Scotland touring,

[Mart]

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

[johnr]

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!!

[johnr]

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!

[andy230]

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??!!   

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

[Mart]

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

[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

[steveD]

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.

[Mark]

Hijack:

Out of interest how bad are the midges at the beginning of April? Any specific areas?

Mark

[beeman]

Depends on temp. If cold wet windy not a problem. lol

[002]

Depends on temp. If cold wet windy not a problem. lol

Well that's Mark !   

Jethro

[Mark]

Thank you Jethro, very helpful.

I'll have to remember;

1. Thermals
2. Gortex
3. Anti flatulence drugs.

Mark

[beeman]

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.

[guest564]

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.

[johnr]

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.

[themoudie]

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!  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!  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? 

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)

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 ) 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.