Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven 01/07/17

On Saturday we decided to be civilian tourists for the day sans motorcycles so that we could take Sitka with us to Dunnottar Castle by Stonehaven. Well worth a visit especially if the is sun shining.

Dunnotter Castle

During the reign of King William the Lion (ruled 1165–1214) Dunnottar was a centre of local administration for The Mearns. The castle is named in the Roman de Fergus, an early 13th-century Arthurian romance, in which the hero Fergus must travel to Dunnottar to retrieve a magic shield. In May 1276 a church on the site was consecrated by William Wishart, Bishop of St Andrews. The poet Blind Harry relates that William Wallace captured Dunnottar from the English in 1297, during the Wars of Scottish Independence. He is said to have imprisoned 4,000 defeated English soldiers in the church and burned them alive. In 1336 Edward III of England ordered William Sinclair, 8th Baron of Roslin, to sail eight ships to the partially ruined Dunnottar for the purpose of rebuilding and fortifying the site as a forward resupply base for his northern campaign. Sinclair took with him 160 soldiers, horses, and a corps of masons and carpenters. Edward himself visited in July, but the English efforts were undone before the end of the year when the Scottish Regent Sir Andrew Murray led a force that captured and again destroyed the defences of Dunnottar.

Tay Valley Norton Owners Club and friends in Strontian 23/07/17

Lesley and I were joined by Marion on her Triumph Bonneville as we headed to the TVNOC camping weekend at Sunart Camping in Strontian, definitely to be recommended, motorcycle friendly owner and great facilities in the bothy and the covered barbeque area. It was also Ginos birthday so another good excuse for motorcycling and partying, oh and a day off work. The weather forecast wasn't looking too promising and that's the way it turned out, heavy showers and pretty windy especially through Glencoe, still stunning scenery all the way over and the bikes were firing on all 4, 3 and 2 cylinders, even managing to scrape the pegs on the Big Yam round Lochearnhead.

There were a few folk at the campsite when we got there, all trying not to head to the pub too early. Eventually sobriety got the better of us and after a 10 minute walk to the pub the beer and the good craic flowed. A great night was had by all, but maybe not such a good morning was had by everyone though, a couple of late sleepers didn't move till pretty late in the day. Saturday afternoon we walked to a local tearoom for fresh air and a sandwich again trying not to start on the beer too early. Saturday night provisions were bought from the local store to cook on the campsite barbeque, the reek certainly kept the midges away. More beer and a few bottles of malt made sure of a great night in the bothy in great company. Sundays run home was dreich but thankfully pretty uneventful apart from a couple of eejit car drivers trying to overtake us on blind bends. A great weekend hopefully to be repeated back at Sunart Camping.

All packed and raring to go

On the Corran ferry

Where we met Gino, Fiona and Alex on his Triumph Sprint

A pit stop at Ardgour Restaurant for tea and pieces

Loch Sunart

Tent pitched and time for beer

Marion's Bonnie

Loch Sunart

Gino the fire starter

Bill firing up the BBQ

The nights tea getting readied

First of 3 bottles of malt half emptied

Not sure what the glow sticks were for

Cracking setup

The Green Welly Tyndrum for more tea and pieces