Home/Cycling/Scotland 2009  

 

 

In August 2009 I made a cycling tour across Scotland's northern highlands and some of its islands. This was the very first time I spent holidays without my familiy which was on visit Grandma by that time. It was just me, my bike and my tent in the highlands and islands and it was a great experience. Well, it was windy, rainy, cold and full of midges too.


Shetland Islands


I arrived at Sumburgh airport and spent two days on southern mainland before going to Orkney Islands by ferry.

For the way there I decided to cover my bike in a one way transport box. I travelled by train via Frankfurt and later by plane via London.
BA is supported by Flybe from Aberdeen to the Shetland Islands.
Nice weather on Shetland Mainland. Well, you can't see the storm because of the missing trees.
Beautiful beaches which are to be used by scotish people only due to the water temperature.
St. Ninian's Isle is not really an island but the Atlantic Ocean is embracing it almost completely.
Scalloway is the former capital of the Shetland Isles.
Scalloway Castle.
Architecture of most Shetland's buildings is rather scandinavic than scotish.
Hard to believe, but the tailwind on the road to the 2nd camp site was extremely gusty and made the ride very exhausting.
Blue sky followed a rainy night. Looking west to the Atlantic.
Watch out the otters. Didn't see any of them...
Tribute picture for Marla and Bettina :-)

Orkney Islands


I was only one day on Orkney Island's Mainland before going to Scotland. However, I definitely will come back to Orkney at some time to spend at least one whole week there.

Kirkwall kirk. In some way Scottish is closer to German than to English, actually.
Kirkwall town centre.
I love those British company names. What else is a 2nd hand TV shop but a "Television Enterprise"?
I am far away to be interested in archaeology at all. But Maeshow (spoken "Meas How") is a very fascinating 5000 years old grave which has 1300 years old runes from the Vikings too. Visit is highly recommended!
Since my Orkney visit I am just becoming a fan of the megalith culture, actually. These are the Standing Stones of Stennes.
Made 5000 years ago but the cult site has still a magic presence.
The Ring of Brodgar.
Mainland isle is farmland primarily and has less mountains than other scottish or even Orkney islands.
Stromness was my last station before going to Scotland's mainland.
Stromness is a very nice city. Should have done more time there...
Stromness.
The Old Man of Hoy taken from the ferry. Hoy is completely different from Orkney mainland. I'll be back!

Northern Highlands


Rough, windy, rainy, more midges, less people: The northern highlands from Thurso down to Loch Assynt.

Going west from Thurso near cost line.
Some loch near Borgie.
North coast near Tongue.
Kyle of Tongue.
Last breakfast in civilization above the Talmine camp site before...
...heading south into the Northern Highlands.
Perfect loneliness at Loch Loyal. No cars, no people, not even animals besides midges.
Ben Loyal to the left.
Cockpit view
Leaving Lairg heading west through Oykel Valley. This is the quietest place I've ever been at.
Wild river near Old Oykel bridge.
Coming close to Loch Borralan.

Loch Assynt and Northern West Coast


Ardvreck Castle on Loch Assynt is one of my favorites in Scotland. There is no way to describe the power and the severity of the site. You have to be there.

Calda House is the successor of the Ardvreck Castle (background to the right).
View from Calda House to Ardvreck Castle.
Inflow to Loch Assynt.
The weather was a little bit too nice for Ardvreck Castle, actually. The high mountains in the back make a more dramatic scene in real life.
You must have been there.
Leaving Ardvreck Castle along Loch Assynt towards west coast.
Loch Assynt.
Midges' pardise in the back country of the west coast.
Some bay near Loch Inver.
Coming close to Achmelvich camp site.
Achmelvich camp site.
Coast line at Achmelvich camp site.
Heading south to Ullapool on the exhausting coast road.
West coast near Loch Bad Na Muirishinn
Near Loch Buine Moire.
Loch Lurgainn.
Arriving at Ullapool.

Outer Hebrides (Lewis and Harris)


The Hebrides were the perfect ending of my 2009 Scotland tour. The weather was very scotish but this even enforced the magic of the prehistoric sites. Finally I left Scotland from Stornoway airport.

Cycling is not the only challenge in Scotland.
There was a heavy storm while heading south from Stornoway to Harris Island. The wind pushed me uphill backwards when not giving 100 percent.
The "Golden Road" on Harris' south coast.
Beautiful sand beaches on the Sound of Taransay.
Going back north to Lewis.
The south east of Lewis.
Callanish III is amazing itself, but it is just the appetizer for...
Callanish I. The main site of the "Standing Stones of Callanish".
It is impossible to describe the magic of the site. 5000 years old standing stones in a complex arrangement.
The stones are up to 5 meters in height.
Inner circle of Callanish I.
The shop nearby has one of the favorite books of my kids in Gaulish language.
Dun Carloway Broch is another exceptional historic building on Lewis.
It was build 2000 years ago.
Spending a free day on Siabost camp site.
The restored "Black House Village" near Garenin.
The almost abandoned Pentland Road from Carlanhagh to Stornoway.
Last station Stornoway airport.