James's 8 day lejog 28th June - 7th July.

[Jamesh]

Great day today.

Glencoe to nr Tain.

Started out a 7.30 from Glencoe indie youth hostel.

Low cloud and drizzle with a sw wind strengthing through the day.

Arrived at fort William for breakfast at 8.30 but all shops were shut. Ended up in Morrisons for cooked breakfast. Chose the Scottish breakfast which was completely different to English one. Flat sausage meat patties and potato pancakes and fried bread. Much prefer a well cooked English one. However I'd take the Scots one over the awful weatherspoons one the other day!

Eventually found the road out to the north east over the canal and then first left onto the delightful minor road to the north of the canal very worth while road. Ambling along at 20mph swooping up and down the gentle rolling countryside.

Over the loch at gairlochy as the lord of the glens mini cruise ship came through the lock.

Joined the A82 to save time it wasn't too busy.

Lunch was at fort Augustus beside the loch chicken tika pannini in the cafe besides the loch - a tourist honeypot.
Couple of girls were heading to fort William into the wind and rain -poor girls.

Returned to the a82 and ran into drumadrotchat? Here I popped into tea room which was obviously catering for rich Americans as it was high tea served by girls in period dresses! I made a quick exit and found a farm courtyard round the corner where I brought an ice cream as the sun came out. With a bit of work could be turned into a nice tourist attraction with different craft workshops in each of the farm buildings and some small playground equipment in the middle. Unlike the Ness experience blaring out Scots music!!!

Back on the a82 to the loch end when I hoped onto the canal by the moored boats and ride for 5 miles into Inverness.

Had perhaps the best fish and chips I've ever tasted at comfort foods on church Street Inverness well recommended.

The waiter was kind enough to store some gifts I brought unt I pass through on sunday.

Back on the A9 which out of Inverness is best avoided at 6pm as to the locals it's the M4 out of london
If leaving Inverness early take the cromarty ferry.
I was too late to do so so climbed the A9 to the top as many speeding commuters protested I was the worse road on the trip.
The subsequent down hill was a pleasure.
Another possible e2e was coming the other way into the wind ouch!

After the second cromarty firth bridge I took the b road to Alness. Stopped at coop for supplies for tomorrow and ibrufen gel as my knee was aching most if the day.
Then a short ride to shandwick Inn - cheap accommodation and good food.

All in all a good day.

Cheers James

[Jamesh]

Best place for lunch on A9 tomorrow? thinking river bothy at berradale?!

Let me know asap if you have any better suggestions?

Cheers James

[Paulatic]

A bit further on is Laidhay tearoom set back on the right . Wimps stopped there no complaints.
It’s about another 7 mls on.

[landsurfer]

A bit further on is Laidhay tearoom set back on the right . Wimps stopped there no complaints.
It’s about another 7 mls on.

+1 my "lifesaver" cafe on our last day ......
Strangely staffed by 2 girls from Sheffield .....
Good soup ..
Our last food stop was Tesco in Wick ....

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
90 miles today is that right?
Good luck

[Jamesh]

Hi finished today at 5pm nice easy ride from just south of Tain up round the coast.

2nd breakfast at poppies cafe in golespie well recommended.

The helmsdale and berriedale hills which were decent hills but not beyond a steady churn.

Lunch a berriedale tea rooms a bit posh for my liking £7.20 for a bacon and brie toastie!! Best going to one of the smaller cafes in route.

Missed tea a wick and pressed on to jog.

Wind was on the nose and hard work and the last hill over to jog is not forgotten!

I then rode an extra 20 miles to thurso. Staying at Sandra hostel.

A word of advice don't it's further from jog than wick and the hostel isn't like the 3 I have stayed at previously. More a like another sort of hostel!

Food at bydand really good. Scotland do the best burgers.

Bus (will the accept dismantled bike on coach)

Then train to leeds

Will write a fuller post ride evaluation tomorrow.

Cheers James

[Paulatic]

Was this the place?

I weighed it up while waiting for the others but we’d had a tip off from the front group about further up the road.

Ah Golspie another hot day and I dashed into a pub on the roadside til the others caught up.I caused quite a stir in Lycra shorts. I’d walked into a gay bar.

It’s been good reading about your trip triggers some great memories which you’ve just created for yourself.

[Spinners]

Well done James on a successful LEJOG and thanks for posting your reports.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Great job, well done.
Wish we were there

[Jamesh]

Final thoughts on 8 days lejog.

8 days do able with long days approx 12hrs inc stops.
I used Google estimates which allowed me to take stops.

Bike

Cannondale 6 was great no issues.

25mm tyres a bit narrow 28mm recommended.

Luggage
Rockbros frame bag zip went do taped it up for rest of trip.

I would it again and take more time seeing stuff.

Cheers James

[althebike]

Well done James, I have enjoyed reading your posts.
I stayed in Janet street in a b&b by Thurso bridge, landlord is a cyclist, and the place quite cheap.

[Jamesh]

Did you book ahead?
I wasn't brave enough to not to book so could only book the ones I could see on the internet. I only had that one which was a bit of a let down the rest were great. Food was good at all the restuarants I stopped in.

Cheers James

[landsurfer]

Well done Jamesh .... respect in loads .....

[althebike]

James, you mentioned the river brothy , has anyone any experience of lejog by brothy? I took a brief look when planning a route but the ones I saw looked far off the beated track.

[Jamesh]

As in brothy shelter in the hills?

I did notice one up the top of Shap as you begin to descend.

I dont think there would be enough of them to be able to make a route from them unless you went across Wales, lakes etc.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FxF9X2zK3vS8BCg68

Cheers James