Isle of Skye 2007

Monday - Lovely weather for ducks!

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We first tried to visit the Isle of Skye back in 2002 but failed when Caledonian McBrayne (Calmac) took the Mallaig ferry away, to assist another that had failed in the outer islands. Hopefully, this trip would be more successful!

The Isle of Skye on the west coast of Scotland, not a big island by any means. By road it's only 65 miles approx. from top to bottom.

I spent the Saturday afternoon preceding the trip on the phone and PC, planning routes and arranging accommodation. We would be using hostels again from the Scottish Independent Hostel website that worked so well on Bill's Scottish tour in 2005. With this trip being arranged at very short notice, the day of departure soon came around amidst much weather watching (and it wasn't looking good!). Rain was expected for the first three days, then improving. Oh well, it was all arranged now, and you never know, the forecast may be wrong (mind you, that can work either way!).

Riders on this trip were:

• Gee         Kawasaki GPZ500

• Neil          Honda Pan European

• Patto       BMW 1200RT 

• Ebbo       BMW 1200RT

06:45 We'd planned an early start for the 300 mile ride up to Scotland and our first stop at Corran. Gee turned up promptly, and after loading the first route on the GPS we set off for Scotch Corner.

07:39 Just 45 miles later and we've reached Scotch Corner and stopped at the A66 layby cafe enjoying coffee and hot sausage & egg sandwich. Very tasty and welcoming as the Sun had now disappeared behind overcast skies. With rain forecast on the west side of England and Scotland, things did not bode well for the ride ahead.

N54 26.553 W1 40.790 (map)

08:50 Fifteen miles further down the A66 we met up with brothers Patto and Neil in a layby, it was already spitting fine rain. Patto told us on the way here, he'd hit a bump in the road that had launched his Garmin 2610 Satnav completely out of its mounting. It was only saved from bouncing down the road by its power cable. Now it had a cable tie wrapped around it to making sure it didn't happen again!

N54 30.910 W2 01.890 (map)

09:40 Southwaite services on the M6. We'd hit a few showers of fine rain before stopping for fuel and more refreshments. From here we decided to press on, not stopping again until the far side of Glasgow which should see off a good 100 miles.

N54 47.858 W2 52.310 (map)

A few miles north of Southwaite, it started to rain in earnest. For a good few miles I managed to stay dry, mostly thanks to the handlebar muffs I'd fitted the previous evening. However, as we rode through the traffic on Glasgow's M8 I felt wetness creeping down from the cuffs. Water was running down the sleeve of the jacket under the muff and into my gloves. By the time we had passed over the Erskine bridge and reached Luss, my gloves were saturated.

12:36 Glendarroch Tea Rooms, Luss. Soaked as we were, it was time for a brew and at least a change of gloves! The Glendarroch Tea Rooms are a little basic, but the cheese and onion pasty, flapjack and tea were very welcome. Despite the rain, we were making excellent time, I can't remember ever getting this far north so quickly before, it just shows what an early start can do for you, and we only had 67 mile to go to our first nights accommodation in Corran, just below Fort William.

N56 06.021 W4 38.495 (map)

14:00 Green Welly Stop, Tyndrum. Leaving Luss behind us we rode 29 miles further before stopping at the Green Welly Stop a favourite biker haunt. It was still chucking it down, so after a short debate we decided to fuel up and press on for Corran. The lure of a warm hostel and dry clothes was drawing us on.

N56 26.261 W4 42.728 (map)

15:00  Corran Bunkhouse, Corran. we'd made it, and in record time for us! The rain seemed to be easing off now so Patto nipped back to Ballachulish for a few supplies (milk, tea, coffee, bread etc) while the rest of us got changed.

N56 43.262 W5 14.033 (map)

Ned, our stand-in Australian host, showed us around. The drying room was descended on immediately, and all out wet gear was hung up to dry overnight. fingers crossed it would be all dry by morning.

Our ensuite room, complete with fridge and telly with built in DVD player, all for £14 each per night. If they're all as good as this we've cracked it!

Once Patto returned with the supplies, we all had hot drinks and buttered toast. Gee brought his bike on to the dry veranda and spent an hour looking for a misfire that had plagued the last bit of his ride up here. It was probably caused by the heavy rain. After improvements were made, his bike was reassembled, ready for tomorrow.

One of the things that had attracted me to this Bunkhouse were the two pubs close by. Corran Bunkhouse was right next to the Corran Inn, and over Loch Linnhe via the Corran/Ardgour Ferry was another pub The Inn at Ardgour. We'd had 'The Inn' recommended for our evening meal earlier, so a little later, that's where we headed.

Approaching The Inn at Ardgour via the Coran car ferry (free for foot passengers). It only takes around five minutes to make the 1/3rd mile crossing, last ferry back was 21.20. A motorcycle over this ferry is only £1.50.

N56 43.370 W5 14.640 (map)

We had a few beers and a good meal in 'The Inn', before catching the last ferry back, it was of course, still raining.

Next stop was the Corran Inn for a few more beers before bed. We were the only customers, but Chas the barman made us very welcome and shook hands with us all, I think he was a bit disappointed to hear we were leaving next morning after hearing him mutter "Well, that was a waste of time". Very sorry Chas :-(

So, that's the end of day one, and the forecast for tomorrow is... more rain.

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Today's map, York to Corran just south of Fort William, 309 miles travelled in 8h38m

Today's temperature graph. Nothing more was recorded by the GPS after Glendarroch Tea Rooms due to heavy rain drowning it out :-(

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