Heading back to the Inner Hebrides with my bike but first I have to
drive to Oban. I packed my touring bike in the car and set off
around 08:10am. The drive was straightforward until the approach to
Callander where there was stationary and very slow traffic for a
couple of miles. By Callander it was clear and I reached Oban in
warm sunshine.
Waiting for the ferry at Oban
As I expected the main car park was full so I had to wait for
someone to emerge from the nearby sports centre and drive away. I
left my car and cycled down through the town to the dock area doing
my best to avoid the crowds of tourists wandering everywhere,
including into the road. At the Calmac office I bought a £3.45
single ticket to Craignure on the Isle of Mull.
On the ferry
It was good to see there was no longer a charge for using the
toilets. The next sailing was 15:55 so I waited in the designated
area for bikes where I was the only cyclist. The ferry left on time
but on arrival at Craignure I had to wait till all the vehicles had
left before I was allowed off the ferry.
Extortionate food on the ferry £9.25!
Yacht near Mull
I was last off the ferry
I called in at the public toilets by the Information Centre to put
some water from the sink into my water containers then set off on
the A849 in the direction of Fionnphort but only intending to do a
couple of miles or so. Although fine weather now the forecast was
for rain overnight and into tomorrow.
Bothy ruin and midges
I decided to press on and ride over the climb of Glen More while the
weather was still good. It was a good ride except for the
thoughtless motorists who continually ignored the passing places and
came at me on the single track road sections, passing way too close.
Just over half way up the climb is an old ruined bothy where I
stopped to take a picture. I didn’t stop long due to the midges.
Over the summit I descended down the wide glen where the sea Loch
Scridian came in to view. I stopped briefly at the isolated bus stop
where the B8035 junction is. I continued a short way on the A849 to
where I saw an inviting looking grassy area by a river and decided
to camp.
Return to
Whittle Wanderer
