West coast of Scotland

[xrv_jim]

Fewtrees and I have just spent a very pleasant week tootling around the west coast of Scotland.

[gvideo]http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=426173131082831566[/gvideo]

I'll post some photo's soon, the resolution of the slideshow is very poor.

[Austin]

good pics, and good sound track too.

Where did you go?

[Whealie]

Looks like a lot of fun (and I embedded it for you - just paste in the url, highlight it and click the google button - a Gin a white square, next tot he you tube button).

[xrv_jim]

Cheers Chris I saw the Google Vid button but couldn't figure out what to do with it!

[Zenarchy]

Looks brilliant! I'm hoping to get up there myself sometime in the next couple of weeks (should have been up there earlier in the summer but had to be abandoned because of a bad leg shortly followed by loads of bills turning up, then needing to get back to work). I'm really looking forward to it. Some of the scenery in your video looks amazing.

I've just put a link to this in my tool bar so I can use it to motivate me to get my projects finished so i can get up there a bit sooner.

Any campsite recommendations, or any good places to wild camp you noticed?

[xrv_jim]

OK, here are some of the photo's...

Instead of trailing up the M74 to Glasgow we decided to try out a less direct route through Dumfries & Galloway...


Here's a few of fewtrees adhering strictly to the 30 mph speed limit near New Galloway!







After making a pilgrimage visit to the Electric Brae we rode on to the Gourock/Hunters Quay ferry directly into Argyll...


Taking a break on a very minor road to Otter Ferry






I think we were OK?




Loch Awe - loads of rough-camping spots, but it's midge heaven!




The summit of Belach na Ba, the only road to Applecross until 1975 when the north road was completed




Camping at Applecross. I made friends with many midges here






Sea fret from the north road out of Applecross, near Sheildaig








The AT contemplates a run up Liathach




Apparently, back in the day, this was a food house for General Wade's 'workers' who built the road Torridon and Kinlochewe




Camping near Achiltibuie and the Summer Isles. Don't know all the mountains (IanS where are you?) but I think the pointy one is Stack Polly (Stac Pollaidh) and that's possibly Suilven (Sula Bheinn) on the left hand side




Kylesku bridge




Waiting for a phone call in Drumbuie

[xrv_jim]

Any campsite recommendations, or any good places to wild camp you noticed?

Campsites are pretty thin on the ground though I can highly recommend Applecross and Achiltibuie when you're up north. I'll PM you with specific locations.

There are loads of wild camp sites - we came a cross an idyllic one on a white sandy beach but a few minutes indescision cost us the spot. If you see a good spot and it's after 4 pm, stake your claim by pitching up.

Hope you have a great trip and the weather is as kind to you as it was to us. When the sun's shining, there is no place I'd rather be than on the west coast of Scotland - it's pure soul food.

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Whoa! You were lucky with the weather. Fab area to visit!

[iswoolley]

It's all good!

[jimmysimpson1]

Gods country. I was out for a run to a few of these places last Sunday. (See photos) Didn't go over to Aplecross though. It's too touristy now. Nice being within commuting distance and back home for a barbie and a Strongbow tho.