise and it used to be covered in freshly laid shell grip, now it's more like a splattering on the stuff, hope you get the weather though, it's magical.

 

[EVskiy]

Its ben many years since i ventured up there, when i do it will likely be on the bike staying in b&b,
This is despite having a motorhome for 16 years,
The main reason is the ars**oles that spoil the camping including the free camping movement, dumping toilets/rubbish and spending nothing as mentioned,
this isn't just scotland, stinking lay-bys full of trucks and campers overnight, campsites that require a booking a year in advance and very little competition allowed, with facilities not meeting demand,
Regrettably this is why in recent years i prefer europe for longer trips,
There are schemes like brit stops etc supported by pubs etc, but car park camping on aires and lay-bys doesn't make for a week plus holiday for me,
just like many things in the current climate , there are too many people that don't care about others and its effect like the highlands issues,

Agree!!!!

I live very close to A41 just of the J20 on M25, about half a mile up the hill there is a lay-by on each side of the DC with enough space to park 5-6 Artics nose to tail. Guess what, with M25 Serving London and many other Motorways linking it, Including the M20, there are only a handful of service stations where truckers can safely and conveniently overnight. Have a look at Germany, their service stations on the motorways are well kept, spaced apart very well, there are showers and toilets for trampers to use at every one of them and you never see a truck with foreign plates parked up for the night, half a mile up the side road. Some of these truck stops on a routes crossing the country, are the size of a small town. Here in Britain, most of these service stations are catered for a car users and with limited space and timing restrictions for truckers. In Germany (and probably other countries bordering it) a tramper may not use a motorway network over the weekend as it is prohibited to ease congestion for a weekend travellers going about their lives, hence why you see a massive influx of under 7.5t Chassis vans on Polish, Hungarian etc. plates with a tarp covered flat bed and often in convoy of two or the of these truck, as these are permitted to use Autobahns over the weekend. Why haven't we got this law in Britain I do not know?

About the earlier mentioned Lay-bys, these are covered with "landmines" of a human type, not to mention waste bins overflowing with rubbish and naturally on a windy day it isn't uncommon to see shrubs filled with wondering plastic bags etc.

I myself quite often need a reason to stop at the services, but they are more often than ever inconveniently positioned with countless roundabout and traffic light to negotiate before you get there. No wonder I see far to many blokes taking a leak at the side of the motorway, with a car parked on the hard shoulder and flashing hazard light and a bloke hiding behind an open passenger door. A risk to him self and many others who can help but to rubber neck.

 

[King Rat]

There has been a gate erected to stop vehicles driving to the beech at Scourie and locked, would be interesting to hear what the access officer thinks about such a thing as I believe it is still part of the public highway.

Leave it open at low water, then lock it for the flood tide and leave it locked... that'll learn 'em!