Thumper Club Forum
Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: Mart on January 29, 2013, 04:36:10 PM
-
At the end of April, I am joining some friends on a trip to Scotland . One of said friends has organised a night at a youth hostel by Loch Lomond for the first night. the next 2/3 days we will be moving on camping and/or B&Bing, possibly ferrying to Mull and then on to Ardnamurchan. I am looking forward to any advice about things to see and places to go. We are not planning on any long distance days apart from getting there from the midlands and then back home again.
I know that is not a long day for some of you fellow thumperettes, but I am getting on a bit.
I probably won't be on my thumper but trying out my new toy. Breva 750
Thanks in advance Mart
-
take midge repellant, take spare midge repellant, take a midge net like a beekeepers mask but finer mesh. if you think you wont be afffected, then good luck with that, thats what everyone says right before theyre eaten alive by millions of the little fookers!!,
you can wild camp at the sde of the road in scotland legally, but take care not to piss off landowners, plenty of pubs have bunkhouses you can rent, plan your route and then ring them for availability.
oh, and have fun!!
-
and fill up with fuel. always fill up, even if you only have half a tank fill up. once you get past tyndrum fuel can be scarce. i downloaded a map from morrisons supermarket, they have filling stations in a lot of smaller towns and the fuel is cheaper han anywhere else!
-
Hello Mart,
Long time no chatter! Good on you, scotland will be great. I am now not that qualified to give much advice, and I also think that no matter what you do, it will be good (out of the cities, I am presuming).
A personal favourite road of mine is the Duke's Pass, as I'm sure Bill will second. Its the A821, between aberfoyle and callendar. Nice road for a thumper, not sure if it is populted by eejits tho. Bill? That is not a million miles from my neck of the woods, and I am very fond of that bit of the country. Perhaps I am now a romanticising soft southern fairy??!! :o
Another one I always like is riding thru Glencoe. Its quite spectacular no matter what weather, and if you like a bit of history may be nice to have an idea of the gruesome deeds of the past before passing thru.
Skye I enjoy, tho it is a bit pricey, and maybe the hardiest midgies inhabit this otherwise spectacular isle. If you go, of course Eilean Donan castle will make a nice stop, although it is probably the most photographed place in the country!! I have stopped, and normally do, but predictably somewhat touristy!
I don't know Mull, nor Ardnamurchan, but I was in Oban last October with wife, child and my mother. My wife wanted to go, just to see it, and so I did not discourage her. Now I thought Oban, in a recession, in October, with 11 month old child, 73 year old mother and Miss Surrey would be utter purgatory. My mother thought the same, but buttoned her lip for the sake of my wife.
We rented a cottage, and despite my preconceptions had a great 5 days. Did little (predictably), a few gentle walks, plenty of cake and coffee, a few beers by the fire at night. I was pleasantly surprised. My mother was nothing short of astounded.
However, perhaps the rose tinted spectacles of parental happiness and an expectiation of Mordor made it better than reality. Anyway, I would recommended stopping for an ice cream or a whisky, depending how you feel. If you are there about mealtimes, one recommendation (other than the whisky) is the Oban Fish and Chip Shop. Does what it says on the tin. Well!
I cannot really offer much in the way of advice, it will all be good once you get there and drink in the scenery. And some nice evenings too I am sure.
Cheers for now, some others must know a bit more than I? How is the Breva?
andy
-
Thanks for all the tips friends. Dukes Pass looks like a must do as our first night will be spent only 20 miles away.I don't know if we will get as far as Skye but I have never been so will see what we can do.
The Breva is good thanks Andy. So far I have only ridden it home from Notts. 70/80 miles. It seems like a nice little bike and has two large panniers so will make touring more comfortable than on the DR which I intend to keep at the moment. At least my feet can reach the ground when I stop.
Thanks again Mart
-
Hi Mart
Try this link
http://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcycle-roads/motorbike-rides-in-united-kingdom-/highland-scotland--/a896--mountain-road-_434a9.html
Its the Applecross road. I think this road is just your sort of ride you'll like, some come to Scotland just to do it.
