Thursday 22nd July 2021
A scooter run to Rubha Reidh Lighthouse (184 miles).
A hot journey to beyond Gairloch.
I went through to Dingwall and stopped at LIDL this time to purchase the usual picnics I enjoy. I then went to Tesco for petrol. I took the road out by Strathpeffer to Garve, stopping before Garve to eat. The day was warming up. Since my last dramatic adventure I have fitted a new rear tyre and new rear shocks. I also fitted a new angled valve bought from Ali Express. Goodtread Tyre Company in Alness kindly took the tyre off and allowed me to clean up the rim at home and then fit the new valve. Taking it back they then fitted the new tyre they had ordered. I am trying a Michelin City Grip 2 Scooter Tyre instead of the Avon Viper Stryke Scooter Tyre I have had on the rear the last twice. Just in case! It cost me a lot more.

I then followed the Ullapool road out by Loch Galscarnoch. We have had the most amazing summer but the loch is low. There has been next to no rain since the end of May.



This was taken a wee bit before the junction at Braemore. The hill in the distance at the end of the loch is An Teallach.

Not long after turning off at Braemore there is this lovely view down to Loch Broom.

This is nearer An Teallach. An impressive hill. I went up it at least 40 years ago with my usual hill walking buddies – my two brothers Billy and Roddy and my cousin Martin. I remember we cut down from the ridge instead of following to the end. This lead to a hair raising decent.

I stopped at this old cottage. The clegs (or horseflies, if you are English) were fierce. What is horrible is that when I went behind the cottage there was human excreta and toilet paper. With so many people taking holidays in the UK the places are mobbed. People are treating our lovely north of Scotland shamefully. Shame on you whoever did this. What a place to have lived in.

And look at the view!




I soon got over to the West coast reaching Dundonnel.


I kept stopping to take photos as the scenery was so amazing.


This must be looking to the hills of Sutherland.





I stopped for lunch before Poolewe at a place called Tournaig.


It was so hot I had to get the gear off. The banana milk was a little warm. Not at its best. The chocolate din’t melt though.

Beyond Poolewe I had to get a picture of these water lilies.




At Gairloch I took the right turn through the village and headed by Big Sand to Melvaig and then followed the deteriorating track to the lighthouse at Rubha Reidh. The haar was back and it was much cooler. This is the furthest West point of the day.




You can make out hills sticking out of the haar (or fog). They are probably on the North of Skye.

Once back down the road and out of the haar the hills of Wester Ross came into view.

The bell heather is out.

I got back to Gairloch about 2.45 and went down to the beach beyond the Free Church.


I had my wee picnic here on the beach. The cemetery is beside the beach car park.

The car park was a bit full.


The road then follows Loch Maree to Kinlochewe. The mountain here is Slioch which Martin and me planed to do a couple of times. So far I haven’t done it and as I get older I am less inclined!





After Kinlochewe the road goes through Glen Docherty and then past Loch a Chroisg.

At Achnasheen I headed to Garve, then Contin and went to Dingwall by Strath Brahan. I picked up more petrol at Tesco and parked behind the Renato’s chip shop. Excellent service. I took my supper to the end of Ferry Road where the Peffery River comes into the Cromarty Firth.


Home is just below the hill to the right above the yellow field, Fyrish.


I arrived home about 6.20 having had a lovely day. I don’t know why but I am starting to get saddle sore on trips now. Is it old age? Is the saddle getting over used. It was good to have a day out with no disasters.