Border at CarterBar - this is the English side of the road, just the rock!! The Scots side has flags flying, big welcome sign etc - bet they have a burger van as well when the suns out.
1661 miles overall for the week
Sunday, 25 September 2011
24th
Homeward bound today and it's the A68 rollercoaster for 95 miles all the way to the A1 at Darlington, then the 113 mile motorway slog down the A1/M62/M18/M180/A15 to Lincoln.
Border at CarterBar - this is the English side of the road, just the rock!! The Scots side has flags flying, big welcome sign etc - bet they have a burger van as well when the suns out.
1661 miles overall for the week
Border at CarterBar - this is the English side of the road, just the rock!! The Scots side has flags flying, big welcome sign etc - bet they have a burger van as well when the suns out.
1661 miles overall for the week
23rd
09:30 start from Grantown and the first 60 miles or so is through Tomintoul, over the Lecht and then along Glenshee. Roads wet and the road gangs have been out with the gravel - but a cracking start to the day for all that
Looking west along Glenshee just after the ski centre.
It's a bit of a drag from Blairgowrie, around Perth and then around Edinburgh.
Take a road past the White Adder reservoir and head towards St Abbs & Eyemouth for an ice cream, then across to Jedburgh where we staying at the Meadhon House B&B. Bikes get locked up in a garage, and we have a bit of a pub crawl starting at the Caters Rest for a very nice steak pie, then some dodgy hotel bar, Belter Bar and finally the highlight of the night the Railway Tavern. Great little boozer with all your typical locals having a crack and taking the piss
Looking west along Glenshee just after the ski centre.
It's a bit of a drag from Blairgowrie, around Perth and then around Edinburgh.
Take a road past the White Adder reservoir and head towards St Abbs & Eyemouth for an ice cream, then across to Jedburgh where we staying at the Meadhon House B&B. Bikes get locked up in a garage, and we have a bit of a pub crawl starting at the Caters Rest for a very nice steak pie, then some dodgy hotel bar, Belter Bar and finally the highlight of the night the Railway Tavern. Great little boozer with all your typical locals having a crack and taking the piss
Location:Blair Ave,Jedburgh,United Kingdom
Thursday, 22 September 2011
22nd
Stayed at Morags last night in Fort Augustus - full of gap year types on tour buses (yanks, Aussies, Canadian, japs) but it keeps the place lively especially as it has its own bar and the live music entertainment was quite good.
Heading eastwards today to get away from the rain, but have to put up with it for the first couple of hours. The dam at Loch Laggan has got the spill ways open- quite a sight.
Breakfast in The Pantry at Newtonmore to keep us going for the rest of the day which is a trip up to Portsoy via Strathspey. Sun is out in Portsoy and time for an ice cream from the Beggars Belief.
Retrace our steps to Keith, then to Tomintoul via Glen Rinnes & Glen Livet. Stop at the Old Fire Station Cafe in Tomintoul for tea & scones and then a quick blast west along the A939 to Grantown where we're staying at the Kinross House guesthouse. All in all 204 miles for the day.
Dinner tonight at a Chinese, but it's not the best. We're off beer tonight but it's an evening of scotch & dominoes back at the digs. Steve is useless and it's an honourable draw eventually between Al & Nige.
Heading eastwards today to get away from the rain, but have to put up with it for the first couple of hours. The dam at Loch Laggan has got the spill ways open- quite a sight.
Breakfast in The Pantry at Newtonmore to keep us going for the rest of the day which is a trip up to Portsoy via Strathspey. Sun is out in Portsoy and time for an ice cream from the Beggars Belief.
Retrace our steps to Keith, then to Tomintoul via Glen Rinnes & Glen Livet. Stop at the Old Fire Station Cafe in Tomintoul for tea & scones and then a quick blast west along the A939 to Grantown where we're staying at the Kinross House guesthouse. All in all 204 miles for the day.
Dinner tonight at a Chinese, but it's not the best. We're off beer tonight but it's an evening of scotch & dominoes back at the digs. Steve is useless and it's an honourable draw eventually between Al & Nige.
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
21st
Wet and windy. We left Skye two by two just like Noahs f*****g ark it was raining that hard. Windy as well so had to give Glenelg ferry a miss because Steve was a wimp and came back to mainland over the bridge.
Drying out at Dornie
Not many pics today as couldnt be arsed to get camera/phone with it so wet. Decide to go straight to Morags at Fort Augustus and get there about 13:30. Funnily enough wer'e in the same room that we had last time!!
Fort A hasn't got much to entertain you for 8 or 9 hours so it's off to the pub!!! Would you believe get talking to a few folk who live about ten miles from me and one of them went to same school - although about ten years before me!! Small world.
Back to the bar at Morags and cheap whisky seems to be the drink of choice - we'll pay for it in the morning.
Drying out at Dornie
Not many pics today as couldnt be arsed to get camera/phone with it so wet. Decide to go straight to Morags at Fort Augustus and get there about 13:30. Funnily enough wer'e in the same room that we had last time!!
Fort A hasn't got much to entertain you for 8 or 9 hours so it's off to the pub!!! Would you believe get talking to a few folk who live about ten miles from me and one of them went to same school - although about ten years before me!! Small world.
Back to the bar at Morags and cheap whisky seems to be the drink of choice - we'll pay for it in the morning.
20th
226 miles today from Ullapool to Waternish on Skye. Followed the coast road through Gairloch, Torridon etc but gave Applecross a miss this time. Showers, bit of sun and drizzle was what was on offer weatherwise
Stop for a brew at The pier at Gairloch and pop into the shop for lottery tickets as it's become a bit of a custom everytime we pass it! Not sure why as we've never won anything on the back of it.
