Featured Touring Run Up To Aberdeenshire.

Had a couple of hours work in Ellon, just north of Aberdeen, so decided two days spent on the bike was better than in the car.
Weather report monday morning did not bode well, so an early start and try to get ahead of the rain (always comes from Ireland, no wonder its so feckin green). Ran up the APR, a road that runs alongside the M74 and is a crackin bit of road, big fast sweepers, cruising as fast as the motorway traffic (we're using it on the GMU Sat ride). Bit of crappy motorway through Glasgow and then out onto the Campsie Fells and nice meander up to Aberfoyle for breakfast.

Have to recommend their sausage sandwich, 2 huge slices of lorne on a nice morning roll, belter. Police dove past me 5 times whilst I sat there eating !!!! After that is was onto the Dukes Pass. If you have never done this, go do. Absolute belter of a road, even better on a monday with no tourists and no coaches. Couple of nasty reducing radius bends, but be aware and your OK. Lost a fair amount of peg over that bit !!!

Once over there, a meander up to Killin, at the foot of Loch Tay. Nice wee village with a nice waterfall thing to look at, so I did.

Recommend stopping on your trip, got nice places to eat and drink.

Then a run up the side of Loch Tay. Sat-Nav wanted me to go on the east side for a strandge reason? But I ignored and went west, another great bit of tarmac, run to the top and stop again, just for the view. Got blethering to a guy from Pitlochry, just out for a wee run. Chain on his honda was rusty as hell, so I told him to get it oiled !!!!

Stopped off at Edradour for a photo.

And Kirkmichael, for a brew and a venison pie and to take layers off, as I was now swetting my arse of in full textiles.

FYI - them Lomo bags are brilliant, cheap as chips and totally waterproof. After light lunch, onto highlight of trip, wee run up through Glenshee to the cafe at the Ski centre, wether was absolutely brilliant.

 

Free cup of tea, have my own Teabags, so she didn't charge me anything ! Happy days.
If you haven't ridden Glenshee, it's another must do. Just be careful passing fully loaded cruisers, they might be going quicker than you think and you could end up on the grass !!!! (see post in laugh thread)
Another wee stop to see a suspension bridge, bit of damage, guess from the flooding last year. Shame, nice structure.

End of Day 1. Overnight in Ellon.


Have to admit, arse was a wee bit numb after 296 miles.
Day 2.
Had to stop for this,

Just past it was the school - yes it was called Tough School !!! Couldn't be arsed stopping again, but will next time.
Bit more of a dash on the way south, didn't get off till 11:00, so shorter journey and less stops. Stopped in Braemar for a lunch and view of another river.


And final picture, stopped here for a pee, south of Edinburgh, in the borders near Biggar.


260 miles on the 2nd day, so over 550 in 2 days. Sat nav performed brilliantly, programmed route on MyRoute.App site, only Loch Tay going wrong!!! (Add waypoint). Three tank fulls of juice, so rough sums says approx 50mpg, not bad as I was pushing on on the bits where I could. All expenses paid, hotel, meals the lot, 2 days wages, oh and about £80 profit on the mileage claim, can't be bad.

 

Random picture repeat at the end ???? NFI why!

Won't let me edit it either !!!!

 

Near enough for a day trip to the GMU for you, or even a weekend!