Scotland Trip June 2010 - Write Up & Pic's Link

[Ben_m]

Just a short write up about my recent short trip to Scotland. Link for pics as there are over 100 of them!

https://s864.photobucket.com/albums/ab203/ben_fzs600/Scotland%20Bike%20Trip%20June%202010/

Not the best as they were taken with my Iphone. Video from Knockhill is a bit dodgy, sorry!

Left home near Doncaster Friday afternoon after work and blasted up the A1. For the first night I thought I would stay near Penrith as it is right on the M6. Rather than take the boring and mundane route of going up the A1 and across the A66, I left the A1 at Ripon. I didn't have a route planned or any campsites booked so just headed out towards Leyburn and followed signs for Aysgarth and Hawes, following B roads where possible. If you asked me the exact route I took I couldn't tell you, all I can tell you is that it was fantastic. I ended up coming back onto the A66 about 10 miles from Penrith and finally arrived at the camp site I had found online but hadn't booked.

I followed signs to the wardens office where I found a little old lady sat in her chair watching TV. I enquired as to availability for one man and a tent and she replied in a gruff Cumbrian accent “have ya stayed here before love?”

“No”

“Right, follow me then!” I was shown the toilets and where to pitch my tent and handed over six quid.

The next morning I was on the road at 6am heading to the services at Penrith where I filled up and then jumped on the M6 to Glasgow where something went wrong with my map/sign reading skills and I ended up in Glasgow city centre. Luckily it was really quiet because I set off early. It was time to get some fuel again and I pulled into a petrol station just north of Glasgow, I was also busting for a piss. Filled up and whilst I was paying noticed a sign for toilets. Now this toilet seemed to be unisex as there was only one door marked toilet. I opened it and was great to the sight of a nice young lady sat there doing her business. She let out a scream and I didn't know where to look, I quickly apologised, shut the door and made a hasty retreat to find somewhere else to piss. I did find somewhere but it involved climbing over a gate covered I barbed wire! Poor lass, I don't know who was embarrassed more though, her or me!

From here I went on up the A68 to Loch Lomond where I pulled in for some photos and a bacon sarnie and a cup of tea. It was surprisingly quiet but just as I was getting back on the bike, bus loads of tourists turned up. I wasn't hanging around so sped off north on the A68. My aim for the day was to get to Glencoe or Fort William for the night. I road on some fantastic roads and often pulled of the A68 to ride on smaller B roads following just a map (no satnav for me). I got to Glencoe and took the B road (can't remember the number) around Loch Leven. What a fantastic road that was, the bends and dips and crests made it amazing. I was tempted to ride it again but pushed on towards Fort William where I found a camp site which charged more than double the one I stayed at the previous night. However, I did have good facilities and a shop that sold cold cans of lager! There was also 2 jock fellas who turned at the same time as me but spent most of their time giggling in their tent!

I set off again the next morning knowing that England were playing Germany that afternoon so had to find somewhere to camp that was near a town with a good pub. I continue north on the A68 and some B roads both of which were mostly smooth, twisty and free of traffic. I stopped again at Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness for more photos but it was busy and I wasn't paying to go for a look round when I could spend money on fuel so set off nearly crashing into the wall that lined the road whilst looking at the view!! Headed into Inverness where I rode round and round in circles trying to find the road that would take me south towards the Cairngorms. I soon ended up on the A9 heading south towards Aviemore. I came off this road several times to take in smaller B roads that ran along side through quaint little villages/hamlets. Once I got to Aviemore I was starving, t was just gone midday and I hadn't eaten all day. However, the place was heaving and I was weary about leaving my bike with all of its luggage on ready for someone to nick so carried on south towards Pitlochry, again taking in more B roads and villages. Once in Pitlochry it was time to find somewhere to stay for the night but me being a fussy bastard and not liking busy camp sites but wanting somewhere near town was difficult. I head out of Pitlochry back the way I came and followed a sign pointing to a camp site 10 miles away. Again, great roads and traffic free apart from one twat behind me who was intent on pushing me faster and faster. He was obviously local and knew the roads well but I was good fun having him chase and push me until he pulled off the road and I backed off. I ended up going around Loch Rannoch (got map in front of me know as I write this) and still no sign of this camp site, must have missed it. I was now heading back towards Pitlochry but turned off towards a place called Tummel Bridge on another fantastically twisty yet unclassified road. There was nothing there so I checked the map and found a place called Aberfeldy situated on an A road so surely this must be a town with a camp site It was now 3pm and the footie had kicked off and I was tired and hungry. I road all the way through Aberfeldy without seeing anywhere to stay until I got to the far edge of town and there was a camp site on the roadside. The site was quiet and mainly full of caravans and I was busting for another piss. The site office was shut and you needed a code for the toilets. I found an elderly gentleman who was enjoying the sun and a whiskey and I got the code from him. Fully relieved I pitched the tent, had a shower, changed and headed off into town to catch the rest of the football. I found a decent pub, ordered a pint of Stella and settled down with the jocks to watch England get thrashed which the majority of them loved! Bastards!

