This is a try to write a blog about the Scotland trip 2018.
We , that is Christian, Clive, Hans and David started this trip on the 01.09.2018 from Three different cities in Germany, Berlin. Herne and Waldau we all met on Saturday evening in Melle.
On the following day we will travel to Amsterdam and take the ferry to Newcastle. During the next two weeks we will travel to Ardrossan, Arran, Oban. Spean Bridge, Pitlochry, Stirling and Whitley bay before returning to Germany via Amsterdam
Day one
Berlin- Riemsloh 450km
Clive and I started in Berlin this morning and arrived safely in Riemsloh where we met Christian and Hans. After a good meal and a few beers we are know back at the Hotel. Tomorrow we have a
shortjourney to Amsterdam where we board the ferry for Newcastle at around 16:00 hrs. We will be arriving in Newcastle about 10:00hrs on Monday morning. The weather is good and we
have norain.Did not get a chance to take picture today but I promise tomorrow you will not only have text information.
Day two
Riemsloh-Amsterdamm-Newcastle
The day started after a good nights sleep and breakfast. We took the Motorway to Amsterdaam and arrived with plenty time for a meal before we started the procedure of boarding the Ferry.
Packing the bikes in Riemloh before starting for the ferry
Waiting for the Ferry in Amsterdamm
On board at last and after a shower the first snack and refreshments
After a proper meal we had a nice quiet smooth sail to Newcastle and a very nice sunset.
Day Three
Newcastle-Ardrossan
After passing through the passport control and customs, we had a very wet ride to Ardrossan. Not much time and chance to take pictures along the way
After having to make two detours due to road works and one due to an accident ( in which we were not involved) we had a hot soup and a cup of tee in a wonderful little pub in north England, and
were ready to move on
We arrived at the Lauristen Hotel in Ardrossan later than planned due to the bad weather and traffic works, but after a hot shower,a drink, and a good meal we were all feeling better. Andrew and
Mary dropped by for a chat and a drink. Christian went to bed early and left we three old ones to finish off the first evening in Scotland with a wee dram.
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Day Four
Ardrossan-Arran
The Scottish weather was showing it’s self from the best side as we started towards the ferry to Brodick.
After boarding the ferry we had a nice smooth journey to Arran. Goat Fell was still hiding itself but later in the day the clouds cleared and we had a fantastic day.
After a great days ride we stayed overnight in The Greannan B&B in Blackwaterfoot. A small very neat and tidy traditional B&B. The hotel was about a fifteen minute walk to the restaurantwhere
we had a very good meal. After a brisk walk home we went to sleep with a smile on our face.
Day Five
Arran-Oban
After a good traditional breakfast we were ready for the road and made our way to the Lochranza to catch the Ferry to Cloanaig. Unfortunately the weather had taken a turn for the worst. We had a
dry ride to the ferry but then it started to rain as we were waiting for the ferry.
After leaving the Ferry the weather got a bit better but did not clear up, nevertheless it was a very interesting ride to oban, staying off the main roads and only using the single tracks.
We arrived in Oban after traveling the last hour in torrential rain and were happy to have ordered our hotel up front. The Dunheanish Guest House is a great B&B on the hill overlooking the
bay.Unfortunately the view was not that great.
We went for a meal in the local pub had a few beers and our wee dram and hoped that tomorrow the weather would clear up. Our plan is by bad weather a day without the bikes and to have a look at the
distillery and by good weather to take a trip to Loch Lomond. Let’s see what sort of weather we will be getting tomorrow
Day Six
Oban by sunshine
The weather has cleared up but we have decided to stay hear today and enjoy a day without the bikes.We started with a great
breakfast with either a full cooked breakfast or with scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. Some perculated coffee and
toast with marmalade. No we did not all sleep in the bed shown below. This the bed in room 4 from the B&B in the Dunheanish guest house and was only used by Hans and the view can not be
beaten.
The weather is good and this is the view from our B&B front door
After a walk around the town. Christian and I shared a plate off mussels they where fresh and straight from the boat
This what we looked like after a very interesting tour around the Oban distillery
The rest of the day we used to sort out technical problems. Some of us then had a wee nap and the other started to write up this blog,before in the late evening we went for a meal in a great fish
restaurant in the Harbour.
Day Seven
Day trip Oban-Inveraray- Loch Lomond- Glen Coe-Oban
After a good breakfast we started at 09:00 sharp due to the fact hat we had about 350 km to cover and we had ordered a table in the Coast restaurant for 19:30.
As you can see the weather was great as we arrived in Inveraray. After a cup off tee we set off towards Loch Lomond via Garelochhead and then taking the Loch side road up to Crianlarich where we then
turned left towards Glen Coe. Not forgetting the detour along the banks off the Orchy We then traveled towards the coast before traveling south back to Oban.
Our three wonderful days in Oban come to an end. The food and accommodation in Oban where top class and the town as such is just great. Next stop Spean Bridge
Day eight
Oban-Mallig-Spean Bridge
Well the wether is not as good as yesterday but at least it is not raining. We have an early start as we have to be at the ferry for 09:00hrs.The first ferry goes from Oban to Graignure
The water was calm an we could see our wonderful B&B as we sailed out of the Harbour
After arriving on Mull we had to make a dash to get the next ferry from Fihshnish to Lochaline which we just caught with skin of our teeth and were the last vehicle to go on board before they
closed the ramp. As we left the second ferry it started to rain it was not heavy but it was annoying.
