The Website for St George’s Church, Waterlooville and its Parish Magazine St George’s News
•Continuing our series on Matt Cook’s epic bike trip
Saturday 25th September – (Day 26) –
83.5 miles, 739m climbing. Woke up to heavy rain followed by heavy showers all day but at least he had a tail wind. Left Lochgilphead at 8.30am and soaked within 5 mins. Cycled to Bellanoch, Kilmartin along A816 all the way to Cleigh up to Connel and across the bridge where he saw lots of seals playing in the water. Onto NC cycle route NC78 up to North Ballachulish and then followed the A82 to Fort William. Staying in the Glen Nevis campsite under Ben Nevis. Watched people starting their climb and last night lots of lights of people coming down in the dark.
Steve and I drove the A816 coastal route with stunning scenery and lochs stopping in Oban then to Ballachulish and A82 to Fort William. Dinner out last night at the restaurant on site.
Monday 27th September – (Day 28) –
and still it rains. Poured down all last night and have had frequent heavy showers all day. We are staying 2 nights at the Camping Skye site at Broadford so Matt could cycle round the island today. He did 85.6 miles with 1598m climbing. Left at 9.20am and cycled to Sligachan, then A863 to Dunvegan, A850 to Borve then the A87 through Portree and back to Broadford arriving at 4.15pm.
Steve and I drove to Portree which is 25 miles from the campsite - a lovely little town with some unique shops and a very pretty harbour. Fortunately the rain stopped long enough for us to walk round in the dry which made a change. Some stunning scenery on the drive with mountains and lochs. Would definitely like to return to see more. Pretty chilly today.
Tuesday 28th September – (Day 29) –
no signal last night! 90.1 miles, 2,209m. Had the most horrendous night with torrential rain all night. Matt left the campsite at Broadford in the pouring rain at 8.40am and arrived in the campsite at Kinlochewe at 4.40pm. He went back over the Skye Bridge turned off at Kyle of Lochalsh to Badacul, Duirinish and past the Strome ferry down to Strathcarron, and round to Loch Carron, Tornapress and turned off and cycled up Bealach na ba - 625m with gradients of 1 in 5 in places - no view from the top as the weather was so bad but highlight of his day!! He then cycled on to Applecross, round to Shieldaig and on to the campsite.
Steve and I drove along the A87 and the A890 and onto the A832 to Kinlochewe. Some of the roads were single track with passing places which was a bit scary at times.
Sunday 26th September - (day 27) –
112.3 miles, 1808m climbing. Very heavy rain all night. Matt left Fort William at 7.20am and cycled along the A830 and down to the A861 to Lochailort and on to Mallaig where he caught the 3.50pm ferry to Armadale, Isle of Skye and then followed the A851/A87 to Skye Camping at Broadford. We were worried the ferry may be cancelled as there were warnings along the road for disruption due to wind and heavy rain.
Steve and I drove along the A830 to see the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Memorial. This was used in the Harry Potter films sadly we didn't see the steam train going over it. Got absolutely drenched. Rained on and off along the A82/A87 to Skye and has got heavier and more persistent.
9th day in Scotland and the rest day in Stranraer was the only dry day so far.
Jane Cook
This account of Matt’s epic cycle ride is being serialised, and the journey will continue in the next magazine with lots more glorious photos of the UK coastline.
