Earlier in the year I buggered off on my trusty r1200gs for 10 days to explore Harris and Lewis as well as Orkney. I have visited most of the Outer Hebrides before but have never been to the Isles of Lewis and Harris.

Harris was visually an amazing particular the Golden Road area in the south. Lewis is less mountainous but still beautiful with empty white beaches.

Orkney is packed with history and some very weird and wonderful people. Great roads and scenery and trips like this really make you realise how lucky we are to live in the UK and so close to Scotland.

I spent a few days on Harris and Lewis and about four days in Orkney. Ferries are good value for a biker and I wild camped a bit. Longest day in the saddle was Edinburgh to Ullapool via Oban and Applecross - about 440miles and it was very wet. It was fun once I'd got into the groove and the BMW r1200gs is a great bike when fully loaded. Fun but stable.

I hope you like the pictures and if you've never been to the Hebrides and Orkney get your finger out before you are just too old and fat!



WWII battery in Stornoway on Lewis

Beach on South Lewis

An abandoned croft in Harris.. There are loads of these to explore but be careful

The Golden Road on Harris.... One the most amazing roads in Scotland

Love the van branding 'painter and decorator' ...

Endless white beaches on Harris west coast

A sea eagle on Harris... They are Huge

Road heading south to Harris... Great roads over there

More wonderful beaches

Winding the motorcycle between Lochans on Harris

Abandoned Air force base ... Would have loved to have sneaked in for a look but was a bit timid

Power House on the way up to the base.

Lovely Camping Spot

Callanish Standing Stones.... No barriers or ticket needed....just wander in. Great!!

Just before I dropped and smashed my 70-200 2.8L lens....Doh!

Carloway broch - A amazing structure

Carloway broch - A amazing structure

Arty nonesense

One of many wonder wild camping spots on Lewis and Harris

One of many wonder wild camping spots on Lewis and Harris

Black House museum on Lewis.. I sat by this fire for 20mins and was the only visitor

Black House museum on Lewis.. I sat by this fire for 20mins and was the only visitor

The road to nowhere  ... Lord Leverbrooks mad and doomed scheme..

Lovely beach on northern tip of Lewis

GPS array - very sc-fi

Hard-core German biker touring on an old school KTM

Smoo Cave in Northern Scotland. Driven past it loads but never been in. It was pretty impressive.

Beachcombing in northern Scotland

Beachcombing in northern Scotland

Beachcombing in northern Scotland

My wonderful campsite in Orkney...lovely kitchen set up

Hoxa Battery

Italian Church built by POW's in WW11

Italian Church built by POW's in WW11

Exploring Orkney by Motorcycle ...the best way

Floats from submarine nets - So much WWI + WWII history in Orkney.............

As well as lots of far older structures! (I mean myself)

Hmmmm... belly pork and pasta

Need I say more...Twatt biker

Lovely old click mill on Orkney .... an old Norse design. Clever Vikings.

Lovely old click mill on Orkney .... an old Norse design. Clever Vikings.

Inside a Dovecot...as you do

Evocative ruins and remains are abound on Orkney

Abandoned youth hostel not lived in for many years

Abandoned youth hostel not lived in for many years

Trolley into the Tomb of the Eagles.. Whistling Hotel California and giggling..

Orkney - Wildlife and birdsong everywhere

Heading south around Wick

Stone work of Fort George

Northeast coast  of Scotland is lovely and often bypassed... Around Portsoy

Northeast coast  of Scotland is lovely and often bypassed... Around Portsoy

Gardenstown

Gardenstown

Puncture near Aviemore ..... was a cold place for a repair...2 degrees!!

I was trying to get there

Where I fixed the puncture....while mainly swearing...Aviemore

Mad and lovely campsite just north of Edinburgh

Last Night camping then home....bright moon

One more shot of the isle of Lewis to end on..