Beeman
-
Hi Mart
Try this link
http://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcycle-roads/motorbike-rides-in-united-kingdom-/highland-scotland--/a896--mountain-road-_434a9.html
Its the Applecross road. I think this road is just your sort of ride you'll like, some come to Scotland just to do it.
Beeman
Yeah well worth the ride and the view from the top is spectacular. Cracking camp site at Applecross and some of these Beehives if you fancy. Good pub and you must try the Langustines, local bay prawns. Keep an eye out for deer as well. Great ride from there is North, the old road, again great roads for steady riding.
-
Hijack:
Out of interest how bad are the midges at the beginning of April? Any specific areas?
Mark
-
Depends on temp. If cold wet windy not a problem. lol
-
Depends on temp. If cold wet windy not a problem. lol
Well that's Mark ! ;D
Jethro
-
Thank you Jethro, very helpful.
I'll have to remember;
1. Thermals
2. Gortex
3. Anti flatulence drugs.
Mark
-
Yer bloody soft.
Orange cagoule, shorts and keep moving, to keep warm, skins waterproof as me old scout leader used to say.
The shorts also have the advantage of easy gas release.
-
Scotland can be fabulous when the weather is nice -take a camera as there are plenty of opportunities for great pictures. The last trip I had around Scotland I stayed a night at a place called Dores on the edge of Loch Ness, the Dores Inn was a nice place to sit out in the evening having a beer, looking South down the Loch.
-
as i recall the ride from fort william to glen uig is probably the best strip of tarmac ive ever ridden, id love to do it on a punchy thumper, glen uig has a pub with a bunkhouse too btw, well worth the ride.
-
Aye Mart,
Dukes Pass traversed on the 3rd February, still ice across the road in places and a wee bitty snow round the edges and a cauld wind, otherwise the surface has stood up to the weather this winter so far. Butchers in Aberfoyle (opposite the bogs on the main street) does 10 different fillings in the traditional scotch pie case! Steak is great and the Steak with Stornaway black pudding is even better! :P :P ;D One of the latter, with a slab of finest 'Rocky Road' washed down with tea out the flask, fuelled us up for more miles.
Midges at the end of April, you'll be unlucky to be really bothered by them, don't get serious until end of May - June time. Some Deet will work, but watch out for all your plastic accutriments melting! :o The alternative is Avon 'Oh so Soft' woodland fragrance, skin moisturiser. The boys will love you darling and it works well. However, Avon were not impressed with that sort of publicity, but their reps liked the sales boost. Foresters bought cartons of it and then did a Monty Python. Camping are we? :-X
If you are going to Mull, then may I suggest you use the Corran Ferry and then take the coast road to Lochaline, crossing via the Fishnish ferry. Virtually no twin track roads, a west coast road/track that will inspire you if it is at all dry and even has a wild beauty in a downpour (these can last 14 days without respite, bit like Snowdonia or the Rhondda! :'( ) Check the ferry from Tobermory across to Kilchoan, Ardnamurchan Penninsula, for a return via a different route down to Strontian or up to Mallaig and then on to Skye. Check ferries out using this comprehensive site: Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) (http://www.calmac.co.uk/)
If you choose to bypass Mull and go to Skye, via Dukes Pass, the up Lochearnhead, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Glen Coe, Ballahullish, Fort William, Spean Bridge (Commando Memorial), then throw a left at Invergarry, over the top, Cluanie Inn and down to Sheil Bridge and turn left for Mam Ratagan (Another Bealach-na-bar, but not so tight a hairpins and less well known ;) ) then head down to Glenelg. Camping and accommodation at the Glenelg Inn. Cross to Skye via the Kylerhea ferry (Link: Kylerhea_Ferry (http://www.skyeferry.co.uk/) ) and then tour around Skye, some love it, I'm no fust and prefer Mull, but that's my problem. Return over the Skye Bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh and.......HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE? ?????? I've been up here 34 years and still haven't seen a quarter of it!
Not to sure what'll be on the go then as there are other irons in the fire for me at that time. However, if you get stuck or need somewhere to camp or store a blown bit of kit, I'll try to help.
My regards, Bill.
