So the plan was to do the numerous Straths of Caithness and Sutherland as well as a bit of the North West coast during Mon 29th Sep to Wed 1st Oct inclusive.
It was intended to do this over 3 days and I estimated from the maps it would be of the order c1000 miles. As it turned out it was 1008 miles door to door.
There were two of us on WC GSers.
First stop would be overnight in the Station Hotel, Thurso, http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...d_Sutherland_Scottish_Highlands_Scotland.html
and second night would be in Morefield Hotel in Ullapool.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...tel-Ullapool_Scottish_Highlands_Scotland.html
Day 1
Left Montrose up over the Cairn O’Mount and headed over to Ballater, then over the Lecht.
Nice start to the day and was a sign of the weather to come.
We had a wee road we wanted to take in a small unclassified road from around Findhorn Bridge through Corrievorrie and up over the hill.
Views were impressive from the high point .
This would eventually take us to the B862 an old General Wade’s road
and south to Fort Augustus. Here I had to take the liner out my jacket as it was 20C and would stay this sort of temp for next few days.
Travelled up side of the Loch Ness to Drumnadrochit, then took the wee back road to Cannich then on up to Contin and then Garve, and then onto the Falls of Measach just off the A835.
Back down the road to Contin, cut across to Dingwall via Strathpeffer. Up around Evanton side of the Cromarty Firth.
Then over the Struie B9176, great bike road.
At far end you have this.
Then one of my favourite roads; Bonar Bridge to Clashmore. An absolute gem of a road and we were lucky to have it to ourselves.
Pick up the A9 and head up to Thurso. Here is the house I stayed at when I lived up here in the 80s.
Day 1 was around 400 miles. Nice scoff and a few beers to end the day.
Day 2
This was the Straths day. Bit of thinking required for petrol stops etc
Took road out along North coast almost as far as Melvich and dropped down into Strath Halladale, down through Forsinard, by the Flow Country, relatively flat with the odd hill, here is Ben Graham Beg and More. Saw first of many electrical sub stations for the wind turbines that are appearing all over the country. They are massive structures size of a football park or bigger.
This comes out at Helmsdale, then onto a wee road just north of Brora, (fuel stop) that took us to Rogart and then fine road onto Lairg. Would pass through Lairg in opposite direction many hours later.
From Lairg up Strath Naver an get a sense of the remoteness and type of road from this picture of Ben Klibreck.
Up to Altnahara for the first time then past Loch Naver onto Syre where we picked up the top coast road.
Then headed along to Tongue then down the next strath alongside Ben Loyal.
Got this lovely panoramic of Ben Loyal (lhs) and Ben Hope (rhs). Would be on the other side of Ben Hope about 2 hours later.
This took us back to Altnahara from where we then went up the Hope road, which is c25 miles of relatively remote road. Met only two cars on this stretch.
Here is Ben Hope, and from the sat nav can see we are heading from here to Durness.
When I lived up here the road around Loch Eriboll had maybe 4 -5 houses, now it is awash with them, only be a matter of time and there will be some speed restriction on parts of that section of road!
Fuel in Durness, then popped into the chocolate factory / café along the road from Durness at Balnakeil for a cup of chocolate, I suspect a 1000 calories in this drink!! Delicious.
Then on down the road to Laxford Bridge, passing Ben Stack on the way and the first bit of rain.
Lasted about an hour, still warm and then picked up the road along the side of Loch Shin to take us back to Lairg.
From Lairg over to Lochinver along A837 by Ben More Assynt and Ardvreck Castle and then around the wee back roads taking in Stac Polly and the like very remote and was now later in afternoon and light was was reducing. On two separate occasions met rather large stags on corners!!
Made it to Ullapool for around 7pm.
Bottle of wine and some nice starters ;
Room was a chalet, good price, happily stay here again.
Day 3
Fuelled up, it had rained quite heavy overnight but was dry for us.
Headed off for Poolewe
As ever amazing scenery
Going through the wooded areas there was that distinct smell of pine and also the beautiful autumnal colours. Throughout the journey would pass a junction and think need to go up there sometime? As to those who like the genuine off road routes there seemed to be an endless supply of possibilities out here.
Round here we have the coastal scenes. Here is early morning.
Headed off to Torridon area. Again those remote roads and views.
Nice photo, overlooking the Torridon massif.
Gave the Bealch na Ba route a miss, seemed a non event after all the stuff we had been to the last few days.
Lunch at Kishorn, and would recommend this place.
Came back via Dornie, Invergarry, Spean Bridge to Newtonmore road, let my hair down on this section.
Had a wee breather at the far end. The temperature was back up to 18C.
Then wee bit of the A9 on cruise control, and off at Dunkeld back via Kirrie, Brechin and home, all told 1008 miles with an av fuel consumption 52mpg. GSs never missed a beat as you would expect.
What a fine country we have, and so much to explore up this Northern end of the country. I think next time will do in reverse and get a completely different set of views. Well worth the effort, and something to be said doing this during the week as there was very little traffic, there again I suspect like with the weather, we were a bit lucky.
