Scotland road trip help

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

going to start planning my route for my tour of Scotland in September , Now we have been a couple of times in the cage but never on the bike , we are going for 7-10 days , I would like to get up and over the border in a day , then intend to keep moving , want to clock up some miles but also want the trip to be enjoyable and to get off the bike and have a look , may be even spend a day not on the bike , was thinking of probably up one side and back down the other ?? Need to plan the route so mel (wife) can start to book B&bs and hotels ,

So have you any advice where to go and where to stop ??

[obalanga 0]

I can only suggest wilderness-esque routes. I have been up there a couple of times.


first one: I actually came from arbroath where I had a couple of smokies. Followed this route to the Strachan mountains. The view at the top is to die for then headed for elgin

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/56.5374237,-2.9470419/56.7103107,-2.8078964/56.7474994,-2.6474225/56.8349032,-2.6259805/56.970941,-2.5789002/57.0947758,-2.5896534/57.4895494,-3.1933653/@56.9059867,-3.2122235,108033m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0?hl=en

second route: You are not making any progress on this one as you are making one big circuit. There are some B and Bs in tongue. Some are open all year round. If I may plug a b and b here, the Bothy. It is run by a german woman (silke) who will first invite you into her kitchen for a brew. I turned up at night in the middle of winter after a long days drive and she spent an hour ringing round to find me a place as she was fully booked while I was sat in her warm kitchen. It is a bike friendly B and B. There is also the Graccon further on with bedroom views overlooking the sea.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Lairg/58.4865848,-4.4121614/58.5591944,-4.7679966/58.3750439,-5.0181012/58.1472318,-4.6129373/58.0581578,-4.4321583/@58.4555891,-4.5991763,14184m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x488e258173d5add3:0x5928cf9c83fac0ea!2m2!1d-4.402414!2d58.022058!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e0

third route:  This is the long way round back home. Branch off at Garve. It is an awkward diversion so slow down with plenty of time. Very lovely road with long bends and it is fairly quiet.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Durness/58.1822917,-5.0067378/57.9035504,-5.1608269/57.7532056,-5.0112117/57.767803,-5.1408752/57.8609151,-5.5025186/57.6872562,-5.6341057/57.6066493,-5.3068659/57.6228279,-4.6993472/@57.5812366,-4.9975116,113343m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m16!4m15!1m5!1m1!1s0x4890395fe0758cdd:0x6e45ef344b056e4a!2m2!1d-4.747103!2d58.568414!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!1m0!3e0

fourth route: I love this road. It is a mix of thick forests, wilderness, quiet villages and fast A roads. Great on a bike and not bad in a car.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/55.4561364,-4.5954133/55.2519483,-4.8452731/55.1046371,-4.774485/55.0229051,-4.5603843/55.0685292,-4.2383544/54.9501226,-3.9459797/@55.0242698,-3.8482804,27364m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0


If you go back end of september you might miss out on the midges.

[smilinjack 0]

Stay west as much as poss Dave. Eastern side down from Aberdeen is a bit crap TBH, and A9 to Inverness is now SPECS all the way from Dunblane so might be a case for A82 past Loch Lomond. You can go towards Skye or Applecross from there or continue up to Inverness, which is a nice little city BTW. Deffo do Skye, see the Quiraing and take the road across from Staffin, looks interesting. Applecross is on my to do list, not least because you can get there via the Bealach na Ba (google image it )  Not been further up than Inverness other than Ullapool,  which is nothing special in my book. And remember the Scots can't build roads-the best ones were built by the British army 200 years ago. It's not uncommon to ride roads with no white line in the middle, so be pessimistic about your daily mileage, it's hard to do.
To go up I'd be tempted to go A1 then cut onto the A66, detour to Middleton and on towards Alston. Plot up somewhere south of Glasgow first night. Quite nice in that Peebles/Hawick/Lanark triangle.

[obalanga 0]

A few of the sites








Never go to scotland and miss this land mark

[Chadatious 0]

omg those pics make me wana go scotland haha

[stantheman 0]

we stayed here last year dave http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/the-inn-on-the-loch.en-gb.html?aid=318615;label=New_English_EN_GBIE_5226314545-RnYQj%2AqnIkYg15Re%2ASD5mgS46932887305%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap1t1%3Aneg;sid=138f361a07786fe0d01ce4d1e958b9fb;dcid=4;ucfs=1;srfid=8f85d3ab4d9c7181cc7deb8caaf82a4b5cac3d4bX1;highlight_room= the inn on the loch it was very clean and good value if you book early ask for a loch view room

[madcarper 0]

I did a weekend in Scotland last year dave I can honestly say the some of the best roads I have rode. we went jedburgh to hawick then a708 to st marys loch, carry on to moffat little nip onto a74 to elvanfoot then a702 to thornhill this road goes thru a valley has just been resurfaced with great smooth surface has no straights is corner after corner no adverse cambers no trees or hedges so you can see thru all the corners feckin unbelievable and no bugger on it.  we then went thru Galloway forest park on a712 past clatteringshaws loch some of the best scenery I have ever seen. then we went to portpatrick to our digs . Downshire Hotel which is actually a pub but has great rooms and a place round the back to park your bike although we all just parked outside on the main st and had no problems. I am deffo going again this year.
no doubt there are some great roads further up in the highlands but as I found you don,t have to travel that far up.
I did take a camera but I was enjoying the ride that much I just did not want to stop for pics.

