On the road north and to Scotland again on the BMW F800R
On the road to Scotland again…it doesn’t really seem to matter how many times I go to Scotland or just where it is that I go to in Scotland, it’s always good, and a short trip last week was no exception.
The ongoing Covid pandemic has disrupted plans for countless numbers of people and for some in ways that are much more significant than holiday travel.
That said this years planned European trip was shelved and although this short Scottish trip wasn’t a substitute it was most enjoyable and hopefully I will be able to manage another trip to Scotland before the autumn.
Heading north
After leaving home I headed for Clitheroe, Settle, Hawes and Kikby Stephen before turning for Mickleton, Alston and Hexham. After that it was Bonchester Bridge in Roxburghshire – and just for interest the name is said to come from the old Roman term on Bona Castra – which means good camp.
After Bonchester it was on to Selkirk for the wonderful A708 up past St Mary’s Loch and onto Moffat and my overnight stay at Seamore Guest House.
All in all it had been a fine days riding with added benefit of not a single drop of rain. Clicking on any of the pictures below should open a picture gallery that can be clicked or scrolled through.
I had stayed at the Seamore Guest House on a previous trip and just as before the place was comfortable and the hospitality was warm (you can read about my previous trip at this link)
After a much needed shower and a change of clothes I went for a wander around the small town, a beer a bite to eat and then a decent nights sleep in a particularly comfortable bed. Some more pictures below including one of the Star Hotel, apparently the narrowest hotel in the world, and one that Pat and I stayed in a few years ago when we were travelling in Scotland.
Breakfast and then back on the road
I was on my way for about 8.30 the following day and had planned to head back to the A708 via the small road that runs from Tweedsmuir to Talla Reservoir and then on past Megget Reservoir, and although the run up to Tweedmuir was magnificent the weather was blowing an absolute gale and as I head past Talla, on more than one occasion I felt I was going to be blown off!.
The weather over the top didn’t look great, so I decided to head back to Moffat, do the full stretch of the A708 and then make my way home via Hawick, Stannersburn, past the Kielder Reservoir over the stunning Hartside Pass and on towards Penrith and then home.
Despite the steel grey sky and raging winds at the start of the day – the weather turned out pretty good with ideal riding temperatures in the low to mid 20s and once again a day without rain.
Hometime
I was home for about 5pm having done around 600 miles and once again having really enjoyed another (albeit short) trip to Scotland.
Links to recent posts below and scroll down for the final picture set from this trip:
Or check out the Lockdown Lookback – The Motorbike Years series
