4 days in the highlands

Our highland cycle started with a very enjoyable (read 'no hills') 75km ride along the Tay Valley, which runs through the very pretty town of  Perth. The Scottish are very kind to cyclists and wherever possible they put in cycle paths, even through the middle of a golf course, there were plenty of people out for an early round the morning we rode through, so we had to be somewhat wary of stray balls.

From Pitlochry, we embarked on some muscle straining climbs and brake destroying descents for the next 3 days into the heart of the southern highlands.  At times the ride seemed to hard, however the ever changing and inspiring scenery made it all very enjoyable. Again Ican't help but feel that at times I'm in the middle of a BBC drama, this time think of All Creatures Great and Small. Narrow, winding country lanes, hardly wide enough for one car, then suddenly around the next bend it opens up into an expansive vista of mist-covered mountains reflected in the still, deep waters of the highland lochs.

The small Scottish villages are awash with colour at this time of year, as every pot and window sill are bursting with floweres, they are all vying to be the winner of the 'Scotland in Bloom' competition. My vote goes to the vast and silent moorlands with their display of wildflowers, reminiscent of southwest of WA.

The weather has continued to smile on us with cool and cloudy days and only a hint of rain, perfect for cycling. I can't help but feel sorry for the locals though, who are having a les than sunny summer after a very bleak winter. Rose, one of our B&B hosts, told us she didn't leave the house for 6 weeks during winter and the snow was so deep part of the roof collapsed under the weight. We've had some great accommodation including private hoems, old pubs and even a room in a grand manor house right on the loch.

The animals of the highlands are enchanting, lots of rabbits, squirrels running through the fields, serene black-faced and long-tailed sheep still thick with winter coats, and the most enchanting of all, the 'highland coos' (cows), the immense hairy beasties that dominate the landscape, and of course the dogs, the Scottish love their dogs and take themwith them everywhere, even onto trains where they are allowed to travel free of charge as long as they don't take up a seat to the exclusion of a human passenger.

I have come to realise that this part of Scotland is the UK's wilderness area and there are plenty of people taking advantage of it, cycling, walking, fishing. I've really enjoyed my time here and I'm already imagining future visits - next time involving some snow.

Bye for now
Sama

Sean enjoying breakfast on the road 










 

Scotland in bloom

Finally a picture of me not pushing my bike

 Two shots of the beautiful lakes, Loch Tay and Loch Rannoch