Scotland.....again?????

[Lonewolf]

My fifth trip to Scotland this year, fourth on the bike, using three different bikes.    It's been a very busy year. 


I was determined to get a final Scottish trip in this year before the weather turned too nasty, so I managed to get myself a last minute deal at the Harbour Hotel in Portpatrick on the West Coast of Scotland. One night, £55 including breakfast. Never stayed at this hotel before but I have stayed at Portpatrick previously in addition to doing numerous day visits over the years.


If folk haven't been before I thought I'd share a few pics and a very quick write up as I'm not convinced people even read these anymore.


Usual route set off from home via Devils Bridge, (excellent bacon butties), onto the M6 and then bear left onto the A75 towards Dumfries etc, approximately 4-5 hrs from home which isn't too bad. The weather was pretty decent heading North, unlike my return journey!


I didn't really stop on the way up apart from here to get the staff to call the Fire service as there was, surprisingly a fire, in the forest which was at risk of spreading and although I was capable of dialling 999 I wasn't really confident that I would be able to explain too well where I was. 






On the final run into Portpatrick there is this quaint old house, or at least the remains of it! Not too sure what it used to be but it's on MOD land.





Got checked into the hotel and as you would expect in some of these far flung places there is no issue with anyone messing with your bike.





It seems the Anglesea and the Harbour Hotel are owned by the same folk so you can park right outside the front door which is exactly what I did.


I couldn't fault the room.














The food in the restaurant was mostly fish based and all locally sourced and of course fresh.











I did some night photography, a long exposure and a time lapse, I'd never done a time lapse before but it came out okay I thought.





The long exposure, 30 seconds.





The time lapse.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZN9PS5vPsI


After a great nights sleep comes a full Scottish breakfast, minus the haggis, black pudding and tomato, I refuse to eat any of that stuff.








After checking out I took a few quick photos of down by the harbour.

















And then headed home in a lovely 1.5 degrees with strong winds, a bikers dream.    No regrets though, it was a good little trip and probably the last trip to Scotland on the bike this year as it was bloody nippy.


Hope you enjoy the write up.

[PRD]

Had lunch  at that hotel in August.

[Lonewolf]

Had lunch at that hotel in August.

Did you enjoy it?

[pross]

Lovely pictures and a nice brief write up mr Wolf 👌

[PRD]

Did you enjoy it?

yes we did.

[flatfour]

Steve, please keep the reports coming - I at least read them in full and always enjoy it. Very helpful to see places through the camera lens that might be candidates for a future visit!

[O.C.]

Great pics/report (as usual) I see  that the 'blemish' on your camera lens has been removed       

[Lonewolf]

Great pics/report (as usual) I see  that the 'blemish' on your camera lens has been removed       

Apart from in the first two pics. 

[O.C.]

I was trying to look past it    

Personally I'd have swapped the shellfish stuff  for a goodly portion of Haggis, Black Pudding  and Tomato. ...nom nom nom   

The time lapse is V good.... do you still have tge Sony mirror less  ?   

[Rynglieder]

Well I've read it as well and thank you very much for posting.

As I've said before I have never made it into Scotland on the bike but have made many visits to Portpatick on four wheels - I'm not sure exactly what draws me there but it has a sort of charm of it's own.

Good to hear you enjoyed the trip.

Pete.

[Lonewolf]

I was trying to look past it    

Personally I'd have swapped the shellfish stuff  for a goodly portion of Haggis, Black Pudding  and Tomato. ...nom nom nom   

The time lapse is V good.... do you still have tge Sony mirror less  ?   

Yes, Sony seem to be going from strength to strength and running rings around even Nikon and Canon at the moment due to their continued strive to produce and deliver what the public want. Nikon in particular will bring a new camera out every few years, whereas Sony it's almost an annual event. I still have the Sony A7r2 which I use for some of my studio shots and I bought a Sony A9 18 months ago which is an absolute game changer for action photography due to it's currently unrivalled focusing ability in particular on fast moving objects. It's brilliant for the dogs.

[Lonewolf]

Steve, please keep the reports coming - I at least read them in full and always enjoy it. Very helpful to see places through the camera lens that might be candidates for a future visit!

Colin, many thanks, glad you enjoyed it. 

[Lonewolf]

Well I've read it as well and thank you very much for posting.

As I've said before I have never made it into Scotland on the bike but have made many visits to Portpatick on four wheels - I'm not sure exactly what draws me there but it has a sort of charm of it's own.

Good to hear you enjoyed the trip.

Pete.

Pete, I think you have hit the nail on the head, Portpatrick doesn't exactly have a lot to offer in 'material' things, but in charm it excels. I think it just has a presence about it that attracts me.

[Rusty]

Steve..... 1. Nice Time Lapse. 2. Nice photos .. obviously ! 3. Save me the haggis, black pudding and tommy tomatoes ... if I knew you didn,t like them I would have ridden up from the south coast to scoff them for you !!!
Great write up and as always much appreciated .... now then .. I have just come back from a wedding up in Notts and  ...........

[Lonewolf]

I should have sent the haggis and black pudding down in a doggy bag for Molly.