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Thoughts on a Trip To Scotland in the Mid 2021 ?

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GettinBetter
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PostPosted: 11:23 - 13 Dec 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote

woo wrote:
...Heres one of my trips and links to good routes to ride: https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=4562611&highlight=#4562611


Wow!
Excellent post, will have an in depth look at that, many thanks.

Shame the images aren't available.
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GettinBetter
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PostPosted: 22:54 - 19 Dec 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote

Freddyfruitbat wrote:
Under 'Cons', nobody's mentioned the bloody MIDGES, which will be at their peak in June when the OP plans on visiting


Oh crikey, that's a point, when I did Ben Nevis I roughed it in the car at some remote carpark, bloody midges were a nightmare.

So once bike is back together will be checking spring dates.. last thing I need is to rough it, with the midges feeding on me all night.

ThunderGuts wrote:
...April / May....


Apr/May it is then.
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ThunderRat
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PostPosted: 21:07 - 31 Dec 2020    Post subject: Reply with quote

doggone wrote:
John o Groats is a point on a map with little else going for it.
Several hours ride to nothing much.


Sums it up but if you must get the obligatory picture with your bike in shot head west after it. East is so boron and almost flat.

Smoo Cave is a nice ride west if you like that sort of thing

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/smoo+cave/John+o'+Groats/@58.5448867,-4.4759863,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x48903960e583be25:0x8d5d8ad10a5af306!2m2!1d-4.7199516!2d58.5630615!1m5!1m1!1s0x489adf22b8be52c3:0x86f8db37f5b5c574!2m2!1d-3.0688997!2d58.6373368!3e0
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Copycat73
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PostPosted: 13:40 - 01 Jan 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

once upon a time the roads far north in Scotland were empty and prices were bearable.. now they are full of every dickhead and his dog .. tryin to squeeze past every conceivable plebe mobile whilst bein cut up by lycra louts becomes irritating.. and not to mention the proliferation of speed scameras .... always a warm welcome to those with a credit card though ..

do yourself a favour and go to the continent and leave the highland to midges and the verbose locals ..
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Lone-Wolf
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PostPosted: 18:09 - 01 Jan 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wotcha.

I took a little ride around last year - it looked like this :--->

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESCjTXD-sbA&t
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GettinBetter
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PostPosted: 20:52 - 01 Jan 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lone-Wolf wrote:
Wotcha.

I took a little ride around last year - it looked like this :--->

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESCjTXD-sbA&t


Nice, That's alot of video.

I remember that A82 & Loch Lomond, outstandingly beautiful scenery.

But I was in a car then, this time I'll be on a bike.

Thanks for sharing.
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pepperami
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PostPosted: 20:59 - 01 Jan 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lone-Wolf wrote:
Wotcha.

I took a little ride around last year - it looked like this :--->

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESCjTXD-sbA&t


Cool Thumbs Up maybe a few more pictures of the bike in front of the camera next vid Thumbs Up
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BRUN
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PostPosted: 13:59 - 31 Mar 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

we go to Scotland most years, but in the car not on a bike, I definitely wouldnt go in the height of summer, the midges are horrendous, we once had to cut a fishing trip short instantly, as we were attacked my an armada of them, it was horrendous, i looked like i had a bad case of the measles

we tend to go in November, its usually wet but not snowing
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 14:09 - 31 Mar 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Scotland is going to be a circular traffic jam of camper vans this summer. Any good informal campsites or laybyes will be full of pissed, midge-bitten southern wankers with their tops off floating in a sea of abandoned camping equipment and human excrement like the day after Glastonbury. All the good minor roads will be in an horriffic state of repair due to the volume of ineptly driven van traffic.

I dread to think what the formal campsites will be like.

I won't be at all surprised if informal camping is temporarily banned as an emergency measure before the end of June.

It was bad enough last year, it will be far worse this year.

My friends and I had to pool all our years of detailed knowledge of Scottish geography and obscure/unknown/apparently unsuitable locations to find places to wild camp undisturbed. It's going to be a bigger challenge this time round.
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A100man
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PostPosted: 15:13 - 31 Mar 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

stinkwheel wrote:
Scotland is going to be a circular traffic jam of camper vans this summer. Any good informal campsites or laybyes will be full of pissed, midge-bitten southern wankers ,,


Blimey, popular wit people from Hawick too Shocked
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pepperami
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PostPosted: 15:22 - 31 Mar 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

stinkwheel wrote:
Scotland will be full of pissed, midge-bitten southern wankers floating in a sea of human excrement .

It was bad enough last year, it will be far worse this year.

.


I can feel the love! Wub Wub
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Copycat73
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PostPosted: 20:01 - 31 Mar 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

stinkwheel wrote:
Scotland is going to be a circular traffic jam of camper vans this summer. Any good informal campsites or laybys will be full of pissed, midge-bitten southern wankers with their tops off floating in a sea of abandoned camping equipment and human excrement like the day after Glastonbury. All the good minor roads will be in an horrific state of repair due to the volume of ineptly driven van traffic.
.


yes Yes YES!! with all the jock hospitality owners fawning like their financial security depended on it .. nothing quite like English coin .. or Gold credit cards ..
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Tdibs
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PostPosted: 22:25 - 31 Mar 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yeeep, this year will be a giant swarm of the English ruining it all for all Laughing

Ive been going over some bits in the south west of scotland and the middle of the north of England to try and put together a quieter tour this year.
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doggone
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PostPosted: 22:58 - 31 Mar 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

