Day 2 Cumbria to Ayr, Ayreshire

I made it to Ayr on the west coast of Scotland to the house of a colleague and her family. I slept very well finally waking up at 8.45(!) and got off about 10.30. The going was problem free. I even stopped off at Penryth to buy a cup that I forgot to take. Once in Scotland my GPS did itself proud for once taking me on a twisty B road most of the way from Dunfries complete with goats wandering across the road.

IMG_5357
Somewhere there are goats

I stopped by the road in a village and watched a bride and her father driven on the back of a horse drawn carriage off to get wed.

My first site in Scotland

However gps Emily disgraced herself by taking me on a wild goose chase to some pub car park in the middle of Ayr then could not seem to find the place of this newly built house where I was staying: ‘now proceed off road’ she tells me when she has completely given up. Even Google street view shows the wrong house. But I made it, thankful to see a dim hand waving inside as I pulled up rather nervously and noisily in someone’s drive.

Four hours riding with just a couple of short breaks and I feel tired. After today the adventure really begins and I’m not too hopeful about finding these campsites with postcodes alone.

Mileage: 152 Ave speed: 39mph Max speed: 81mph Riding time: 3.9 hours

Gallows Hill Campsite

I finally found this lovely little tents only site. After going up and down this stretch of busy road the owner came out to stand by the road and greeted me by name. We are close to Barnard Castle (something keeps drawing me back there) where I’ve picked up meat garlic and Ginger and vegetables for stir fry from the Co-Op.

Gallows Hill campsite on the way to Ayr
Bertha in Co. Durham

2011 Biking to Scotland

Tomorrow I’m heading north – as far as I can go. Armed with ‘Cool Campsites Scotland’ and most of the usual paraphernalia I drag around on the bike I’m planning to spend a fortnight riding around and camping it up in the western isles and highlands. My first night will be in Co Durham at the auspiciously named Gallows Hill campsite. The site gets good reviews though nearly all of them mention that it was raining. My second night will be staying with a friend in Ayr. She also casually mentioned ‘I hope it stops raining for you’. Its beautiful sun here in Cambridge but obviously raining in Scotland. So, here’s my first holiday on the bike that hasn’t needed ferries booked, currency changing, phrase book purchasing and meticulous planning.