So Where have I been?

I'm getting bad at updating this too aren't I? Well, where have I been lately?
Back on Sunday I cycled from Laggan to Dalwhinnie, then up to Kingussie before heading back to Laggan. Then on Wednesday I had to go up to Elgin for a training day with work, and today I've been to Oban in the pouring rain. Nothing really exciting.

Inveruglas

Recently a new medium distance path was launched - the Three Lochs Way which zigzags between Loch Lomond and the Gareloch / Loch Long. It sort of links the start of the Cowal Way with the West Lomond cycle track and so the West Highland Way.
Yesterday I headed south down Loch Lomond to Inveruglas and set off on the northernmost section of the new route, through Glen Loin to Arrochar. From there it crosses to Tarbet, and back to Arrochar (you can bypass this bit if you want), before continuing south to Garelochhead and Helensburgh. I turned back, however, passing through Arrochar, crossing the start of the Cowal Way and so retracing my steps through Glen Loin.
One word of warning to anyone intending to use this path - there are a couple of points where signage seems to be missing, leaving you to guess where to go next.

Campbeltown

Yesterday (after a week of not really going anywhere or doing anything), I had to go to Tarbert for a meeting. It's a long way, but not half as far as Campbeltown which is where I headed after lunch! For all that has ever been said about the place, Campbeltown is a nice place, certainly worth more than the cursory half hour wander that I made. I then headed yet further south, reaching Southend and then crossing to the Mull of Kintyre. By the time I got there, there was a million mile an hour gale blowing, so after getting out of the car (on the third attempt) I took a couple of photos and returned to the relative sanity of my car. One good thing about the wind though, it covered up the noise of my blown exhaust.

Treig Munros

Today I have been up to Fersit in Glen Spean once more, and climbed the two Munros on the west side of Loch Treig. Last year, I climbed Chno Dearg and it's neighbour to the east in mist and low cloud, but today the forecast was for the cloud to burn off by lunchtime, leaving me with breathtaking views. Sadly, the cloud seemed to have missed the forecast and so it completely failed to burn off.
Nevertheless, I reached the summit of both Stob a'Choire Meadhoin and Stob Coire Easain and then dropped down from the bealach between the two into some fine clear weather, with good views on the long walk back to the car!

Leeds

Well, I went down to Leeds at the weekend, had to work on the Friday morning so I was 2 hours later than planned leaving. This meant that I missed exploring Harrogate. Instead, I drove the amazing A684 / A6108 and got half an hour in the small Cathedral city of Ripon before heading into Leeds itself. Apart from getting well and truly lost in the confusing IRR/Loop Road system, I was there just on time!
The course was more interesting that I had anticipated, I met some interesting people and learnt something, so it was far from a wasted trip! I also managed to run round the city centre with my camera on the Saturday Evening and Sunday morning.
I left at lunchtime on Sunday, crawled slowly out of West Yorkshire on the A65, stopping in Ilkley for lunch. It took an hour to get there - all twenty miles... Then it was just a very long drive back home.

Loch Lomond

After walking a stretch of the GGW along Loch Ness last Thursday, the forecast sent me south to day to Inversnaid on Loch Ness. Yes, its a tiny out of the way place but hopefully I'll never need to drive that tortuous road again as I have done the next southward section of the West Highland Way. 14 miles in all, 9 to the north and 5 to the south (there and back each time!).
Full report when I get back from Leeds.

Wesbite finally updated

Well, it's taken a day or two longer than I had hoped, but I have now got everything more or less up to date on my website. Hopefully I will now keep it that way!
I'm working for the next few days, and then heading down to Leeds for a course at the weekend. I hope to have enough time to do some exploring on the way down, with Harrogate being the plan! Somehow Leeds itself doesn't really appeal...

Loch Ness

Two posts in two days? What on earth is going on?
Today I have walked from Fort Augustus to Invermoriston along the Great Glen Way. I reckon I have another 3 or 4 days of walking before I finish the whole Way from Fort William to Inverness. It's taken 5 years so far, but I hope to finish this year!!
Apart from the odd light shower it was a bright sunny day again, and thanks to some recent felling, there were plenty of views across Loch Ness. I didn't manage to spot Nessie though.

Tay & Tummel

Well, I've been working a lot and the weather has been <rude word>. Even yesterday it was, and yet I set off east for Perth, crossing Rannoch Moor in horrendous downpours, making me wonder if the sun would shine at all. Fortunately it did, and I had a nice wander around Birnam and along the banks of the Tay. I then headed north, intending to take a look at some of General Wades Military Road, but I got waylaid at Killiecrankie and had a nice walk along the banks of the River Garry near the Linn of Tummel. Apart from the occasional heavy downpours it was a nice enough day!

I have set aside Friday (when I have an odd, mid-shift at work) to settle down and get my full reports written, so watch this space...
(Don't hold your breath though).