For some of these roads you did need the bit of movement in the suspension, so a GS is the easy way to do it, but to be honest I am sure on any bike this would make a fine route worth repeating.
It was intended to do this over 3 days and I estimated from the maps it would be of the order c1000 miles. As it turned out it was 1008 miles door to door.
There were two of us on WC GSers.
First stop would be overnight in the Station Hotel, Thurso, http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...d_Sutherland_Scottish_Highlands_Scotland.html
and second night would be in Morefield Hotel in Ullapool.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...tel-Ullapool_Scottish_Highlands_Scotland.html
Day 1
Left Montrose up over the Cairn O’Mount and headed over to Ballater, then over the Lecht.
Nice start to the day and was a sign of the weather to come.
We had a wee road we wanted to take in a small unclassified road from around Findhorn Bridge through Corrievorrie and up over the hill.
Views were impressive from the high point .
This would eventually take us to the B862 an old General Wade’s road
and south to Fort Augustus. Here I had to take the liner out my jacket as it was 20C and would stay this sort of temp for next few days.
Travelled up side of the Loch Ness to Drumnadrochit, then took the wee back road to Cannich then on up to Contin and then Garve, and then onto the Falls of Measach just off the A835.
Back down the road to Contin, cut across to Dingwall via Strathpeffer. Up around Evanton side of the Cromarty Firth.
Then over the Struie B9176, great bike road.
At far end you have this.
Then one of my favourite roads; Bonar Bridge to Clashmore. An absolute gem of a road and we were lucky to have it to ourselves.
Pick up the A9 and head up to Thurso. Here is the house I stayed at when I lived up here in the 80s.
Day 1 was around 400 miles. Nice scoff and a few beers to end the day.
Day 2
This was the Straths day. Bit of thinking required for petrol stops etc
Took road out along North coast almost as far as Melvich and dropped down into Strath Halladale, down through Forsinard, by the Flow Country, relatively flat with the odd hill, here is Ben Graham Beg and More. Saw first of many electrical sub stations for the wind turbines that are appearing all over the country. They are massive structures size of a football park or bigger.
This comes out at Helmsdale, then onto a wee road just north of Brora, (fuel stop) that took us to Rogart and then fine road onto Lairg. Would pass through Lairg in opposite direction many hours later.
From Lairg up Strath Naver an get a sense of the remoteness and type of road from this picture of Ben Klibreck.
Up to Altnahara for the first time then past Loch Naver onto Syre where we picked up the top coast road.
Then headed along to Tongue then down the next strath alongside Ben Loyal.
Got this lovely panoramic of Ben Loyal (lhs) and Ben Hope (rhs). Would be on the other side of Ben Hope about 2 hours later.
This took us back to Altnahara from where we then went up the Hope road, which is c25 miles of relatively remote road. Met only two cars on this stretch.
Here is Ben Hope, and from the sat nav can see we are heading from here to Durness.
When I lived up here the road around Loch Eriboll had maybe 4 -5 houses, now it is awash with them, only be a matter of time and there will be some speed restriction on parts of that section of road!
Fuel in Durness, then popped into the chocolate factory / café along the road from Durness at Balnakeil for a cup of chocolate, I suspect a 1000 calories in this drink!! Delicious.
Then on down the road to Laxford Bridge, passing Ben Stack on the way and the first bit of rain.
Lasted about an hour, still warm and then picked up the road along the side of Loch Shin to take us back to Lairg.
From Lairg over to Lochinver along A837 by Ben More Assynt and Ardvreck Castle and then around the wee back roads taking in Stac Polly and the like very remote and was now later in afternoon and light was was reducing. On two separate occasions met rather large stags on corners!!
Made it to Ullapool for around 7pm.
Bottle of wine and some nice starters ;
Room was a chalet, good price, happily stay here again.
Day 3
Fuelled up, it had rained quite heavy overnight but was dry for us.
Headed off for Poolewe
As ever amazing scenery
Going through the wooded areas there was that distinct smell of pine and also the beautiful autumnal colours. Throughout the journey would pass a junction and think need to go up there sometime? As to those who like the genuine off road routes there seemed to be an endless supply of possibilities out here.
Round here we have the coastal scenes. Here is early morning.
Headed off to Torridon area. Again those remote roads and views.
Nice photo, overlooking the Torridon massif.
Gave the Bealch na Ba route a miss, seemed a non event after all the stuff we had been to the last few days.
Lunch at Kishorn, and would recommend this place.
Came back via Dornie, Invergarry, Spean Bridge to Newtonmore road, let my hair down on this section.
Had a wee breather at the far end. The temperature was back up to 18C.
Then wee bit of the A9 on cruise control, and off at Dunkeld back via Kirrie, Brechin and home, all told 1008 miles with an av fuel consumption 52mpg. GSs never missed a beat as you would expect.
What a fine country we have, and so much to explore up this Northern end of the country. I think next time will do in reverse and get a completely different set of views. Well worth the effort, and something to be said doing this during the week as there was very little traffic, there again I suspect like with the weather, we were a bit lucky.
For some of these roads you did need the bit of movement in the suspension, so a GS is the easy way to do it, but to be honest I am sure on any bike this would make a fine route worth repeating.
