Skye to Inverness via Applecross and Gairloch

 

Click to enlarge the route

Last night we had a nice meal at the hotel - mine was a mackerel potato salad to start with braised lamb shank to follow and Mark? well surprise surprise some more Nachos! I think that was his third plate of the Mexican wonder food this week, I can't recall if this was a starter or main though. I do remember the beer we drank was Isle of Skye Red Ale and notice it's available in your local Sainsbury's. Most enjoyable I think I'll order a few when I get back. 

After loading up the bikes we decided to have a go on the Hotel's large Scottish Breakfast too, to include yet more haggis and black pudding so feeling rather stuffed now we set off for a brief stop at the 13th Century Eilean Donan castle made famous to me for the scenes in the film 'Highlander'. 

I do like visiting this place and we got chatting to a fellow GS'er on his nice 2007 GSA single cam with low mileage, I didn't get his name but he was new to GS ownership and later we followed him for quite some while afterwards. I did think of waving him to pull over just to see if he had a pack of anti-acid tablets for indigestion since I had by now run out of mine. 

Me and 'Wolverine' at Eilean Donan trying to hold my now very full stomache in! 

I've visited the castle a few times by bike, the last time it was 'chucking' it down so good to be here on a warm dry day this time. Stunning scenery and I really like the location of this house. What a view! 

Looking back toward Loch Kishorn

Soon we were heading for Bealach Na Ba .. the Pass of the Cattle the highest mountain road in the UK that leads down to Applecross. This road is the closest we get to an Alpine road in the UK with an amazing twisty climb up and over the top. The road up to this is great too as we ride the A890 around Loch Carron before the turning at Tornapress as we cross over the River Kishorn to start the ascent. A brief stop at the top of the pass for a view of Skye albeit in a shroud of mist this time and on to the next leg of the days ride.

Mark and I had been looking forward to this next section, with a loop around Loch Torridon and Loch Sheildaig to Kinlochewe for refuelling at one of the most remote petrol stations in the UK and a  quick snack before riding onto Gairloch. 

On the bend near Strathcarron

Somewhere between Sheildaig and Kinlochewe we came across these two hearses. At first I thought it strange heading for a funeral way out in these remote parts and didn't want to pass out of respect for the deceased - until we caught up with them and realised they were converted 'campers'. Hilarious, what a great idea! 

Somewhere near the Torridon Luxury Hotel as featured on TV. Way out of our budget on this trip though.

Neither of us were disappointed with these great scenic roads that include the glorious ride down through the Torridon hills and part of the Beinn Eighe massif we both agreed some of the most breathtaking scenery was riding from Kinlochewe around Loch Maree then on past Loch Ewe and along the A832  for a quick stop in the Corrishalloch gorge.

Later in the afternoon we had shall I say a 'sprited' ride (ahem) in to Inverness for our next stop staying at the rather plush but welcome Craigmonie Hotel . Our night out tonight included a few beers and onto a popular Thai restaurant. The Green Thai Curry was very spicy, and complimented nicely with the haggis breakfasts I had been having. Inverness is a good stop off and the weather well in to the 20's today made for yet another fantastic day riding. 

Inverness Castle