This weather! Actually pretty darn hot, for the north of Scotland anyway. So, wasn't about to miss what looked like the best of an excellent week, so me and Mrs Three Dawg packed a picnic onto the ol' GS and headed out, all jacket vents open.
I've been meaning to revisit Strathconon and Scatwell for years, and take a look at Loch Achilty while I was down there. It's only about twenty miles north west from Inverness, just past Marybank, but it's been twenty years or more...
Following the river Conon into the valley from Marybank.
All getting a bit Lord of the Rings deeper into the strath...
We found a lovely spot down by the river, but by gum it was hot.
The road is a 15 mile dead end with a big flat area of grass right next to Loch Beannacharain.
Without a stupid big bike in the way. Mrs 3D's iPhone seems to do clouds well...
Even though the roadsign to Loch Achilty from just outside Contin says it's no exit, I was sure you could cross the Meig Dam and go down the side of Loch Achilty to join up with the main road, and so it proved. It's not often possible to ride over the top of a dam here, the last one I did was the Kariba Dam between Zambia and Zimbabwe several years ago now. Same old bike though.
The valley has a surprising amount of desirable property, but is probably infested with midgies (the rich can't have it all their own way, can they?)
Loch Achilty looked lovely, with swimmers and canoists enjoying the water. Reminded me of Mrs 3D's homeland, New Zealand. Pictures next time though, we had to get back to town as we had guests arriving. Still, a lovely gentle day out with all of 80 miles covered.