-
Thanks for all that info Bill,
There is more here than we will have time for. We only have a long weekend. My three travelling companions are all wage slaves. As a part time pensioner I may stay longer and leave the children to find their own way home, depending on the weather.
Mart
-
Aye Mart,
Thank you for the reply. I do like the "part-time pensioner" phrase. At present, I am still like your three travelling companions, a "wage slave", but working on it for the future! ;)
I'll try not to jinks the weather for you at that time.
Oh! If you fancy a stop having crossed the Dukes Pass, there is a small tearoom dating from and still retaining the style of the between Wars cycling period, when people came out from Glasgow for "recreation in the countryside", at weekends. It's on the left-hand side of the road, opposite the village hall in the Brig O Turk, as your heading east towards Callander on the A821. Grand soup, bacon rolls, mugs of tea or full blown lunches, afternoon teas! ;D
Photo attachment, if it appears is of a small group of us on a memorial run for a friend in September 2011, stopping outside the tearoom.
My regards, Bill.
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
Just got home, 2310 miles completed on the Enfield
My bike: Exhaust welded 3 times, 1 coil replaced, 1 plug, hole in tank plugged, blocked carb, a broken wire, rear engine bolt missing, snapped frame bridged with screw driver and tied with fence wire, 5 litres oil.
Petes bike: rotor threw magnets wrecking alternator in Tyndrum, waited 3 days for parts before we could continue then it seized just outside John O'Groats and he had to be relayed home, He had it repaired and I met up with him 3 days later in South Wales to continue together to Lands End.
Ended up at a small bike rally where I won 'best rat' and 'furthest rat travelled', cheeky bastards!
Took in a few of Bills and Andys suggestions for Mart, Glencoe, Dukes Pass and the Steak and black pudding pie in the butchers of Aberfoyle.(they really are the best) No problem with midges considering the freezing temperatures. Had to leave Applecross and Skye as well as the Corran Ferry until the next time due to loosing a couple of days.
Mark
-
Would that be my/Jethros old black one you're talking about?
Steffan
-
No, that's my best one, the one I should have used, instead I used my tatty old green one.
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
Re Midges - camping somewhere breezy/by the sea HELPS. Avon Skin So Soft is what many use, and a pie-smoker among you is handy. TICKS are becoming more of a worry recently (Lyme disease).
Waterproofs.
HOWEVER, lovely quiet roads (away from Glasgow, so Loch L can be full of nutters on old sports bikes at weekends...), scenery, free legal wild camping in MOST places (think Loch L restriictions due to massive weekend parties leaving burntout sofas etc...seriously!!).
I'd recommend anywhere in the country with single-track roads.
Worth taking a petrol can if space on one bike, or at least tube to siphon. How do I know?
Ardnamurchan peninsula great, camping gets dearer there I remember, and fuel stops limited.
For your NEXT visit, can I recommend our best-kept secret? GALLOWAY!!!!!!
There, I've told them all. Sorry!
B
-
Brendan! :o :o :o
Agreed, but I also know some bampots down that way! ???
Just in case anybody is thinking of using the Moffat to St.Mary's Loch road via the Grey Mare's Tail, its shut at present and you can't! Half the road has collapsed into the burn and been flushed away! ??? ??? ??? Alternative is to come up through Eskdalemuir or up the Devil's Beef Tub, but be warned the latter is known for loonies and hair dryer users! :( :(
My regards, Bill.
-
Further to my post of 23rd April 2013, the Moffat - Selkirk road has now been re-opened! ;D
Link: Moffat - Selkirk road (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-22284315)
My regards, Bill.
-
I used this road on my way down a fortnight ago, wanted to see Tibbie Shiels and St Marys Loch.
It makes me laugh what makes an A road in Scotland, bloody great fun. ;D
-
I am in the same state of wonderment about many of our welsh so called A roads.
Is that the road over the beef-tub?
Steffan
-
A701(?) from Edinburgh to Abingdon is ok but a major route, south of there it's a right giggle though :-)
-
Aye Steffan,
Leave Moffat heading north on A701 for the 'Devil's Beef Tub', its quick and both the users and the police know it, hence the 'due care' warning.
