Day 9 - Dunvegen Isle of Skye to Oban

Actual Miles Driven Today - 215

Dunvegan Sunset

Change of Blog Strategy as I am now 3 days late with my updates, due to lack of Internet availability.

Table Top Hill

The views from my B&B Bedroom.

Next to the Table on the left is the head of the reclining figure

Tables in the Mirror

I will catch up Day 8 & 9 gradually after completing today's (Day 10) loaded.

Ready to leave Tables Hotel

Most of the Photos are of Mountain Passes, Beautiful but maybe a tad monotonous for you all????

A Number of times during the planning stages for this trip I have toyed with the idea of returning from Skye using the Ferry to Mallaig rather than using the Skye Bridge. 

I eventually rejected the idea and am I glad that I did.

Buzzed by a Buzzard that I disturbed.

At Bracadale I am staying on the A863

Loch Harport

I am staying on the A863 in order to maintain my Anti Clockwise direction.
 I had already taken the long route going to Dunvegan yesterday so I only had about 1/3rd of Skye to complete. 

The short side going back to the Skye Bridge is absolutely spectacular as you pass between the highest snow capped mountains on Skye.

The Cuillin Mountains come into view

Off to climb some hills

I pause at Sligachan for a view of the snow capped Bruach na Friethe on thee right and Sgurr nan Gillian on the left.

My 'Lived In' Morgan

It is not long before I am back on the A87 and passing Loch Sligachan 

Passing Glamaig.

Another empty road with a fabulous driving surface.

Another useful layby in which to make a short stop and take in the view 

Under the 775 mtrs. Glamaig. The northernmost of the Red Hills on the Isle of Skye. 

It is one of only two Corbetts on Skye. The scene of a famously punishing hill race.

Approaching Loch Ainort

Boat Fishing in Loch Na Cairidh

There is Kyleakin and the Sky Bridge in the distance.

Finally I am at the Sky Bridge once again and about to leave the island.

Back over the Bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh

Once over the bridge I stropped for fuel and then noticed the sign to the Railway Museum on Kyle of Lochalsh Station.

 Expecting a Car Park I turned in only to find myself on the platform, immediately drawing interest from the passengers about to board the next train.

One enterprising man asked the station master if I could stay there which he agreed to so they could take photos and I could visit the museum. 

Excellent and a few more donations into the collecting tin.

The Next Train to be heading back to Glasgow. It will be passing the same rock fall that I did a couple of days ago.

Inside the small museum.

The view of the station from the Road Bridge.

A Roll On ferry undergoing some maintenance work.

The Local RLNI Lifeboat House.

I moved to park under this very useful road sign.

I had already planned to make an extra stop by doubling back to the village of Plockton on Loch Carron.

Driving back northwards to find the village of Plockton.

A pretty journey with the Yellow Gorse out in flower.

Through the village of Duirinish where I am about the cross that bridge over Allt Duirinish stream.

Passing some road repair work.

I arrive in Plockton at the north end of the village where fishermen are mending their nets.

My drive through took me to a back corner of the town where I found a very small parking place alongside a very busy Jetty.

I find a small parking area for another short stop.

This lady resident, who could be the twin of a friend of ours, was painting her garden wall. She came over to quiz me about my journey. 
 She then very kindly emptied her purse of quite a few banknotes which she fed into my collecting tin.

These were added to the few pounds donated by some workers there.

I said my farewells and drove to the opposite end of the town where I met more people who were also happy to donate.

This pretty village was used in the filming of the Television Police Series called Hamish McFee played by actor Robert Carlysle. 

As I drove into the village I tried to spot the places with no joy. 

It was also the location for the Wicker Man with Edward Woodward playing the Incomer Policeman.

 As I watched the scene before me, a yacht owned by The Gordonstoun School (of Prince Charles fame) was being prepared to take a group of pupils on a three day trip.

The pupils appeared to be loading on enough food for a fortnight at sea.

The Gordonstoun School Boat heading out.

Fun over, I returned to Kyle and onto the A87 for the long windy drive through more spectacular mountain passes to Invergarry and then onto the A82 for Fort William with a Snow Capped Ben Nevis looming over it. 

Everywhere in Scotland the Gorse was in full flower.

Crossing the bridge at Ardelve , the small island with its Eilean Donan Castle is just about visible.

Eilean Donan Castle viewed from the other side as the road curves. 

The down hill run into Invergarry is particularly spectacular and was also a fabulous driving road as well as scenic. 

At the Clachen Durch Burial Ground is this statue. 

This is located just before the road curves and crosses the River Croe Causeway.

Ahead in Glen Shiel is Sgurr Fhuaran, part of the Five Sisters of Kintail, a Munro group.

