Featured Rideout Ullapool And The A835

Discussion in 'Rideouts, Trackdays, Touring & Spotted' started by JackWS, Oct 13, 2025.

  1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.
  1. JackWS

    JackWS Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2025
    89
    68
    Scottish Highlands
    #1 JackWS, Oct 13, 2025
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2025
    I've been on here for a few weeks now, so about time for me to share a bit about what's outside my back door.
    As yesterday was lost to biking, other than giving the bike a polish, today, I made my mind up to get the gear on and head for Ullapool on the West coast, (and part of the NC500).
    It was a lovely day at home in Dingwall, 18°C, so it was looking good for a nice, sedate run.
    So, walk Lexie, our Springer, who will be pee'd off at being left at home, make sure my missus, just had her knee replacement revised, (which is take it out and put another, longer one in...o_O), is ok and I'm off.
    I've spent the last three months getting used to the Speedy, I was very much in awe of the power it had and spent a good while pottering about and finding my limits.
    Anyway, it was a nice run West, until about 5 miles away from Ullapool, where the sun went out. Never mind, I'm having a latte on the wall, just like I promised myself.
    20251012_151930.jpg
    The Speedy survived the trip and I'm really starting to feel the love for it now, today really felt good.
    20251012_152916.jpg
    As is normally the case for this road, it is full of exotic machinery and although the top pic only has one Porsche in it, there were a few more out of shot, along with two Maclaren's, one of which was greener than a green thing!
    Loch Broom was looking bonny, as it always does, shame about the sun though.
    20251012_153037.jpg
    Even the Stornoway ferry Terminal was quiet.
    20251012_152928.jpg
    Latte finished and it was time for home with a stop at Loch Glascarnoch, for a couple of final photos.
    20251012_155837.jpg
    Glascarnoch Dam and Ben Wyvis, in the distance, to the East.
    Ben Dearg, (pronounced Jee-rag), to the West, oh, and the usual yellow photo bomber!
    20251012_155910.jpg
    As I was sat here taking it all in, and I do still take it all in, no matter how many times I ride this road, about 15 bikes have passed. Most of them just enjoying the day and giving a wave on the way past, just like me. The other 3 or 4, were sports bikes getting absolutely hammered, just like I was, back in the Yamaha days.
    Then it was the final leg home and about three miles East of Glascarnoch, while I was hammering past some slow moving cars and campers, the fuel light comes on.
    Time for more pottering on the Speedy!

    Brilliant day to be alive in the Highlands of Scotland.
     
    • Like Like x 16
    • Love You Love You x 1
  2. Eldon

    Eldon Crème de la Crème

    Nov 14, 2018
    8,812
    1,000
    North Yorkshire
    Nice write up @JackWS .

    It's a while since I've been to Ullapool and saved the west coast day out, Ullapool and cocoa mountain Durness, for my next trip to Invershin ;)
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Like Like x 2
  3. JackWS

    JackWS Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2025
    89
    68
    Scottish Highlands
    Thanks @Eldon it's one of those roads that never gets boring. I've been to Durness many times, but never to Cocoa Mountain. I would probably eat myself sick...:laughing:
     
    • Funny Funny x 3
    • Agree Agree x 1
  4. Eldon

    Eldon Crème de la Crème

    Nov 14, 2018
    8,812
    1,000
    North Yorkshire
    #4 Eldon, Oct 13, 2025
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2025
    My youngest is into hot chocolate, I can take it or leave it, but in there it really is to die for :heart:

    Great roads with Kylesku etc and plenty to see.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
  5. Eldon

    Eldon Crème de la Crème

    Nov 14, 2018
    8,812
    1,000
    North Yorkshire
    #5 Eldon, Oct 13, 2025
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2025
    Slightly off course but well worth a detour.

    Screenshot_20251013_094647_Maps.jpg
     
    • Like Like x 3
    • Thanks Thanks x 1
  6. JackWS

    JackWS Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2025
    89
    68
    Scottish Highlands
    Oh absolutely some of the best scenery on the NC500 and a good cup of hot choc at the end, oh yes...:cool:
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
  7. Markus

    Markus Crème de la Crème
    Subscriber

    Oct 28, 2020
    4,530
    1,000
    AUSTRIA
    Thanks for the great photos! ;)
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  8. JackWS

    JackWS Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2025
    89
    68
    Scottish Highlands
    Thanks @Markus I should have got more in Ullapool as it is a nice place.
    Annoyed I didn't take one of the green Maclaren. It was loud...:p
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
  9. Sandi T

