Day 8: The Full Scottish

It would not be really true to say I am cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats. Propelling a bicycle would be more true. This is because I seem to be spending a lot of time pushing my bike up steep hills. There were 28 of these today on our 48.5 mile ride from Livingston to Perth. I do cycle when I can though!

The stay over at Livingston was good. After a decent breakfast we set off through a forested park and got a bit lost. Eventually we got onto the Perth road and there were some spectacular views.

Lots of cycling through mountains and moorlands with not a person in sight. Amazingly, it was a completely still day, almost no wind. We arrived at the Forth Bridge near Edinburgh, and found there were in fact three bridges! Fantastic views across.

Later, the dark foreboding clouds built up and the heavens opened. It became very cold indeed and windy as we were pelted by a prolonged cloudburst of hailstones and then torrential rain 

that had water gushing down the roads. We ploughed on with waterproofs on but at times we could hardly see for the rain.

Later, the sun came out and that warmed us up and dried things out a bit. We struggled to find The Holiday Inn near Perth, and once again found ourselves in a rough housing estate, which we were keen to get out of. 

Now showered, warm and dry here in our digs, things feel good. We experienced The Full Scottish weather experience today and have survived it.

Pitlochry tomorrow. All I know about Pitlochry is my late mother's 'Pitlochry Wool' catalogue - which she cherished. "They make the best jumpers", she once told me.