A cycle touring trip in Aug 1993 to Scotland and the Lake District with a little bit of mountain walking as well.

1. Hull to Sunderland (117 miles)
2. Sunderland to Wooler (75 miles) Took the ferry at South Shields over the Tyne and continued up the coast road before turning inland to Wooler.
3. Wooler to Peebles (63 miles) Day got off to a bad start with a puncture after 5 miles then a heavy shower but pushed on to Kelso and then Galashiels made it to Peebles about 5.00pm and looked for somewhere to stay.
4. Peebles to Stirling (73 miles) Headed west along the A72 past Drochil Castle then onto the A721, leaving it to head north-west to Forth, Shotts , Airdrie and onto Kilsyth. Here the road ( which was called “Tak the way doon!) started to climb and was very steep in places followed by a long sweeping descent and a ford at the bottom which i didn’t see coming and was lucky to keep upright ,then kept left around the reservoir into Stirling and the youth hostel.
5. Stirling to Crianlarich (50 miles) Headed north-west on theA84 to Callender and the Pass ofLeny, then taking the quiet track along the left shores of LochLubnaig,rejoing the main road atStrathyre for a cuppa at the tea shop. Glen Ogle was next before turning left into GlenDochart and got another good soaking with a headwind all the way intoCrianlarich youth hostel.
   

   Bike Tour 1993 (south)

6. Crianlarich to Kinlochleven (45 miles) Followed the A82 through Tyndrum then climbed up to Bridge of Orchy and onto Rannoch Moor. Called in at the Clachaig Inn for refreshment before pressing on and stopping the night at the Mamore Lodge in Kinlochleven.
7. Kinlochleven to Glen Nevis ( Mountain Walk….) I left the bike safely locked up at the Lodge and was off on foot to try to do all the Mamores mountains in one day (there were 11 Munros at the time but think they now number 10). The Mamores mountain range form a big chunk of Ramsey`s Round a very tough 24 hour mountain challenge taking in 24 summits and covering about 58 miles. I Waited a while before setting off because of rain but i need not have worried because it actually rained most of the day . Despite the bad weather i gradually ticked them off one by one until i got to number 9 at the end of a feature called The Devil`s Ridge, where instead of retracing my steps back along the ridge somehow i ended up descending into Glen Nevis. I wasted a lot of time and energy going the wrong way and i was knackered and decided to call it a day and head off down to the valley below and was lucky enough to get a lift from the road to Glen Nevis Youth Hostel. Slept well!
8. Glen Nevis to Fort William ( Walk…) The plan was to walk along to Fort William and get a bus back to Kinlochleven to pick up my bike and continue my ride, however i was feeling terrible after yesterday`s efforts and drenchingi got and my legs were aching so found a bed and breakfast in Fort William and had miserable lazy day curled up and shivering next to a fire.
   

   Bike Tour 1993 (north)

9. Fort William to Kinlochleven ( Bus…) Feeling much better today and got the bus back to Kinlochleven and stayed the night in the Mamore lodge again.
10. Kinlochleven to Invararay (62 miles) Heading south now for the Lake district, so back down the A82 through Glen Coe and stopping for a pot of tea at the Bridge of Orchy Hotel. Left the A82 here and continued down the very quiet and scenic Glen Orchy to Dalmally then the rolling hills to Inveraray and stopped at the youth hostel there.
11. Inveraray to Glasgow (68 miles) An early start heading west round the head of Loch Fynne which was shrouded in sea mist an looked quite eerie and beautiful with the sun shining through it.  Climbed up to the pass of “Rest and be Thankful” , i did and i was! some good views of Ben Ime and the Cobbler from here. Then down to Arrocher and around Loch Long down to Gare Loch and the naval base at Faslane through Helensburgh and Dumbarton and picked up a cycle way into Glasgow city center and booked into the youth hostel there.
12. Glasgow to Wanlockhead (63 miles) Managed to find a good way out of the city centre and headed south to Wanlockhead via Eaglesham, Strathaven to the A70 at Muirkirk and turned left here to Glespin turning right here off the main road here to the lovely quiet and hilly road to Crawfordjohn and Leadhill before the final stiff climb up to Wanlockhead – the highest village in Scotland and stayed at the youth hostel.
13. Wanlockhead to Carlisle (75 miles) A steep descent south-west down to the A76 and turned right for a couple of mile before turning off the main road on the left and picking up a network of very quiet narrow country lanes into Dumfries and dinner at the bakery. Headed south out of Dumfries to the Solway Firth via Bankend and Annan and onto Gretna, from here it was 10 miles into Carlisle and stopped at the youth hostel there.
14. Carlisle to Glenridding (34 miles) Headed south on little quiet roads running parallel with the M6 motorway to Greystoke and crossing the Busy A66 to Bennethead and down to the A592 turning left along Ulswater to Glenridding and the steep track up to the youth hostel.
15. Helvellyn ( Mountain Walk…) Crossed stream just past the hostel and scrambled up Birkhouse Moor onto Striding Edge in the mist and drizzle, up onto the summit of Helvellyn and descended to Glenridding via Raise, Sticks Pass and Sheffield Pike.
16. Helvellyn to Keswick (23 miles) Turned left along Ulswater then left again to Dockray and Matterdale End , the bike creaking and groaning up the hills. just before the A66 at Troutbeck turning left on the quiet road to Guardhouse, a short section on the A66 past Threlkeld before more quiet roads leading to the Stone Circle and finally into Keswick and the youth hostel.
17. Skiddaw and Blencathra (Mountain Walk…) Crossed the A66 via Spooney Green Lane to the car park at the top and up to Skiddaw via the normal route. Then it was over Sale How to Skiddaw House hostel before heading east over the beck towards Blencathra via Foule Crag and along the ridge to its summit and then heading back to Keswick via the Blencathra Center.
18. Keswick to Langthwaite (8 miles followed by Mountain Walk…) An early start to cycle the 7 miles from Keswick to the youth hostel in Borrowdale near Rosthwaite. I left my bike and cycling gear here and set off walking on the small side road to Seathwaite and onto the trail to Styhead Pass, past the Tarn and onto the “Corridor Route” up to Scafell Pike. From here i dropped down to Mickledore and scrambled up to the summit of Scafell then retraced my steps over Mickledore and dropped down to LIngmell and on to Styhead Pass and returning to the hostel via Great Gable, Grey Knots and Honister Pass.
19. Langthwaite to Sunderland (107 miles) Cycled back along Borrodale to Keswick and a visit to the Bakers. Set off east along the A66 turning off to Greystoke and onto Penrith before suffering a puncture at Langwathby. Had a Fabulous giant mug of tea at the cafe at Melmerby Post Office before setting off on the long climb to Hartside Pass in the rain and mist and on to Alston. When setting off this morning i had only planned on going this far today but felt good and still had the time so decided to continue all the way to Sunderland. I Headed east on the main Weardale road but for some reason turned off it to visit Coalclough, Allenheads and Rookhope before rejoining it again at Stanhope and on through to Wolsingham, where i left it for the climb up to Tow Law and onto Chester-Le-Street, arriving at Sunderland about 8.00pm.