    Sandi T It's ride o'clock somewhere!
    Subscriber

    Dec 3, 2018
    24,146
    1,000
    Tucson Arizona
    Brilliant write up and photos, @JackWS. Thanks for taking us along for the ride with you. That Speed Triple is a beauty. What year is it?? I have a 2019.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agree Agree x 1
  10. JackWS

    JackWS Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2025
    89
    68
    Scottish Highlands
    Hi and thanks @Sandi T it's not a long ride compared to the one you're on at the moment, but it's a great riding road.
    My Speed Triple is a 2015 94 Edition. This model celebrates 20 years of the Speed Triple and shares the same colours as the original models on release.
    As soon as I saw it, I had to have it...:heart_eyes:
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
  11. Sandi T

    Sandi T It's ride o'clock somewhere!
    Subscriber

    Dec 3, 2018
    24,146
    1,000
    Tucson Arizona
    Very nice Speed Triple, indeed, @JackWS! And sometimes you see a bike and are immediately smitten and you "just know". :):heart_eyes:
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Love You Love You x 1
  12. Vulpes

    Vulpes Confused Member

    Mar 14, 2018
    19,459
    1,000
    Netherlands
    That road from Garve to ullapool is just brilliant. Love it.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Agree Agree x 1
  13. JackWS

    JackWS Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2025
    89
    68
    Scottish Highlands
    Love that road @Vulpes it's usually the first place I aim for with new wheels...:cool:
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Useful Useful x 1
  14. Vulpes

    Vulpes Confused Member

    Mar 14, 2018
    19,459
    1,000
    Netherlands
    I had friends living in a cottage at Lochluichard railway station, not far off that road. I always loved visiting.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Useful Useful x 1
  15. MightyBoosh

    MightyBoosh Senior Member

    Mar 29, 2023
    517
    243
    Uk
    Years ago I delivered a machine to Inverness, and used my spare evening to drive a Mercedes Sprinter along the A835 to Ullapool for a bag of chips. It went pretty well for a large white box with a wheel at each corner. ;)
     
    • Funny Funny x 4
    • Agree Agree x 1
  16. JackWS

    JackWS Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2025
    89
    68
    Scottish Highlands
    @Vulpes yes, another great road along Loch Luichart to Achnasheen and beyond. The stretch to Achnasheen is pretty well policed these days due to the NC500 crowd flooring it along the staights at Achanault.
    It's a beautiful part of the country and I can understand you loving to visit...;)

    @MightyBoosh it doesn't matter what you use to get the grin factor going on that road. Just the thought of that chippy at Ullapool is enough.
    They're up for a national award at the moment, probably put the price of a fish supper up a few quid if they do well...:p
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
    • Like Like x 1
  17. Vulpes

    Vulpes Confused Member

    Mar 14, 2018
    19,459
    1,000
    Netherlands
    Yup - I used to ride through there from Applecross because it had petrol - my Yamaha fzx at the time only had a 13 litre fuel tank... :joy:
     
    • Funny Funny x 2
    • Useful Useful x 1
  18. JackWS

    JackWS Well-Known Member

    Jul 23, 2025
    89
    68
    Scottish Highlands
    Sadly gone now, Kyle and Lochcarron are the only petrol pumps left. Even I have to plan a trip west or north properly now. Quite sad really.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  19. Vulpes

    Vulpes Confused Member

    Mar 14, 2018
    19,459
    1,000
    Netherlands
    It is, really. Not so worried now, with the Tiger 1200 explorer with the 30 litre fuel tank. Quite different then!
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  20. Eldon

    Eldon Crème de la Crème

    Nov 14, 2018
    8,812
    1,000
    North Yorkshire
    I once did the Achnasheen road rather loudly :joy:

    Pulling out of the Kinlochewe campsite in a 1.7 diesel Astra towing a caravan, the front header pipe snapped :eek:
    All had been well, and so now what shall we do?

    Ok Inverness is our best chance for a Kwikfit or something.

    BOY WAS THAT LOUD ON THE HILLS PULLING A CARAVAN!!!

    It was making our ears bleed even with tissue paper blocking them :joy::joy:

    Funny looking back now, but not at the time. No sat nav or anything but we somehow managed to arrive in Inverness with a Vauxhall dealer directly opposite a repair outfit.

    The above was somewhere around the late 1990's
     
    • Funny Funny x 3
    • Like Like x 1
Loading...
Similar Threads - Ullapool A835
  1. Dougie D
    Replies:
    37
    Views:
    4,115

Share This Page