Scotland NC 500

[Lonewolf]

Five more days and then it's off on my jollies as I go for a short bike tour up North. Hopefully the weather will be kind but you take your chances with Scotland and it'll throw at you what it wants! 

Looking forward to revisiting Skye and hoping to go whale watching while I'm there. The NC500 speaks for itself and the West Coast is nothing short of awesome.

Photos will of course be added whenever possible. 😁

[pross]

Five more days and then it's off on my jollies as I go for a short bike tour up North. Hopefully the weather will be kind but you take your chances with Scotland and it'll throw at you what it wants! 

Looking forward to revisiting Skye and hoping to go whale watching while I'm there. The NC500 speaks for itself and the West Coast is nothing short of awesome.

Photos will of course be added whenever possible. 😁

Sounds awesome enjoy 👌

[Lonewolf]

Sounds awesome enjoy 👌

Many thanks, have you ever been?

[pross]

Many thanks, have you ever been?

No never visited often thought about it but never got around to it maybe one day 

[Lonewolf]

No never visited often thought about it but never got around to it maybe one day 

Yes, you must make the effort one day, you won't be disappointed!

[Lonewolf]

Well I'm back, what a trip. A modest 1100 trouble free miles. It was a solo trip as my intended companion was not to be. Sometimes it's better to do these trips by yourself, less problematic! Hopefully this will inspire others to visit Scotland, it's amazing just how many people have never actually been.


Day 1, Bradford in West Yorkshire to Skye, just over 400 miles in glorious rain, who would want anything different? 





I had the pleasure of a deer sauntering across the road in-front of me at one point with no degree of urgency at all and a pretty un-eventful ride up towards Luss just below Loch Lomond














Mid afternoon I arrived on Skye and booked into a lovely hotel, The Sligachan, £60 per night inc breakfast on a BH weekend, excellent value for money. Thankfully there was a drying room within the hotel, as there are with most hotels which attract walkers etc. So I managed to aire my gear off in preparation for the following day.


So not only did I have a bit of rain on the way to Skye, but it seems Skye had experienced a few drops of rain as well as can be seen from the river here.





I took advantage of the fast flowing river and took some atmospheric shots later the same evening whilst enjoying the hospitality of the midges.














Finally one of the Sligachan Hotel, partially illuminated by the lamps.





The following day I did a tour of Skye, roughly as per the below map. The roads were extremely busy, much more so than they used to be a few years ago. Minibus after Minibus!





Starting with Portree, the capital of Skye.





Further up the coast there was a viewing point where down below these chaps & chapesses were canoeing.











The same evening, back at the hotel there was a beautiful glow over the Cuillen's next to my hotel.











On Tuesday, day three it was time to leave Skye and head towards Applecross via a large circuit something along these lines travelling on a section of the NC500.





But first, I wanted a photo of the bike with the Skye bridge in the background.





Once over the bridge and onto there A87 is Kyle of Lochalsh and Eileen Donan Castle.





Then on the circuit around Applecross I stopped to take some photos just to show the isolation.











Apparently in and amongst all these stickers there is a warning saying something about this being a dangerous road!








I then went towards Castle Urquhart at Drumnadrochit and towards my next hotel, The Clansman. But first I called into the Lochness Inn at Drumnadrochit, I've been here many times before, a beautiful pub/hotel and the food is outstanding.





That evening, opposite The Clansman Hotel I went to Lochness and took some more pics.




















The following morning, heading towards Spean Bridge I stopped at the Commando Memorial for a quick moment to reflect on what it represents and to read some of the messages left on behalf of fallen soldiers, airmen, Navy etc.





Onwards towards Glencoe and the carpark where the Piper normally touts for business amongst the foreign tourists.








And then finally the long leg back home to West Yorkshire. 


A good trip overall and the plan is to go back again mid August this year. 

[pross]

Looks stunning.
and beautiful photos mr Wolf some of the river ones looked like it was frozen I need to do this 👌

[Boomer]

Looks like ya had fun. 
It's been a while since I was up that way. July 1984 to be precise.

[Robbieben]

Lovely part of the world, I really enjoy my trips up to the West coast of Scotland. Great write up and pictures too. 

[Lonewolf]

Looks stunning.
and beautiful photos mr Wolf some of the river ones looked like it was frozen I need to do this 👌

Much appreciated, you'll have to organise yourself a long weekend up there sometime.

[Lonewolf]

Looks like ya had fun. 
It's been a while since I was up that way. July 1984 to be precise.

Bloody hell, you need to get your arse back up there, pronto! 

[Lonewolf]

Lovely part of the world, I really enjoy my trips up to the West coast of Scotland. Great write up and pictures too. 

Many thanks, the West Coast is stunning isn't it? 

[Rusty]

Well that looks very nice Steve .. very pleasant indeed. Photos as usual are excellent .. you are getting better my friend ! I have yet to experience blue Skies on Skye .. one day perhaps. 

[Rynglieder]

Thanks for sharing- those trips are what owning a bike is all about.

It is indeed a stunning landscape, I think I have been to almost every place you photographed, but sadly never on a bike - I was always hauling a caravan with kids and a dog in the car.

The photos also deserve a compliment, I wish I had the patience to use what I have got better - what equipment are you using and do you post-edit  with any software when you get home?

Looking forward to hearing about your next trip, whereever it takes you.....

Pete.

[Lonewolf]

Hi, many thanks for the comments. I use a Sony A9 mirror less camera and then for these shots I used a Zeiss 35mm f1. 4 prime lens. Both the lens and camera are full frame. I then edit the shots in Adobe Lightroom.