A scooter run to Skye and Plockton (196 miles).
“Seize the day”. The weather has been pretty awful since the end of June. You have to get out when you get the chance.
The day had a good, if cold, forecast for the West. Temperatures were supposed to reach 9°C. At home it rained off and on all day. In the West it was blue skies and sunshine.
I left home at about 9.40 and headed along the A9 to the Cromarty Bridge. Just before the bridge the rain started and it rained till I got off the Black Isle. I got a bit damp. I took the single track road once I’d crossed the bridge that goes up to Easter Kinkell past the Ferintosh Free Church. I then headed past the Black Isle Show Ground to Beauly where I stopped at the COOP on the other side of the village to pick up ‘expensive’ supplies. The weather had really improved by the time I reached Beauly.
It was then out to Brockies Corner and over the Culnakirk to Drumnadrochit. This is going up to the Culnakirk where I stopped for something to eat. A white chocolate chip cookie, a Wispa and all washed down with Scotland’s national drink – ‘Irn Bru’. More than I should eat but my excuse was it was to keep away the cold. Just look at those Autumn colours!
Just beyond Drumnadrochit is this beautiful view of Loch Ness.
This is a bit further down the loch.
It was just fantastic driving because the road was fairly quiet. In summer this road is just a tail back of camper vans moving at about 40 mph.
At Invermoriston I turned onto the Kyle of Locahalsh road. Beyond the dam for the Power Station, the Dundreggan Reservoir (from the Ordinance Survey), is the famous ‘Footsteps’. I stopped to look at them.
This is further up Glen Moriston. That is frost and its just a quarter of an hour until midday. No wonder I was feeling cold. But I’m a hard man and pushed on.
That’s frost in the shade.
Loch Cluanie
A section of the old single track road. It now makes a good parking place.
Into Glen Shiel. The hills are really quite something.
And finally out on the West.
The Skye Bridge with the Cuillin Hills beyond.
I crossed the bridge into Skye and stopped between Kylakin and Broadford for my lunch. This is looking to the Red Hills in Skye.
Looking to the mainland.
There were strange carved crows on the gate posts. I’m afraid I climbed over the gate and had my lunch looking out to sea. I had taken a flask of coffee to have with my cheese sandwich, an apple and a packet of crisps (a bit less greedy).
I stopped at the petrol station in Broadford to refill the old scooter. This was the furthest out point.
Quite a view from a petrol station – Beinn na Caillich – Hill of the Old Woman.
My plan for the day was to come back by Plockton, a place I’d never been to. But on coming up from Glen Shiel I noticed a yellow sign at the road to Lochcarron saying it was closed so I changed plans and intended just to come back by Glen Shiel and Glen Moriston (the only possibility). However as I headed back and read the notice properly, it was only closed at night, so I headed to Plockton.
Plockton is rather lovely.
It was just a flying visit to Plockton. It was then on to Strome Ferry.
Beyond the turnoff to Strome Ferry is this wonderful viewpoint. The trees have grown and and are obscuring the view.
It was now very familiar two wheel ground. Through to Strathcarron but not going to Lochcarron. Then the road to Achnaheen by Achnashellech. This is Loch Dughaill before Achnashellach.
I stopped between Achnashellach and Achnasheen to eat and try and warm up. Loch Sgamhain.
Before Garve I tried to get a picture of Ben Wyvis as it had a quite bit of snow on it. My photo does not capture that. Ben Wyvis looks like cloud.
It was onto Contin; this is the turn off to Strathpeffer.
Then it was Dingwall, the Old Evanton Road and home. I was back about 4.30 a bit cold but no major discomfort after such a long scoot. It is an amazingly comfortable and reliable machine. Great to be out on it in such stunning scenery.