Friday 2 October 2015

Is it really October in Scotland?

After a spectacular week lazing around baking, eating and drinking in the Mediterranean sun,  I was fully expecting to be greeted by a miserable Scottish autumn on my return.  Not so!  The blue sky, if not the high temperatures had followed the plane back home!
The missus and I still had another week off work so the plan was to try and get away for a night or two, I never thought we would get away on the bike this late in the year.
With the weather forecast looking great for a couple of days the wife decided that she wanted to go on the bike for her first night away, just one night though to see if she liked it.  So we started looking on the interweb for accommodation for a night.  The boss said Glen Coe had to be on the route, so I looked up the hotel at Kentallen pier.  I have dived from the pier a few times and eaten in the hotel pub and it looked good.  So we booked a loch view room for a Wednesday night at The Holly Tree Hotel and looked forward to a night on the shores of a sea loch.
Wednesday dawned with blue skies with not a cloud in sight.  Bike packed and of we went.  A quick burst along the M9 to Stirling and on to Callander for a first stop and let Audrey off the bike to stretch her legs.  Well so far so good, the traffic was light and the roads were great in the autumn sunshine.  Audrey was fine and she was enjoying the trip so far.  We got back on the bike and headed north along Loch Lubnaig heading for Tynedrum and the Green Welly.
After getting robbed for a couple of coffees and scones we headed north again planning to stop in Glen Coe for another stop and to soak up the scenery.  The miles flew by way to fast and the scenery was spectacular.

  

Although someone was not having as good a day on the Aonach Eagach Ridge, or they were still looking for the reported missing walker...


It was hard to pull ourselves away from the stunning scenery of Glen Coe, but we wanted to get to hotel while there was still a couple of hours of sun left.  Well they do have a deck overlooking the loch that would be agreeable for a few drinks before dinner!  The ride up through Ballachulish was once again stunning, the loch reflecting the hills beyond.

The hotel lived up to all our expectations.  The room was huge with everything you could need and the view was simply stunning, the food was excellent and staff friendly and helpful.  I can highly recommend the Holly Tree if you are looking for few nights away.



Cheers!
Here as a wee video of some of the trip up, the Drift battery is playing up so it is only half of the journey...