Sunday 16 September 2018

Day 5 Ullapool to Achmelvich Beach: 48 miles, 4196 feet ascent

Forsaking cleats for crampons on his ride today, Mike decided to climb the legendary 613m Stac Pollaidh, driving rather than riding out from Ullapool to reach base-camp. That left three of us to explore Knockan Crag, followed by an abortive descent to The Elphin Tearooms: WTF! unbelievably closed on Saturday. Still, it was amusing to watch amateur shepards trying to herd wayward sheep behind the closed tearooms.

(At Knockan Crag Simon and Dave tried hard to engage in conversation with two stony-faced old geologists by the name of Peach & Horne, but they weren’t very friendly:the photo tells it all!).
We eventually caught up with our support vehicle for a very late elevenses, and thereafter followed a delightful minor road for 10 miles along the shore of Loch Lugainn on the way to Inverkirkaig, and eventually Lochinver.

No visit to this Scottish outpost should be without a visit to the culinary delights of the Lochinver Larder, so we duly woofed-down a selection of their famous pies.
Our YHA for the night was just up from the the white sandy beach at Achmelvich, where Dave tested the water, dipping in his big toe. Cold!

A 48mile ride with only a few light showers was reckoned to be the best day so far.

~Ged


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