I’ve been wanting to do a trip like this for a while, I had to use some holiday from work which I’d thought I’d used. So I booked it off two weeks a while ago, I started to plan, but with crap weather looked like it was a no go. But then news of the heatwave, so watching forcasts, when it said last weekend would be good, I decided to do it. I quickly put together some plans and bookings as a lot of places were full up.
I left bright & early at around 07:00 last Thursday, my first stop was not for 120 miles, I was a tad nervous, I’d never done such big trip in one day before. My previous record was around 170 miles going to Isle of Man TT. I planned to go M1/A1 then take the A68, this would allow me breaks and easily find B&B or camping if I got too tired on the way up.
Before I reached my first stop to refuel both bike and myself, I was already thinking could I do it? But after a nice greasy breakfast, the sun came out it was another 150 mile haul, next stop Hexam.
Before I knew it I was on the A68 and passed the English/Scottish border:
Quick refuel again of fluids for me and the bike, my next stop was Edinburgh!
Stood next to the bike, having an ice cream I felt quite good, I had no aches nor pains, I surprised myself how easily I got here.
I pushed on further, I planned to camp at the East side of Loch Lomond. After 402 miles on the bike, I reached it:
Quickly established camp, glad I did not take M6, as apparently that was mullered most of the day:
I took the bus, which stopped just outside the site, 10 minute ride into town & rewarded myself with a drink and a meal…
Next morning it was foggy, but soon cleared up, but it was still a bit of haze in the air…
I was heading for Fort William, the weather soon cleared up…
On the way, while I consulted the map, I had a healthy lunch:
As reached Fort William the weather was getting hotter & hotter:
I thought this would be the peak, but it rose by another degree not long after this photo:
I was heading for the foot of Ben Nevis…
After that was ticked off it was over to the Commando Memorial:
After this my new target was a location used in a TV series I used to watch when I lived at home, can anyone guess it?
I was hoping to ride into the main Estate, but a barrier blocked my way
The owner happened to be driving in while I was outside having a drink, apparently the building pictured and the Estate are all rented out.
Still, not a total waste of time, the roads there were not half bad:
Now I actually rode past my planned camping site, but I did not like it. Too “ordered” numbered bays, caravans and tents packed in, by chance I found nice alternative. Paid my £6 and established camp at the back of the site…
It backed onto a nice little stream, I decided to have a morning swim here, instead of using the toilet block. Quite refreshing!
Nice empty campsite…
Another reason I liked this site, is it had a pub at the top of the road. My previous planned one had nothing in the surrounding area. Another drink & read….
So day 3, this time I was heading from Fort William towards Applecross, I stopped of near Loch Ness
I reached the rather lovely Eilean Donan Castle:
As I had plenty of time, I popped over the bridge into Skye…
But I turned around, headed back towards Applecross, at this point it was just too hot, around 30 degrees, had all vents open I could but still too hot, I hoped over the Applecross pass it would be cooler.
To cool down, plenty of these were had:
Now I think every road should feature a sign like this:
I began the climb to Applecross, the views just got better & better.
View from top of the pass….
I then continued down the other side…
Established camp, but wish I’d gone wild camping. The showers would only dish out hot water, after long ride in 30 degree heat, I wanted a cold shower, not hot!! Also had live music in the evening, I came to Scotland for the tranquillity, the views not for some crappy cover band at 11pm.
But at least the pub made up for it….
Had various chats with people while having a drink and eat, a German couple (apparently the Germans love Scotland!) an english couple and possibly the most un-PC women you could meet. Some of my favourite quotes from the evening:
“I don’t know if I live in Bangalore or Chicago”
“Those folk who were those veils, they must be ugly buggers if they have to cover their face”
“Where I live, coronation street it is not!”
So many others too, but can’t remember them all.
After enjoying a nice sunset, I headed to bed. Next day, my aim was Rogart.
