On towards Killin and home

Stayed at Killin in the Trossachs not far from Pitlochry, a good ride over from Ullapool through the highlands and on south west. 

The following day was a challenging ride of about 300 miles , taking the M74 for part of the way past Glasgow but then onto the A roads after the border. Busy traffic , tailback on the A66 and a number of heavy showers down through the dales and Lancs. all in all a tougher day riding than any the previous week.

In total 1540 miles , no incidents or calamities, a lot of good sights and experiences and a lot of good food and drink! 

Glenmorangie distillery

I passed Glenmorangie so I decided to call in for a quick look and bought a few small samples

Onwards from Ullapool

I did a big loop around the highlands coming back through Inverness and then through the Caingorms on the A9

Ullapool and motel

I arranged to stay at the Morefield Motel, it seemed like a strange option when I booked it!

It was actually quite a good choice , especially as you can park directly outside your door!

Choice of seafood dinner and good breakfast too! 

Ullapool had a bit more of an upbeat feel than Mallaig, there were a few tourist type tours around the islands etc. The big ferry sails to Stornaway from here

From Skye to Ullapool

Left Skye across the bridge at Kyle of Lochlash, visited Plockton a small village on the coast with a famous castle and then rode over the pass to Applecross 

Skye

Managed to get the ferry as planned 

Weather was changeable and traffic more busy than other places I visited, sunshine and showers 

A lot of impressive mountains and steep inclines 

A stopped for lunch at the oldest bakery in Skye

Seafood in Mallaig

The Cornerstone restaurant comes well recommended both from reviews and also John the bike I spoke to yesterday 

So I'm here now 

Edinburgh Gin as an aperitif 

Queenie scallops with soy sauce to start

Turbot main course 

Queenie scallops with chilli, soy sauce and lime! 

The turbot was good but small portion!

However it was well cooked and served with leek mash potato.

I liked the Edinburgh gin and would recommend.

Very efficient service I was in and out within an hour ! 

From Jura to Mallaig

Quite a journey involving 2 ferries and about 140 mile road trip

A lot of the roads are good with open fast stretches and some really good bendy roads to motorbike

A82 from Tarbert 

A816 to Oban

A828 to Fort William

A830 to Mallaig

Managed to avoid all the rain thankfully, it could have been quite heavy going otherwise! 

I'll have to wait to see if the Skye ferry is ok tomorrow as I'm told it's broken ! 

I may just continue further north by road and avoid Skye if it's not repaired.

Another seafood dinner tonight I think. 

Ferries

Quite a bit of hopping on and off ferries on this trip. The ferry from tarbert to Islay takes nearly 2 hours as well so quite a bit further than anticipated 

Caledonian Macbrae is the company and they seem very efficient. 

Distilleries

I drove past quite a few distilleries 

Bowmore , Bruichladdich, I went into Jura and Bunnahabhain just to the shops

Bruichladdich

Bunnahabhain

Jura hotel and distillery

The hotel is well situated in a small bay sheltered by small islands

Keel boats can anchor or moor here and there is a jetty that has a water taxi over to the mainland. I'm told you can put bikes on it too. 

The hotel is on the other side of the road to the hotel and the smell of whisky is everywhere!

A nice little hotel , good service and reasonable food. I've had good accommodation so far in Scotland 

Jura

Jura seems a bit more remote than Islay, the little ferry runs infrequently and there is only one road in the island running from the ferry up to the estate in the north end. A lot of the road runs past the beach and coastline and other parts run up over the hills to quite remote moorland

John and Shirley

I met 2 other people on the ferry to Islay, they were on a BMW GS1200

I had a good chat with them on the ferry they both worked for the health board in Glasgow. 

Ride around Islay

LA bit dull to start and a small shower if rain but soon brightened into a lovely day. Went all over the island and passed Bowmore and bruickladdick distilleries on the way 

There seem to be quite a few folk from USA Canada Australia etc

Rode over to the Jura ferry

From Tarbert to Islay

Set off earlier than anticipated to get the ferry to Islay.

I had not realised the ferry was only 3 or 4 times a day and took nearly 2 hours! 

Thankfully there was space and I made it in time. I met 2 bikers from Scotland John and Shirley, they gave me a few hints and tips around the roads and places of western Scotland. 

Weather seemed to improve today as time went by ! 

Starfish restaurant Tarbert

Probably the best seafood in western Scotland 

Good place this, not fancy but you could squeeze the meat out of the small claws like toothpaste!
They know not to overcook shell fish here. 
The scallops main was served with a fish reduction in the shell that was delightful with fresh peas beans and new potatoes. Fresh home made wholemeal bread for mopping up too. 
Sancerre and I avoided drinking a whole bottle ( just)!
Note fresh loch Fyne oysters 1.75! 

Dumfries to Arran and Kintyre

Spent the night in a really good bnb in Dumfries. The evening coincided with the town parade and lots of pipes and drums!

The journey on north has quite a bit of rain forecast. Went through the Ayr and Galloway forest area, good roads there, caught the ferry to Arran from Androssan

Scottish parking

Nearly as bad as the drivers in Madrid. 

This person not only parked within 5 yards of the traffic lights but also on a double yellow ! 

It was there all night and no ticket !

Cavens arms Dumfries

Excellent service, people really care here. Good quality IPA for £3.10 a pint. It's really busy at times but the staff seem to move up a gear and cope with it. Food is good honest home made menu. No sign of anything pre prepared just good pub grub. 

I have experience of fine dining and can say that the Sea bass was cooked just right and the sauce ample but perhaps a little overpowering of the fish. Having said that I came for a few beers and a quick dinner so let's not be picky! 

Recommend the Jaipur ale if you like IPA

But be careful it's about 6% !

I'm passing through but if I ever come this way again I'll be at the Cavens arms for dinner once again. 

Western Scotland trip 2016

Setting off tomorrow for the western coast and isles of Scotland 

I'll be riding alone on the Ducati and I have planned my first stop in Dumfries just over the border.

My plan is to ride up through Lancs and Yorks up  Kielder Water and then head west to Dumfries.

I should follow quite a bit of countryside and avoid some of the busier roads.Also a chance to see and ride through places I've not seen before.

Weather is looking changeable as expected.

Here's hoping to dodge the majority of the rain!

North through Yorkshire dales and northern Pennines

Set off from home and went north on M60 up to Clitheroe and then Settle onward to Hawes

Fish with peas in Hawes for lunch

A bit disappointing as the fish was overdone !

A lot of bikes in Hawes as usual

Headed north toward teesdale then weardale and eventually Kielder water