Edinburgh to Kinross

Post Covid recovery and I’m unsure how my strength and stamina are holding up. Only one way to find out, by setting off on the planned schedule.
By train to Edinburgh arriving before 1pm whichEn savoir plus
Kinross to Carnoustie

9am start. Weather varied from hot to cool but usually I had a tail wind.
Missed a turning outside Newburgh and did a longer inland route by mistake.
Lunch in Newport on Tay. Lovely campsiteEn savoir plus
Carnoustie to Stonehaven

Some challenges today. Rain overnight, letting up about 8am. Showers during the day. Headwind.
Got lost on way to Arbroath Andes up trying to cycle through a strawberry farm - much to the puzzlementEn savoir plus
Stonehaven to Turriff

A fine dry start and the heat built up during the day. Combined with a hilly route inland I found the 55 miles tough going.
A postman directed me to this excellent cafe in Bieldside. Before this aEn savoir plus
Turriff to Forres

A wet start. Delayed setting off, talking to the warden in Turriff who made me a filter coffee.
Extended chat with Mo and Wendy at my coffee stop.
A fair amount of rough riding on unpaved tracks,En savoir plus
Forres to the Black Isle / Fortrose

Dear followers
Unable to stay two days in Forres, I hoped for a slightly easier day and overall it wasn’t bad - 50 miles and only a headwind for the last part. Dry with intense sunshine.
LunchEn savoir plus
Day off, Fortrose

Oppressively warm day with occasional heavy, but warm, showers.
Thanks to the campsite for keeping me on the same pitch for a second night despite it being booked by someone else.
Thanks to theEn savoir plus
Fortrose to Brora

Over the hill from Fortrose to Cromarty ready for the tiny (two vehicle max) ferry to Nigg. Just time to have a coffee break at The Slaughterhouse before boarding.
After that flattish with mostlyEn savoir plus
Brora to Wick

All day on the A9 and A99 which is both mentally and physically testing.
Speed has been either 5mph or 25mph depending on the slope. Most passing traffic considerate but lots of concentration isEn savoir plus
Wick to Orkney / Evie

A little time to spend on Wick before the 1:30pm ferry from
Gills Bay. Chanced upon the nuclear and Caithness archives by Wick airport - a beautiful modern building with helpful staff. Found out someEn savoir plus
Rest days

Saturday: parkrun in Kirkwall, haircut, lunch out. Sourdough pizza for tea from the bake house next door in Evie.
Sunday: Raining in the morning, fair and warm in the afternoon. We drove to theEn savoir plus
Kirkwall and Jacqui

A brief visit to Kirkwall before meeting Jacqui for lunch and an afternoon exploring Costa Head on the far west of Orkney. Jacqui is post master on Rousay and an archaeologist to boot and has been ourEn savoir plus
Island life

Early start for a day on the Swandro dig. The ferry had to go slowly as the skipper spotted a school of dolphins on our route. There were about 20 of them.
Good weather all day. Seals were bobbingEn savoir plus
Rousay and Swandro

Another dry, sunny and mostly warm day on Rousay. I joined a team filling sand bags and moving them up to the top of the beach. Rest of the day sieving but with a break to walk along the coast toEn savoir plus
Julia Beaumont
❤️