50th Motorcycle Anniversary ... foodie trip :D

[slparry]

So, this years birthday was my 66th, a big one as I am now officially a state pensioner (still working though)

However, more importantly for me was it represented my 50th year on motorcycles! Starting on a Honda P50 moped at 16 to the 5 bikes I own now of which the RT is the go to for touring trips with pillion!

I've worked out I'm somewhere between 1,000,000 and 1,250,000 miles over the 50 years on every continent except Antarctica. A life on bikes spent working at one point as a courier, and within Kawasaki, BMW, KTM and Triumph. And being lucky enough to have been a Global IT Manager for 10 years which allowed intense travel on a company tab, sneaking in days in various countries on rental bikes

This trip was another ride around Scotland's NC500, first time my partner has been with me so it was nice having some company and seeing her reaction to the scenery and the food, it was a bit of a foodie trip as we both love seafood.

To start a little montage of various bikes over the years, most of which I still have :D

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and the start of the trip on 9th June 24

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We rode from north Wales up the motorway, although tedious the RT makes it as comfortable as a motorcycle is on the motorway, weather was occasionally showery but decent kit mitigates that!

Our first stop for the night was at the Tarbet Hotel next to Loch Lomond, it was the only place I'd not stayed in before and was a little apprehensive as it was inexpensive and appeared to have mixed reviews. My apprehension was unfounded it was a lovely place, and as it was quiet they gave us a free room upgrade!

https://manorviewhotels.co.uk/hotels/tarbet/

Staff were all very friendly, the menu is a little uninspiring but as it was a Sunday they were doing a Sunday roast which always goes down well!

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Next morning was the actual day of my birthday so an early start as the other half was treating me to a slap up seafood lunch so we 150 miles via Glencoe, Fort William and Eilean Donan castle to cover to the Kishorn Seafood Bar!

http://www.kishornseafoodbar.co.uk/

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After lunch it's a short hop over the stunning Applecross Pass




The Applecross Inn was the stop for the night and as always never fails to impress.

https://applecrossinn.co.uk/

Next morning was a ride around the coast to Poolewe for our first coffee stop in an ex HQ for the WW2 Arctic Convoys.

https://pool-house.co.uk/cafe/

Then on to Ullapool to the Seafood Shack for a light lunch of Cullen Skink before heading out via the Kylesku Bridge to Altnaharra Hotel and our next overnight stop

We got welcomed at the hotel by a curious wild stag!

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I suspect he was an RT fan :D

The Altnaharra Hotel is one of my faves and again it was a great stay, continuing on the seafood trail I went for a lighter breakfast than the Full Highlands on offer

https://altnaharra.com/

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But was surprised by the huge smoked salmon and scrambled eggs :D

Next morning was off to John o'Groats, it's a dreary place but a box tick.

On down now the not as dramatic east coast of the NC500 and popped into Waterlines Museum at Lybster Harbour for a coffee

https://www.caithnessandsutherland.com/ ... aterlines/

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From there we rode via Inverness along the shores of Loch Ness to Drumnadrochit and the Loch Ness Inn for the night, another fave of mine.

https://www.staylochness.co.uk/

Dinner that evening was a starter of Asian Prawn Salad followed by Seafood Linguine

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Next morning, still feeling full, a light Eggs Benedict was a breakfast treat, while my partner went for the full Highland

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From there we headed for the Cairngorms stopping at Tomintoul for coffee, disappointed that the Old Fire Station cafe was closed

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After that a ride up to the ski centre at Glenshee via a quick photo stop at Balmoral

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Then on to the last hotel of the trip the Buccleuch Arms Hotel in Moffat, it's a fantastic place and totally bike focused, on arrival we were greeted and directed to the individual steel garages to park the bike in then shown the bikes washing facilities, air lines, ear plugs etc before being checked in and shown to the room.

https://www.buccleucharmshotel.com/

Dinner was in the hotel, after a pint or two.

Next morning my partner elected to try the Arbroath Smokie for breakfast where I went this time for the full highland

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Then back home to north Wales! .... and a few weeks dieting :D

My partner compiled a scrapbook of the trip too

[slparry]

.... oh and the cat has been very clingy since we got back I don't think he liked me being away

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[Steve398]

Cats are excellent companions, you don’t have to walk them and they’re independent little beggars who don’t need constant reassurance… in some ways better than women!

PS - I’ll deny this conversation if my wife hears about it!

[scunny12]

Good write up and I'm hungry now. Done a lot of your route but sadly in a car.

[jesim1]

Excellent write up, thanks for taking the time to do it, and I'm glad you had a good time in Scotland