Potts Beck & Little Asby

Potts Valley, looking East

Bank Holiday weekend so once again time to search out solitude for a stroll. The quiet area round Little Asby, provided a suitable trip, although quite close to the coast-to-coast we only saw two people at a distance! The Potts Valley is home to naturally enough Potts Beck. Unusual in that it contains a beck at all, for this is limestone country. The heather on the fell round Sunbiggin Tarn was magnificent, when the sun caught it. It would have been a warm day if it wasn't for the strong north wind, I wore a Paramo, all day in August!

Giggleswick Scar

Only a short walk but full of interest. The inquisitive walker will see caves, ancient cairns (and modern ones), springs, a disused limekiln, old reservoirs and at this time of year lots of fungi and wild flowers. The view from "Schoolboys Cairn" is excellent, Giggleswick and Settle nestled under the many knolls of Attermire Scar.

BMW West Highland Tour Day 5

Back home today, avoiding motorways as much as possible. Tummel Bridge, Kenmore, Amulree,Creiff, Glen Eagles, The Clackmannanshire bridge, Falkirk, Avonbridge, Harthill, Forth, Carwath, Biggar, Moffatt then the old A74 now B6076 to Gretna. From Calisle the A6 was the route home. This made as straight a line as possible from Aviemore, (inspired by Nick Crane's "2 Degrees West") which I've been reading this trip. Not the quickest but far more interesting than the sterile corridors which are our major highways

BMW West Highland Tour Day 4

Beinn Alligin

A lot of miles today, great roads, great views and not many people. My route took in Invergarry, Dornie,Loch Carron, Bealach na Ba, Sheildaig, Torriden, Kinlochewe, Inverness, Glen Kyllachy (a hidden gem) and ultimately Aviemore. Lots of favourites here, I would have liked more time on this leg but the available hostels didn't allow it. Aviemore was heaving with people, once I got provisions I didn't venture out.

BMW West Highland Tour Day 3

This day was always forecast to be wet and it was! Very Wet! Not often I envy people in there cars, but today I certainly did. Ever the optomist I crossed the Corran Ferry and made my way to Strontian. Sheltering in the cafe didn't help it continued to sheet it down. I wanted to look at the old mine workings, but that was out of the question, so continued over the hill and down to Pollach, not a road I'd want to do on the pushbike. I retraced my steps (or Wheels) and made my way to Glen Nevis hostel via several mugs of hot chocolate in Morrisons. No photo today, says it all really!

BMW West Highland Tour Day 2

Standing stones at Kilmartin

The plan (such as it is) for this trip was to use roads and visit places that I hadn't been to at all, or at least since I was a child. With this in mind I left Inveraray crossed over to the eastern shore of Loch Awe and followed the minor road until I was almost at Ford. Just before Ford I stopped at the information board for the forest drive over to Loch Fyne. All new to me, with great views from the high point. Next on the agenda was Crinan Ferry and close by some of the Cairns and Standing Stones at Kilmartin. I then rode to Cuan Ferry, the crossing for the Island of Luing. Luing was great, probably better discovered by bicycle, due to its size. It like Easdale and Seil is one of the "slate" islands, due to many years or quarrying. Oban youth hostel was the accomadation for the night. Recently refurbished, but for who? The "self-catering" kitchen is tiny and poorly designed, I wasn't the only one who thought this either.

BMW West Highland Tour Day 1

Rainbow at Inveraray

Been a while since I've posted, the motorbike has required a new clutch, and bevel bearing! So valuable days off have been spent to and from Croston to the motorbike repairman. All this work meant I had to firstly pospone a weeks holiday and then organise something at short notice. I booked a selection of SYHA with options between each depending on the weather. Leaving home on Sunday I rode up to Inveraray trying to avoid as much M6/M74 as possible. Once through Glasgow I followed the coast via Helensburgh, and a short detour to Kilcreggan. There had been a few heavy showers in fact the photo sums up the weather