Short Scotland tour/ride
Discussion
After some advice in terms of route or places to head in Scotland, planning to do a 2 night trip to Scotland next year on the bike with a mate, preferably up the west coast, they will be long days of riding to get the most in the time we have, has anyone got any experience of a route or roads to aim for to get some good riding roads in and views? Thanks!
Depends on where you're coming from but Loch Lomond > Lochgilphead > Oban > Fort William > Aviemore > Braemar > Dunkeld > Crieff > Callander > Aberfoyle would be a start. You could get from somewhere over the border to Fort William one day and back home via the rest of the route the next.
We're off in the morning for seven days and despite most of the routes being well worn paths for me I'm still taking this book with me, as much for the maps as anything:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcyclists-Guide-Scotl...
We're off in the morning for seven days and despite most of the routes being well worn paths for me I'm still taking this book with me, as much for the maps as anything:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcyclists-Guide-Scotl...
I have plenty of recommendations based on previous rides, a lot will depend on where you're coming from and whether you're after scenery, roads or a mixture of both!
I love the west coast Highlands, the roads and scenery are stunning, but progress can be hampered by caravans and narrow roads.
Don't overlook Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway as well. One of my favourite bike roads in Scotland comes off the M74 near Elvanfoot and finishes at St John's Town of Dalry....
I love the west coast Highlands, the roads and scenery are stunning, but progress can be hampered by caravans and narrow roads.
Don't overlook Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway as well. One of my favourite bike roads in Scotland comes off the M74 near Elvanfoot and finishes at St John's Town of Dalry....
Yeah but Dumfries & Galloway is the Weegies secret that we scare the rest of you away from with tales of cannabilism. 
Elvanfoot > Thornill > St John's Town > Newton Stewart > Girvan is a cracking route, from Girvan hug the coast to the Erskine bridge and enjoy the Clyde estuary whilst trying not to get upset with the traffic.
Elvanfoot > Thornill > St John's Town > Newton Stewart > Girvan is a cracking route, from Girvan hug the coast to the Erskine bridge and enjoy the Clyde estuary whilst trying not to get upset with the traffic.
I've previously done York to Ratagan Youth Hostel in a day's ride - but could have done it shorter. If you want to make the most of time in Scotland, you need to unfortunately suck up a schlep up the motorway until you get to north of Glasgow. It gets quieter after Crianlarich.... From there, keep heading up to Ullapool, then as far north as you think you can get, although, I'd recommend Elphin, Rosehall, Ardgay, Achandunie then down the A9 to Inverness and off again to the Cairngorms (Granton, Tomintoul, Breamar, Pitlochry). Stay off the A9 between Inverness and Perth!
Alternatively, Applecross on the West Coast is lovely as a destination to aim for, but slow going for the last part.
I'd love to say Kyle of Tongue on the far North West - it's stunning, but with 2 nights, you'll probably be pushing it.
Enjoy!
Alternatively, Applecross on the West Coast is lovely as a destination to aim for, but slow going for the last part.
I'd love to say Kyle of Tongue on the far North West - it's stunning, but with 2 nights, you'll probably be pushing it.
Enjoy!
darkyoung1000 said:
I've previously done York to Ratagan Youth Hostel in a day's ride - but could have done it shorter. If you want to make the most of time in Scotland, you need to unfortunately suck up a schlep up the motorway until you get to north of Glasgow. It gets quieter after Crianlarich.... From there, keep heading up to Ullapool, then as far north as you think you can get, although, I'd recommend Elphin, Rosehall, Ardgay, Achandunie then down the A9 to Inverness and off again to the Cairngorms (Granton, Tomintoul, Breamar, Pitlochry). Stay off the A9 between Inverness and Perth!
Alternatively, Applecross on the West Coast is lovely as a destination to aim for, but slow going for the last part.
I'd love to say Kyle of Tongue on the far North West - it's stunning, but with 2 nights, you'll probably be pushing it.
Enjoy!
Thanks for the info! What’s your reason for staying off the a9 between Inverness and Perth? Alternatively, Applecross on the West Coast is lovely as a destination to aim for, but slow going for the last part.
