That’s, Skye And West Scotland Started at 7am with a run via Leeds onto the A65 with a mixture of motorway and A roads. This was Gretna Green. Then headed out on the A75 around Dumfries eventually reaching the west coast then heading north. Just topside of Ardrossan with a ferry just entering port and Alisa Craig just visible in the sea mist. Waiting for the ferry across to Dunoon. I then sampled the delightful A815 up to the A83 and Inveraray Then it was the A819, another delightful piece of road that I had to myself. I then got adventurous, well it is an adventure bike after all. This was on the B8706, a 10 mile cut across from the A85 to the Bridge of Orchy on the A82. Then it was the absolutely breath taking run up through Glencoe. I could have stopped every 200 yards to take photos but I was getting ready for stopping so this was about it. A belter if I say so myself. Not too far to the rest stop at Kinlochleven and a very welcome beer. That was 370 miles. On to Skye tomorrow.
I love getting off the Dunoon ferry, you know you're in the good stuff from then on! Have a good trip
Spectacular photos and gorgeous countryside, Yorkshireman! Looking forward to more pics. Enjoy your trip. Wishing you good weather and safe travels.
So it was an early start, mainly cos the bed was crap and I didn’t sleep well. When I arrived at Kinlochleven I was to the south of the loch so today I went along the north, effectively completing the loop. When Scotland blesses you with this kind of weather there’s only one thing to do. After refuelling I rode up the A82 and then onto the A830 to Mallaig. The monument at Glenfinnan. Now waiting for the ferry to Skye, more later.
I’m not sure how to intend to leave Skye but I can recommend taking the small ferry from Kylerhea to Glenelg. The scenery is stunning. To get to Kylerhea you follow a 7 mile single track road from the A87. The ferry is run by the local community, it only holds about 4-6 cars and as it docks the deck swivels to allow you to drive off. Apparently it’s the only ferry in the world to do this. Whilst the scenery on the way to the ferry is stunning once you cross over to the mainland it’s just gets better and better. https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/skye/glenelgferry/index.html
Yorkshireman. Fantastic fabulous pictures thanks for sharing. Scotland is so beautiful. And in that weather it must be stunning. Joe.
I have been so lucky with the weather I can’t believe it. Scotland takes some beating when it’s like this, unlike the football team (shit did I say that out loud )
Right, where it was I? Oh yes, the ferry to Skye. When I turned onto the A830 the sign said the next sailing to Skye was the 1130, hence my dalliance with Glenfinnan. However when I got to the port the boat was loading but there was no room so I did sail on the 1130 after all. Hey ho. My destination was the lighthouse at Neist point, the most westerly part of the island I believe. It was quite a jog to get to the viewpoint from the end of the road and in biking gear I knew I’d had a bit of a workout when I got back to the bike. If you’ve been there you’ll know. If you haven’t then (for those who’ve been to Whitby) the steps at the lighthouse were about five times the steps to the Abbey but the views were spectacular. I didn’t take too many photos on Skye, I’d kind of miss judged the mileage I ended up doing but I did get a not so good shot of the colour houses in Portree Then it was time for fuel, me and the bike, then the absolutely delightful A87. If you’ve never been on this road you have GOT to do it. Simply stunning. The castle at Eilean Doran looked fabulous but I didn’t stop for a pic cos I was tired of passing the same old Fiesta after I’d stopped to photograph the bridge, oops, this bridge Onto the A82 again and a leg stretch by Loch Lochy That’s it for today, just waiting for my food with (another) well earned drink. Tomorrow it’s back in a southerly direction stopping near Lockerbie. Just need to decide which way, other than A82 to Balloch
Wow, @Yorkshireman! Those photos are absolutely amazing. What a stunningly beautiful place Scotland is--at least based on these pictures. But thanks to you I now have to add Scotland to my bucket list of ride destinations. Maybe you could throw in a few more of days there when it's raining just to calm my traveling jones. Glad the weather is in your favor. Continue to enjoy your travels!
Thanks @Sandi T. I’d like to be able to add a few more days, but dry ones, except I’m starting the journey back south to YM Towers. This was only ever going to be a mini tour and weather dependent. If I’d booked to come last week or if that storm that hit the south had ventured further north then I’d have changed the dates. Scotland is great but if you’re unlucky with the weather it’s pretty grim. I’ve done it before and it’s rained all the time which knocks the edge off it somewhat. But, it’s fine if a little cooler outside just now so I’m sorry I can’t bring you any rain shots in this blog. Today I’m going to head back down the A82 through Glencoe then take the A814 beside Loch Long and Gareloch. I’ll try to find some interesting things to add in the way of pics. Stick around and stay tuned. (Oh god, I’m starting to sound like The Missenden Flyer)
While I’m sat getting chewed half to death with midges despite having jungle formula spray I may as well update. Glencoe was just as pretty coming down as it was going up, only this time the clouds had dropped slightly. Traffic was very slow beside Lomond, like 25mph and it’s a taxi leading the queue so I pulled in to let em go. Lomond looking south.
I've ridden the A87 a couple of times - like you said, brilliant! The A830 I know very well, as the inlaws used to live in Arisaig. I particularly like the old coast road from Arisaig to Mallaig.
Great photos and narrative in this thread but when is it going to start talking about these? Edit: They are called SAWs. The thread title? Oh never mind, I’ll shut up.