Sampling Scotland

[James83]

Last year, I went on tour with a mate, from southern England, up to Scotland, and then back again. We were only in Scotland for a couple of days, so didn’t get to enjoy the awesome roads up there as much as we liked. For the record, BCF did say “Forget the tour up and down England, get to Scotland asap”, which was great advice, but sadly everything was booked and paid for by the time I posted about the trip, so it couldn’t be changed. Anyway, this year, I’d like to do Scotland properly, so the plan is to head up in a day, and spend 4-5 nights up there.

What I want to do is find a B&B somewhere that has 4 days’ worth of decent roads around it. Bear in mind the first and last day will be ‘quiet’ days, because we will be ploughing 100s of miles to and from. I’m looking for recommendations. General locations are fine, but even better if people can recommend specific B&Bs. Bed and a shower and biker friendly are all that’s needed, the important thing is low price.

[Skudd]

We have used this place many times. Biker friendly, drying room for wet bike gear. Nice food and clean rooms. Pub just over the road with nice food and a Co-Op 100 yards away for the everyday top ups.

https://www.strathassynt.com/

We used it as a base for a weeks riding after first just using it as a stop over the year before

It is in Ballachalish just outside Glencoe with more than plenty of nice roads around.
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[James83]

That's exactly the kind of ting I'm looking for, cheers Skudd.

If anyone else has recommendations, please post em up, always good to have options

[Bendy]

Personally, I just get a Travelodge / Holiday Inn / whatever's cheap in Inverness. Book far enough in advance to get the cheap deals and you're near supermarkets for cheap grub and reasonably-priced petrol.

You can do all the 'good bits' as days out from that central point of staying in Inverness. I can easily fill an 8 - 10 hour day heading north / west / south west.

[doggone]

That Glencoe one does look good, best area is probably around there - maybe Oban or Fort William as the two reasonably large towns on the west coast which have a bit more going on in the evening for the odd night out too.

[map]

It's been a good few years since I last did Scotland (it's on the must do list every year ).

However, I went and just booked on the hoof. Time of year helped, after schools went back in September. It's also after the midge season.

I just made sure I was near a town with a tourist information centre/kiosk. Tell them you wanted a room and your budget and they'd ring around for you. Agreed price and directions to the B&B followed. It was easy. Might be harder if larger group though. It allowed me to travel around and change plans rather than have to be in a certain place by a certain time.

I guess using a fixed place as a hub would be good too.
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[fraser2312]

You should consider staying in Ullapool, there's a few nice runs to be had from there and when you're done head home via the A82

[Skudd]

When in Ullapool we stayed in this place. Very nice and clean. Only about half a mile from the fuel station which was down hill from the B&B. Nice pub at the bottom of the hill too.

https://www.riversideullapool.com/
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[spnorm]

Fort William is a toilet, Oban's not much better and there's nothing in Ballachulish.

I like Ullapool as a base - beautiful views and plenty of pubs/restaurants. Head up via the A82/A87/West Coast (Lochcarron, Gairloch etc.) and back via the A939/A93

[bikersupermot...]

hey dunno if this helps or not...

i stayed in fort william for the night on the way up to the north west of scotland at the Bank Street Lodge b&b for 20 squid a night. room was v clean and shared with 3 french teenagers who were friendly and wanting to practice their inglish! lol

had a fully equipped kitchen so you cud cook your own food but theres a cpl great fish & chip shops around so i didnt bother cooking.

big shower room/toilet all clean and working great.

its a good place to break your journey and theres a car park across the road and id think its fairly safe ( its not london lol ) to leave your bike there.


also, if it helps, im on the south side of glasgow and very close to the m8/m74 motorways that come up from the south. iv got a spare room if you both dont mind sharing the bed and you could crash here for the night before continuing your journey north. ( pm if ur interested in this )

check out a place called Applecross. its up in the north west of the country - the roads are quite challenging to get there, you wont be doing more than 10-15mph in places with 1in5 climbs with sheers drops and 90 degree bends as you hit the top. but you ll love it.

