Scotland day 2 - Trossachs to the far North West

Today the plan is to get up to Inchnadamph way up on Loch Assynt. From Balmaha, we have a bit of tour around the Trossachs going through Aberfoyle, Dukes Pass, and a detour for a cup of tea and a breakfast bun at the cafe at Loch Katrine. Could have stayed longer here and took in a boat ride on the steam ship 'Walter Scot', but that would have taken a half the day.

We follow the A84/A85 and turn off for Killin and the Falls of Dochart. We miss out going over Ben Lawers and Glen Lyon as Al & Nige did that two years ago (Steves none the wiser so what he doesn't know he can't miss). Along the side of Loch Tay and then turn off at Fearnan for Kinloch Rannoch via the Braes of Foss forest road along the side of Schiehallion. We get on the A9 at Struan and crack on past Inverness, turning off the A9 onto the B9176 at Alness. The end of this road has the Struie Hill view point overlooking the Dornoch Firth. At the viewpoint, met Neil from Stafford on his 1100 Pan, and as it happens he was a fellow Round Britain Rallyist!!! Really keen tourer as he was also doing the Scottish National Rally that week and must have had a full collection of 1:50000 OS maps in his pannier. First other RBR'r I've met on my travels.

Whist chatting, Neil mentions that the traffic lights at some roadworks at the bottom of the hill have both ends on red so take it careful and go past any queues and straight through, which I did., and note the queue of cars at the other end. Unfortunately, I thought Steve and Nige had also heard this nugget but they obviously hadn't. We came upon the queue, I went sailing through, they looked on aghast and horrified at me ignoring the red light and stopped. And waited, and waited and..................waited. Penny drops, and they too ignore the red light swiftly followed by the rest of the dozen or so queuing cars behind them. I waited and they catch me up and we find out that only i knew of the light problem!! Not long to go now as we head for Ledmore Junction via Glen Oykel and then up to Inchnadamph. We're staying at the Inchnadamph Lodge - been before and it's one of our favourite hostels along with a drink and bar meal at the Inchnadamph Hotel nearby.

Dodgy looking Yorkshireman wandering about outside Inchnadamp Lodge

Another dodgy looking Yorkshireman outside Inchnadamph Lodge.

The pair of them in close up so you can see how dodgy they really look!!!! To think I've got to spend three more nights with this pair.
260 miles in glorious sunshine for the second day on the trot - surely it can't go on and I can then try out my new overgloves??