My Tour de GB

I have just enjoyed a number of rides in different parts of GB. It was almost like an extension of my recent M2M adventure as I was visiting some of my pals from that epic holiday.

Wednesday 10th August 2016. 

I drove up to Scotland stopping en route at Slaidburn Youth Hostel in the Forest of Bowland. My plan to have my first bike ride of the trip there was thwarted by heavy rain. However I enjoyed chatting with my room mate who was visiting from New Zealand and a good meal at the curiously named "Hark to Bounty" pub just across the road.

Thursday 11th August.

I continued on through some lovely countryside shrouded in low cloud to join the M6 to Scotland .

Made a short stop at Gretna Green to buy a food for a picnic lunch. I took the scenic route towards Galashiels then skirted Edinburgh to my next stop near Stirling at an AirBnB. My hosts were a lovely couple with a tiny 3 month old baby girl. I did a little sightseeing in the town and for a change had a walk up a small wooded glen enjoying the quiet and peace after a very busy Stirling.

Roundabout Sculpture near Stirling.

Friday 12th August. 

I continued my trek northwards to Golspie to stay with my friend Fiona and her family.

I had never been this far North ever before and I was delighted to find it is a most picturesque area with heather clad mountains of moderate size plus beautiful seascapes.

Ancient Pictish Fort near Golspie

Saturday 13th August.

Fiona took me for a ride, we were joined by one of her cycling buddies, Keith, from the East Sutherland Wheelers. He had been persuaded to ride at a conversational pace to allow me to keep up. The ESW are a very competitive club being very interested in Strava Segments and they hold regular Tuesday evening time trials over a ten mile course. Of course they ride to and from the start, so they cover about 30 miles. We went up the glen and, a gentle climb over the hill to the next deep valley. There were few houses here, just a few crofts and one modern house. There are also a number of wind farms in this area, adding some drama to the sky lines

At one point Fiona stopped for a moment and picked up a five pound note which someone had carelessly discarded. So maybe there is "Gold in them there hills!" She kindly donated it to my favourite charity "Forever Angels & Projects". We got caught a couple of times in showers but they were not enough to cause us to stop to put on rain jackets.

After about ten miles we picked up another of the ES Wheelers, Chris. 

Fiona, Keith and Chris.

We zigzagged around the hills and glens getting lovely views and avoiding the occasional showers which we could see scudding across distant slopes. The climbing was not hard, but there were some longish drags and on one I had to stop for a short rest as we were riding into a strong breeze and my arms were aching from the last three days of driving and from gripping the handle bars. 

We paused at Bonar Bridge for a short break before following a busy road for a couple of miles.

War Memorial at Bonar Bridge.

We followed more wooded valleys pausing at the Falls of Shin to see the salmon jumping as they headed up stream to spawn. There was a coach party of Germans there, rather blocking the view, maybe they had put their towels out when they saw us coming, but we did manage to see some salmon leaping. It is amazing how they manage to scale these falls. (The Salmon not the Germans). Then along another pretty wooded valley and over some more ups and downs to our lunch stop at Lairg.

We had a very nice light lunch and before continuing our journey homewards over another small hill and more gentle ups and downs About 50 motorbikes past us on one busy stretch of road. We came to the Time Trial road and the boys descended at high speed while Fiona and I  freewheeled more leisurely for about two miles.

The Freewheel Descent.

Chris left us at this juncture and headed home for an earful as he had said he would be out for two hours and we had already been about twice that! Then the hardest hill of the day, the first and only time I needed my granny gear.

From the top great views for miles across heather clad hills with more windmills in the distance making the climb well worthwhile

The last few miles were down the glen back to Fiona's so that was nice too.

Our route and Garmin data for the day.

Sunday 14th August.

I agreed with Fiona that we should explore some more of the lovely countryside. The one disadvantage of this area is that because of the hills there are very few minor roads  so we had to ride part of the time on the Main A9.

To start we rode up the glen again, this time in the dry, but then headed Northwards for a change. We only saw one car in the first 16 miles. We did however meet several cyclists, most known to Fiona.

We looped around to the coast where we had good views across the water towards the Cairngorms and Black Isle. Just outside the village we called on Fiona's sister Penny who along with her husband have created the most beautiful garden. It is so absolutely packed with plants that the weeds don't stand a chance. We spent the best part of an hour wandering around admiring it.

Continuing along the A9 along the coast we passed the ruins of a Pictish castle before calling briefly at Dunrobin Castle. Very busy with over 20 motor caravans among the dozens of cars, so we did not stop, we just enjoyed the ride through the grounds.

Golspie Pier.

