So with only two months two wheeled experience under my belt, no suitable bike as yet, and Mod 1 a few weeks away, I figured, what better than to plan an epic (by my standards) Scotland road trip for next spring!? So my plan is ... Wallasey to the Isle of Skye, a mere 420 miles each way on some of the most beautiful roads the UK has, taking in no less than 20 Loch's just on the way there, numerous "the-tent-can-go-here" improvised camp sites (the roadside), undoubtedly some challenging weather, and a goodly dose of being very cold, wet but at the same time - stunned by the beautiful terrain in that part of the world. Never done anything like it before, but too much Long way down/around/over has set the bug off, no good can come of it, and I won't be happy until I've done it. The route is almost entirely A roads, I see no point in using motorways, and is deliberately hand chosen using Google maps, to ensure maximum countryside wow-factor, and hopefully minimum traffic. I'll make a PDF of the route and make it available if anyone is interested What are people's experiences of UK road trips? What kind of kit did you take? Am I nuts? On the face of it, its probably quite a big bite to take as a first trip, but I figure that if Ted Simon can do a road trip for four years, I can manage a week. Its when I see scenes like this, I know I have to do it -> Map of the Google
Scotland is gorgeous, even though I spent the first 19 years of my life there it never fails to amaze me how beautiful it is. I think this could be something that a few of us would be interested in tbh. I'll have a word with Sponge later on
Definitely happy to have riding buddies along for it - I'm a member of a little riding club with some of the guys from Aprilia Merseyside, they have expressed a possible interest in the trip too Heres the link to the FB group for us Moist Riders We have a ride out to Conwy in early August too if yourself and Sponge are interested
Just come back from a much bigger version of this trip, stopping at th isle of Skye, it's stunning and even though it was 1400 miles in 4 days, the rain, wind and cold, as well as a very sore arse, the scenery is the most spectacular I've ever seen. I'd be up for this as the day I got back I missed the place.
Sounds like a plan Bass, I've got 420 miles on the route there, working on a different route back to take in Loch Ness and Inverness, trying to avoid the A9 though as the traffic stats make it look and sound pretty damn busy. 1400 miles. Hardcore!
The A9 is beautiful mate when you get past Perth, I can recommend Ellian Donnan castle (however you spell it) and if your going to Skye, you may aswell go to Applecross pass, voted the best biking road in Britian, and believe me, it probably is! Scary aswell.
hi there we do a scotland trip every year in fact we are going in two weeks time for 4 days Iam sure your route is painted for you, but we go up to the M6 to gretna bear left dumfries etc to ayr turn in again towards glasgow and the erskine bridge to loch lomond. first nite stop is a BB in Oban £30 each. we then head up the A82 to fortwilliam and bear left to Mallaig. we catch the ferry here 20 mins to isle of skye. into portree for a brew then head back over the syke bridge to the A87 !!! what ever you do ride this road. it is incredible !! this goes to inverness were we stop and smaple a few beers !! the next day sees us head south to edingboro over the cainagorms balmoral castle etc etc again fantastic roads and secenary , huge golden eagles flying above you in this area . stop at edingboro again £30/35 cheap BB . get pissed then head home via the hartshead pass noth lakes . You will have a fab time
Thanks for the feedback guys, I will pen the A9 as the route back home then, it looks pretty along that way so I don't have a major issue using it - I suppose if there is traffic we can always Ninja our way past Thats almost exactly the route I've got Winkmaster - spot on, Erskine bridge, A87 all the way! It looks stunning! I'll get that route finished up and posted so you guys can take a peek at it - you're clearly experienced in that area so perhaps if you get five you could give it a browse and see if there's any bits you'd recommend/change? Thanks!
It all depends on how hard you want to ride, i did 13 hours the first day, Warrington to Inverness with dinner at the forth road bridge and a stop at the cairngorms, 12 hours the next day, invernss to John o,groats, then hour ferry to Orkney, spent the day riding round the island then back to Inverness, 12 hours on day 3, Inverness to Applecross, then to Skye via the bridge, then back via th castles and loch ness. Then Inverness to Warrington on day 4 taking only 9 hours, Fuel stops every 130 miles and arse pain stops every 50 after the first hour slows you down
Wow, you did go a lot further Bass, no wonder you clocked up 1400 miles. I'm only planning on a leisurely 200/250 miles a day, if that, I'm a keen photographer so it'll give me time (in theory) to stop and marvel at the scenery. I'd always planned on it taking a week - I'll definitely not be going at the trip with the gusto that you have done, not on my first outing at least. With that said, I've nearly sorted my route to Valencia, Eastern Spain via the Pyrenees, so this outing to Skye will be a good tester to see what kind of stuff I'm made of!
here some pics for you. The team at the Forth Road Bridge View attachment 1117 Me at the Cairngorms View attachment 1118 Me and me dad at John O'Groats View attachment 1119 Arrived at Orkney View attachment 1120 a very wet Applecorss Pass View attachment 1121 Skye Bridge View attachment 1122 Eilean Donan Castle View attachment 1123 was a good weekend, im desperate to do another long one, would love to go to Italy, one one day north africa. its what biking is all about. :thumbsup:
Ok its sealed - I definitely have to do it! Nice trio of bikes you did it on too! I only have the small matter of umm... Mod 1 and Mod 2 to take care of, then bigger bike purchase, so I'm thinking along the lines of early next year, or as early as is feasible given the weather up there. I'm not hardcore enough to be heading to Orkney, but I'm definitely up for Skye! I'll get the route finished up and get it posted so you can see what you make of it You are quite right that its what biking is all about, its a cliche for a lot of people, but it IS the very essence of it, and while its nothing you couldn't do in a car, as Ted Simon mentions, when you ride a motorcycle you are far more at one with the world, you are forced to experience the weather, the sights and sounds and smells of the places you ride through.
you cannae beat scotland! hoping to head up there myself later this year, make sure i get REALLY wet - there's nothing like Glen Coe in September ! i'd recommend you look at taking the ferry from Gourock to Hunters Quay, keep you away from Glasgow and a nice ride through the Argyll forest
The Glen Coe pass is on my route, it looks amazing! I'll look into that ferry crossing, thanks I spent ages trying to find a nice route around Glasgow, but if that saves the ordeal (and makes a nice crossing to boot) then thats more than likely a better way - thanks for the heads up
