A trip around Britain. A little help with the details!

[Monkeypony]

Morning all.

I'm planning this years trip. Europe was out this year as I could get the dates sorted, so I've decided on an end to end trip. The route I've worked out so far looks like this:

https://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm52/monkeypony/temp_zpsdd00ea65.jpg

It'll be done over 16 days and will be about 150 miles per day (mainly 'cos that's all the missus can stand on her SV before her tuppence goes completely numb!)

We'll be mainly camping with a few BnBs or travel lodges thrown in.

The problem is, the possibilities for the trip are pretty much endless, so I thought I'd save myself hours of internet trawling and ask the BCF massive:

Any 'must do' roads that I've missed?

Any recommended cheap campsites on route?

Any recommended cheap BnBs on route?

Any 'must see' places?

We'll be leaving at the end of August. I'm assuming the midges are going to be a fucking nightmare north of the border at that time? Last time I was in Loch Lomond it was impossible to be outside it was so bad, so not really looking forward to that too much!

Any help anyone can offer will be greatly appreciated and save me hours of debate with the misses about which bloody campsites we should be booking!!
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[chickenstrip]

It takes years and years to explore the best this humble island of ours has, so people will be able to recommend all kinds of alternatives to your route. But you've got to start somewhere and it looks like you've got some good stuff on there.

I tend to pick a few castles, abbeys, mountains/valleys etc and string em all together by the most interesting-looking roads, but then accept that I may wish to deviate, sometimes significantly, from the plan.

I would also allow for the odd day where you might want to just chill out at a particular spot, have a rest from the road, explore a particular place a bit more thoroughly. Variation is the key to a really good tour IMO.

Usually, I'll use direct (and perhaps boring) routes to get more quickly to my first area of interest if it's a good distance from my starting point, but that's bearing in mind that I will have chosen places of interest as my "waypoints".

As usual, just views and suggestions, everyone is different

[Monkeypony]

Yea, I'm planning on at least 2 days to chill. Just to have a break from packing the tent up every morning if nothing else! Although I'm hoping to be able to keep them as 'floating' days so adjustments can be made for weather.
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[esullivan]

I assume you are bypassing the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales because you've seen them already? What about the North York Moors?

If you've done this already, then fine to zip by on the motorway, but if not I think any of those three are worth a detour -- maybe stop at Whitby for Moors, or go through Hawes or something for the Dales.
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[Monkeypony]

[stinkwheel]

Don't go A90-Aberdeen-A96-Inverness. Shit roads with too much traffic or dual carriageway with cameras.

Go Perth- Braemar then pick up the A939 to Tomintoul. Stay on the A939 through Granton on spey then onto Nairn. Just enough of the A96 to make you grateful you never touched it with a barge-pole before you hit Inverness.

Go up the A470 through Wales, it's fantastic all the way. The A483 is poo.

I personally would bypass Glasgow altogether. Avoid the Loch Lomond road. Head out towards Stirling on the A85-A84 from Crianlarrich then down the M80-M74 and cut back in once you're past glasgow.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Monkeypony]

Thanks Stinkwheel. Most helpful!


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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[Monkeypony]

Is the A76 between Dumfries and Kilmarnock worth riding / anything worth seeing? Or am I better off just hopping on the motorway and getting north of the border as quickly as possible?
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[Bendy]

I wouldn't retrace my steps Inverness - John o'groats, I would get to JOG and turn left.

In my opinion, you're missing out the best bit of the entire country by avoiding most of the north west of Scotland.

[stinkwheel]

[map]

[Monkeypony]

[Monkeypony]

[Bendy]

If you don't do Durness - Ullapool and the Applecross pass there was no point in going.

I'd go to Skye too, personally. But then I wouldn't bother with the vast majority of the rest of Britain either, so what do I know? Only that I once tried the 'make the route up to Scotland interesting' thing and regretted the wasted time that could have been spent hooning around the Highlands.

[Monkeypony]

[stinkwheel]

[stinkwheel]

[Monkeypony]

[stinkwheel]

[Monkeypony]

Thanks very much for your input folks.

Scottish loop now looks like this:

https://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm52/monkeypony/Scotland_zps7f0722a6.png

Is there anything else I should not be missing? It'll probably be a while until I'm next this far north, so it would be a shame to miss something.
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[Bendy]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Quiraing_Isle_of_Skye_Pano.jpg

This.

[Monkeypony]

Where's that?????

Gorgeous!
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Current bike - 2018 H2-SX, 2004 SV1000s, 2016 Aprilia RSV4 RF, 2017 Sherco SERF 300, 2003 Suzuki DRZ400 (stolen - AY53 JUU)

[Bendy]

That's the Quirang, Isle Of Skye.

[Enduro Numpty]

[FrankGill]

When you get down to the west country add in the Cheddar Gorge before you shoot off to Exmoor.