On we went into Golspie where we visited the little pier before crossing a relatively flat area to the Little Ferry. (No longer in use).

We were getting a bit peckish by now so we returned to the town and climbed the very steep hill to Backies were Fiona lives.

Bottoms Up!

We were untroubled by midges on either day because of the breezes but they did start biting in the evening when I went with Fi to care for the animals on her croft.

Getting ready to turn the hay

Monday 15th August.

I reluctantly left Fiona and her family to wend my way back to England. My  route was a very fine one, following the Great Glen to Fort William and then southward through Glencoe, across Rannock Moor and past Loch Lomond and Glasgow.


Having escaped back into England I eventually paused for the night in the Stoneybeck Inn near Penrith. Had a very nice suite with a relaxing bath and fine meal at a eye watering price. 

However it was lovely with a bath, TV and WiFi so I could watch the Olympic cycling until the early hours of the morning.

Tuesday 16th August.

I continued my peregrinations via Morecombe Bay and Lancaster to eventually arrive in Sutton Coldfield where I stayed with Nic.

Wednesday 17th August.

Nic's turn to show me some very pretty countryside, much different to that in Scotland but surprisingly rural considering how close we were to Birmingham. Gentle undulations only here. Many more villages each with their lovely churches and one with a great display of flowers.

We twisted and turned so much on our ride that I completely lost my sense of direction. Eventually we arrived at the Honey Pot tea room where we had a light lunch. A popular stop with twenty or so other cyclists there too, many known to Nic.

More pretty lanes before a tea stop by the canal at Fradley. A relaxing interlude by the waterside watching the narrow boats and chatting to a couple from near Wolverhampton.

We visited Lichfield to have a look at the lovely Cathedral and also popped into a churchyard to view some interesting archaeological ruins.

Thursday 18th August.

Spent the morning at the National Memorial Forest. A most interesting place to visit with many memorials to all kinds of national groups and and military organisations, as well as for individuals.

Although it was very busy with coachloads of sightseers it is so large that it was easy to get away to a quiet corner. 

In one place a new memorial was being dedicated complete with priest and British Legion banners, a young lady played the last post on a bugle. Very touching.








I guess that my pal Simon might like this memorial as his father was Colonel to the Ghurkas.

We had coffee  and cake despite having driven there rather than ridden

Back at base I said a brief farewell to Nic and then drove to Leicester to join Anne in a visit to Shirley, two more of my pals from M2M. 

Later in the evening Nic joined us for a mini reunion having ridden over on another of his bikes. This one with 800 cc and three cylinders.

Friday 19th August.

After waiting for the rain to stop the three of us eventually decided to go for a ride despite it not having left off completely. It was only light and intermittent so we did enjoy another good ride out. This one a little shorter and also hillier than the one near Sutton Coldfield.

Shirley had planned a good route to the South East of the city and I was soon riding through places I knew as my late wife Jean came from Melton Mowbray and we had driven around the area many years ago.

Of course by the time we got back to the city the rain was clearing away and the sun came out. Never mind, we had had a good ride and we had dried out as we rode home.

Saturday 20th August.

Drove to Rutland Cycles near Rutland Water and bought myself a new toy.

Spent the rest of the day chilling. A nice relaxing afternoon and evening.

Sunday 21st August.

Shirley took me into the city to see join in a music and dance festival of many ethnic groups and cultures. The whole centre of the city was thronged with people, mostly of Asian origin, enjoying the good food on sale at many stalls in the market. I found the throng a bit overwhelming at first but a pint of beer in the old corn exchange helped settle me. A round for four of us cost less then £10! 

We listened to a young lad of about 12 played the violin with great skill and then we went on to sit at another stage to listen to a mixed group playing a mixture of West African, Jewish and Urdu music. 

We also visited a number of places of interest including a museum and the ancient guild hall. We were unable to go into the cathedral as evensong was about to start.

The whole afternoon was a very interesting one and I realised that there is a fascinating mixture of cultures here in Leicester.

Monday 22nd Aug to Wednesday 24th August.

Stayed with my Nephew and his family in Herefordshire. For a change enjoyed several walks including about 6 miles around the grounds of Croft Castle. Here are some pictures from that expedition.

View of Wigmore in the distance.

Duncan with his dogs.

I had a lovely couple of days with the family including my Great Niece whose wedding I attended last year. She is expecting her first child any day now. 

Most of the time there apart from enjoying the countryside was spent in discussing family history and other family matters.

Summary.

A fabulous two weeks with many of my new friends and with family. I enjoyed it almost as much as the M2M though it was not quite so challenging.

Thanks to all who treated me right royally .

The bad news for you all is "I'll be back!"

Gridironman.