The road to Mallaig was more or less single track. On the way from Malliag to spean Bridge we stopped at Arisaig for a coffee and a bite to eat. The B&B Mahaar was a bit of a down grade from the
B&B in Oban but it was clean and warm. After a shower and a shave we had a good meal in the Old Station Restaurant Before going to bed after our standard wee dram. We are trying to
upgrade Hans to a good peaty Whisky before we leave Scotland at the end of the week,wish us luck
Day Nine
After a good breakfast with black pudding and strong Koffee we set of towards Inverness. The weather was not that good but the closer we got to Inverness the better the weather got. The stop at the
Urquart Castle was on our our Programm and beleibte it or not the sun was shining.
The journey back down the south side of the lake was more or less dry. And after a shower and a shave we walked to the hotel for a meal and our standard whisky but unfortunately the food standard was
not that great. I am glad that you cannot spoil the whisky.
Day Ten
Spean Bridge- Pitlochry
Well we started the day with pouring rain. Christian asked if we get cross rain in Scotland. ( from the front and from the back) I
explained that only rain we get is from the front the angle is important.
It did not rain all day but the periods without rain were very short.
Although the weather was not that good we still had time for fun and games and had a look at the old Ruthven barracks near Kingussie. The countryside we drove through was very wild bit interesting.
Our journey took us past the one or anther whisky distillery, but we had no time as we wanted to visit the Queen at Balmoral but unfortunately she was busy with the May and brexit, maybe next time
around.
Day Eleven
Pitlochry- Stirling
After a good nights sleep and a good plate of porage we were ready to move on and the weather had turned in our favor.
It is only a short trip to stirling so i decided drive along one or two Loch side. We traveled along both sides of Loch Rannoch which ended in a train station with a great tee room
We traveled along the banks of Loch Katrine Loch Venachar, and not forgetting Loch Tay with its fantastic water falls in Killin
As we got closer to Stirling it stared to rain, but the weather did not change much in our attitudes as we were still having a loot of fun and the Scotish roads have a fantastic grip even when it is
raining so the smile never vanishes from your face.
After arriving in Stirling at the Munro B&B. Yes the Munro but not named after me but the B&B has got its name from the Munro mountains. Every mounted higher than 1000metres is called a
Munro.
Day twelve
Stirling-Glasgow-Falkirk Wheel-The Kelpies-Stirling
Well today we are doing more sight seeing as sitting on the bike.. the first stop was the Transport museum in Glasgow.
The next stop was the Falkirk Wheel an amazing piece of Scottish engineering. Using the method of water replacement it lifts a twenty ton boat with about 60 kw of power.
We took time to take a trip in the boat and went to the top of the wheel and had a great viiew of the surrounding countryside and had a good view off our next destination the Kelpies
From the Wheel to the Kelpies is only a few km. The kelpies are place to visit when you are on a Scotland tour. These massive Clydesdale horses are absolutely out of this world. After a cup ofteeanda
piece off shortbread we headed back to Stirling for a shower, a shave ,a bite to eat, and not forgetting the daily wee dram.
Tomorrow we are traveling by train to Edingburgh let’s see what the day without the bikes is like.
Day thirteen
By train to Edingburgh
Waiting for the train to Edingburgh
The train journey was a good idea. We arrived at Waverley station and after a short walk we took a hop on hop off bus to get a better look at the city. After a good meal we walked down the Royal Mile
and then through the princesses street gardens.
The squirrels were very tame and were trying to eat out of our hand
Day Fourteen
Stirling-Whitley Bay
Well it is time to say goodbye to Scotland. Our tour today takes us through the lowlands towards England where we spend the night at Whitley Bay
We made a short stop at the border to say goodbye before we moved further down the coast towards Whitley Bay
We made a short stop at Bamborough Castle,
before arriving at the Royal Hotel in Whitley Bay, unfortunately the ´Royal Hotel was not Royal at all and it was the worst stay over we have had in the last two weeks.
As it started to rain we hat our dinner at the Hotel, that was the second mistake we made with reference to Whitley Bay, they did not even have a whisky at the bar. So we went to bed feeling a
bit cheesed off.
Day Fifteen
Whitley Bay- Chester- Newcastle
Clive has taken off and is visiting is relative in Newcastle, they will probably have lots of pies and delicious things to eat. We three have decided to visit Hadrian’s wall in Chester.
The buildings from the Romans were very interesting as also was the man fishing in the river. After our daily cup of tee and a bite to eat we set of to Newcastle to catch the Ferry to Amsterdam where
Clive joined us after having filled his stomach wth delicious pies, as we asked him where our share was he explained that he hat unfortunately no space left on his bike for the
pies.
These are the that views of the island that is called home.
Well that was Scotland 2018 I hope you enjoyed following our steps through the Scottish Highlands. I am sorry I was not always up todate, but st the end of the day you received the information.
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