Touring Scotland

[jimob23]

All depending on the progress (or lack off ) summer would really like to do a week in and around the far North .Would be starting off in Hartfordshire and at least get as far as Ullapool .Not looking for a wild dash situation but more like a chill out .If anyone has any past experiance of similar would appreciate comments and suggestions . Thanks

 

[Bob Pinder]

Best leave this afternoon to beat the snow!

 

[CbrDavE]

Ullapool is a good place to head for but it would be a shame to go all that distance and then turn around and go south.
Try this..
Hit your nearest motorway(M6,M74,M8,M898), select warp drive and get on the A82 at Dumbarton , petrol and Little Chef, Tarbet, A82 biker friendley pub at Inveruglas (I think), Crianlarich, Tyndrum for the biker friendly Green Wellie shop, A82 to Fort William (lots of B&B), Invergarry(petrol), A87 to Shiel Bridge (cafe at first filling station), on to Kyle of Lochalsh for rest, A890 to Stromeferry (divert through Plockton for sceanary to keep wife happy), on to Lochcarron o A896 to Kishorn. now go on the unclassified road to Applecross (hairpins) on continue around to Shieldaig,Torridon (Ben Damph hotel for good grub),B&B at Mrs McKay 01445791333 ask for room with view), Kinlochewe (resist hunger - dont stop here), A832 to Gairloch, A835 to Ullapool, B&B, A835,A837 to Inchnadamph, A837 to Stoer, round the coast and back north on A894 to Laxfor bridge, A838 to Durness (B&B first on left), A838 to Tongue, Bettyhil (most expensive petrol - ever) go to cafe/Fish'n'Chip resturant, Thurso, A836 John O'groats, A9 to Wick, Helmsdale (hairpins),Tain,Carrbridge (B&B), A938 to Grantown, A939 to Tomintoul, Breamar, A93 Blairgowrie, Perth, Then back home, keep off warp drive on A9, keep compass to south and hit warp drive again. Take midge repelant!
Was that toooo much detail?

 

[Codbasher]

Not sure if its the same route you just said CBRDave, but in Augusts Two Wheels Only mag, a guy did a round trip of Scotland, think he did it in 3/4 days, but it would pay to take longer and see the site. :yo:

 

[controlshed]

If you avoid high speed on main routes & stick to the West Coast there's a lot of good road with only a few speed blackspots. I'd get off the motorway just across the border and head west on the A75 (watch your speed here). Head up to Ayrshire on A76 from Dumfries or if it is a weekend go further on to near Castle Douglas and up the A713 to Ayr to avoid a bit of traffic. Once there you can stop off or carry on up the coast. There are ferries to Arran & Bute from Ardrossan & Wemys Bay resp (if you want to add a nautical flavour) or if you want to keep going head up the A737 (I think) and across the Erskine Bridge from the M8 (free for bikes). You're now on the A82 as per 'CbrDavE's' route. An alternative to heading straight up the A82 is to head for Inverary at Arrochar (A83) going along the lochside and turning right for Oban at Lochgilphead (can't remember the road number). From Oban you can visit a few of the Islands if you want (www.calmac.co.uk), It's not a big place for such large print on the map but I like it. From there you can head up the coast again to Fort William & beyond. No place like it when the good weather is there, unfortunately the midges think the same. On the way back down the Borders are nice to take a run through (South from Edinburgh) but there are a fair number of cameras dotted about the place. Sorry it's a bit long winded but it's all I can add to earlier posts.

 

[birdinflight]

essentials for your trip..................

1. midgy repellant..........a good one.

2. waterproofs................;good ones

3. a camera

4. plenty of money to buy scottish nik naks in tartan and also models of the haggis and nessie.



Honestly............20 years of being brought up on the West Coast of Scotland near Oban has done that to me!!!!!!!!

Routes look great. Was doing a virtual tour with them there. Lochgilphead to Oban is a great route.

HOpe the weather is kind to you. Don't forget the reppelant!!!!!

 

[jimob23]

Many thanks for the response so far and in particular CbrDave and controlshed .Also all noted Birdinflight as having spent a majority of my time in Africa am well aware as to what a pain the little nasties can be .
Back on the same subject but different area in that have allocated about 10 days for this chill out period so was aiming to do the motorway bit up to say Leeds and then wander through the Yorkshire area prior to heading up the middle ,avoiding Edinburgh etc ,to get to Dumbarton as suggested by the CbrDave route .Again any suggestions will be most welcome

 

[tony1100]

I was planning to do the same at some point this summer 8ree! so will keep my eye on this thread for more routes, tips and hints...

Thanks guys

 

[Steve878]

Sorry, but it is absolutely impossible to not get into a "wild dash situation" on the road to Ullapool. It is absolutely fantastic and its hard not to blast along at more than warp speed! Ullapool is a top place too.

We have stayed at Glendhu B&B www.glendhu.co.uk when we visited this year and last. It's biker friendly, top views and a short walk to town. Bikes parked in rear yard. We locked them up just to be safe but then found the door to the B&B unlocked with a note on the door addressed to me. The owner had to go out but just told us to walk in and make ourselves comfy and get unpacked! Obviously not much chance of the bikes going missing round there then. Enjoy!

 

[vfrbb]

Tour of Scotland

Hi All,

relative new comer to the site. w;;v I just got back on Sunday night from a quick tour of Scotland. I started in Motherwell, headed up past Loch Lomond on the A82 then on to the A83 through Arrachar to Inverary. At Inverary continue A83 on to Lochgilphead and the A816 coast road to Oban. Absolutely brilliant, as they say above, no choice but to get a move on. :lick: From there head for Fort William on the A828 re-joining the A82 at Ballachullish. Continue on the on the A82 and Fort Agustus is a beautiful place to stay. Book ahead, I had difficulty finding any accommodation during the whole weekend. Head on up the A82 to Invermoriston and take the A887 (this becomes the A87) to Kyle of Lochalsh. Just before Kyle take the A890 to Stromeferry. Follow the road to the end and take a left (A896) to Sheildaig and Kinlochewe. At Kinloochewe take a left (A832) for Gairloch. You will pass a sign for Sheildaig 1 mile, don't worry you haven't gone in a circle, there are 2 within 50 miles of each other! :dunno: Stay on the A832 until you come to a T-junction on the A835 take a left to Ullapool. Stay on the A835 out of the North West side of Ullapool. Turn left on to the A837 and head north. Watch for the A894 and head for Unapool. Then catch the A838 for Durness. :} Follow the A838 until it meets the A836 and follow this road across the top of Scotland to John o'Groats. From there it is the A( to (Inverness and then back to the A82 back to Fort William. Stay on the A82 to Loch Lomond. We stopped of at Lochcarron and Bettyhill. These were not our planned stops but we could not find any accommodation anywhere. we left on Friday 6th Aug and came home on Sunday night (9th). The weather was superb until 9pm on Sunday, when all 3 days rain fell during the last 1 and a half hours of our trip. Now we are ready for the European tour on 3rd September. Only down side to the trip was when moving the bike on a steep, rumble strewn forecourt in Bettyshill, the bike got away a bit and before I could reach the brake, the side stand caught a rock sticking up :bang: and is now very loose. I have taken it apart and I cant see anything broken but something must be bent. Could just be the fingers at the top of the stand have spread a bit. Anyone done anything similar?

The roads and scenery are incredible. Hope this gives you a few ideas.

Cheers Paul