a wee run out to Mull

[tendays]

Bit of a long ride up and back but totally worth it. Left the midlands weds night, very blustery on the M6 south of the lakes. Then riding in the dark up the A82, arriving in Glencoe around 2am. I stayed in the Red Squirrel campsite - bit pricey.

Next morning, glorious sunshine. Had a long lie in, then headed off towards Fort William, via McDonalds (rumours of their demise seem to be exaggerated) and the A830 past Glenfinnan to Lochailort.



Then gave Mallaig a miss and turned L onto the A861 down the coast, turning R at Salen onto the B8007 heading onto the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Nice roads, got this all on vid. Some camper van drivers just don't notice the "use passing places to allow overtaking" signs.

When stopped for a breather I met a guy on a Buell doing a similar trip, who recommended a semi-wild camping spot on the W coast of Mull called Calgary Bay. Anyway I made it to the lighthouse marking the most westerley point on Ardnamurchan. The huge horn was more interesting I thought.



Back to Kilchoan to await ferry to Tobermory. This is where they shoot Balimory in case you didn't know...



So if roads are blood vessels, the next one must be a capillary. More hairpins than some alpine passes. The B8073 out west to Calgary Bay. There is a free camping area here with toilets and bins but no drinking water. The local youth were a bit noisy but this didn't spoil a great spot.



Lots of tea, meatballs and pilau rice, a wee dram and a good nights sleep.

Next morning continue around the coast on the same road, joining the A849 east coast road south to the ferry at Fishnish.







From Lochaline, I took the A884 N and detoured onto the B8043 for more coastal twisties, past Kingairloch and on towards Ardgour. This was definitely the best road of the trip. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!







Then caught the Corran ferry and headed home down the A82, with a lot of overtaking, and a detour from Crianlarich into the Trossachs to avoid the Loch Lomond traffic. A bit of a rushed 1000 mile trip. But what weather, landscape, roads, go on you know you want to...

Bigups especially to lowflyer and cookingfat on this forum for route advice before I left.

/tendays

[j]

fantastic pics, Scotland has a special place in my riding heart so wild, so beautiful, so far away. It would be better if they got rid of England so it would be shorter to get there.

[largewayround]

Excellent Report

Pity you had to rush back.

[StumpyFingers]

Excellent looking roads you have up there.

[africajim]

Good to see you got the weather! Pics look great mate, glad you enjoyed.

[lowflyer]

Glad you enjoyed it , you should have called into one of my sites at Lochaline --- I make a mean cup of coffee

[Austin]

Inspiring......i am going to Scotland in 4 weeks time and planned more or less this route for part of it but in reverse then head up to Applecross, Ullapool and beyond. This has just confirmed Mull on the way up.

[boboneleg]

Excellent

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Yeah, great trip.

... so far away. It would be better if they got rid of England so it would be shorter to get there.

Now some might think that a bit drastic, J, but... justifiable!

[MCsanandreas]

good pics and good weather? just the job!