Miles today: 238 - a long day!
Miles so far: 2040
u-turns: not telling - ok 3, but one of them was due to a closed road
culture: none!
With a long day ahead we had decided to miss breakfast, then discovered that the brilliant reviews of our hotel last night are due in part to the best breakfast served in the highlands. And judging by the comments of a couple of regulars, this time it was justified. But as usual we have made the wrong choice and following a stroll to Loch Ness at about 7am (which was beautifully atmospheric, even with out the eponymous monster), we were ready on parade at our bikes for quick hour long, 50 mile dash to Glencoe for brekkie at the newly re-opened visitor centre. Rob waxed lyrical about the quality of the centre, the cafe and the food. You can tell this is going to go wrong can’t you? Yep, by the time we mounted our bikes it was pissing it down, the cafe wasn’t serving breakfast, we rushed through the climbing exhibition with only coffee to sustain us and decided another half hour through a cloud, mist and rain filled Glencoe and Rannoch Moor was our best option!
By the time we reached Tyndrum, we had covered our fist 80 miles and been on the bikes for almost two hours in pouring rain. On the plus side we got bacon baps and the sun then came out! A change of gloves, a discard of waterproofs and we were on our way again to Balqhuidder to visit again the grave of my ancestor Rob Roy. We were to be thwarted however by a closed road due to a car on fire, which in the highlands can mean a pretty substantial diversion. Cue, the first u-turn and a scoot up Loch Tay where we found the oldest pub in Scotland, for a much needed caffeine refuel - and to recycle some! We are old men after all!
Having earlier decided to cross from west coast to east (again) and visit a town none of us had ever been to, St Andrews, we as usual found ourselves, despite having already covered over a hundred miles, with at least the same to go. But it doesn’t get dark up here till, well ... not sure we have actually seen the sun set before our bedtimes yet! We are old men after all! So anyway we still had plenty of time, using a couple of faster roads than the usual convoluted ones we normally prefer, we passed through Perth, stopped briefly in Dundee to photos op the rail bridge and arrived in St Andrews around 5pm in glorious warm sunshine.
And who knew that you can walk on the Old Course? It appears it is only used for championships or something and it is actually on public land, so unless there is an event on you can walk to your hearts desire up the 18th fairway pretending you have just won the Open! OK, even I haven't got the imagination for that. But we did get the obligatory silly selfie taken by the Bridge over the Swilken Burn part way up the 18th. Not even remotely a concern to the pros but at about 75 yards off the tee, I reckon I could put my drive in there 3 times out of 4.
St Andrews golf course some how rounded off yet another brilliant day, even though it had started in the rain. We then hightailed it to our fabulous Hilton hotel on the north side of the Forth Bridge, which is rapidly becoming our must stay on all trips to Scotland. As long as they keep offering me cheap deals - which I suspect means timing our visits at a weekend.
Because we are completely mad we are planning on crossing the country again tomorrow. Hoping to include a ferry somewhere along the line - somewhere around Gourock perhaps, then a bit of the Ayrshire coast before heading inland to what appears to be another quirky hotel in the middle of nowhere. It’s appeal is that it is near to what we believe to be one of Scotland’s highest roads at Wanlockhead. So that will be Tuesday’s light relief!
In the meantime it is time to tuck into what looks like a rather nice dinner...
Just time for a final silly selfie! Three eejets who would like think they could play golf here - but have neither the talent, nor the cash!
We did not play the Course, but my dear Hubby was able to borrow a Putter from a very nice lady and put a few on the 18 hole par 3. The ladies were having an annual game the ladies against there caddies.. the High school boys and girls that carry for them. Journey on.
Having played the Old Course at St Andrews I can definitely confirm that the 18th can be the "busiest fairway of all" with so many people walking it and crossing it (delivery vans going down to the beach)! Mad.