I did my first tour on the Sprint in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland at the end of May and here's a quick report. Please excuse the photos; they cannot do justice the magnificence of the Scottish landscape.
First day was just a boring 300 odd miles of motorway to get me to my first overnight stop in the Premier Travel Inn at Annandale Water near Lockerbie.
The second day was definitely memorable due to the terrible weather conditions I had to ride through to get to my base at Invermoriston. The ride over Rannoch Moor and through Glencoe was a real trial due to the heavy rain and downright dangerous side winds. At some points I had the bike leaned over at a 30 degree angle just to try and stay upright
. The bad weather meant no photo opportunities
On the third day the weather was no better as I rode up the east side of Loch Ness to Culloden and then back to my base via Grantown. I was beginning to curse my luck regards the weather. Scotland in May is meant to be reasonably dry
The third day and the weather improved. I set off for John O’Groats and Dunnet Head (the most northerly point of mainland Britain). The photo below is my bike at Dunnet Head lighthouse with the Orkneys in the background.
Day four and I rode out on the A87 from Invergarry to the Kyle of Lochalsh. What a road. Awesome scenery, good surface and beautiful sweeping bends. IMO possibly the best biking road in the UK. The photo below is taken about five mile into the ride from Glengarry viewpoint looking westward.
I returned to invermoristion via the single track A890 and the blindingly fast A832. Photo below is Loch a Chulinn on the A832
Next day my mission was to ride out to Ardnamurchan Lighthouse (the most westerly point on mainland Britain). First I had a short crossing on the Corran ferry. Photo below.
Once on the Ardnamurchan peninsula the road becomes progressively narrower and twistier and it was a difficult ride. Not exactly Sprint ST territory, more GS kind of country. Anyway I made it and took the photo of the bike in front of the lighthouse.
On the way back I stopped off at Resipole and took this photo looking west along Loch Sunnart.
Next day I just spent riding around, first up to Black Isle and across Cromarty Firth to Bonar Bridge. Below is a photo taken of the bridge across the firth taken from Black Isle
Further on that day this shot is taken from Struie viewpoint on the B9176 looking northwest towards Bonar Bridge. It’s a very windy location.
Next day I rode the A82 up the west side of Loch Ness. Another great road, ideal for a spot of bend swinging on the Sprint. I never did get to see Nessie
,far too busy enjoying my riding.
Detoured back to base via Spean Bridge where I took this photo of Aonach Beag and Ben Nevis from the Commando memorial.
My first tour was now almost over. Just the final two day ride back to Wiltshire with a big grin on my face
I will definitely be back to Scotland for more. The place really is biker heaven.
