Sleeperzz 2012.......................the Highland fling

Johnnyboxer · 05-24-2012, 03:12 PM

Last weekend, 11 of us made the long trek from Yorkshire up to the Scottish Highlands for 5 days

Apart from a few wet roads on the long 436 mile ride up to Rogart, the weather was truly spectacular with a totally dry and sunny long weekend

Our destination was Rogart, near Brora - high up on the Scottish east coast

Stopped off here just off the A1, into Scotland for morning tea

Base for the weekend was Sleeperzz http://www.sleeperzzz.com/ which is a collection of old railway carriages, converted into bunkhouse accomodation - quirky and great fun, with a good pub and Spar shop within 100 yds

Friday dawned dry and overcast, so the group slpit into 2 and I led a group over to the Western Highlands and Durness

Loch Shin, with snow capped mountains in the distance

Beautiful sea loch @ Bridge of Laxford

We ventured onwards towards Durness and the coast was truly spectacular

After a quick coffee, at the craft centre there - we headed further along the coast towards Tongue

Inland views were spectacular towards the mountains

View of Smoo cave.................stunning

Rather poignant

Distant views of the Orkney Islands

After lunch at Tongue, we headed back inland towards Helmsdale via Kinbrace

Cofter's simple cottage

The GPS took us unexpectedly over a little used pass towards Glen Loth, with rocks and grass in places - we were lucky to see a herd of wild red deer, some 120 which crossed in front of us

Back to base and another night in the excellent pub

Saturday dawned dry and very sunny, beautiful

We decided to traverse the same route north via Kinbrace and Melvich to do the north east coast along the top of Scotland in the direction of John 'O Groats, where the actual most northerly point is Dunnet Head

Superb views from Dunnet lighthouse to the Orkneys

Lunch was fast approaching, so we stopped at the Castle of Mey, the Queen Mother's favourite holiday retreat - the tearooms have great food and even better views

View from the castle's tearoom

After a hearty lunch, a trip to John O Groats is kinda compulsory

Nice harbour

Tourist signs

Great view towards Duncansby Head

Then we had a spectacular run down the A9 coast road via Wick and it was 70 miles of fast sweepers with the sea on the left, in a relatively traffic free environment - we enjoyed it !!

Sunday, again the weather gods had blessed us for our trip south west to Dingwall/Achnasheen and Sheldaig

Views of Skye and the Cuillins

Applecross - lunch at the pub there, a veritable fishy feast, it would be rude not too, being so close to the sea

The 2000ft - Pass of the Cattle was what everyone had come to do, so here's the lads going down the other side

Great view, through the gap.......... of Loch Carron

Onwards towards Lochalsh and a stop at Eilean Donan Castle

Then after a great ride on the Kyle of Lochalsh road and Invergarry, we headed towards Fort William for the last night's stay at Corran ferry, in the Corran Bunkhouse - http://www.corranbunkhouse.co.uk/ Another good place to stay

Ferry was free for footpassengers to nearby Ardour across the loch and the pub was another cracker

Monday morning......................homeward bound and the weather just gets better

We went through Glencoe at 7.30am on a stunning day and headed back home via Edinburgh, taking the a& to Hawick and then did a rounte around Kielder, just to make sure our tyres were properly all used up

A really good weekend weatherwise, brilliant accomodation, shared in the company of some superb GS'ers

Saso · 05-24-2012, 04:59 PM

Great trip and amazing weather! I never get tired of RRs in the Highlands.

05-24-2012, 03:12 PM	#1
Johnnyboxer ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2003 Location: Yorkshire, UK Oddometer: 857	Sleeperzz 2012.......................the Highland fling Last weekend, 11 of us made the long trek from Yorkshire up to the Scottish Highlands for 5 days Apart from a few wet roads on the long 436 mile ride up to Rogart, the weather was truly spectacular with a totally dry and sunny long weekend Our destination was Rogart, near Brora - high up on the Scottish east coast Stopped off here just off the A1, into Scotland for morning tea Base for the weekend was Sleeperzz http://www.sleeperzzz.com/ which is a collection of old railway carriages, converted into bunkhouse accomodation - quirky and great fun, with a good pub and Spar shop within 100 yds Friday dawned dry and overcast, so the group slpit into 2 and I led a group over to the Western Highlands and Durness Loch Shin, with snow capped mountains in the distance Beautiful sea loch @ Bridge of Laxford We ventured onwards towards Durness and the coast was truly spectacular After a quick coffee, at the craft centre there - we headed further along the coast towards Tongue Inland views were spectacular towards the mountains View of Smoo cave.................stunning Rather poignant Distant views of the Orkney Islands After lunch at Tongue, we headed back inland towards Helmsdale via Kinbrace Cofter's simple cottage The GPS took us unexpectedly over a little used pass towards Glen Loth, with rocks and grass in places - we were lucky to see a herd of wild red deer, some 120 which crossed in front of us Back to base and another night in the excellent pub Saturday dawned dry and very sunny, beautiful We decided to traverse the same route north via Kinbrace and Melvich to do the north east coast along the top of Scotland in the direction of John 'O Groats, where the actual most northerly point is Dunnet Head Superb views from Dunnet lighthouse to the Orkneys Lunch was fast approaching, so we stopped at the Castle of Mey, the Queen Mother's favourite holiday retreat - the tearooms have great food and even better views View from the castle's tearoom After a hearty lunch, a trip to John O Groats is kinda compulsory Nice harbour Tourist signs Great view towards Duncansby Head Then we had a spectacular run down the A9 coast road via Wick and it was 70 miles of fast sweepers with the sea on the left, in a relatively traffic free environment - we enjoyed it !! Sunday, again the weather gods had blessed us for our trip south west to Dingwall/Achnasheen and Sheldaig Views of Skye and the Cuillins Applecross - lunch at the pub there, a veritable fishy feast, it would be rude not too, being so close to the sea The 2000ft - Pass of the Cattle was what everyone had come to do, so here's the lads going down the other side Great view, through the gap.......... of Loch Carron Onwards towards Lochalsh and a stop at Eilean Donan Castle Then after a great ride on the Kyle of Lochalsh road and Invergarry, we headed towards Fort William for the last night's stay at Corran ferry, in the Corran Bunkhouse - http://www.corranbunkhouse.co.uk/ Another good place to stay Ferry was free for footpassengers to nearby Ardour across the loch and the pub was another cracker Monday morning......................homeward bound and the weather just gets better We went through Glencoe at 7.30am on a stunning day and headed back home via Edinburgh, taking the a& to Hawick and then did a rounte around Kielder, just to make sure our tyres were properly all used up A really good weekend weatherwise, brilliant accomodation, shared in the company of some superb GS'ers __________________ So many roads...........So little time..!!! 2005 BMW R1150GS Adv - Black 2005 BMW R1150GS Adv - Silver 1998 Honda XR250R

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05-24-2012, 04:59 PM	#2
Saso chronically restless Joined: Oct 2005 Location: Northern California Oddometer: 791	Great trip and amazing weather! I never get tired of RRs in the Highlands.