As I had taken the pass to reach Applecross, I took the Coast Road on the way out, now on my map it had symbols to indicate good views, it was so wrong, every turn the views just got better & better:
Off coast road, continued pushing up North….
Again it was soo hot, I had to find shade when I stopped. I did pull into this garden centre / tourist thing (brown on tourist sign on side of road, never fully read it) Saw some spots with wooden roof, but shocked to see a sign that read “Parking for cars with dogs only” – This I thought was appalling, it was feking hot 28 degrees again, this place was encouraging owners to leave their dog in the car because it had shade? Place looked shit anyway, so carried on and found a nice little side road to pull in, rest, eat and watch the world go by.
I reached Rogart way ahead of time, I decided to push on to John O Groats, I was well aware this place would be a dump, but it was something I had to tick off as I had done Lands End this time last year.
While I was there a team of cyclists had just reached it too, they decided to celebrate by jumping in the sea, even though it was hot, the water was cold, or so I heard!
Not me though, I decided to tuck into a healthy snack…
I headed over the top of the coast, then back down to Rogart, to a place called Sleeperzzz, which I spotted on the GS forum.
In a nut shell, they are 1960’s First Class Rail carriages that have been converted into a hostel:
Out of the 6 compartments, 3 are “bedrooms”, 1 sitting room (all seats left in, books, info on display), another is a kitchen & finally a dinning room.
At £15 per night, it was a bargin! About 8 other bikers were there that evening too, one of them got me a beer from their supply as soon as I arrived. I joined them in the pub later for a few more.
The next day I thought the weather had left me, it dropped 10 degree’s, the cloud was out…
But not to worry, Sun soon came out again, and gave me some spectacular views as I did a small loop over the West coast, over towards Ullapool:
Tiredness kicked in a bit here, so had a nice 30 minute little nap…
After another nice nights stay in Rogart, it was time for home. I decided to treat myself to a B&B near Loch Lomond this time, ready to set off back home. Rather dull 380 mile motorway blast.
Finally got home & the bike averaged over 52 mpg, over 1,850 miles. Now I know I can reach Scotland in a day, think I’ll be doing many more trips!
I left bright & early at around 07:00 last Thursday, my first stop was not for 120 miles, I was a tad nervous, I’d never done such big trip in one day before. My previous record was around 170 miles going to Isle of Man TT. I planned to go M1/A1 then take the A68, this would allow me breaks and easily find B&B or camping if I got too tired on the way up.
Before I reached my first stop to refuel both bike and myself, I was already thinking could I do it? But after a nice greasy breakfast, the sun came out it was another 150 mile haul, next stop Hexam.
Before I knew it I was on the A68 and passed the English/Scottish border:
Quick refuel again of fluids for me and the bike, my next stop was Edinburgh!
Stood next to the bike, having an ice cream I felt quite good, I had no aches nor pains, I surprised myself how easily I got here.
I pushed on further, I planned to camp at the East side of Loch Lomond. After 402 miles on the bike, I reached it:
Quickly established camp, glad I did not take M6, as apparently that was mullered most of the day:
I took the bus, which stopped just outside the site, 10 minute ride into town & rewarded myself with a drink and a meal…
Next morning it was foggy, but soon cleared up, but it was still a bit of haze in the air…
I was heading for Fort William, the weather soon cleared up…
On the way, while I consulted the map, I had a healthy lunch:
As reached Fort William the weather was getting hotter & hotter:
I thought this would be the peak, but it rose by another degree not long after this photo:
I was heading for the foot of Ben Nevis…
After that was ticked off it was over to the Commando Memorial:
After this my new target was a location used in a TV series I used to watch when I lived at home, can anyone guess it?
I was hoping to ride into the main Estate, but a barrier blocked my way
The owner happened to be driving in while I was outside having a drink, apparently the building pictured and the Estate are all rented out.
