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3 day trip to Scotland - any advice?

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sagalout
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PostPosted: 21:10 - 08 Oct 2007    Post subject: 3 day trip to Scotland - any advice? Reply with quote

Managed to clear a few free days so going on a bit of a last minute trip to Scotland tomorrow. Going with a mate, but neither of us have been up that way all that much. These are the routes we're doing. If anyone wants to suggest any 'must do' roads or places to stay/stop/eat/drink which are roughly on this route then I'm open to suggestions Smile

Day 1 - Harrogate to Oban - 326 miles

Overnight stop somewhere in Oban (B&B)

Day 2 - Oban to Inverness via Isle of Skye - 299 miles

Overnight stop in Inverness

Day 3 - Inverness to Harrogate - 338 miles

Bikes are a Triumph Tiger and BMW R1200GS - so reasonably comfy.
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Shay HTFC
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PostPosted: 21:35 - 08 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=52752

Have you read that? Its an awesome read and could help you out with some good ideas!
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Shay HTFC
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PostPosted: 11:27 - 09 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sorry for double post, but it might also be an idea to join the Scotland user group and have an ask in that area of the forum.

I'm sure some riders there will know the best roads that are off the beaten track!

EDIT: Trip started today - Not sure you'll be able to ask in time Laughing
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spnorm
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PostPosted: 21:42 - 09 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Damn, only just seen this.

Pity, as I'd have advised him NOT to take the M74 - there are numerous more interesting routes north which are nearly as quick e.g. the B7076 (the old A74) which runs nearly parallel to the M74 Wink
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sagalout
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PostPosted: 13:15 - 12 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Got back last night from a fantastic trip. We didnt take the M74 - we actually took the A75 past dumfies then a small A road near Galloway Forest Park.

Full Route here

I'll do a write up over the weekend, but heres a couple of pics from the best few days riding I've ever had:

Oban as we arrived:

https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2092/1550849691_0dbe73d774.jpg?v=0

Isle of Skye Cullins

https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2278/1551749948_ceeeec2cee.jpg

Bit of a 4 legged roadbloack!

https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2335/1550843947_d2da36f6ed.jpg?v=0

100's of miles of road like this:

https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2389/1550864459_aed8a68bc2.jpg?v=0
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Shay HTFC
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PostPosted: 15:11 - 12 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shocked Looks awesome!

I'm always so amazed at what Scotland has to offer. Its well overlooked to be honest. People know it has mountains etc, but never really take it seriously.

I'm DEFINITELY going to go touring up there sometime. IT just looks so nice to ride and the scenery is so amazing!
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Qube77
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PostPosted: 15:27 - 12 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great photos.

I am looking forward to reading your trip report Smile
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steady eddie
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PostPosted: 17:00 - 12 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Full Route here


967 miles eh? Cool And I'll bet at least 700 of those were spent leaning over Wink
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spnorm
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PostPosted: 21:32 - 12 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Shay HTFC wrote:
Shocked Looks awesome!

I'm always so amazed at what Scotland has to offer. Its well overlooked to be honest. People know it has mountains etc, but never really take it seriously.

I'm DEFINITELY going to go touring up there sometime. IT just looks so nice to ride and the scenery is so amazing!


Yep - Scotland is every bit as good as anything mainland Europe has to offer. Feckin' awesome Cool
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ram_doom
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PostPosted: 19:14 - 13 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks great, I'm desperate to go back there, and see more of it Smile weather looked pretty good too!
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Modo
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PostPosted: 10:38 - 14 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks like a very nice trip from the few pics, looking forward to the full de-breithing Mr. Green

Next time you go to Scotland give me a shout, I would have definetly joined you Cool
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Fallen Angel
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PostPosted: 13:51 - 15 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Scotland is shite, it's full of sweaty socks, cows, deer, the roads are shit and always covered in gravel, grit and shit, the hills aren't really there - folk just photoshop them onto their piccies, the petrol is extortionate, the weather is shoite, the midges are worse than moskitos, there's hundreds of campervans and 4x4's blocking all the roads, there's no twisties at all, mostly straight roads full of pot-holes and more importantly the sweaty socks hate bikers, so I would strongly advise any english man or woman not to even bother trying to tour up there - it's just downright awful!
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funmonkee
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PostPosted: 14:48 - 15 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sooner we shut the gates the better Wink
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Stoo
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PostPosted: 15:20 - 15 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Scotland?? It's the junction just after Porthemmet IIRC. Shocked
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Stevie GooGs
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PostPosted: 16:01 - 15 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Scotland is that the place that is "colonised by w@nkers" Quote from trainspotting. Nice pics btw. Thumbs Up
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Last edited by Stevie GooGs on 16:34 - 15 Oct 2007; edited 2 times in total
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Stevie GooGs
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PostPosted: 16:01 - 15 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Opps twice sorry for server slowed down.
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Stevie GooGs
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PostPosted: 11:01 - 16 Oct 2007    Post subject: Re: 3 day trip to Scotland - any advice? Reply with quote