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

Thanks guys going to sit down over the weekend and start planning

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

going to need some help here guys , whats this sound like ? first day up to pebbles area, 2nd day up to inverness area, , 3rd day john o groats, 4th day ullapool 5thday isle of skye, 6th day fort william,7th day campbeltown, 8th day balloch , then home may be stop at the lakes one night to break the trip , so come on guys what you think ?

[obalanga 0]

I have never stopped in inverness but there are plenty of people that have pointed me there. It is a great place that offers all the excitement of glassgow and that other edin...br... (can't spell it) with out the expense and hassle of the said cities.I liked Fort William. You will enjoy the approach as it straddles the length of the Great loch, and fair b and b prices. Don't forget, plenty of pictures for us.

[madcarper 0]

don't forget your mozzy spray if your going to fort William.

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

12 nights booked in different hotels ready for our trip

[madcarper 0]

nice one dave I'm sure you'll both love it hope you get some good weather m8.

[smilinjack 0]

Just been looking at Galloway Forest Park funnily enough, good spot for some wild camping. Some decent, quiet roads around there too.
What's your itinerary then Dave?

[BanditMike 0]

Sounds like should be a good run mate

[dick65 0]

wanlokheads a nice detour

[smilinjack 0]

@dick65 wrote:

wanlokheads a nice detour

Jeez Dick, I thought you'd come up with a great nickname for Scots, then I looked again

[dick65 0]

@smilinjack wrote:

@dick65 wrote:

wanlokheads a nice detour

Jeez Dick, I thought you'd come up with a great nickname for Scots, then I looked again

I can think of a few Alan

[melly 0]

looks interesting - the highest village in the country think I will try to get it on the itinery

[dick65 0]

@melly wrote:

looks interesting - the highest village in the country think I will try to get it on the itinery

you'll enjoy it mell, lovely flowing roads /views and a great café in the village

[melly 0]

think im getting a little bit excited - got ages to go yet

[BanditMike 0]

@melly wrote:

think im getting a little bit excited - got ages to go yet

Let me know when and, if you fancy and I can get the time, may join you for a portion of the run up?

[melly 0]

@BanditMike wrote:

@melly wrote:

think im getting a little bit excited - got ages to go yet

Let me know when and, if you fancy and I can get the time, may join you for a portion of the run up?  

[madcarper 0]

yeah tell us too and we can highjack daves route

[dick65 0]

we'll all be waiting at the border

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

you can all do what you want no er wanted to know when I was trying to organise a trip

[dick65 0]

too far for most folk Dave

[obalanga 0]

bumped into this and thought this might be of help

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

well we are back ! done 2400 miles and loved it , the bike never missed a beat but does need a good clean now

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

more pics >>>>



https://www.flickr.com/gp/109875443@N04/7qPX5M

[madcarper 0]

great pics dave not bad scenery up there is it, what did you think of the roads you done some serious miles, I am going up next weekend although the weather forecast looks feckin shite.

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

@madcarper wrote:

great pics dave not bad scenery up there is it, what did you think of the roads you done some serious miles, I am going up next weekend although the weather forecast looks feckin shite.

good and bad m8 , seen a bit of everything , you never know what is round the next corner, you can be going along a nice wide road with flowing bends then all of a sudden turn a corner and single track with passing places (great views) one of the best roads for riding IMO was from Inverary to fort William ! but then applecross is very demanding but great views , gets a bit boring in parts up to john 0 groats , but then suprises you in other places

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

another nice surprise was the road through glenmore forest park instead of taking the a9

[gravelrash 0]

Great pictures Dave, Scotland is my favorite place for views but I know what you mean about the roads......caution sharp bend!..NO IT WASN'T
caution sharp bend!...NO IT WASN'T
caution sharp bend!...NO IT WASN'T
caution sharp bend!...F*CK ME WHERE'S THE ROAD GONE!!!

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

@gravelrash wrote:

Great pictures Dave, Scotland is my favorite place for views but I know what you mean about the roads......caution sharp bend!..NO IT WASN'T  
                  caution sharp bend!...NO IT WASN'T  
                   caution sharp bend!...NO IT WASN'T
                    caution sharp bend!...F*CK ME WHERE'S THE ROAD GONE!!!

your spot on , was surprised how the signs said sharp bend and they wouldn't have even been marked down here

[dick65 0]

did you do the queens way Dave? remember doing that on my B6 years back a great road

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

@dick65 wrote:

did you do the queens way Dave? remember doing that on my B6 years back a great road

not as I know of m8

[stantheman 0]

my mates are up there now doing the same route they say theres 200mph stretches up there . but theyve been going for years and years and know it really well ,theyre on busas and zx12s

[stantheman 0]

oh and theyre absoluteley crazy

[dick65 0]

@Davehutch wrote:

@dick65 wrote:

did you do the queens way Dave? remember doing that on my B6 years back a great road

not as I know of m8

Dumfries and Galloway - west coast

[Chadatious 0]

looks lit it was a good time dave i still cant believe the mileage you did

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

@Chadatious wrote:

looks lit it was a good time dave i still cant believe the mileage you did

not can I because it didn't feel like it , we done a couple of 400 mile day s as well most where 2-300 miles and we had 2 days off the bike in 13 days

[Chadatious 0]

ouch, my skinny are would probably be ruined from that mileage haha!

i did 450 miles in the van saturday to get the ktm and i felt fine until the evening, got well sleepy.

[Davehutch-hutchs 0]

@Chadatious wrote:

ouch, my skinny are would probably be ruined from that mileage haha!

i did 450 miles in the van saturday to get the ktm and i felt fine until the evening, got well sleepy.

we had plenty of breaks Chad it made all the difference

[Chadatious 0]

yeah stops are needed to see places like that