Steam-trains, Castles and an old Harley

[steaminjungle]

As you know Ron ,my surname is Ross and you can't get much more Scottish than that so if you find a kilt made with the Ross tartan bring it home for me and I will wear it to rest@Maechan next time I go in. Pim says she is fed up with me wearing her skirts down there and coming home looking like..................sorry not sure where this is going.

 

[alexuk]

Jimmy Saville?

Yes, I had had enough of lying in the bivvy bag all night while it rained and the midges try to get me, so I went down the pub
I saw the bangles and recognised the accent,so got a foto with him

 

[2wheels]

OK McRoss, I'll do my best.
Saw guys wearing kilts today; will be in trip report.

You on your PCX, coming into CM for some R&R, McRoss tartan kilt flowing in the breeze ... can just picture it.

 

[2wheels]

August 19th

Two wet, windy and cold days in Strontian.

But from the local Cafe this helped warm the soul.





It was an hour to wait for the Ferry to Mull (for Duart Castle) so, having lost a day of riding, I decided to postpone that particular castle.

So it was time to 'bite the bullet', to face the elements and to head for Skye.

A861 along the edge of Loch Sunart is an excellent ride.
Windy and narrow (but with ample 'passing spots') and fine views.





Logging is the industry of choice in this area.



A861 goes through Ceol Na Mara, Ardery, Resipole and Ardshealach then around the top of Loch Shiel to Acharacle.

Beside Loch Moidart I spotted this.



If you wish to read the story (and more on this topic tomorrow!)







Continue along A861 through Glenuig and alongside Loch Ailort.



The frigid weather couldn't deter these two from enjoying the water.



Many waterfalls here.
It seems that every time I stopped to make a photo I would hear the comforting sound of cascading water.

Not weather for brass monkeys.



(Time to go down-stairs and socialise with the locals now.
I only hope they have the subtitles scrolling across their foreheads though, bless 'em.)

Continuing (maybe!)

 

[2wheels]

Onto the A83 at Inverailort, the A830 past Glenfinnan, Drumsallie, along Loch Linnhe, onto the A82 into Fort Bill.
An absolutely freezing and wet ride along here.
Numb to the bones.



The view from the petrol station (no longer 'service stations') at Fort Bill.

Then, after consuming some hot chocolate and a curry pie, it was on to Invergarry along the edge of Loch Lochy.

Came upon the edge of Loch Ness, which I'll have a closer look at on the way south.

Entering Millfield saw this gentlemen outside a mansion.
He said he paid 'over '300 quid' to have his kilt made of pure wool.



His footwear is a tad out of context though.

He kindly suggested I pop into a nearby MG Car Club Show, adding that next weekend will be the 'Thunder in the Glen' meet when they expect 1000 Harley Davidson owners to be in town!

So I spent a bit of time admiring the MGs.

 

[2wheels]

deleted

 

[2wheels]

Very friendly people at the MG show; could have stayed there for hours.

Then left onto A887 along Loch Clunie.
Bloody hell; talk about the wevva!

Near Bun Loyne this becomes the A87 through the unpronounceable Torrlaoighseach and Glenshiel.





This guy was 'busking' in a village along the route.



And then .....



George Harrison Playing Here Comes The Sun - YouTube

And the relief lasted as long as the song!



As in Wales I enjoy seeing these bilingual signs.



:eek1



Beside Loch Alsh.
I thought it was a toilet block.

Chilled to the bones I pressed on through Inverate, turned a bend and was gobsmacked to see this.



This was on my agenda, so I dallied here quite a while.
The wonderful Eilean Donan castle.







Eilean Donan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Eilean Donan, which means simply "island of Donnán", is named after Donnán of Eigg, a Celtic saint martyred in 617. Donnán is said to have established a church on the island, though no trace of this remains.[SUP][4]"[/SUP]





The Skye Bridge.
I'll be on that tomorrow, going to the Broadford Pub for a very special reason.

Liquid prize if you know why.

So I settled into the comfy and warm Lochalsh Hotel for the night.

 

[Lone Rider]

The Skye Bridge.
I'll be on that tomorrow, going to the Broadford Pub for a very special reason.

Liquid prize if you know why.

Anything to do with Drambui? - Legend holds that the recipe for the liqueur Drambuie was given by Bonnie Prince Charlie to Clan MacKinnon who then passed it onto James Ross late 19th century. Ross ran the Broadford Inn (now the Broadford Hotel), where he developed and improved the recipe, initially for his friends and then later to patrons. Ross then began to sell it further afield and the name was registered as a trademark in 1893.

 

[bsacbob]

Spent a lot of time diving wrecks in the Kyle of Lochalsh beautiful area, not sure if the small ferry is still in action but i recall a couple of nice pubs just off the slip on the Skye side. Ask for some whiskey with Iron Bru (legendary Scottish soft drink) it will blow your mind.

 

[2wheels]

Forever dedicated to the fellow riders and readers on RideAsia, I forced myself into more research last night.

 

[2wheels]

One of the best rides of my life today; but now I'm too shagged to start a report!



Applecross to Inverness, the way I did it, was fantastic.

