Featured S.a.w.s.

That’s, Skye And West Scotland

Started at 7am with a run via Leeds onto the A65 with a mixture of motorway and A roads. This was Gretna Green. Then headed out on the A75 around Dumfries eventually reaching the west coast then heading north.

Just topside of Ardrossan with a ferry just entering port and Alisa Craig just visible in the sea mist.

Waiting for the ferry across to Dunoon. I then sampled the delightful A815 up to the A83 and Inveraray
Then it was the A819, another delightful piece of road that I had to myself.
I then got adventurous, well it is an adventure bike after all.
This was on the B8706, a 10 mile cut across from the A85 to the Bridge of Orchy on the A82.
Then it was the absolutely breath taking run up through Glencoe. I could have stopped every 200 yards to take photos but I was getting ready for stopping so this was about it. A belter if I say so myself.
Not too far to the rest stop at Kinlochleven and a very welcome beer.

That was 370 miles. On to Skye tomorrow.

 

So it was an early start, mainly cos the bed was crap and I didn’t sleep well.
When I arrived at Kinlochleven I was to the south of the loch so today I went along the north, effectively completing the loop.
When Scotland blesses you with this kind of weather there’s only one thing to do. After refuelling I rode up the A82 and then onto the A830 to Mallaig.
The monument at Glenfinnan.
Now waiting for the ferry to Skye, more later.

 

Cheers Rooster, not sure if it’s running this late on a Sunday so maybe next time.

 

I have been so lucky with the weather I can’t believe it. Scotland takes some beating when it’s like this, unlike the football team (shit did I say that out loud )

 

Right, where it was I? Oh yes, the ferry to Skye. When I turned onto the A830 the sign said the next sailing to Skye was the 1130, hence my dalliance with Glenfinnan. However when I got to the port the boat was loading but there was no room so I did sail on the 1130 after all. Hey ho. My destination was the lighthouse at Neist point, the most westerly part of the island I believe.

It was quite a jog to get to the viewpoint from the end of the road and in biking gear I knew I’d had a bit of a workout when I got back to the bike. If you’ve been there you’ll know. If you haven’t then (for those who’ve been to Whitby) the steps at the lighthouse were about five times the steps to the Abbey but the views were spectacular. I didn’t take too many photos on Skye, I’d kind of miss judged the mileage I ended up doing but I did get a not so good shot of the colour houses in Portree

Then it was time for fuel, me and the bike, then the absolutely delightful A87. If you’ve never been on this road you have GOT to do it. Simply stunning. The castle at Eilean Doran looked fabulous but I didn’t stop for a pic cos I was tired of passing the same old Fiesta after I’d stopped to photograph the bridge, oops, this bridge

Onto the A82 again and a leg stretch by Loch Lochy

That’s it for today, just waiting for my food with (another) well earned drink. Tomorrow it’s back in a southerly direction stopping near Lockerbie. Just need to decide which way, other than A82 to Balloch

 

Thanks @Sandi T. I’d like to be able to add a few more days, but dry ones, except I’m starting the journey back south to YM Towers. This was only ever going to be a mini tour and weather dependent. If I’d booked to come last week or if that storm that hit the south had ventured further north then I’d have changed the dates. Scotland is great but if you’re unlucky with the weather it’s pretty grim. I’ve done it before and it’s rained all the time which knocks the edge off it somewhat. But, it’s fine if a little cooler outside just now so I’m sorry I can’t bring you any rain shots in this blog.
Today I’m going to head back down the A82 through Glencoe then take the A814 beside Loch Long and Gareloch. I’ll try to find some interesting things to add in the way of pics. Stick around and stay tuned.
(Oh god, I’m starting to sound like The Missenden Flyer)

 

And I wouldn’t blame you one bit.
(Hope you’re well)

Ah fuck, I’m at it again

 

While I’m sat getting chewed half to death with midges despite having jungle formula spray I may as well update.
Glencoe was just as pretty coming down as it was going up, only this time the clouds had dropped slightly.
Traffic was very slow beside Lomond, like 25mph and it’s a taxi leading the queue so I pulled in to let em go.
Lomond looking south.

 

Have to say the A87 has been the highlight so far.

 

Ok, so once I’d let the traffic go I got a nice bit of the road to myself to enjoy the bends by the side of Loch Lomond. Next was the A83 leading to the A814 down the side of Loch Long.

The road surface was a bit rutted to start with and it was up and down like a roller coaster, I reckon if I’d had Mrs YM on the back she’d have needed sea sick pills. But after a few miles the surface improved and the road was nice and twisty. It goes all the way down to Gareloch and passes Faslane, the naval base that used to house nuclear submarines, it may still do but its now sign posted as HMNB Clyde and has a massive security fence along the roadside so there wasn’t any chance of a photo, not that I could see anything significant moored up so I continued to Helensburgh for lunch, well a late breakfast actually cos I arrived at 11.30 and they were still on breakfast menu.
Like the naval base there’s no pic of the food but this was the view, bottom of Gareloch where it meets the river Clyde , the Beachcomber cafe Bar.
Then I kind of retraced the route I took northwards and went towards Kilmarnock, for not much more reason than to stay off the motorway and passed this place in Mauchline.

The little white sign states the tower was built as a memorial to Robert Burns, the poet and the building is just so typically Scottish in its style.
And that’s about it folks, not much else to say and no more pics. I’m breaking the journey up with an overnight stop in a hotel near Lockerbie. The highlight, well I’d say the run back from Skye on the A87 yesterday has to be it. I reckon it was one of the best days biking I’ve ever had, even putting the track day I did on Phillip Island into second place. Great road surface, fab weather, awesome scenery it just doesn’t get better than that.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my little tour as much as I’ve enjoyed riding it, I’ve been blessed with the weather and couldn’t have had it any better. Just a few miles back down through the lakes tomorrow and me own bed. So til the next time this has been the Missen, oh fuck, I did it again.
Cheers, Andy the Yorkshireman