Scotland - maybe the islands - possibly Hebrides or Shetland

[Swim41]

I had planned a trip to Spain this summer but for various reasons including a lack of cash it has fallen through. I still want to do a trip though, so am thinking of a run up to Scotland. Last year my mate and I did an amazing trip up the north west coast which was basically Liverpool to Fort William and then through Applecross, Ullapool, Durness and Thurso and back down the A9 and on to Fort William and Glen Coe.

I enjoyed it so much I really want to back, but take a different route. Has anyone been to the Hebrides? It's somewhere I've always wanted to go but a bit unsure what to expect. I'm guessing if the island roads are anything like those on Arran then they're not prime biking roads but I'm not especially interested in that on this trip, although obviously it's always good to have entertaining roads!

Any suggestions that'll provide me with some beautiful and remote scenery, the ability to camp and not spend huge amounts of money (although a fleecing from Calmac is mandatory if I cross water, but they're not too bad on a bike)? Bear in mind that I think the landscape around Ullapool and Durness is some of the best I have ever seen.

thanks.
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Yamaha XJ600N

[Charlie]

Can't offer any advice, I have a friend currently touring on a pedal bike there though, when I next speak to him I will see what information I can get from him...

I guess you been watching this program? I really like it and have always wanted to go there but the program has just strengthen my views even more!
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[Swim41]

[Charlie]

Went to Skye over Christmas (well christmas time), me and my girlfriend stayed in a very nice quiet village called Plockton, still on the mainland but very small and very nice. Loved it. Portree was bigger and the having the Cullins as a back drop was very nice! If we'd gone on the bike (and not the train) we'd have gone somewhere remoter.

I think you get a ferry to South Uist, go round the islands and then get a boat back from Harris to Skye... Thats if you wanted to go to Skye.
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

[theopj]

I've been watching that show (and found the torrent the other day for the 1st series when he stayed in Applecross), its nice viewing. From the roads you have seen him driving around on the Hebridies they don't look overly exciting but I expect the scenary will be good. There seems to be causeways linking lots of the islands together once you get there.

Calmac have all the time tables and fares on their site:

https://www.calmac.co.uk/

No doubt after this show everywhere will put their prices up as everyone wants to go!
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Suzuki Bandit SA 1250 & Honda CB750F2T

[stinkwheel]

Shetland has superb roads. Fastest I've ever ridden on. Getting there is a bit of a mission though. Either Aberdeen then a 14 hour ferry or up to the far North, short ferry to Orkney then catch the Aberdeen one as it goes past (every other day).

There isn't really anything else like Durness and Ullapool in terms of scenery though. Plenty to go at in that area mind. Heading out Strathcarron and Applecross way through the Torridans is worth a look.

Also the area round Gairloch. The Strathcarron, Achnasheen, Gairloch run is one of my favourites. Some good examples of Euro-squandering superhighways consisting entirely of extra wide sweeping bends with no cars on them in that area.

I also like the wee single track road that runs up the middle from Lairg to Tongue via Altnahara.

Some good roads on Skye if you get off the beaten track. For a chang, rather than taking the bridge, you can get a ferry from Mallaig. The Fort William to Mallaig road is rather entertaining. Or you can go over a silly hill pass to Glenelg and get the short but terrifying ferry across to another insanely twisty hill pass on the other side.

Mull is worth a visit, roads not so good though. You can get the ferry from Lochaline to Fishnish rather than the Oban one for a bit of single-track insanity down the Ardnamurchan peninsula (A-road with passing places anyone?).

You could also head to the North East area around Aberdeenshire. Going Perth, Braemar, Balmoral then cutting across the Tomintoul and Cockbridge road and coming back in through Granton on Spey and along Speyside is scenic and good fun. Less rugged, more green landscape in Speyside.
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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.

[Swim41]

Agree, that Mallaig to Fort William run is great fun. A few of us did it on step throughs once, racing all the way. I forgot to mention that I'd been there before on a short small bike trip. We headed from Glasgow, taking the ferry to Dunoon, then north to Fort William via Oban, west just before Inverness and over the bridge to Skye. Skye is somewhere I'd like to explore a bit more as we pretty much just rode from the bridge to the Mallaig ferry. I'll have a good look at the routes that you suggest Stinkwheel.

I've got a YBR125 as my commuter at the moment. With the size of the islands and the condition of the roads it might be fun to do the trip on that - if I can bring myself to ride the ~200 miles north from home on it. If I stick to the mainland then I'd take the 600 to take advantage of those superb roads.

Eventually I'd like to see all, or at least the vast majority of the Highlands and Islands.
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Yamaha XJ600N

[doggone]

All good info, especially the Fort William to Mallaig road and take the ferry to Skye (but the bridge is good too if you haven't been - I usually stop on footpath at the top of it for the view!)

When I've been up there you usually find almost as many German bikers as Brits, it makes me wonder how many from South of the border never visit Scotland at all.

[Charlie]