Scotland August 2022

So I was moaning to Anne on Saturday morning that we never seemed to make time for uk bike trips anymore. Let’s Go, she agreed. With the weather forecast looking too hot down south but looking ideal for Scotland we quickly booked up three nights from Tuesday at Invershin near Lairg for a few days in the far north. Then on Sunday I decided 400 or so miles in a day wasn’t what I fancied so we booked for Monday at the Scotland shooting club for a night. And here we are. 1 mile down down a rough gravel track to what feels like the middle of nowhere.

It’s an odd place. Run by a Ukrainian/ Italian couple. The Accomodation is cheap and basic - the bit we are in has hostel style rooms with shared bathrooms and kitchen but we had as a good an Italian meal as I’ve ever had anywhere, in the main house. Home brew beer £6 a litre jug. There’s 3 other Ukrainians staying who I think work locally and there’s been some visitors coming and going with sporting guns. It’s all very odd but also very nice. Scotland Shooting Club Farm House Angus Glens

Tomorrow we are off over the Cairngorms to SteveT’s for a cuppa and then to Invershin Bunkhouse near Lairg. Followed by 3 days in the northern highlands

more to follow

Ace ! What sort of MPG are you getting ? I'm still on the cusp of getting a V85 (been contemplating for a while now, possibly Sept')

soho said:

Ace ! What sort of MPG are you getting ? I'm still on the cusp of getting a V85 (been contemplating for a while now, possibly Sept')

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On duals/motorways with both on and luggage about 50mpg at 70ish. It’d be 55mpg or more solo and probably a bit better without the boxes. Mpg drops alarmingly though at anything much faster for long periods. The worst I saw on the average mpg on the dash was 39mpg: two of us battling a very strong M5 headwind on a race to the ferry . On open roads doing 60-65 when you can but lots of spells of closed throttle and spinning up the revs in between it does loads better - usually 60-65mpg.

I don’t do much urban riding so can’t comment on mpg there but the engine does get hot in town and starts pinking- worst when pulling away from rest where the pinking is loud enough to get people looking at you. “ they all do that, sir”apparently. Being air cooled you get quite a lot of heat on your legs too. Not great in heat waves.

not selling it to you am I? The bike is bloody great. It’s a Guzzi, it’s got foibles and character. It’s way more than the sum of its parts and waaay better than its spec suggests. It’s well made, comfy, characterful, and really good at what (I think) it’s designed for. Which is cruising or hooning down twisty back roads. Plus I think it looks better than any other adventure style bike on the market.

you need a test ride really.

I rode my friend Shaun's V85TT very briefly on Vancouver Island. I was pleasantly surprised at the torque and the overall ease of riding. Nice bike. Glad you're enjoying it Austin.

Great to see you both this afternoon - sorry if I rasied your journeys average speed

Happy holidays and see you both again real soon

Steve T

Thanks Austin, I'm looking at the Gaurdia D'Onore model hopefully but also a couple of other bikes . Just can't settle my mind on which !

Happy Holiday Makers

Great to see Anne & Austin when they popped in for a cuppa on their way north on Tuesday . . . and again yesterday when I shared some road miles with them & Lowflyer.

After Austin displayed a commendable level of self-control when we visited Tomatin distillery (he only bought a couple of bottles) . . .


. . . we ambled down a glen for some peace and tranquillity . . .


Then it was off on a scenic tour of the roads less travelled to a feeding station at Foyers . . .


. . . and this is what happens when you feed sugary substances to non-natives . . .


Our highland guide then led us to a view few but the locals get to see . . . the loch from high up


. . and the same view but with a bike in the way . . .


The Happy Holiday makers and their giant steed . . .


Our Guide expresses his happiness with a little jig . . .


Absolutely great day, with fantastic company, weather and riding.

Thanks to Lowflyer for his hosting & guiding and (whisper this, to save his hard earned reputation ) for buying lunch.

Till the next ride folks, stay safe and keep the memories coming.

Steve T

Looks superb folks

My wife still wears her Moto Guzzi hoodie that I bought her when we visited the factory

It was truly a great day’s riding. In fact Anne said to me as we scooted over the Moray Firth bridge “that was one the best day’s out on the bike I’ve ever had”. Good company, great guides, a bonus coffee from Steve down a remote Glen, and some brilliant roads (the B851 is fan-bloody-tastic). Well done fellas.

Glad you guys enjoyed it, was indeed a grand day out
That B851 used to be similar to the adjoining B861, a bit gnarly and twisty until they widened the B851 to allow transportation of the windmills at Stronelairg. Best thing that happened, that road is more or less the same right into Ft Augustas, not a well known tourist route I often use that road if I am coming home from the West, basically to avoid rush hour in the town. I can verify it is as much fun in the car
You may or not have noticed me going airborne ( deliberately) on the two small hump backed bridges They could not be altered as they are of historical interest, were built by General Wade I think. Primarily to keep us heathen teuchters in check


Austin admiring my lovely steed , down boy !!



Happy couple




The Glen at it's finest




Coffee time courtesy of Mr T unintentional pun there

Great day out guys, good company and best of all great craic Thank you