Driving through the Glen following the course of the River Shiel.

Scotland's Driving Roads at their very best.

A Marker for an ancient Battle in  Glen Shiel.

Logging activity, which seems to be a regular feature of these Pine Forests.

The rare view of a car travelling towards me.

Reaching Loch Cluanie 

The Snow capped ridge from 'Cleouraich' 

On the way I passed the Cluanie Dam

Near here the A87 turns off to the right from the A887 and crosses the River Morrison before following Loch Loyne.

Driving alongside Loch Loyne

The Loch Loyne Dam

A Scottish Cairn

At this point along the road turns into Glen Garry with stunning views of Loch Garry

At The Glen Garry Viewpoint, half way down, I met two elderly gentlemen who were having a touring holiday away from their ill wives using a rented campervan (seen ahead in the lay-by ). 

They were loving it. That was unlike the other couple I met there who had rented 'Stan' the elderly Blue & White VW Camper Van which they were having problems with it starting.

'Stan' the van

Back down at Loch level now.

Then the rain began to fall 

Entering the Lochside town of Invergarry. Here I turn south onto the A82

Crossing the Laggan Swing Bridge which crosses The Caledonian Canal

https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/canals/caledonian-canal/

The road here runs along the side of Loch Lochy for quite some miles.

In the distance is the snow capped mountain of Ben Nevis near Fort William.

Dennis Oneil, who I met at St Margarets Lighthouse, Whitley Bay, had suggested that I look out for the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge. 

What I would have seen had I found it.

I missed it somehow, probably due to the heavy traffic and the lashing rain with my hood up.

Arriving at Fort William

 I passed through Fort William which did not appear to be that special, but that in unfair as I did not visit the center.

Loch Eil is also a part of the Caledonian Canal crossing.

Another rare stretch of road works 

Crossing Loch Leven at the Ballachulish Bridge

I decided to go off route and go for a drive up Glen Coe. 

Glen Coe Village

I parked in the Glen Coe village and spoke with an Ambulance Driver Lady who told me that the best part was the dri up to the Ski Runs.

I duly followed her instructions and had a wonderful drive, if in the rain, through more spectacular Mountain passes. 

Entering Glencoe

Loch Achtriochtan

The sky was heavy here but I noticed the absence of snow.

The bridge over the River Etive

The Glencoe Area Map

The Ski Lift

The ski school offices and cafe were all closed, unfortunately.

Accommodation available on site.

As I set off to drive back down Glencoe I notice that the Ski Centre has three of Scotlands Saltire Flags and One Union Flag. Not an EU flag anywhere.

I am soon crossing over the River Bridge once more.

The rain started again so the hood went up for the rest of the drive down to Oban. 

No Overnight Parking, even in this remote place?

It is not long before I get my first sighting of The Ballachulish Bridge.

This time I get to drive under the bridge that I crossed an hour ago.

I have just crossed the bridge between Creagan & Dallachulish

Running alongside Loch Creran

I am approaching Benderloch

The A828 here runs alongside Ardmucknish Bay

Even though I cannot see it I am passing Oban Airport on my right hand side.

My first sighting of the famous Connel Bridge which was, at one time, a Railway Bridge between 1903 and 1966, apparently.

The Lora Falls or Connel Bridge at Connel is famous for the strong current conflicts that take place just below the bridge as the tide is turning.

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The Falls of Lora is a Tidal which forms at the mouth of Loch Etive when a particularly high tide runs out from the loch. 

They form white water rapids for two to five days either side of the Spring Tides.

The falls of Lora are generated when the water level in the Firth of Lorn (i.e. the open sea) drops below the level of the water in Loch Etive as the tide goes out.

Kayakers riding the waves.

I stopped in the car park just after the bridge to take photos. 

The rain was so heavy that I decided to sit in the car until it eased and then I would use the rain water to wash off the dirt from the body and wheels which had accumulated on her during the day. 

This would be a good as my camping bucket job. 

I got wet but the Mog was happy, I think?

It was a short run along the waterside before I was entering the outskirts of Oban.

Arriving at the waterfront ready to turn right to find my Hotel.

Passing St Columba's Cathederal.

I arrived at The Queens Hotel in good time just after 6pm ready for a relaxing evening, just as the rain stopped and the sun came out again. 

The rain cover going on tonight was wetter than the car underneath it.

It was here after dinner that I met Alan & Veronica Hedges from Australia who were touring Europe and the UK for three months. 

 The Queens is the first biggish hotel I have stayed in run by Best Western. It was a pleasure staying there with friendly staff and lovely food. 

It is nice to relax for a few hours and get a very solid 7 hour sleep.