Wind getting up and gusting quite hard. Doesn't stop us heading up to Kilt Rock on the north east of Skye
Or up and over the Quairaing to Uig and then along to Waternish and the Lorgill B&B.
Stein Inn for supper tonight
Stop for a brew at The pier at Gairloch and pop into the shop for lottery tickets as it's become a bit of a custom everytime we pass it! Not sure why as we've never won anything on the back of it.
Wind getting up and gusting quite hard. Doesn't stop us heading up to Kilt Rock on the north east of Skye
Or up and over the Quairaing to Uig and then along to Waternish and the Lorgill B&B.
Stein Inn for supper tonight
Monday, 19 September 2011
19th
Today's jaunt is from Glenuig to Ullapool via the east side of Loch Ness to Inverness, then up to Bonar Bridge via Struie Hill andwest along Glen Oykel to Ledmore Junction and down to Ullapool. All in all 186 miles for the day.
Starts off grey & drizzly and first stop is Glenfinnan
You usually have to buy a ticket to go up the monument, but no one about and the doors open so up we go!!! Steve in front and it's a very narrow spiral staircase. The opening to the platform is a square hole at the top of the stairs about 2 foot square- with all the bike gear on Steve can't get through without a squeeze so after all that we turn around and go down again - we chickened out
Stop for lunch just north of Inverness and then pop over to the Falls of Shin to watch the salmon leaping the falls and fail miserably to photo it!!
We're stopping just outside Ullapool at the Ardvreck House B&B. Great location with a view out of the lounge overlooking the town
Owner of B&B takes us into the village, and it's off to the Taste of India for tea. Recommend this Idian, but bit of a crisis when we find out it's cash only, don't take cards. Squire of Epworth lends Al £20 and alls well.
Couple of drinks in the Arch then taxi back to the Ardvreck.
Starts off grey & drizzly and first stop is Glenfinnan
You usually have to buy a ticket to go up the monument, but no one about and the doors open so up we go!!! Steve in front and it's a very narrow spiral staircase. The opening to the platform is a square hole at the top of the stairs about 2 foot square- with all the bike gear on Steve can't get through without a squeeze so after all that we turn around and go down again - we chickened out
Stop for lunch just north of Inverness and then pop over to the Falls of Shin to watch the salmon leaping the falls and fail miserably to photo it!!
We're stopping just outside Ullapool at the Ardvreck House B&B. Great location with a view out of the lounge overlooking the town
Owner of B&B takes us into the village, and it's off to the Taste of India for tea. Recommend this Idian, but bit of a crisis when we find out it's cash only, don't take cards. Squire of Epworth lends Al £20 and alls well.
Couple of drinks in the Arch then taxi back to the Ardvreck.
Location:Garve Rd,Ullapool,United Kingdom
Sunday, 18 September 2011
Scotland part 2
The slackers have turned up at last, and even reported in to the boss
Time to have a drink at last
Time to have a drink at last
Scotland part 2
Early start to catch up with Nige & Steve at Glenuig this afternoon. Leave Lincoln at 07:00 and the first stop is the butty bar at Scotch Corner for a coffee and fried egg bun.
Weather is looking good so far, but grey skies over the top at Stainmore but no rain!! Onto the M6 and then cutting over to Dumfries and then up the A76 etc to Kilmarnock, Irvine , Dalry, Psisley then over the Erskine Bridge and along Loch Lomond.
Get a text from Nige whilst i'm stopped in Crianlarich and it seems he might have been only 20 miles away at Kilchun Castle at the time. Suns out now as I go over Rannoch moor and into Glencoe
Making good time so take a detour along to Kinlochleven - always passed by but today's the day!
Into Fort Bill for a fuel top up and then along the road to the isles to Glenuig where we're staying tonight. Been before and it's a ver y nice gaff!!
Went along the little road past the pub and came across this beach
As you can see, spoilt with the weather still but not banking on it for rest of the week.
469 miles today , nice and steady and supping at pint of Cairngorm Stag by 16:30. No sign of Steve & Nige, the slackers.
Weather is looking good so far, but grey skies over the top at Stainmore but no rain!! Onto the M6 and then cutting over to Dumfries and then up the A76 etc to Kilmarnock, Irvine , Dalry, Psisley then over the Erskine Bridge and along Loch Lomond.
Get a text from Nige whilst i'm stopped in Crianlarich and it seems he might have been only 20 miles away at Kilchun Castle at the time. Suns out now as I go over Rannoch moor and into Glencoe
Making good time so take a detour along to Kinlochleven - always passed by but today's the day!
Into Fort Bill for a fuel top up and then along the road to the isles to Glenuig where we're staying tonight. Been before and it's a ver y nice gaff!!
Went along the little road past the pub and came across this beach
As you can see, spoilt with the weather still but not banking on it for rest of the week.
469 miles today , nice and steady and supping at pint of Cairngorm Stag by 16:30. No sign of Steve & Nige, the slackers.
Location:Lochailort,United Kingdom
Friday, 16 September 2011
Its been a while but........
......annual back end trip to Scotland starts on Sunday. Usual suspects involved - Nige from IoM and Steve, who are going up a day earlier. I'm meeting them at Glenuig.
Will be posting daily as long as the Iphone doesn't get waterlogged - weather forecast looks like something Noah would recognise.
Will be posting daily as long as the Iphone doesn't get waterlogged - weather forecast looks like something Noah would recognise.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)