sagalout wrote:
Managed to clear a few free days so going on a bit of a last minute trip to Scotland tomorrow. Going with a mate, but neither of us have been up that way all that much. These are the routes we're doing. If anyone wants to suggest any 'must do' roads or places to stay/stop/eat/drink which are roughly on this route then I'm open to suggestions Smile


Overnight stop somewhere in Oban (B&B)

Day 2 - Oban to Inverness via Isle of Skye - 299 miles

Overnight stop in Inverness

Day 3 - Inverness to Harrogate - 338 miles

Bikes are a Triumph Tiger and BMW R1200GS - so reasonably comfy.


Would have recommended to go from Skye To Ullapool, the Ullapool to Durness and then back down. And the A9 is one boring road to ride, its the most direct route but also the most boring.
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Kwaks
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PostPosted: 15:26 - 16 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Got to agree with Fran, bikes have no place on the roads up here, head south and leave the roads clear for those who have the necessary experience to negotiate the hazards Wink Thumbs Up
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sagalout
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PostPosted: 16:23 - 16 Oct 2007    Post subject: Re: 3 day trip to Scotland - any advice? Reply with quote

Stevie GooGs wrote:
sagalout wrote:
Managed to clear a few free days so going on a bit of a last minute trip to Scotland tomorrow. Going with a mate, but neither of us have been up that way all that much. These are the routes we're doing. If anyone wants to suggest any 'must do' roads or places to stay/stop/eat/drink which are roughly on this route then I'm open to suggestions Smile


Overnight stop somewhere in Oban (B&B)

Day 2 - Oban to Inverness via Isle of Skye - 299 miles

Overnight stop in Inverness

Day 3 - Inverness to Harrogate - 338 miles

Bikes are a Triumph Tiger and BMW R1200GS - so reasonably comfy.


Would have recommended to go from Skye To Ullapool, the Ullapool to Durness and then back down. And the A9 is one boring road to ride, its the most direct route but also the most boring.


That was our initial idea, but just not enough hours in the day, considering we wanted to finish riding by 6 to allow time to find a b&b before it got dark. and I've always wanted to visit Loch Ness We did 100 miles just riding around Skye. We could have just made it to ullapool but the last day would have been about 420 miles to get home the next day, and we like plenty of stops for coffee/photos etc

I didnt mind the A9 actually - certainly made for some fast riding on the way back, and meant we had time to do the A68 through Northumberland and Kielder forrest on the way back, which is a great road, rather than just hitting the A1

I'll definitely be going back next year though and doing some more days. I reckon 4 or 5 would be ideal to be able to stick to the minor roads all the time. I'll definitely do Ullapool with enough time Smile
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Stevie GooGs
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PostPosted: 11:29 - 17 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool up to Durness is good but i would not bother going all the way to john o groats. Glad you liked your visit to Scotland, don't tell all your friends as they will all come and its bad enough with tourists. Wink Thumbs Up
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Shay HTFC
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PostPosted: 12:38 - 17 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stevie GooGs wrote:
Cool up to Durness is good but i would not bother going all the way to john o groats. Glad you liked your visit to Scotland, don't tell all your friends as they will all come and its bad enough with tourists. Wink Thumbs Up


Yeah, but its one of those things. You've made the effort to go to Scotland, so you've got to go there just to say you've done it.

It'd be sort of like going all the way to Thailand and then not doing a ladyboy up the garry.
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Stevie GooGs
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PostPosted: 11:33 - 24 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

I hear what you are saying but there is no other reason to go there than to say you have done it.
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Stevie GooGs
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PostPosted: 16:57 - 27 Oct 2007    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is John O Groats from the ferry going to orkney.

Nothing special.
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