Scotland May 2013, Better late than never !!!!!

As I said, better late than Never !!!!.
During 2013 i still managed to ride approx 3,000 miles, how I actually did this i'm not too sure seen as
the GT spent quite a few months in the Garage, it must have been the Blast to France & Belgium in April then most of the mileage done going to Scotland in May.
From May we didn't go out very much on the GT at all, odd days here & there.
Scotland
Well was a trip & half, 2012 we went to Scotland in the car & the weather was very very good, 2013 the weather was ok but we did get wet, and it was very windy going to Ullapool/Golspie.

Day 1, we set out from home, the 1st stop was Edinburgh stopping en-route at Newton Aycliffe for a coffee.
Once at the border we didn't stop for long as there was very low cloud & you could not see far at all so down in to Jedburgh for another Pit-Stop (coffee). Edinburgh is a nice city but all we did was get to the hotel, showered then my m8 & his wife come & picked us up & we went for a meal near the port.

Day 2, up for breakfast & packed up the panniers & off we went heading for Fort William.
We made the decision to get on the way pretty swiftly as the weather report for Edinburgh area was not good. heading North Westerly the weather was better stopping at Tyndrum at The Green Welly Cafe Stop, this is a big cafe, biker, hotel, coach & truck park on the way to Glenn Coe.
Glenn Coe is a very nice road to take to the Western part of Scotland evan though it got a bit breezy on the bike.

Day 3, leaving the B&B at Fort William we had decided to go to Beauly our next stop which was not that far. We rode via the Isle Of Sky ferry to Skye stopping off in Broadford for a look around, while in this cafe there was another Older couple on holiday having a drink, sod me they only live 10 miles away from us in Doncaster Lol.. leaving Skye & taking photos of the Bridge we passed Eilean Donan Castle a famous castle in Scotland, i really wanted to stop here but there was no point in taking photos of a castle with a load of Scaffolding around it. Beauly it was via a nice little place called Fort Augustus.

Day 4, leaving the very nice B&B at Beauly which looked like a small hotel off to Dingwall for petrol then woosh up to Ullapool "In the Rain & very Strong Wind", I was glad to get to Ullapool the weather was pretty rough needless to say, I've never been here before & was not dissappointed  by the small village/port.
The coffe shop The Frigate was a welcome site let me tell you. From Ullapool we made our way to Golspie for the night, we passed some amazing scenery & more Rain. Fish n Chip meal in the Trawler in Golspie went down a treat tonight.

Day 5, the reason for coming back to Golspie was to visit a castle called Dunrobin Castle very fairy tale looking but great to visit evan though the weather was not good. Back at the B&B we got changed & yes put the wet weather gear on strong winds & a lot of rain on the way down to Pitlochry to our Excellent B&B. Tonight we met up with Phil & his wife again for a meal in the village.

Day 6, after a wonder around Pitlochry & purchasing a bottle of the Amber Necter "Edradour" Whiskey we made tracks for Carlisle, once we got to Glasgow area we came off the main Motorway M74 & followed the old road all the way down to Gretna, a very pleasent ride but Gosh was it windy again, I was glad to get to the Premier Inn that day.

Day 7, last day travelling home from Carlisle via the Lake District. A very wise choice indeed, the weather to end the holiday was glorious Sun & hardly any wind passing through Keswick, Grassmere, Ambleside & stopping in Bowness on Windermere for coffee. En-route home we took in a favorite biker meeting place Devils bridge & then a stop over in Wetherby before getting home..

Tyndrum

Tyndrum

Glen Coe

Taken in Fort William

Mallaig Ferry to Skye

Leaving Mallaig Harbour

Skye Bridge

And Again

Fort Augustus

Fort Augustus

Fort Augustus

Locks at Fort Augustus

Jill waiting for a Latte in Fort Augustus

B&B Beauly

Sign says it all....

Ullapool

Near Golspie

Just the Ticket

Golspie

Dunrobin

All the photos of our trip should be able to be viewed HERE.