Featured Touring Round The North Coast Days 3-4

Day 3

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We took the A836 out of Bettyhill heading for Dunndonnel


first port of call on the A838 was to see the Smoo Cave near Durness, quite impressive but view from the top of the cliffs was spectacular



On from there on the A838 to Laxford Bridge where we turned right onto the A894 towards Scourie and on to Unapool.


Coming out of Unapool we were recommended to take the B869 around the coast to Lochniver via Stoer to Ullapool, I would not recommend this on a bike the road is full of short steep hills with sharp bends making it difficult to see whats coming, vehicles or road, very narrow, even bikes would need to use the passing places and at these the tarmac finishes so there is a 2" lip that takes you onto gravel so could take you by surprise. It was dead quiet when we were there but in the summer it must be a nightmare, very spectacular though. It was a long drive to Dundonnell but well worth it.



Day 4


Dundonnell to Tomich





Off round the coast on the A832 heading back to Lochness via Gairloch and Applecross. All spectacular again but Places of note here are Loch Maree on the A832, which we happened to hit on a perfectly still morning, turning right onto the A896 at Kinlochewe takes you down a spectacular valley.

When you get through Sheildeg there's a right turn which takes you on the little road to Applecross. After the first couple of miles the road gets easier and opens up to some spectacular views across the lochs and along the coast. Just take a look on google maps satellite and you'll see what I mean.

even the coos have handle bars!

After a while you get to Applecross and you have to stop for something to eat and drink, it was fairly busy so I can't imagine what it'd be like in the summer. Coming out of Applecross takes you on a road that gently rises to the pass and it was when I got to the top I realised why people go clockwise, The road down is alpine-esk, It would be a nightmare on a bike, so breathtaking though!

seroiusly there was a guy cycling up this and he wasnt even panting, further down we passed a guy running up!!

Out of the pass we joined the A896 again and headed to the A87 via the A 890

taking a gander at Eileen Donan Castle. driving alongside Lochs, through forests of pines in amongst majestic hills and mountains the whole experience was something I am glad I did, probably better in a car, as a first time, than on bike, not for the weather but the fact its so spectacular the amount of times we stopped to take photos would have been so time consuming on the bike we would probably be up there still.

This write up does not do the place justice, I could have gone on for pages but the best thing is go yourself, I probably wouldn't have done it but my wife who was born and raised in africa, worked as an air stewardess and has taken many holidays round the world had never been to Scotland so I decided what better area to show her.

 

I have taken 300 photos of about 70 locations and then there were those I didn't take cos of the blizzard blocking the view