Top O Scotland

[FLV]

has anybody tried heading up to the highlands in october for a bit of a tour? Is it likely that I'll freeze my taters off and wish I'd stayed at home?
____________________
parp...brap....parp

[map]

Have been in September.
I figured once schools go back it'd be better. Also nigh on end of midge season so that's good, October should see them tucked up until next year.

Up sides, roads good. Getting better north of Perth. Roads and scenery make the trip worthwhile. Plus ticking the been to northmost point (Dunnet Head) and/or John O'Groats boxes.

Down sides for me is earlier sunset times limit the distance as I'm lazy and wanted to get parked and changed and on way for a bite to eat/drink before sunset. Wet weather gear advised. Getting somewhere to dry out is a bonus.
____________________
...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[doggone]

Most years the seasonal temperature differences are less than further south so the rain is only 3 or 4C colder in December than June.
If you strike lucky it could be magnificent, bear in mind days shorten dramatically by October though.

[FLV]

cheers all.

Rough plan

Friday - zoom up from the peak after work, get up towards tyndrum or somewhere similar for about 9:30. Have a few pints.
Saturday - go round towards Oban, Kyle of lochalsh perhaps over to aplecross.
Sunday - Ride some more
Monday - ride home, preferably on nice roads, perhaps dtour through the lakes.
____________________
parp...brap....parp

[doggone]

It's do-able.
Ideally be flexible there is no use pressing on into the mountains if it's shite.
There's a lot to see with lower mileage in the borders and maybe Northumberland.

[Enduro Numpty]

October can be really good or really bad regarding the weather. The last few years we've on the whole had mild and at times sunny weather. It's always a gamble but if you get lucky you'll likely find the roads very quiet. Hope it works out

[FLV]

Thanks all, thats the rough plan anyway. if the weathers pants, plan will change
____________________
parp...brap....parp

[pepperami]

I went up later in the year , a few years back and had both types of weather.
When it rained , it was so heavy I had to stop .
Funnily enough, the further north I went, the better the weather, and by the time I got to JOG the sun was shining and it was warm.

I did the west coast and the Ardmancurran peninsular a couple of years ago.
It rained solidly for 96 hours (four days) and made the whole trip miserable
That said, when it`s not raining, I cant think of anywhere else I`d want to be on a bike.
____________________
I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[yodagoat]

We usually head up north in October for a final camping trip. Every time so far we have had pretty good weather. We usually head to Applecross or somewhere else on the west side. I have friends and family in Caithness and it can be a wee bit wetter over on the east coast, but nothing too bad. Go for it, ye'll have great fun.
Here's a ride we done at the end of September last year.
https://yodagoat.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/winton-massif-last-trip-of-year.html

Mike
____________________
The shite I write
https://www.yodagoat.blogspot.com/

[yodagoat]

The only bad thing could be the wind. Caithness and Sutherland can be fucking windy at that time of yaer, especially around Loch Eribol.
https://yodagoat.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/winton-massif-last-trip-of-year-part-2.html


Cheers


Mike
____________________
The shite I write
https://www.yodagoat.blogspot.com/