Monday 20 August 2007

Scotland - coast to coast

We forgot to mention we reached our 2000 milestone 11th August.
Afternoon ferry to Ullapool.Great views of water falls on either side of the Loch as we approached port.As we disembarked the heavens opened and a very strong head wind -fortunately only had a few hundred yards to cycle to Ullapool campsite
14th.When we emerged in the morning sunshine we could see what a fab setting surrounded by mountains and estuary views.The glorious weather continued as we cycled towards Inverness through wonderful mountain scenery.Camped at Beauly on the river.
15th.Another sunny day -went down South side of Loch Ness to lovely unspoilt village of Fort Augustus ,where there is an opening road bridge to allow yachts through to 4 locks at the Caledonian canal.
16th.Cycled the tow path and off road through private estates and forest.Met a very interesting lock keeper who was busy letting yachts ,holiday barges and all sorts through Gairlochy Lock and operating an opening swing road bridge.There were quite a lot of touring cyclists following this Great Glen cycling route.We paid our respects at the Spean bridge Commando memorial -magnificent with the back drop of Nevis.The summit was hidden in cloud.
17th The cloud lifted from Nevis as we left Roybridge campsite ;glorious view of the summit and snow patches on this North side.Cycled through the Drumocther pass to Blair Atholl on wonderful cycle route beside the railway and river,surrounded by the Cairngorms.The highest railway in UK.Camped in the Blair estate by the castle .A 5 star enormous site .The village is still all estate owned and very quaint.
18th .We knew it couldn't last -the weather deteriorated and rained all day -so we decided to keep on cycling past Perth -67 miles to camp near pleasant village of Kinross .The rain continued all night !
19th Fine in the morning and all day as we headed for the Forth Rd bridge ,pausing to take photos of the railbridge-then a puddley trip along the canal to Linlithgow and up the hill to Jane and Mikes where a feast of lamb and sampling of Mikes famous wine cellar sustained us.We are now drying out as everything got wet when we had to wade through a flooded section of cycle route near Dunfermeline -even deeper than in Wales -keeping Jane's washing machine busy .
20th To spend pm in Edinburgh sampling the Fringe.

Plan to head south thru the Borders from Wednesday, to call at Mike's sister's in Mansfield.