June 9-16th Steve Jones arranged a very good seven nights and eight days away for our trip up to Scotland, where we loosely did the NC500. Eight bikes and riders took part and the trip went very well with very good food, accommodation and company. The first day was a boring stretch up the A1 before leaving it at Scotch Corner and going through Middleton in Teesdale and Alston for our first night at the Centre of Britain hotel in Haltwhistle. Day 2 was a boring stretch up the M74 before going through Dumbarton and then a beautiful run along Loch Lomond and following the A82 to Spean Bridge before cutting across using the A86 to Nethy Bridge. Day 3 took us up to Wick and we visited John O’Groats and Dunnet Head before returning to Wick for the night. Day 4 was around the coast on the fine NC500 route before a pleasant night in Ullapool. Day 5 was to Applecross and then Skye, from where we took a ferry across to Mallaig for the night. Day 6 saw us doing a circuit of Loch Ness before using the A82 to get us to Arrochar for the night. Day 7 was a pleasant day where we went to Lockerbie using nice roads through Peebles. Our last hotel there was very good indeed and was the Somerton. The last day was the generally dull ride home. Thanks to Steve Jones for great organisation and leading, with the help of Steve Armstrong. The weather was generally good and we had lots of mini adventures along the way, some good, some not so good. Many of the roads and scenery were stunning. A great holiday!
