Prologue - Skye AKA Bogger's Curse

Leading up to 1 Sep 2026

By Ren Withnell

In the comment's section of Hot In Honfleur Bogger said "The next story from you boyo needs real hardship and suffering please. Bike breakdowns, getting soaked and frozen. We want mental and physical exhaustion. Getting lost, running out of fuel. You get the drift man." I'm sure he meant no harm but his words might have been prophetic.

Apparently this kind of happiness and comfort is not what the readers want...

... this is what readers want.

I have been made redundant. I'd been working at the company for just over 3 years when I was informed my role was "at risk". This translates to "you're for the chop laddy, but we're legally obliged to go through a process of consultation". To be fair the company has been by the book in my time with them and the team I've worked with has been friendly, helpful, and functional. 

But guess what? After one of the longest, driest and warmest spells on record my employment ended just as the weather was turning... and just when Sharon and I have a trip to Scotland planned. Talk about bad timing - damn you Bogger!

The original trip was planned to be a 2 week trip around The Outer Hebrides. 2-3 days up to either Oban or Skye, 3-4 nights on The Uists, 3-4 nights on Harris/Lewis, and a few more nights coming back home at a leisurely pace. However life is complicated. Sharon not only has to organise care for her cat which is proving difficult she also has various engagements we can't work around sensibly. For the purpose of this missive I'm blaming Bogger.

We could blame the cat, but it's more fun to blame Bogger.

Sharon has previously expressed a desire to not simply pass through Skye en route to The Outer Hebrides, but to have some time to look around Skye. It's a place she's heard a lot about, and a place she wishes to see for herself. We have been to Skye before. We crossed the bottom of Skye back in 2008, I've ridden the same road several other times with friends too. I've been to Portree once as well back in 2010. Otherwise neither of us has actually explored this much celebrated island. 

So rather than a few of The Outer Hebridean isles we're going to have a look around one of The Inner Hebridean isles, Skye. We can do that in the 8 nights 9 days we can muster together. It's 430 miles from Sharon's place to Skye which regulars readers will know is far far far too far for even wild adventure riders such as Sharon and I. After pouring over maps, the internet, and numerous conversations we finally form a most cunningly devious plan. I... I suspect you're going to be impressed.

Ahem. Sharon's to Bruce's Cave campsite, Lockerbie - 145 miles (wow!). Bruce's Cave to Keltie Bridge campsite, Callander - 115 miles (steady on!). Keltie Bridge to Camping Skye, Broadford - 165 miles (WHOA!). 4 nights on Skye, then back to Keltie Bridge, then Bruce's Cave, then home. See - WE ARE really roughty toughty mean bad-ass high miles hardcore 1,000 yard stare adventure types aren't we. Admit it you ARE impressed.

Real HARDCORE adventure type.

Bikes are checked, bags are packed, plans are made, and all systems are go. Sharon has some reservations about the weather but come on, the weather forecast is always pessimistic and the pictures of Skye on the marketing websites clearly show it is perpetually bathed in glorious sunshine. Still, we double check we have the waterproofs with us.

Secretly she just LOVES the rain.

Share your tips-n-tricks or tales of woe - click here.

Reader's Comments

Post Your Comment Posts/Links Rules