Five Day Tour of Scotland

The assembled Scotland Tour Ferrets were, from left to right, top shot: Steve & Julie (SteveG), Simon (Chimes), Kit (Mrs Clive), Debbie (Mrs Chimes), Lainey (Mrs Stuey), Del (Grey Wolf) and Stuey.  Garf & Sue (Precious Metal) had yet to be met up with.

Bottom Shot: Julie & Steve (SteveG), Debbie (Mrs Chimes), Kit (Mrs Clive), Lainey (Mrs Stuey), Del (grey Wolf) and Clive.

Thursday - To Melrose

The Thursday was to be a case of just getting up to the overnight stay at the hotel in Melrose, and because of the various family and work commitments, it looked like there'd be three groups converging on the Borders town.  Precious Metal (Garf & Sue) were making their own way leisurely up there early in the day, which they did do, and were able to spend some time sussing out a suitable meal venue.

The next group were Chimes (Simon & Debbie), Clive (Clive & Kit) and SteveG (Steve & Julie), who were meeting up at the Tickled Trout.  A little later, and it was to be the turn of Stuey (Stu & Lainey) to meet up with Grey Wolf (Del) at the M6 junction 42 services.

The Thursday promised well, on the weather front, as the Tickled Trout meet-up happened.  Although we were wondering if the oversuits and thermal underwear may have been a bit cautious, it wasn't that warm, and it did turn wet at times on the way north.  So, a mixture of A6 and M6 brought this group pleasantly to Devil's Bridge.

The original plan, changed at a late stage, was to have met up with Stuey at Devil's Bridge, but despite their now going at a later time, the stop was kept in just to have a break and a cuppa ..... and a burger .....  It was then across a wonderfully twisting A684, marred a little by slower traffic, and onto the A6 at Kendal for that great bash up the Shap run.  A nice taster for the later Scottish paces!

So, by the time the Tickled Trout group reached the M6 junction 42 services break, they had the wonderful surprise of seeing Stuey's bike parked there!  Stu & Lainey had managed to get away a tad early but had misread the various meet-up times, so had sailed past Devil's Bridge in haste to get to the services to meet up with Grey Wolf, not realising that Chimes, Clive & SteveG would have been there about the time they were passing.  And, not long after, Grey Wolf rolled in, so it was great to now have a larger group than was originally anticipated.

From the services, we all streamed up the wonderful A7, blowing plenty of cobwebs and dust from our collective hair for the next break at Hawick, where the first group photo was taken (minus Precious Metal).

A little bit more of the spectacular A7, and we were meeting up with Precious Metal at the hotel in Melrose.  And this was lovely, with a great view of the Abbey, and next door there was a great pub that Garf & Sue had searched out for us all, that served excellent food - in Scottish portions, of course!

Friday - To Roy Bridge

The Friday started wet and miserable ...... and more or less stayed that way!  It wasn't helped by the fact that this day held perhaps the most tedious and less than inspiring part of the route - the wending of our way between the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, to avoid their hindrance to progress, and to avoid the tedium of any motorway options.  However, what became evident, was that the standard of the minor roads in that lull between the two metropolises leaves a great deal to be desired!  However, once north of Glasgow, everything improved no end ... other than the weather!

Here we are seen taking a break on the beautiful route around Loch Venachar, where the scenery easily outweighs the climate, and in many ways was quite enhanced by it.  What the weather didn't enhance was the enjoyment of the breathtaking bends and roads .... oh for dry roads!  This route will certainly go into the reserve bank for another, drier day.

Lunch was had in Callendar, at the woollen mill shop cafe, where Del bought a nice T-shirt, at a reduced price, as the one he was wearing was a tad wet by then!

Now, because the day was so damned wet, and knowing that the roads along the coast in the Oban area are not brilliant in the wet, and hence slow going, the route was cut shorter at Clifton by us going north on the A82 instead of west and then south on the A85.  This reduced a 307 mile day in the pissing rain, to a mere 220, and brought us to our stop at Glen Coe.

Glencoe is very atmospheric, and very majestic, and almost always marred by poor visibility.  It was no different on this occasion, but the stop on the descent gave us a chance to soak in this atmosphere ..... and in Simon's case dry out his left leg!!!  It was also the only place, that day, where we spotted blue sky ... not much, it has to be said!

Mind you, who gives a toss about the weather when you've got roads like this!

The next stop and longer break was at Fort William, where the time gained in cutting out the south-western loop was used to allow a longer sight-seeing stop.  The final leg for the day then only being some ten miles to the hotel just northeast of Fort William.

So, in some ways, it was a welcome relief to get to the Stronlossit Inn at Roy Bridge and slip into hot baths and showers, before getting down to the restaurant for a meal.

And, of course, a few drinks.

And, the chance to check on the weather forecast for the Saturday and to decide on whether we were to do the Isle of Skye or Ullerpool.  Well, although it wasn't a clear cut decision, we did all agree to do the Ullerpool run on the Saturday, and leave Skye for the slightly better forecast Sunday.

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Page Updated

28/06/2008 23:54