I've been busy!

Again, it's been a week since I last posted. Sorry.
I have been busy, however, touring the country. Last Thursday I was in Dorset at the Great Dorset Steam Fair with my brother, a fabulous day as ever! Then on Sunday we climbed Ben Nevis, and yesterday we went into Ben Cruachan, the Hollow Mountain, between a drive down Glen Orchy and a visit to Oban.
I shall try to get all this written up properly before too long!

Eigg is amazing!

The Isle of Eigg is an amazing, beautiful place. Perhaps not quite as fantastic as Tiree, but still pretty special. We had about 5 and a half hours on the island, which is just enough time to take a leisurely walk across from the ferry to the beach at Cleadale. If you ever visit Eigg, I recommend this as the way to go, the beach is a stunner, with the view dominated by the jagged outline of the Isle of Rum just a few miles across the water. With the green waves rolling in, turning white as they crashed on the huge silvery beach it is a place I could have spent hours, not just the five minutes I had before turning back for the ferry.

Anyway, It will probably be next week before I post again as I am off down south to the Great Dorset Steam Fair! It too is an amazing experience, but for completely different reasons!

The Trossachs

After a brief wander in Glencoe before the heavens opened yesterday afternoon, today I've taken mum down to Brig O'Turk and had a wander through the forests around Loch Venachar. A beautiful day, with blue sky and sunshine dancing on the water. Shame about the wind!
Came back through the Trossachs, up to the pier at Loch Katrine then down through Aberfoyle and so to Callander. Good drive on lovely roads, and very glad we were heading north. Half a mile of traffic queued for the lights in Callander, then over a mile at Ba Bridge on the A82!

Where have I been then?

Yes, I know, it's been a week without a post. So much for keeping this up to date!

But I've been busy. Last weekend was the Sabre Highland Roadtrip, touring around from Spean Bridge through Glen Garry, past Loch Cluanie and into Glen Shiel then out through Lochalsh to Skye, back to Mallaig and across Lochaber to Glencoe and Rannoch Moor. It was a fantastic weekend, and I'm hoping that they come back up next year for more of the same!

Today has been my next day off, and one way or another I haven't done much in between. My Mum arrived for a week on Wednesday evening, so after work yesterday we went down to Oban. She assures me it is the first time she's been there in the sunshine since the 1970s! We wandered along the front as far as the war memorial towards Dunollie Castle, watching the ferries and then did some shopping.
Today we have been up to Kinloch and walked through the Lairig Mor, covering about 10 miles. It was only in the last hour or so that we got caught by some showers, other than that it was a fine bright day!

Rain, rain, rain

Well, most of today has been a washout. When it finally stopped raining, the wind was still howling, so apart from a little wander at Keil near Duror, I've been stuck indoors.
Unfortunately, tomorrow's forecast is no better and I'm supposed to be guiding the Sabre Roadtrip on some exploratory walks to see interesting old roads.
To add to the problems, the Armadale-Mallaig Ferry service is 'disrupted' due to the weather...

Cycling is quicker than walking!

Last night I headed out on my bike for a quick cycle up to Glencoe Lochan and back. It normally takes me an hour and a half to two hours to walk, but it took less than half an hour on the bike!
Anyway, I then headed over to Glenachulish and discovered that the forest road is too steep to cycle up, especially after a hard day at work!
I've nearly got all of my travels up to date for my website, but still need to add a few photos and finish them off. Not sure when I'll get time though, as I'm off down to Killin and Loch Tay tomorrow night to meet up with the Sabre 'gang', then hope to do a couple of Munros on Friday (weather permitting) before rejoining them for the weekend.

The Corrieyairack Pass

Well, I did it, I set off bright and early and headed north west to Laggan, where I parked the car. Then, to make things rather more interesting, I cycled the 11 miles along the road to Melgarve where the actual climb up the pass starts! The weather was grey and drizzly, I got damp, but it was still an amazing day!

• Sabre Wiki Article
• My Travels Report

Recent Explorations & Future Plans

Since the last entry on my proper blog (www.rileyrob.co.uk/blog), I've been cycling around Loch Lyon in the Perthshire hills, and also through Glen Lonan between Taynuilt and Oban. Tomorrow, if the forecast holds out I am hoping to head north east to Laggan and climb the Corrieyarrick Pass, partly as research for the Sabre Wiki, to which I am a regular contributor.
In a little over a weeks time, I will be joining a number of other Sabre members for a Highland Fling.
Thats it for now. Lets just hope I remember to keep this up to date!

Welcome

Hello,
I have been describing my travels around the British Isles for over a year now at www.rileyrob.co.uk/blog and thought that maybe it was time to let a wider audience know what I've been up to. It might also be the incentive I need to tidy up all the half done pages and keep things up to date!