Outer edges of Scotland 2014: Ullapool to Stoer

Tour outline

Thursday: Train from Tring to Glasgow via Euston, one night in Glasgow, then a train to Oban in time for the afternoon ferry to Castlebay, Barra. Then the tour proper begins on Saturday morning, cycling from Barra up through the Outer Hebridian Islands with time to meander and explore. By Wednesday we should reach Stornoway for the ferry to Ullapool on mainland Scotland, then up further North and around the top to Orkney by the second Monday. There we have four days to explore before catching the overnight ferry to Aberdeen, followed by First Class train travel home. Two and a half weeks, done!

Thursday, 15 May 2014

Ullapool to Stoer

Debate raged for all of 5 seconds whether or not to visit the Tesco in Ullapool for supplies before going into Assynt, the result being that we didn't. So we turned left and headed for the hills of Assynt, following the main road for longer than I remembered before turning off on the single track through the landscape of the "Geopark". Very strong SW winds were mostly behind us or to the side, which did make some of the descents a bit sketchy. Found a grotto like spot for a tea break (courtesy of Jackie's flask) and later had baked potatoes at the book store cafe just before Lochinver. Did the visitor centre exhibition and bought a rhubarb pie from the Pie Shop before continuing through Stoer to the B&B, stopping briefly at a roofless church. B&B very comfy - tea by an open fire. It's also serving us dinner so no need to go outside again today.

Good luck Hannah on your race tonight!