Still, not a total waste of time, the roads there were not half bad:
Now I actually rode past my planned camping site, but I did not like it. Too “ordered” numbered bays, caravans and tents packed in, by chance I found nice alternative. Paid my £6 and established camp at the back of the site…
It backed onto a nice little stream, I decided to have a morning swim here, instead of using the toilet block. Quite refreshing!
Nice empty campsite…
Another reason I liked this site, is it had a pub at the top of the road. My previous planned one had nothing in the surrounding area. Another drink & read….
So day 3, this time I was heading from Fort William towards Applecross, I stopped of near Loch Ness
I reached the rather lovely Eilean Donan Castle:
As I had plenty of time, I popped over the bridge into Skye…
But I turned around, headed back towards Applecross, at this point it was just too hot, around 30 degrees, had all vents open I could but still too hot, I hoped over the Applecross pass it would be cooler.
To cool down, plenty of these were had:
Now I think every road should feature a sign like this:
I began the climb to Applecross, the views just got better & better.
View from top of the pass….
I then continued down the other side…
Established camp, but wish I’d gone wild camping. The showers would only dish out hot water, after long ride in 30 degree heat, I wanted a cold shower, not hot!! Also had live music in the evening, I came to Scotland for the tranquillity, the views not for some crappy cover band at 11pm.
But at least the pub made up for it….
Had various chats with people while having a drink and eat, a German couple (apparently the Germans love Scotland!) an english couple and possibly the most un-PC women you could meet. Some of my favourite quotes from the evening:
“I don’t know if I live in Bangalore or Chicago”
“Those folk who were those veils, they must be ugly buggers if they have to cover their face”
“Where I live, coronation street it is not!”
So many others too, but can’t remember them all.
After enjoying a nice sunset, I headed to bed. Next day, my aim was Rogart.
As I had taken the pass to reach Applecross, I took the Coast Road on the way out, now on my map it had symbols to indicate good views, it was so wrong, every turn the views just got better & better:
Off coast road, continued pushing up North….
Again it was soo hot, I had to find shade when I stopped. I did pull into this garden centre / tourist thing (brown on tourist sign on side of road, never fully read it) Saw some spots with wooden roof, but shocked to see a sign that read “Parking for cars with dogs only” – This I thought was appalling, it was feking hot 28 degrees again, this place was encouraging owners to leave their dog in the car because it had shade? Place looked shit anyway, so carried on and found a nice little side road to pull in, rest, eat and watch the world go by.
I reached Rogart way ahead of time, I decided to push on to John O Groats, I was well aware this place would be a dump, but it was something I had to tick off as I had done Lands End this time last year.
While I was there a team of cyclists had just reached it too, they decided to celebrate by jumping in the sea, even though it was hot, the water was cold, or so I heard!
Not me though, I decided to tuck into a healthy snack…
I headed over the top of the coast, then back down to Rogart, to a place called Sleeperzzz, which I spotted on the GS forum.
In a nut shell, they are 1960’s First Class Rail carriages that have been converted into a hostel:
Out of the 6 compartments, 3 are “bedrooms”, 1 sitting room (all seats left in, books, info on display), another is a kitchen & finally a dinning room.
At £15 per night, it was a bargin! About 8 other bikers were there that evening too, one of them got me a beer from their supply as soon as I arrived. I joined them in the pub later for a few more.
The next day I thought the weather had left me, it dropped 10 degree’s, the cloud was out…
But not to worry, Sun soon came out again, and gave me some spectacular views as I did a small loop over the West coast, over towards Ullapool:
Tiredness kicked in a bit here, so had a nice 30 minute little nap…
After another nice nights stay in Rogart, it was time for home. I decided to treat myself to a B&B near Loch Lomond this time, ready to set off back home. Rather dull 380 mile motorway blast.
Finally got home & the bike averaged over 52 mpg, over 1,850 miles. Now I know I can reach Scotland in a day, think I’ll be doing many more trips!
.
) Location please 
