2 weeks at beginning of September - Scotland or Germany?

[quik_d]

Evening Chaps,

I have 2 weeks off last week of august and first week of september and am thinking bike trip. I haven't done any touring for a few years and was thinking either Germany - through blackforest down to munich and back OR Scotland.

I live in London so it's a trek to scotland and i'm concerned that in september the weathers going to be shite. The other thing i see is a few scotland writeups with people trashing their bikes, are the roads slippery / shitty or blind bends etc. Or is it likely to have been more like rider error?

Dont see much ion the forum about Western Germany and whether it's worth a visit. Both trips equate to about 1300 miles in 2 weeks which is easily do-able

What dya think, which one? opinions?
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[doggone]

Germany would be my choice, Scotland is best May and June

[gooner]

If you're going to go to the west side of Scotland in September take plenty of mozzie repellent - or take a tasty mate so they'll eat him / her. The buggers are huge and pretty nasty. I'd take Germany every time - although I've never yet managed to ride right through it without meeting a pretty hefty downpour, so make sure your waterproofs are up to it.

Southern France is lovely in late August / early September ? ? ?
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[kitty kat]

I went to Germany last year end of September/beginning October had lovely weather. It was warm enough to sit outdoors every night in a pair of shorts and a t shirt. I can recommend Black Forest area and there are some good campsites in that area and you could even venture into Austria whilst you are down that way.
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[Ben_m]

1300 miles in two weeks?? Get to Germany, I think two weeks in Scotland could be too much. Ive just come back from a 3 day trip in Scotland and did just under a thousand miles.
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[Ichy]

If you going to the bottom of the Black forest then how about riding across France into Germany, popping into Switzerland, through to Italy, up through Austria to Munich, across to Bonn and back through Belgium? Nice, simple, list of countries, 1700miles(ish).

[Tonka]

I've just come back from Spain/France and although my trip was mostly offroad or on crappy little rural lanes when we did ride on the bigger roads the tarmac was lovely, so much nicer than the UK. I have friends who have just come back from a camper van trip along the Danube and they told me it's a must on a bike as the roads were lovely.

If I was you, I'd go to Germany (I do love Scotland, so not a snub). It'll be about the same cost as Scotland, the roads will be lots nicer and the camararderie in Europe between bikers and the public in general is just terrific
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[Gazz]

My vote for Germany.

Scotland is a bit hit or miss with the weather in September.

If it was me personally I would head South, covering however many miles you want to do. Northern Italy, could be a possiblity.

[621andy]

Germany- Head down to the Bodensee(Lake Konstanz) and nip across into Switzerland too. If you're feeling flush, then do an airship flight from Friedrichshafen airfield! The Rheinfälle near Schaffhausen(on the German/Swiss border) are not to be missed if you're down that way.
The Rhine valley south of Köln/Bonn is very nice, but don't hang around Dusseldorf/Essen and that area cos it's shite(unless you like industrial sprawl It's nicknamed the Rührpott.

If you're heading SE to München, then go a little further into Austria to Salzburg and that corner of Germany. Lots of nice roads and scenery. München(Munich) is a nice city in itself, but the surrounding area is very flat. The mountains are a further 100km to the south.
The road up to Reit Im Winkl from the Traunstein area is very scenic, and the town is quite nice too; Rosi Mittermaier's(Ex Skier) restaurant is highly recommended
Neuschwanstein castle is a 'must see' too.

If you want any more detail, PM me...
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[barnhatter]

I would do Germany, should be better weather, although a couple of years back I woke up in September with ice on my tent and bike.
Get throught northan france as quick as possible then enjoy.
The other advantage is the general lack of traffic,makes the riding more enjoyable.
Have fun.

[ram_doom]

Went to Scotland in September 07, weather was mostly brilliant, did get soaked a couple of times though, whereas when I went in may last year, I was soaked nearly every fucking day
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[John933]

[gooner]

[quik_d]

On the topic of Germany (which i'm being swayed to) how is it in terms of english speaking in the western side?

John 933 >> certainly interested, but not going to be able to make the Sunday as i'm heading to the bath for a week.
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[doggone]

I only know a few words but managed OK, I was surprised how few people had much English though - especially having ridden through Holland where almost everyone seemed to speak it - and mysteriously knew you were English before you opened your mouth!

[621andy]

A lot of Germans can speak good English, but don't get to practice much and are therefore nervous about trying to speak it, but if you know a few words of German(get a pocket phrase book), or at least try and speak it, their English will suddenly improve! Cos the chances are, their English'll be a bloody sight better than your German

I worked around Frankfurt when I was in Germany first, and most people there speak good English, but when I moved up north to Kiel, they were more reticent, but I still got by.

You shouldn't have any problems in the main tourist areas though.

I can highly recommend getting a German woman to teach you the language...worked for me anyway
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[John933]

[John933]

[gooner]

[GT Biker]

[motobiker]

My vote would be for something like I've just done.. pick and choose what suites. I had 15 days.. set off at 8 am.. for a chunnel crossing. avoided french tolls by heading for Lille and into belgium.. Luxembourg and into Germany.. down to the Black Forest, Stayed at a very nice hotel 35euros a night. just over the hill from Bad WildBad. Next day rode the B500... 118 miles of it anyway. After that.. down along Lake constance and into the Allgau region.. I stopped at Fussen. Then direct south across Austria and over the Timmelsjoch pass into Italy.. and then its another 60 miles or so to the Dolomites!!!

And marvelous it was too I stayed there 5 days and from my base at Cortina also rode the Grossglockner.


I then carried on further east into Slovenia.. but there's nothing to stop you heading west and a slow meander through Switzerland.. and Maybe through the Vosges en the way back home.

I came back through Austria for the nockhalmstrasse.. and then back into bavaria and followed the Alpinstrasse.
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Sooner or later opinions fade and the name on the tank matters not. I think that happens somewhere between 3rd and 4th gear. Enjoy the ride... everything else takes care of itself.

[kitty kat]

[Skudd]

I've done Scotland for the last 4 years, although this year was just a weekend trip of 1,100 miles. The west side is the best part and there are loads of roads to get lost on, just how I like it.
As for accidents...... you make your own. The two lads who ride with me always have a little off, even if it is at 3mph on a tight hairpin bend. But they are the same roads I ride on, I go faster than they do and I haven't had an off yet.

The German route. If i had the chance I would do it, just to say I have.
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[Devans]

Did Scotland last week mon-fri, rained quite abit, did 1.3k miles dead easy tbh.

Roads are insane it's just hit and miss with the weather!

[Wahlberg]

Hopefully whichever you choose the weather will rock

The A68 through Northumberland National Park to Edinburgh is awesome so your trip up and down again would be pretty enjoyable - minus the laborious M1 of course! The roads in Scotland were awesome when we went, didn't go everywhere but what I did find were great - a lot of gatso's though. Still, I can't wait to go back for some exploration.

Germany on the other hand has the Nurburgring if your into that sort of thing. Never been Biking there through the country but I do know that German hospitality rocks!

So, decision still as clear as mud? Thought so
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