island of skye is also nice to ride around but you ll do it in half a day tbh. then need to get back to the mainland.

midgies can be a pain in your bum literally. buy it now while its cheaper off ebay etc, - avon skin so soft - it forms a film that is harder for midgies to bite through and the dont like the smell of it.

however it works to varying degrees for different folks.

as said, if you wanna break your journey in glasgow im close to the m74 which brings you north/south, and you can safely park your bikes here and have a shower, nosh an some beers and a long chat etc before you hit the sack and head off north in the morning.
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tinybikes

[woo]

i stayed at these places:

https://www.bunroy.co.uk/accommodation/self-catering-holiday-lodges

https://www.cabins.corriechoille.com/

They were both great places to stay at and had wifi

bunroy lodges have cabin pods which you should have a look at on their website!

Applecross is a must do as next year im doing the whole applecross journey the long way and the short way, and will also head to isle of skye!
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[AlanC]

This is going way back for me, but I'll second Bendy on Inverness: nice place and a good base. I liked Ballater a lot, too, although it's small, so don't expect anything if you're looking for nightlife.

I wasn't keen on Glencoe or Fort William - that was a dreary place.

Thurso was OK: I stayed there because I wanted to see the north coast and Dunnet Head, as far north as you can get on the UK mainland.

Never been to Ullapool, but StevieGoogs pics in the BCF Photographers thread make me want to!

[ZebraDriver]

If your looking at the west coast, then go and have a squint at the CALMAC website. Calmac run the ferries out to the islands and they do some "hopscotch" tickets that allow you to do a circular using the ferries. There is some cracking scenery etc to be viewed and the ferries can make some good breaks from the roads.

[seger]

I would recommend Morags Lodge in Fort Augustus. Brilliant place and good pubs and eating places in the evening. Ideally situated for all the best roads too.
Bill
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[Maruchino]

[Maruchino]

[derekwil]

there are a ot of youth hostels up the west coast and is you are just looking for a clean warm bed for the night they are also worth considering

[Casper]

I think you will ruin your first day due to being knackered. Head for Sterling or around and spend a night. Next day would be part of your days out heading up to Kyle of Lochalsh via the trossachs. Day two tour Isle of Sky. Day three out towards Plockton/ Applecross. Day four heading south. Mini tour done.

Next time add a few more days.

[chickenstrip]

[Musketeer]

Scotland is nice if you're lucky with the weather. I was and it was great. I went to Scotland via Glasgow, Fort William all the way to Applecross last July. Fantastic roads and landscape

I have 2 very short videos from the journey on YT if interested.
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[nerald]

Fort Augustus would be a good base. If you feel like camping try here.
https://www.cumberlands-campsite.com/
They have bunk rooms as well. You can use the kitchen/lounge area if you are camping and the weather is iffy.
Handy for the pubs too.
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V-Twins - 60 or 90?

[binoscott]

If you can hack the long initial journey time then I recommend going along the north coast from Thurso (a dive of a town) to Durness.
Stunning, especially in the sunshine, and the road surface isn't actually that bad!

[allserene]

I absolutely love North West Scotland (In summer). A group of us used to do long weekends there from Yorkshire. The road I like the best is from Inverary down the side of Loch Fyne - down to Lochgilphead. Then across to Oban. Its fast with superb bends. Stay at the George in Inverary - it's worth it for all the ginger beard kilted Angus' on a Saturday night. Sometimes it's bloody freezing but I have known it in the 80's (F) and the tar melting - it is not predicable more than 3 days - that's why we did long weekends. Southern Scotland across the Galloway coast is a second best once you get off the main road near Kirkudbright , and nearer the coast. God I miss it - here in the US its mostly grid line roads

[Ribenapigeon]

Killin at the western end of loch tay is a good spot as its practically at the geographical centre of scotland, lots of hotels BnBs and camp sites. Fort William is to be avoided its a miserable hole. Oban on the other hand is a great spot.

[mac600]