More tomorrow.

Zz

 

[Ally]

Bloody marvelous!!!

 

[steaminjungle]

Come on Ron ,no time for lying abed, make hay while the sun shines
( sun......what sun ? )

 

[2wheels]

You were right Ally; that ride was special.

19th August

So this was the view when I arose from my slumber in Lochaish.
Same, same.



Broadford on Skye was my first destination for reasons that, at least, Auke is aware of.

I searched around and luckily was able to find the last bottle of Drambuie in town!

So off to the Broadford Hotel, allegedly the site where the recipe for the original Drambuie was given to the then shop/pub owner.









http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drambuie


http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/bldev_knowdrambuie.htm

"1745
The isle of Skye is rich in its own individual Scottish history, legends, myth and magic - none more so than the romantic tale of Bonnie Prince Charlie, the rebel with a cause, whose life was protected by the young Flora Macdonald, the young lady who rowed him to safety, immortalised in the Skye Boat song. Members of the MacKinnon clan too were to be part of the story in helping the Prince escape the enemy. His gift in gratitude of their support was a precious recipe which has been passed down through several generations of the MacKinnon family and today this honey-sweet golden drink is still enjoyed by millions across the world."


This is what the nearby countryside looks like and where Bonnie Prince Charlie would have wandered in his attempt to escape from his pursuers.

Also saw this in the store where I bought the 'Nectar of the Gods'.



They take their cattle seriously here.

So, with the nectar in the top-box it was off to my next destination; 'The Pass of the Cattle'.

 

[2wheels]

I found some back-roads and it was a delightful ride to Duiinish village ....



... and to ....







What a delightful part of Scotland; and the sun actually showed itself for a while.

 

[2wheels]

Then more minor roads around Loch Kishorn via Craig and Ardnarff alongside Loch Carron.
It was absolutely freezing here.







via Attadale, Kirkton and to the junction to Applecross, the boring way ....



... or this way!
The Pass of the Cattle road.









And into the village of Applecross, where this little number was resting after what would have been a fun ride.



Then I met a charming lady who offered assistance from behind the wheel of her Benz 4WD.
She suggested 'the coastal road'.
Thanks to that very well spoken lady I was to experience one of the very best rides I have ever had on a bike.

 

[2wheels]

If you are ever in this part of Scotland, do yourself a big favour and take the 'Wester Ross Coastal Trail' road.

It winds along the coast via Craig, Fearnmore, Kenmore, Ardheslaig, Shieldaig following Loch Torridon past Annart to Incheril
and into little Archnasheen junction where you can thaw out with a hot chocolate and refuel.















At Archnasheen I met a couple of guys who had rented these Hondas for 450 quid per week, with full backup support, from a bike shop in Perth.
Both said the bike in the foreground was by far the best tourer.



An hour chatting then on towards Inverness via Leckie and Badavanich onto the A832 through Contin the A9 into the Thistle at Inverness.



The Thistle at Inverness has a deep bathtub and very hot water.
That's where I spent my first hour in Inverness!

Now, a new day, and off to see their castle then down to Lochawe and back into sunny England.

 

[steaminjungle]

No one takes photos of beer and food like you do Ron. When I am down my local in MaeChan next I will take a pic of a glass of Singha brimming with ice and see how it compares to a pint of Old Scroat.

 

[2wheels]

20th August.

The ride started in light rain and at 8-30pm finished, soaked to the bones, at Edinburgh in heavy rain!

Had a look at the impressive Inverness castle.
Thoughts of Macbeth.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverness_Castle

"A succession of castles has stood on this site since 1057."




Photos taken from here.



Out on the very ridable A82, heading back towards Fort William where I was hoping to catch a steam-train ride.

Along Loch Ness ...



... see the object in the water just above the tree? ...



Through Invergarry, along Loch Locchy onto the A830.

Heavy rain and no train at Fort William, so across a rain and windswept Glencoe area onto the A82 and past Loch Tulla.

Then the highlight of the day!

A fabulous single track ride through the Caledonia Forest to the A85.



















(to break my fast now. Continuing)

 

[2wheels]

Well, that Black Pudding sure is an acquired taste!

 

[2wheels]

I wanted to see Kilchurn (silent 'c') castle, so got onto A85 and rode into Lochawe.

Stumbled upon the completely vacant Lochawe Hotel ...









... which offered a good view down to the marvellous Kilchurn castle.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilchurn_Castle

"Kilchurn Castle was built in about 1450 by Sir Colin Campbell, first Lord of Glenorchy, as a five storey tower house with a courtyard defended by an outer wall."


Then back down the A85 where I saw the first accident of my tour.



Despite this, I must again say that I have been extremely impressed with the driving/riding stands here in the UK.
There seems to be a complete awareness of motorbikes and a healthy respect of them.

Through Luib and I saw this at a petrol station.



Then followed a drenching and tedious ride onto A84 through Stirling and onto the A9, M9 and M8 to the Averon Guest House in the heart of ancient and amazing Edinburgh.



The Guest House is older than European colonisation of Australia, being built in 1740!

