Jura & Islay
Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:37 pm
Thought I'd share my little trip to Jura and Islay with yer from last month....
With a few days to spare I bagged my 5/12 BAM. I only had a rough plan as to where to go as I only decided a couple of days before that I'd go. So with perfect weather beating down on me i caught the sailing from Kincragie after leaving the van in the free car park for 3 nights. After the 2 hour sailing ( £7:70) to Port Askaig on Islay i then took the 5 minte ferry (£3) across the Sound of Jura to, you guessed it, Jura.
20180528_150200 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
20180528_175955 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
After a short 80 yards on the only tarmac road i veered left onto a rideable double track. This was soon followed by the first of many sightings of deer. The evening sun was still pretty hot and after getting down to the coast the thought of this turning into a great few days away quickly disappeared just like the track. The coast was stunning, with its rock formations and small bays but sadly impossible to ride a fat bike on most of the time. Plan B soon hatched so i decided to bin my original idea and head back to the road. however with the setting sun getting lower to the distant hills on Skye I resorted to pitching where I stood before the midgies feasted on me!
20180528_184747 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
20180528_195459 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
20180528_203429 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
20180528_222345 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
After a good nights sleep I decided that plan A should be back on the cards, it won't be that bad will it....?
After a negotiating a deep ravine I soonfound myself riding for 10 yards and walking for 20 yards, then 30, then 40 then riding for 20. you get the idea. Hike a bike through sheepheads was demoralising until I came across a 2 foot antler on a deer track.
20180529_072832 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
20180529_080806 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
After securing it to my bars I had to be cautious I didn't take a tumble and get impaled!! I soon got back down on the coast for more stop start riding. Again the terrain was difficult but the seals on the shoreline lifted morale. More hike a bike later saw me get to Glenbatrick.
20180529_114221 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
20180529_121438 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
The thought of no more hike a bike was firmly in my mind as I knew there was a path from the east to here on the west. Anyway the thought of riding was soon out of the equation...even the decent was stop start!
20180529_133222 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
20180529_153509 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
After quickly getting to the road it was just a few miles to Craighouse and a pitch (£5) infront of the hotel and distillery. My reward was to get bladdered
20180530_071643 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
20180529_212812 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
The next morning I followed the road back to the ferry early on and bimbled about on Islay mostly following the inner roads and some tracks. I pitched on the shoreline on the southern tip in Port Ellen ready for the ferry the next morning at 7am.
20180530_105732 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
20180530_103746 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
20180530_165110 by Jeff Price, on Flickr
So if you're thinking of giving it a go on Jura, take a dog as it makes for some great walking!!
And if you made it this far, here's my film from the trip....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2d2jCy8aaQ&t=
With a few days to spare I bagged my 5/12 BAM. I only had a rough plan as to where to go as I only decided a couple of days before that I'd go. So with perfect weather beating down on me i caught the sailing from Kincragie after leaving the van in the free car park for 3 nights. After the 2 hour sailing ( £7:70) to Port Askaig on Islay i then took the 5 minte ferry (£3) across the Sound of Jura to, you guessed it, Jura.
20180528_150200 by Jeff Price, on Flickr20180528_175955 by Jeff Price, on FlickrAfter a short 80 yards on the only tarmac road i veered left onto a rideable double track. This was soon followed by the first of many sightings of deer. The evening sun was still pretty hot and after getting down to the coast the thought of this turning into a great few days away quickly disappeared just like the track. The coast was stunning, with its rock formations and small bays but sadly impossible to ride a fat bike on most of the time. Plan B soon hatched so i decided to bin my original idea and head back to the road. however with the setting sun getting lower to the distant hills on Skye I resorted to pitching where I stood before the midgies feasted on me!
20180528_184747 by Jeff Price, on Flickr20180528_195459 by Jeff Price, on Flickr20180528_203429 by Jeff Price, on Flickr20180528_222345 by Jeff Price, on FlickrAfter a good nights sleep I decided that plan A should be back on the cards, it won't be that bad will it....?
After a negotiating a deep ravine I soonfound myself riding for 10 yards and walking for 20 yards, then 30, then 40 then riding for 20. you get the idea. Hike a bike through sheepheads was demoralising until I came across a 2 foot antler on a deer track.
20180529_072832 by Jeff Price, on Flickr20180529_080806 by Jeff Price, on FlickrAfter securing it to my bars I had to be cautious I didn't take a tumble and get impaled!! I soon got back down on the coast for more stop start riding. Again the terrain was difficult but the seals on the shoreline lifted morale. More hike a bike later saw me get to Glenbatrick.
20180529_114221 by Jeff Price, on Flickr20180529_121438 by Jeff Price, on FlickrThe thought of no more hike a bike was firmly in my mind as I knew there was a path from the east to here on the west. Anyway the thought of riding was soon out of the equation...even the decent was stop start!
20180529_133222 by Jeff Price, on Flickr20180529_153509 by Jeff Price, on FlickrAfter quickly getting to the road it was just a few miles to Craighouse and a pitch (£5) infront of the hotel and distillery. My reward was to get bladdered
20180530_071643 by Jeff Price, on Flickr20180529_212812 by Jeff Price, on FlickrThe next morning I followed the road back to the ferry early on and bimbled about on Islay mostly following the inner roads and some tracks. I pitched on the shoreline on the southern tip in Port Ellen ready for the ferry the next morning at 7am.
20180530_105732 by Jeff Price, on Flickr20180530_103746 by Jeff Price, on Flickr20180530_165110 by Jeff Price, on FlickrSo if you're thinking of giving it a go on Jura, take a dog as it makes for some great walking!!
And if you made it this far, here's my film from the trip....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2d2jCy8aaQ&t=