Leave Moffat heading south then east on the A708 for the 'Grey Mares Tail', nadgery road, with timber lorries etc that is little more than single track in some places and only a track and a half in most, until you crest the summit and head east towards St. Mary's Loch and Tibbieshiels. Tibbieshiels I gather is going downhill due to "domestics" and "opening hours", although this may change and the private life of the proprieter is none of my business. :-X
The cafe on the main road is nothing to do with Tibbie's and provides grand grub and tea etc. Popular place to stop, just watch out for ditherers, wanderers and stravaiging indolents, crossing the road on foot, cycle, motorcycle, car, vans and lorries. The RAF haven't put a Typhoon down for tea, YET! But if you go on the hill at the top of the Grey Mares Tail when 'training' flights are on the go, you might be forgiven for thinking otherwise! 8) ::) 8)
The Gordon Arms further down the A708 at the Mountbenger X roads, is now open for business after a period of closure and opened the doors at 08:30am to supply bacon butties, tea and or coffee for a pre site meeting for me about a month back. Grand spot, good food, some accommodation (camping) and a recording studio for the Thumper Club jug band rendition of "Inflate your cocoon", bardic renditions or whatever takes your fancy etc! ;D :'( ;D Regular live music sessions from the studio owner and friends, are a feature of the place.
Right, sun is shining, the grass is growing and as 'Cheif Cook and Bottlewasher' , with Kat crocked for another 4 weeks I had better organise soup and sarnies!
Relájese, las golondrinas vuelven un año más! Escoceses gringo.
-
I met Alistair at Tibbie Shiels when he had just got the place. He was very friuendly and the camp site was spot on. He had plans for site toilets etc. I have been up twice but it appears that he has turned into an arse. I had reports (first hand) that he was not allowing you to bring your own drink onto the site, the toilets had not been sorted and he was being picky about who stayed there. I went up once and he had some sort of competition / meeting going on. He could see that I was by myself and just wanted a small space for my tent, there was plenty of space I might add but he still turned me away, what an arse I hope he goes bust with his attitude. I did go down to Peebles and found a very friendly site there.
It's a shame as the camping in that region is quite limited and Tibbie Shiels site is superb.
Steve
-
Moffat here we come, first week of July. It's been a while since we were there on the bike (car last time in 2010). Day trips all over the place being planned now.
Never found a bad road in Scotland yet. A few adventurous goat tracks, but still entertaining.
Trevor
-
Many thanks for all the advice. Only three went in the end. Thursday night in Rowardennen youth hostel after a soaking on the M6 on the way north. Friday stocked up on pies in Aberfoyle, The Dukes Pass and a full breakkie at the Brig o Turk Cafe. To use a local phrase it was " Foggan Brullyunt" Then followed the rest of Bill,s suggestions through Glecoe and then took the ferry acroos to Ardnamurchan. Met a bloke on the ferry who asked if we were going to Tobermory for the Mull festival. We replied we are now and had a great night's music, dancing and drinking, there after a fantastic days riding.
Saturday went for the ferry to Oban and got to Craigmure port 10 minutes before the ferry. Followed the coast Road from Oban to Lochgilphead and on to Tarbert for the ferry to Portavadie then northwards to join the A83 and then back south and the motorway through Glasgow and the B7078 and the B7076 [much nicer than the M74] to Ecclefechan. At Ecclefechan we found a campsite right by a pub which had a male stripshow on and hordes of excited women who had paid to see it. Sadly the pub had no proper beer but a ten minute walk took us to the Ecclefechan Hotel and a warm welcome with good beer and food. Today we awoke to rain again after two nice days. A few hours riding through the rain [isn't goretex grand] and back home this evening. Had a good soak in the tub and am now waiting for a Sainsbury's fish pie to warm up. All in all we had a great time and about a month's holiday in four days. Nowhere else in the worlds offers such good roads and such a friendly welcome.
Thanks again for all the tips.
Mart
-
Hi Mart
Sounds like you had a grand time. Sorry not to have made it but maybe next time or possibly the time after that. I'll try and Skype you later this week. Off out to a pub quiz now!
