West to East UK cycle tour

June - July 2021

From Ardnamurchan point to Lowestoft Read more

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Traveler West to East UK cycle tour
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- Jun 17, 2021, 9:13pm
- ⛅ 14 °C
- Altitude: 17 m
- England Carlisle District Stanwix River Caldew 54.906277, -2.93897254°54’23” N 2°56’20” W
1
Day 1
To Carlisle
June 17, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Miles cycled: 3
Total to date: 3

Easing ourselves in to this trip with a late afternoon train journey to Carlisle. Staying with family: Katy, Adrian, Thomas and Iona. Still t-shirt weather and dry.

The scenic journey by rail always impresses, but now each railway carriage has an impressive draught as all windows cannot be closed.Read more
Julia Beaumont ❤️
6/18/21Reply
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- Jun 18, 2021, 5:44pm
- ⛅ 15 °C
- Altitude: 12 m
- Scotland Argyll and Bute Oban Oban Bay 56.418691, -5.47250656°25’7” N 5°28’21” W
1
Day 2
To Oban
June 18, 2021 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Miles cycled : 2
Total to date: 5

Breakfast with the Clarkes, coffee from Watts Coffee roasters, then the fast train to Glasgow which was busy with Scottish football fans, some travelling to London for tonight’s match in Euro 2020 vs England.

Picnic lunch in Glasgow then the slow train to Oban which was perhaps the most scenic we have experienced. Views of mountains and lochs, sometimes next to the track and sometimes precipitously below.

Many backpackers and bike packers on train and in Oban.Read more
Angela Smith so cute!! 🐕❤
6/19/21Reply
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- Jun 19, 2021, 9:23pm
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: 21 m
- Scotland Argyll and Bute Tobermory 56.621845, -6.06964356°37’19” N 6°4’11” W
Day 3
Tobermory, Isle of Mull
June 19, 2021 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Miles today : 23
Miles to date : 28

Morning in Oban, visiting a local
museum and partaking in breakfast and elevenses. Once the ferry left port we cleared the clouds and enjoyed a sunny afternoon.

Tobermory is pretty and knows it, thanks to a sheltered curved bay and high level vantage points.

Hotel is the most expensive of the trip but has harbour views, even if the bedroom is doing well in the “smallest room” competition.

Fish and chips for my tea and deep fried cheese and chips for Julia.Read more
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- Jun 20, 2021, 4:25pm
- ⛅ 14 °C
- Altitude: 21 m
- Scotland Argyll and Bute Tobermory 56.621826, -6.06961456°37’19” N 6°4’11” W
Day 4
Ardnamurchan point
June 20, 2021 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Miles today : 14
Miles so far : 42
Height gain : 340m

As per forecast the morning would be damp with finer weather later.

Took the 11am ferry to Kilchoan and cycled the undulating route to Ardnamurchan Point. We knew the lighthouse and cafe would be closed for essential works so had a picnic as far west on the UK mainland as we could.

Met Paul who had just completed his cycling journey from Lowestoft.

Warm and sunny afternoon.Read more
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- Jun 21, 2021, 9:16pm
- ☀️ 12 °C
- Altitude: 12 m
- Scotland Argyll and Bute Oban Oban Bay 56.418713, -5.47247856°25’7” N 5°28’21” W
Day 5
Back to Oban
June 21, 2021 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Miles today : 21
Miles to date: 63
Height gained : 340m

Another intensely sunny day. Walked to the lighthouse outside Tobermory, had a coffee, visited an outdoor market then cycled to Craignure for the ferry to Oban.

Back to Rose Villa for a 2nd night B&B.Read more
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- Jun 22, 2021, 5:45pm
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: 8 m
- Scotland Argyll and Bute Tarbert East Loch Tarbert 55.864694, -5.4105255°51’53” N 5°24’38” W
Day 6
Argyll & Bute
June 22, 2021 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Miles today : 55
Miles so far : 118
Height gained : map says 830 m but my altimeter says 675 m

Hilly, twisty riding through remote areas for first 30 miles until reaching Kilmartin. Great coffee stop and a chance to see items of archeological interest.

All of a sudden the landscape changed from hills to a flat wide glen. Much riding alongside lochs.

Delightful section of off road cycling along the towpath of the Crinan canal. Staying overnight in Tarbert.Read more
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- Jun 23, 2021, 8:33pm
- ☁️ 14 °C
- Altitude: 15 m
- Scotland Ayr Ayr Beach 55.456829, -4.63222755°27’25” N 4°37’56” W
1
Day 7
Land and sea to Ayr
June 23, 2021 in Scotland ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Miles today - 55
Miles to date - 173
Height ascended - 620 metres

Breakfast overlooking Tarbert harbour, and my bike.

Damp cycle ride over a big hill to Claonaig to catch the ferry to Arran. It dries out and the hills became visible once more. Big hill of 225 metres to cycle over then it was a fast run in to Brodick where I caught an earlier ferry than planned.

The intricate route from Ardrossan through Troon and Prestwick to Ayr was made easy by excellent signposting and dedicated cycle paths.

Staying in a Victorian guest house in beautiful Park Circus.Read more
Julia Beaumont ❤️
6/24/21Reply
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- Jun 24, 2021
- 🌧 14 °C
- Altitude: 18 m
- Scotland Dumfries Dumfries Railway Station 55.072403, -3.60670255°4’21” N 3°36’24” W
Day 8
Ayr to Dumfries
June 24, 2021 in Scotland ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
Miles today : 62
Miles accumulated : 235
Height gained : 881 metres

A fine morning and a tailwind all the way. Stopped at Dalmellington for a coffee and Carsphairn for a look around the churchyard.

Downhill to Moniaive for a picnic, then more downhill to Dumfries. The weather also went downhill and there has been light rain constantly since 3pm.

Dumfries bowling club provided entertainment in the evening - very friendly chairman / umpire.Read more
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- Jun 25, 2021, 8:56pm
- ⛅ 12 °C
- Altitude: 17 m
- England Carlisle District Stanwix River Caldew 54.906204, -2.9390954°54’22” N 2°56’21” W
Day 9
Back to England
June 25, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Miles today : 46
Miles so far : 281
Height gained : 240 metres

Drizzly and cool all day. Beautiful route followed by the NCR7 along the Solway Firth.

Many cyclists going in the opposite direction- doing LEJOG.

Reunited with Cathrine Adrian, Thomas and Iona.Read more
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- Jun 26, 2021, 5:39pm
- ⛅ 13 °C
- Altitude: 187 m
- England Barnard Castle 54.553722, -1.91803454°33’13” N 1°55’5” W
Day 10
Carlisle to Barnard Castle
June 26, 2021 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Miles today : 62
Miles so far : 343
Today’s ascent : 1355 meters

A dull and misty day with thick cloud on the tops. This was the day I was most nervous about due to distance, height gained and lack of facilities en route.

The first third was undulating and virtually traffic free. Then the climbing began, firstly of Hartside summit - over 600 meters.

Strong winds and damp conditions suggested that there was no time to hang around and I descended quickly to Garrigill where I intended to have a picnic somewhere sheltered. Got talking with local resident Brian, a fellow cycling enthusiast. This secured the use of the church for my picnic and he brought me a cup of tea in an insulated mug. Now I was warming from the inside.

The next climb was even higher to 627 metres. There were plenty of other cyclists around as I was on the C2C route for some time. Some had back up vehicles and a woman snapped her chain going uphill.

The last 40km were mostly descending on smooth roads. Job done.Read more
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