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From when I first started planning this trip, today is the day I have most been looking forward to. The scenery between Loch Lomond and Glencoe is among the most spectacular in the country and the opportunity to spend a day taking it all in at bike pace was really exciting. I was also delighted to be able to ride most of the day with my friend Niall, who joined me as far as Bridge of Orchy, from where he got the train back to Glasgow. As his train wasn’t until evening we were able to take a fairly leisurely approach so there was plenty of time for the odd coffee and cake stop.
We made our way from Glasgow to Loch Lomond on the cycle way that follows the Forth and Clyde canal and the river Leven. Despite my previous misgivings about cycle tracks I was prepared to make an exception for this one as I used to use it frequently when I lived in this part of the world and I knew it was a well maintained route with a tarmac surface. Once we got to Loch Lomond we joined the A82, which was a bit of a shock to the system. The drivers on the A82 today were collectively the most discourteous (and occasionally dangerous) that I have encountered to date. Clearly everyone was in a rush to get into the Highlands.
The weather was again glorious. We stopped for coffee in a cafe in Luss and sat outside enjoying the sun. For once though my luck with the weather slipped a little and shortly after lunch we were caught in an almighty thunderstorm. We stopped in Bridge of Orchy to dry off a little and there I said goodbye to Niall before I continued to Glencoe. This 22 mile section is nothing short of stunning. The climb up onto Rannoch Moor was worth it for the view alone and the 5 mile descent into the natural amphitheatre of Glencoe was breathtaking. The view of Buachaille Etive Mor standing guard over the mouth of the glen is one of the most stunning in Scotland, and it is all the better when not viewed from a car!
Tomorrow – Inverness.
