14 Jun 2010 Glasgow-Mallaig

We drove very fast to reach the Glasgow Station in time before the train departs at 1221. Made it in the end but the fuel gauge shows empty. So i wandered off the streets of Glasgow looking for a petrol filling station. I was panicking cos after a few enquiries, I still could not locate one. Finally, thanks to two Scottish ladies who were on their way to Tesco, I drove them there and found the Tesco refuelling station. Relieved. Now the next challenge, get back onto the motorway we came from. Again, by some sheer dumb luck, a few window unwindings and asking ard, I managed to land on the right motorway. Relieved. Not long after, I drove passed Eskrine Bridge.

I drove pretty fast along the 2-laner road to Fort William. Lotsa maintenance work going on and the traffic was help up at some parts as it was reduced to single-file. Not helping, there was this Barclays sponsored cycling event going on - luckily it was on the opposite direction. I stopped briefly at Loch Lomond, Glen Nevis, Corpach and Glenfinnan to take photos and for the loo but otherwise most of the time i was driving pretty fast to make up the lost time wandering in Glasgow. The scenery along is really quite nice. Plus the weather was sunny. Just the day before when John drove down from Scotland to Windermere, it was drizzling. Count myself lucky.

Loch Lomond

Patches of snow can still be seen at the top of hills. Somewhere near Glencoe.

Reflection seen near Fort William.

Ben Nevis, the highest point on the whole of UK as seen from Corpach. According to the locals, days like these where Ben Nevis is in clear cloudless view is 2 in a year. Prolly exaggeration but imagine looking 360 degrees from the top of Ben Nevis on clear day like this. Would have been ideal.

Fishing going on at Corpach. He told me I was lucky to have weather like today's.

Loch Shield at Glenfinnan.

Glenfinnan Viaduct - the one that Harry Potter train run past in the movie. The train still run past it every morning.

Arisaig - The Jacobite's last stand.

Finally reached Mallaig at 615pm, half an hour after the train has arrived.

We went to this restaurant Chippy Restaurant and had a very good meal - great service by the waitress too. Nearly all the train passengers were there haha. We ordered some seafood and savoured away. Most of the people come to Mallaig to catch the ferry to Skye. For our case, we were going to drive to Skye since we can visit Eilean Donan Castle on-route.

The next hurdle came in finding the B&B in Morar. No sign board! We turned a few rounds and finally managed to find it. The owner was away but the wife explained to us that the signboard was blown away. Despite the location, the B&B was really very nice. The furnishing, the colour scheme used and the hospitality were impressive.

It was already 830pm so we quickly unload stuff we need and wash up. Instead of waiting for my turn to use the wash room, I drove out and recee the surrounding a little bit. There was this little golf course around. The silver sand of Morar, was something like those you found in Langkawi or other beaches in Asia - tho in Uk that is something.

Sunset at the silver beach.

Mini golf course at Morar.

The road to Mallaig was deserted since the last ferry to Skye left at 1815.