The pent up demand to go out in a campervan is already apparent here North Yorks - it is school easter break though.
Are they still blowing them up at the border or something.
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BK2021
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PostPosted: 22:24 - 25 Apr 2021    Post subject: Re: Thoughts on a Trip To Scotland in the Mid 2021 ? Reply with quote

Been thinking of doing a similar trip leaving from Sussex stopping at the lake district then Scotland visiting NI on the way back checking out some the road racing route's having a pint of guinness at Joey's bar.
I was also thinking June or July.
Sounds a great idea to me the weather can be a bit unpredictable I would try planning it around the weather if you can.
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Barnoe
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PostPosted: 09:50 - 08 May 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am going myself on 18th June for 8 days.
Ive done Scotland many times and have to say its a fantastic place to visit, specially on the bike.
My advice would be to plan several places you would like to see each day to break the journey up.
Seriously its not something to be rushed.
I see people doing the NC500 in 3-4 days and that included getting up there and back! WTF
All that happens when you do that is you need another visit to do it properly lol

Im setting off from Rochdale and going the non motorway route.
Heading through the Forest of Bowland,
through the passes at the lake district,
through Galloway forest park and enjoying the raiders forest drive if its open.
through Ayr to Glasgow
then Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park up to Fort William and Ben Nevis,
straight up past Loch Ness to Inverness and the official start of the NC500 I will work my way east to west back to Inverness.

Then set off back through the Cairngorms down to Falkirk to see the Falkirk Wheel
Down to Northumberland National Park and Kielder Forest
Through the Yorkshire Dales home

there is more to it than that, as there are many stops and things i want to see, but you get the idea.
I will be mixing Campsites and wild camping
I planned this for last year and we all know how that turned out... i refuse to replan it this time lol

oh also check out this guys videos, a series of about 6 i think
Worth watching them all back to back when the mrs goes to bed lol
He does something he called the NC767 but it gives you a good idea of what to expect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0yrsuvKMYw&t=14s
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recman
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PostPosted: 10:40 - 08 May 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

On a weekend mini tour a few years ago I did -
Glencoe - its Glencoe, nuff said.
Loch Lomond - recommended.
Fort William - ok for a nosebag and a quick stretch of the legs.
The Ben Nevis cable car and the nearby Commando Memorial - both highly recommended.
The Falkirk Wheel - interesting and surprisingly cheap to go on.
Loch Ness - see Loch Lomond but with a gift shop.
The Culloden battlefields - very interesting.
John O'Grotes - took a pick at the signpost and bought a fridge magnet, the nearby coastal stacks are worth a visit though.
I went to a couple more places to stay overnight but nowhere of note.
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MCN
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PostPosted: 11:32 - 08 May 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Midges are a very vital part of the Scottish ecosystem.

They are food chain menu items.

Not difficult to manage.

Use nets and sprays.

Jungle Formula stinks a bit but midges avoid it.

Jungle works for mosquitoes too.

Scottish Lowlands are equally picturesque and presently not too populated with tourists.
Less places to camp unless you can sleep in a van/camper/caravan/big car.
Mostly, wild camping is permitted in Scotland with some local restrictions. Restrictions usually forbthe sake of environmental issues.
But what ever, take all the shite you bring into Scotland back out with you when you leave. Or use the plentiful bins.
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Barnoe
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PostPosted: 12:01 - 08 May 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wild camping has become harder and harder to find good spots.
certainly finding places just off the road on the NC500 route is hard, its mostly fenced off to stop bikers riding offroad to hide behind bushes lol

Unless your the type that rocks up in the dark pitches, sleeps and disappears at 5am before anyone realises (as above ... taking any crap with you)

best to do you homework and find places between towns and hidden away.

back in the day i wasnt bothered as camping was about £4 a night... then the NC500 came along and now its £35, piss take.

/RantModeON Should be a special rate for bikers who's footprint with bike and tent takes up less than most cars! /RantModeOff
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MCN
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PostPosted: 18:23 - 08 May 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've tried driving up and down places with the google camera car looking for nooks and crannies to camp.
Looks good on Google Maps.
Then when you get there it's shite or some other tosser is already there.
Wild Camping on Glencoe is usually not a problem. But a sheltered spot is advisable as the Wind from the West disnae fck aboot. (And keep an eye out for the Campbells too.)
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 18:52 - 08 May 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

S'okay, I've done Scotland, you can cancel it now.
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MCN
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PostPosted: 00:03 - 09 May 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

chickenstrip wrote:
S'okay, I've done Scotland, you can cancel it now.


Czar Nichola will make things awkward when you want to return if she has her way.

You should book another trip before she locks the gates.
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Copycat73
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PostPosted: 18:10 - 09 May 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

MCN wrote:

Czar Nichola will make things awkward when* you want to return if she has her way.


* if

and i demand an affidavit to that effect .. signed in blood..
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Mawsley
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PostPosted: 00:40 - 16 Jun 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

stinkwheel wrote:
Another thing worth remembering is that the NC500 was intended as a cycling route and is now chock full of camper vans and caravans, running on roads that were not designed for them and being driven by people who can't drive them.

Probably best avoided where possible.


Just back from doing it over 9 days and I couldn’t disagree more. Very few cyclists, campers all parked up and wanking over their views, and no problems on the roads bar the roadwork escorts where they’re doing up the surfaces.

The only downside was the proliferation of bikers who don’t appear to be able to corner and slow everyone down.

Midges were manageable, weather was mainly decent - the NC500 is an excellent trip.
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Copycat73
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PostPosted: 07:12 - 16 Jun 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

GettinBetter wrote:


Really! ok, I'm sure you have your reasons.

.


yeah .. because standin outside in the pissin rain because they are fully booked is not fun .. but i`m sure you have your reasons for that ..
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