Day 2 - Hairy Coos, fishladder and a lighthouse

Cooked breakfast included this morning and Nige has planned the route and activities for today. First off its to the Falls of Dochart at Killin, then up and over Ben Lawers and Glen Lyon, ending up at Pitlochry to have a look at the fish ladder and hydro station followed by a spot of lunch in Pitlochry itself.

Going over Ben Lawers, it gets a bleak and you expect sheep wandering around who look harmless and generally dont cause a problem. However, when you notice cowpats on the road, you start to wonder what's around the next bend. We expected a few cows - but this is Scotland, and the cows in the highlands have long shaggy coats, big long horns and like the feel of tarmac under their hooves. Threading your way past them was interesting to say the least.

We make Pitlochry, check out the fishladder at the hydro station and then head into town for lunch. The plan is then to bang on up the A9 to Inverness and then head west along Strath Ban and along to Gairloch where we head North for 12 miles to Rubha Reidh where we're staying at the lighthouse for the night. The rain catches us up on the A9 and stays with us for 140 miles all the way to Gairloch, when it suddenly clears and its a lovely evening!!

Its the usual single track road towards the lighthouse for 8 miles or so, and then theres 4 miles of even smaller single track to the lighthouse itself which is interesting with some blind 1:3 ramps to launch yourself up hoping nothings coming the other way.

But its well worth the trip as the lighthouse is stunning and by far one of the most interesting places we've stayed. Its a working light, but the keepers accomodation block is now a hostel.

As it happens, there was a group on bikes from Elgin staying as well and they were good company. Mostly couples and they had arranged a murder mystery weekend to occupy themselves for the night complete with dressing up, wigs, props etc. There isn't anything else except the lighthouse for 12 miles so we brought our own beer and food. The place will cater if you ring ahead, but your own booze is essential and Nige had to break out his emergency wine box. Incredibly, a night in this place only cost £34 for both of us including a full cooked breakfast.