Last brew before Glasgow

Inveraray.

Now, we had decided to trust the 'sat nav's to take us from Oban to Inveraray. We knew it would take us away from the coast road,  but should save us some time as we still had a long run home back to Knaresborough. 'Won't do it again, it took us on a very scenic route along the edge of Loch Awe, now this is deffinatley GS country. Very narrow single track road for the next 22 bloody miles. All I can say is if you like to see wildlife and no humans this the road to take. Had we not been pressed for time it would have been fantastic, 20miles an hour for 22 miles. I know Andy will have a laugh when he reads this.

Oban.

Lets head for home!

Cammando war mamorial

Ben Nevis in low cloud

Time to head for home.

Andy taking in the scenery We had decided to follow the west coast road home, heading down to Oban, and then onto Inveraray. Always like to stop off at he commando memorial just above Spean Bridge. We woke that morning to a fresh cover of snow on the tops.

Enjoying a pint in the boat boat house resteraunt at the bottom end of Loch Ness

Full recomend this for a good evening meal and a pint http://www.lochnessboathouse.co.uk/

If you want a rest from 2 wheels, you can have a blast in fast 'rib' on loch Ness, these lads don't hang about!

Taking it all in

Between 1,500 and 2,000 Jacobites were killed or wounded in the brief battle, while government losses were lighter with 50 dead and 259 wounded. The aftermath of the battle and subsequent crackdown on Jacobitism was brutal, earning Cumberland the sobriquet "Butcher".

can't beat a cat nap !

Battle field visitor centre

the only remaining building.

Culloden battle field

The last pitched battle ever fought on British soil took place here.,The Battle of Culloden  was the final confrontation of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Taking place on 16 April 1746, the battle pitted the Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart against an army commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, loyal to the British government.

Messing about in puddles !

On route to culloden battle field nr inverness

Brilliant roads again.

Ex! runners leg's

Andy, 'wonder what it corners like? '

Taking in the locks at fort Augustus

water stop ! off load, and load.

Fantastic Railway Journey

This train track down the west coast has got to be one of the best in the country and is on my list of things to do when Iam too old  to bike or when its bloody raining. How this train gets up to Achnasheen from the Kyle  I will never know, the views are fantastic.

Achnasheen

We had decided that if the weather held we would take the west coast route down to The Kyle of lochalsh.
Taking the A832 to Achnasheen and then onto the A890 which took us down to Loch Carron. Un beknown to us we were about to ride into the worst rain I have ever biked in! It hit us at the cross roads just before the loch. And to cap it all we need to refuel at Loch carron and the bloody garage/pumps were out in the open. It was a wet ride back to fort augustus, all i can say is the screen on the RT paid for it's self ten times over that afternoon.

Andy's always eager to be off !

fish & chips or sandwiches?

Not sure?

Now I am just glad andy's carrying the two helmets, otherwise we may have been ejected from the key side!

Big boat ! ( bloody big boat! )

The ship was one of four UK emergency towing vessels which was untill recently in  service with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Loch Broom

Ullapool Harbour

Ullapool

Next day we decided to do the run upto Ullapool. The A835 is a brilliant road and there is a cafe/pub just before you enter the highland moors, which takes you over the tops to Ullapool.

Just love the local post card's

I can relate with the guy in blue! certainly with the milage we seem to clock up in a day.

End of the road heading north,

could alway's toss a coin for next direction?

Lynn,Andy & Sue with the Orkney Islands behind.

Nice couple, must be from abroard ?

Now this is the free one, take as many photo's as you want and nobody comes running over asking for money. Hasent got the same backdrop though, good looking couple though. Even if they did arrive on a kwacker/rocket !

Hurry up he's cumming !

Unbeknown to us the post is private property and you have to pay the chap, who was currently running towards us, for him to take a photo! now being from yorkshire you can imagine the conversation which was about to take place! needless to say this was a freebie,ha! 5 minutes after we managed this photo he stripped all the signs of the post chucked em in his car and buggered off. Have since looked into this and the company that owns this one also owns the one at lands end! so much for national monuments.

Furthest point north.

Great ride up on the A9 to Wick and then hugged the coast road to John o Groates

Don't worrie Sue thats for winter !

Furthest point north on UK mainland

We had planned to have a short ride out on first day, but as normal saw the sign for John o Groat's whilst having a steady ride up the side of Loch Ness towards Inverness, and decided why not. The A9 coast road is superb with cheap fuel at Tesco in Wick,bonus! Andy shot in like a bloody rabbit !!

Carn A Chullin B&B Fort Augustus

http://www.carnachuilinn.co.uk/ We had a great stay here, rooms were great and only a ten minute walk into town. Good breakfast too.