Cheers
Boyd
-
Aye glad to hear you had a good time, the weather can often be a gamble (it is the UK after all!) But if you get anything half reasonable then it's as good as biking gets :-)
Must take a spin up the dukes pass again myself sometime over the summer B-)
Incidentally, any potential border raiders this spring/summer could do a lot worse than add the Bob Mac at East Fortune to their planning ;-)
-
Aye SteveD,
Confirms the information I was getting, Gordon Arms would be worth having a blether with, not as picturescue, but a port in a storm and I will make further enquiries for alternative pastures with watering holes!
Aye Mart,
Delighted that you enjoyed the 'tips' and had a good time. Male strippers in Ecclefechan sounds about right! ;) When contracting in Dumfries and Galloway 35 years ago, the beer was lousy and the 'birds' lairy in Ecclefechan, it was also not as convivial as Lockerbie, so you can guess where we used to stay.
Moffat is a more regular haunt these days and although prices are no cheap and the place a bit twee, the chipper at the Balmoral Hotel is good and the Indian curry house in the basement, next door to "The Famous Star" hotel are well worth patronising. There is also a restaraunt in the back as you go out on the A708 that is supposed to be really rated by the locals, but I have yet to try it.
Aye Smudge,
Take the MZ, the 'Black Pig' 'll no be as much fun! ;)
As for the Bob Mac, we may try again this year, but the weather has been bog awful since we last saw you there and we also lost a friend there to carbon monoxide.
A wee reminder to all not to put the throwaway barbie in the tent, van or whatever, to get a wee heat and the same applies to the stoves of whatever persuasion! :( :( :(
CARBON MONOXIDE KILLS
Finally, coming home from a solo outing on Saturday and arrived at the level crossing in Blackford to be confronted by men, wives, families all loitering, so joined the throng and saw a train double headed by a pair of Black 5's coming through at a canter down the gradient from Gleneagles and then open up the regulators on their way off to Dunblane, lovely. ;D
Slainte, Bill.
-
(Grins) "Black Pig", I like it :-))
Until I work out how to get cheaper insurance for the MZ it'll have to be the big beastie I'm afraid, mind you, she's more nimble that most would expect with the right treatment (like some women I've met at ceilidh's in the past!!)
Edited to add, now got the "trumpet hornpipe" going round and round in my head! :-/
-
I were thinking the same, at the time Smudge, but couldn't visualise you as 'The Captain'! :-X ;)
As for the nimble women at ceilidhs, was that because they were less befuddled or had started the night with a good portion of stovies? :o
Dadaladaa, Dadaladaa, Dadalada ..........!
Slainte, Bill.
-
MArt
Glad you had a great time. Sounds like a nice trip, well done.
And you must even have had reasonable weather!!
Cheers for now,
a
-
Incidentally Bill, if you follow the fuelly link to the Black Pig you'll find a pic of an alternate slightly cruder name, and a location you'll recognise I'm sure ;-)
-
Aye Smudge,
Pleased to see that it is still open although I have tarried there in a VERY long time and then only the once.
Also see you are aiming for the meanest fuel consumption in the UK! :o Beware, the impression you may be giving to others on the site! The secret 'plant' in the Sarf, may also have something to say about his reputation being challenged. :-X
My regards, Bill.
-
Aye I've never been in myself, though my bike riding grandfather was a Lithgae lad, the pic was just too good not to take ;D
I've a long way to go to reach the most economical in the uk, let alone pass it! :o ;D but I would like to beat 50mpg, just so it achieves the same as our car :-\
Our fifth columnist should be safe for a wee while yet ;-)
Surprisingly (to me), the consumption so far has been achieved riding normally with brisk acceleration and the odd squirt (just to keep me awake and the engine clean ;) )
I dread to think what pace people are riding at to get 30mpg out of one of these!
Anyway, the sky is clear and the roads are dry, so I'd best finish my cuppa and head off to work by a wandery road while I have the chance 8)
Stay safe and enjoy any spring/summer we get ;)
-
Our fifth columnist should be safe for a wee while yet ;-)
.... pip pip....