 

[The Bigfella]

Lovin' it....

 

[2wheels]

Thanks for the encouragement Ian.

Now to sunny England!

 

[2wheels]

Meet Fernando, Receptionist at the Averon Guest House, Edinburgh.
Half Brazilian, half Scot and speaks with an amazing accent that sounds exactly like Borat!

 

[steaminjungle]

Love looking at your report everyday Ron. 10/10. Not envious of the weather up there but the rest is spot on.

 

[garethw]

Oh you bypassed Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument.........

 

[2wheels]

Thanks McRoss.

Gareth, I'll be back!
So much to see here.
Now at Seaham deciding whether to socialise and research or to do today's report!

 

[2wheels]

21st August

A good, varied ride today from Edinburgh.

What an impressive place; one I'd like to explore in more detail at another time.



Then it was onto the A1 and A199 into Dunbar.

And to celebrate SUNSHINE I bought an ice-cream.



Lookshury!

The A1 through Granthouse, Haggerston then off the A1 to .....

Here 'tis Bob.





The very impressive Bamburgh castle.









http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/gal_coast_11.shtml

"A castle was probably first built on the site in the sixth century, and was a part of the forward frontier separating England from Scotland."

This vintage immaculate olde Wolseley was hiding by the back wall.





I followed the attractive coast of the North Sea to Warksworth and found another castle.



http://great-castles.com/warkworthghost.php

It's haunted!!

"The ghost of Margaret Neville, known as the grey lady, has been seen wandering around one of the towers at Warkworth. The ghost of a young man has also been seen running along the castle walls.
Despite occasional ghostly activity, visitors to the castle are more likely to encounter an unsettling atmosphere residing therein."​

Then along the coast on A1068 and A189 through Whitley Bay and Seaton to Seaham, where I am now ensconced for the night and socialising
with this wonderful beer and some locals at the Harbour View.



They tell me it's from a place called 'Straya'.
It's by far the best beer I've tasted since my arrival in the UK.

There, that should solicit a few comments! :RE

 

[Lone Rider]

The third installment of Ron's trip - could not figure out where the single track Caledonia Forest road was as Ron was a bit sparse with village names of the start and end of the track.

 

[steaminjungle]

There is a lot of industrial history attached to Seaham harbour. Quaint little railway system there with vertical boiler locos up until the '70s. youtube might show them if I remember correctly.

 

[Lone Rider]

There is a lot of industrial history attached to Seaham harbour. Quaint little railway system there with vertical boiler locos up until the '70s. youtube might show them if I remember correctly.

Don't want to hi-jack Ron's thread but a picture of the vertical boiler can be seen here: ¼Å¡Òäé¹ËÒÃÙ»ÀÒ¾â´Â Google ÊÓËÃѺhttp://farm5.staticflickr.com/4136/4793116555_5a8d166584_z.jpg

 

[garethw]

Have you got Warwick Castle planned in?

Warwick Castle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[2wheels]

Thank you Auke.
re that excellent little track.
Luckily I had marked a location along it as "Silence", so it is turn right off A82 just past Bridge of Orchy.
Track follows a stream flowing from Loch Tulla.
Goes through a tiny hamlet named Arichastlich, then Achnafalnich and onto the A85 at Inverlochy.
Superb!

 

[2wheels]

Gareth, that's another one for next time.
So many magnificent castles to see.

Next aim is to get to Canterbury area and seek out a steam loco ride somewhere.

 

[Ally]

They tell me it's from a place called 'Straya'.
It's by far the best beer I've tasted since my arrival in the UK.

There, that should solicit a few comments! :RE

Struth!

 

[2wheels]

In Seaham, an excellent place to stay and socialise is at the Harbour View Hotel.

New owner Judith and the regulars are super-friendly and helpful and there are many good food places nearby.



A huge room at the cheapest rate I've had so far in UK.

Safe parking at back.



This is the view from my room; North Sea fog rolling in.

 

[The Bigfella]

Geez, must be twenty years since I've drunk that swill....

You can drink my share too, Ron

 

[2wheels]

Owner Judith said that's their biggest selling beer!

Mind you, being a Croweater, I am used to better beer.

 

[2wheels]

22nd August.

The 'homeward' leg.

Enjoyed the company at Seaham until lunch time then headed along the coast to The Headland via Peterlee.

North Sea fog rolling in, especially at Seaton Carew.







I rode through the insalubrious industrial area ..



... and on to Redcar where the locals were revelling in the sunshine.



And onward along the delightful coast towards Whitby (again).







Surf's up!

To Saltburn then through Easington and Runswick bay to the A174 and along the coast to Botts.



Nice view back to the Abbey along the Ersk River from A171.







Past Robin Hoods Bay, Cloughton then along more coast to a very busy Scarsborough, onto the A165 and along the coast to Filey.

Along the A165 through Lissett and to The Embassy in Hull ...





... where research began after a long shower ...



... and Cottage Pie was ordered and devoured whilst watching Swansea demolish a Romanian team.

 

[2wheels]

Not enough 'steam-trains' in this tour!
Anyone have suggestions within the south-east area?