I looked around for somewhere to eat but didn't see anywhere so headed back to the camp site The office was now open so I paid the warden £9 and asked where can get some food. He suggested the chippy but it was closed. Now I'm quite partial to a good ruby so got the Iphone out to locate the nearest curry house. Chillies, five minutes walk from the site, don't know how I missed it earlier. I ordered a curry and a Cobra but no started. They must have felt sorry for me being alone as I got a starter for free anyway which was a good job really as the curry was that bad I couldn't eat it.

I headed to the local shop, bought a bottle of water to rehydrate after all those Stella's and a paper. I then went back to my tent where 4 blokes, 2 on Tigers, one an old Norton and one on a new Moto Guzzi were pitching up after a few days touring the Scottish Isles. After a chat it was time for me to get some kip.

Monday morning I woke a bit later than usual, about half 7 and made a brew. I was still undecided whether to return home today I find somewhere to stay for the night as I had spent more money than I expected. I set off south again on a mixture of A and B roads towards Crieff where I filled up again. I then headed south towards Edinburgh as I wanted to cross the Forth Bridge. I passed through Gleneagles which is famous for its golf and onto Dunfermline where I shot passed the Knockhill Race Circuit. I had to get a picture of my bike in front of the entrance so turned around. Whilst I was taking photos I thought I could hear high revving engines, I removed my ear plugs and I had thought right so off I went to take a look. Turned out to be a track day which I watched for half an hour I was also starving but the café was shut.

I now headed towards Edinburgh and cross the Forth Bridge, never again. I hated every minute of it. It was so windy it felt like the bike was going to be taken from beneath me. I ended up doing speeds of around 20mph and was being blown around so much hardly anyone dared pass me. I was glad to get off. I stopped at South Queensferry for a couple of photos and decided to try and get to Peebles where I would get something to eat. The ride there was fairly uneventful and there is a lot more traffic on the roads than further north. I got to Peebles and ordered a big ham salad sandwich, a piece of cake and a can of coke from a small café and headed off somewhere quiet to eat it.

Fully refreshed I decided not to bother camping anywhere tonight and to head home. However I still had miles more roads to ride and headed to Hawick via Selkirk where I filled up again and spent the last of my Scottish money. I then took the road to Jedburgh and then headed to the English/Scottish border where there was a burger van. It would be rude not to wouldn't it so I had a cheese burger with onions and tomato sauce. A cheese burger has never tasted so good.

I continued on the A68 across the rolling hills of the Northumberland national park all the way to Darlington where I picked up A1 which took me home.

My missus wasn't expecting me home until Tuesday so it was a big surprise for her and she didn't even have Leroy round looking after her

In total I did 988 miles in 3 full days riding and loved every minute off it even when my arse was hurting. Would I do it again? Too right I would. I would go tomorrow if I could and next time I'm going to do the Scottish Isles. I'm glad I went on my own as I don't think many people would be happy to do the non stop riding I did and always turning around, getting lost and just generally making it up as I went along. I spoke to different people who all had different and interesting stories to tell.

Sorry for such a long story, it was only meant to be a short one.

Ben
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Yamaha Fazer FZS600 2003 ¦ Peugeot 206 GTI 180BHP 2003 ¦ BMW 323i SE

[kitty kat]

Great read, you actually did a few of the roads I did 2 years ago when I went solo to Scotland. I got lost slightly in Glasgow whilst looking for a campsite. I ended up at a petrol station that fortunately had a large scale map on the wall which showed clearly where I needed to be. I also detoured to the Forth Bridge - what memories that brought up for me. Not only did I have the high winds, but also torrential rain, like you, not an experience I will be keen to relive.
At Loch Ness I stopped at the castle and refused to pay to look at it, but I rode all the way around the loch and found the B roads on the east of the Loch to be fantastic riding roads.
Think I did just over 1000 miles from Blackpool to Skye to Inverness and home again in 3 days. Hopefully I will get to take my partner up there one day and spend more time touring the west of Scotland.


Now look what you have gone and done - got me thinking and planning a motorbike tour again
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
Life is too short to fall out with people

[kitty kat]

Just looked at your photos, I also stopped at that layby with the big stone with Scotland engraved on it. I was heading for coast around the Farne Islands and Lindisfarne. I also ride a fazer, but I have a MK1.

I got the stone which had England engraved on it, but I am sure you will recognise it and the butty bar

https://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w119/thekittykat1/East%20coast%20camping%20trip/th_EastCoastCampingTrip007.jpg
https://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w119/thekittykat1/East%20coast%20camping%20trip/th_EastCoastCampingTrip008.jpg
____________________
Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
Life is too short to fall out with people

[Nai]

Good write and lotsa pretty pictures! God I want to do something like this on a motorbike someday.... I am guessing a tour of Scotland riding from London on a 125 would be pushing it a tad though....

[Bendy]

Go further north (and west) than Inverness next time - you missed out all the good bits!

[Stevie GooGs]

[transporter]

I get up or down the West Coast every year in the camper and the roads and views are fantastic,usually start in the Ardnamurcham peninsula and work up from there,last year we went up through Shiness and back down the west coast,Scourie,Drumbeg,Applecross etc etc Fantastic