Scheduled to be the hottest day of the year down south, we assembled at Dobbies, Stirling, on a pleasant early-autumn morning.
Dry roads and light cloud cover made for perfect motorcycling conditions. A good turn-out, ten of us set out for our lunchtime destination at Rannoch Station: David McWilliam, Frank Dolan, Kenny Anderson, Ian Jones, Peter Johnson, Ian Ness, David Syme, Robin Galloway, Ali Lazizi and self, Ed Mackey. The motorcycle line-up included five BMWs (S1000XR, GS 750 Triple Black, R1200RT, XRS1000, GS Trophy 1250), three Triumph Tigers (850 Sport and two Tiger 900 GT-Pros), a Honda NC750X and my recently repaired Yamaha XJ6. Peter was run leader, Ian Ness took on back-marker TEC, and the rest of us fought for scribe (I lost).
Ahead of us was a pretty scene. The harvest was in, with giant straw cylinders arranged in neatly mown wheat fields. Contented livestock grazed and lay down in lush green pastures. Trees, in full green leaf, were just starting to rust. Moderate traffic posed little obstacle until Callendar, where road works caused a back-up throughout the length of the town. In the hot still-air I turned-off the engine several times as we crawled forward, a few car-lengths at a time. Yellow signs warned of road closure on the A821 but when we finally reached the far side of town it was just a hole in the road. Barely a handful of south-bound cars faced us on the other side. Having once worked a roadworks stop-go sign as a youth, I was crying out for a lollipop.
Ascending the rolling road north, along a sapphire Loch Lubnaig to our left, Ali peeled-off at Lochearnhead for a solo cut-down circuit. Further on up the road, Peter pulled in at Falls of Dochart, Killin, for a welcome leg-stretch. With more and more sunshine breaking through, we progressed east along the A827, with Ben Lawers towering above us on our left and panoramic views down the length of Loch Tay on the right.
Heading into higher ground at Fearnan and through Fortingal, we went north on the B846 at Coshievill and then turned west onto the narrow Shiehallion Road. The landscape there changed into a wilder scene of heather moorland. The massive whaleback of Shiehallion (where the density of the earth was famously estimated in 1775) spread out before us on our left. And so we rode on, on the lovely twisting and undulating single-track road along the southern shore of Loch Rannoch. Presently, we passed the scenic Gaur Power Station (1953), one of 11 on the Tummel hydro scheme.
In glorious sunshine, we enjoyed a leasurely lunch in the open air, at tearoom tables on the platform of Rannoch Station (1894). Whilst there, a train from Mallaig to Glasgow came through. As we were about to depart, an isolated rain squall passed over, allowing us to take shelter before the homeward journey.
The afternoon ride took us east along the picturesque northern shores of Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel, to a fuel stop at Pitlochry. Avoiding main roads, Peter then led us west to Aberfeldy and on down to Crieff. The Sma’ Glen was at its spectacular best, with deep cool shade on our side of the river and the rugged hills on the far side lit-up in bright sunshine.
At a remote spot on our way to Crieff we passed a couple of motorcycles in a lay-by. It transpired that a solo motorcyclist had picked-up a puncture. A second motorcyclist, who stopped to help, was able to plug the tyre. But they had no way to inflate it. Ian N, our TEC, then joined them and pumped it up with his compressor. You couldn’t make it up … well done Ian!!
Around about Crieff, three of our company split off for home and the remaining six rode on to the final destination at Braco. After a farewell stop, we too progressively disbursed along the onward route past Stirling and, for me, to Edinburgh. My distance for the day was 260 miles. A truly memorable run: outstanding route, perfect weather, great company. Thoroughly enjoyed! Many thanks Peter and special praise to Ian Ness – heroic!! (and personal thanks too for sea angling tips, Robin 😉