Featured North Coast 500 Sep 23

And so it begins, set off after work to get a few hours up the road in daylight. Went cross country from M6 junction 36 through Kendal, over Shap, then Penrith and stopping just outside Carlisle tonight.


Tomorrow in to Scotland.

 

Cracking breakfast to set me up for the day at the B&B.


Hopped on the M6 to Gretna and then took the A75 through Dumfries to Crocketford then off on the A712 to New Galloway.
Turned north on the A713 to Ayr, then A78 up to Largs on to Greenock for the ferry across to Dunoon.
From there the A815, then A83 to Inveraray and A819 and A85 through Dalmally to the A82 at Clifton. Turned south passed the green wellie cafe to my B&B at Crianlarich.
Another cracking place with my bike in the garage for the night. Cracking roads and weather.

 

Today started with a small mishap - moving the bike at the B&B I was about to start her up and go out the gate when the wind blew the gate closed. Went to get off and wedge the gate when that oh shit moment of you’ve already kicked the stand up dickhead happened. Was on gravel and there was no stopping it go. Down she went in slow motion. Had to get the guy help me pick her up (even though I’d removed the right side pannier and box) she was fully fuelled and weighed a tonne. Some scratches to the engine bars, but that’s what they’re there for. So glad I moved the running lights inboard of the engine bars otherwise that would have been destroyed. No matter onwards….


Corrected map shown below (shame I can’t delete the original)

 

A few pics from the journey…


commando memorial (quite emotional) the overcast was fitting in a way to the sombreness.


Eilean Donals Castle (Took me straight back to Highlander) - here’s to you John


Applecross was in the clouds and windy as hell, was like riding inside a ping pong ball. A driver wanted me to back up (uphill) on a really narrow bit. Put it on its stand (for a change) and went and had a word - it helps get the point across without raising your voice or being rude when you’re 6’ 3”. He backed up

 

Was glorious on the other side once I dropped below the clouds (the coast road up and round from Applecross to Shieldaig is amazing).


A little rain on the last leg in to Ullapool but the bonus was this cracking rainbow shot

 

Oh that’s bad - I wasn’t that bothered just embarrassed and annoyed at myself. The bike had cosmetic damage to the bars and panniers when I bought it. It would have been a completely different story if I dropped my fireblade.

 

Today was round the top from Ullapool to Wick


Beautiful sunshine for the most part, but warm and dry all the way. Ullapool bay looked glorious first thing


Loads of amazing scenery and brilliant roads, I’ll not bore you with all the photos I took, but some of the best for sure

 

Loch Cam


Kylesku Bridge


Rispond Beach


John o Groats