I'd love to say Kyle of Tongue on the far North West - it's stunning, but with 2 nights, you'll probably be pushing it.
Enjoy!
Rocky20 said:
darkyoung1000 said:
I've previously done York to Ratagan Youth Hostel in a day's ride - but could have done it shorter. If you want to make the most of time in Scotland, you need to unfortunately suck up a schlep up the motorway until you get to north of Glasgow. It gets quieter after Crianlarich.... From there, keep heading up to Ullapool, then as far north as you think you can get, although, I'd recommend Elphin, Rosehall, Ardgay, Achandunie then down the A9 to Inverness and off again to the Cairngorms (Granton, Tomintoul, Breamar, Pitlochry). Stay off the A9 between Inverness and Perth!
Alternatively, Applecross on the West Coast is lovely as a destination to aim for, but slow going for the last part.
I'd love to say Kyle of Tongue on the far North West - it's stunning, but with 2 nights, you'll probably be pushing it.
Enjoy!
Thanks for the info! What’s your reason for staying off the a9 between Inverness and Perth? Alternatively, Applecross on the West Coast is lovely as a destination to aim for, but slow going for the last part.
I'd love to say Kyle of Tongue on the far North West - it's stunning, but with 2 nights, you'll probably be pushing it.
Enjoy!
on it.If you go up the west side, from Loch Lomond north, it's hard to find bad roads. The roads closer to Glasgow tend to be more tourist infested once you get towards the top of Loch Lomond, things get a little quieter. The question of which road is often down to what you're after. There are some really nice, well surfaced, flowing roads for some real riding fun, but there are also lots of single track, rougher surfaced roads with jaw dropping views.
A group of Old Gits did a run around Scotland a couple of weeks ago, travelling up the west side, around the NC500, then back to Glasgow via Skye and Oban. The only bit of the trip that was disappointing was the North East, from the approach to John O'Groats down towards Inverness (NC500 clockwise!)
Some pictures:
Details and write-up here: http://www.old-gits.org/scotland2021.htm
A group of Old Gits did a run around Scotland a couple of weeks ago, travelling up the west side, around the NC500, then back to Glasgow via Skye and Oban. The only bit of the trip that was disappointing was the North East, from the approach to John O'Groats down towards Inverness (NC500 clockwise!)
Some pictures:
Details and write-up here: http://www.old-gits.org/scotland2021.htm
Rocky20 said:
Sorry, should of said, heading up from north east area, about 1.5hrs from the Scottish border.
Either go up the A68 to Edinburgh, a few miles on the M90 turn off at the Knockhill junction and head for Crieff.Or cut straight across from Newcastle on the A69 to Carlisle then hug the Dumfries and Galloway coastline to Glasgow then the A82 to Loch Lomond.
For a 2 night/3 day trip I would do something like the following. I don't really know the borders though so you'll have to figure that bit out yourself.
Day 1
Stirling - A84/A85 to Crianlarich
A82 up through Glencoe
Overnight somewhere around Loch Ness (Fort Augustus)
Day 2
A87 either from Invergarry or Invermorriston to Eilean Donan
A890 to A896 to Applecross over the pass
Continue round coast road to A896 again
At Kinlochewe you can head to Inverness via Achnasheen or if you still feel good you can go left round Gairloch and back to Inverness from there (they both end up at the same place but Gairloch loop adds some distance.
Alternative Day 2
Up to Drumnadrochit
Turn left and go over the top to Beauly and Muir of Old
A835 to Ullapool (watch for police on some of the straights nearer Ullapool)
Coffee in Ullapool
North on A835 to Ledmore
North on A837 and either loop round A837/B869 or turn right to A894
North to Laxford Bridge and you can either continue on to Durness or go back south on A838 to Lairg/Bonar Bridge and over the top to Alness and a few miles down the A9 to Inverness (or loop round Cromarty)
Overnight Inverness or elsewhere
Day 3 to home
Short run down A9
Turn off to Grantown on Spey
A939 to Tomintoul
Continue A939/B976/A93 to Lecht/Crathie/Braemar/Glenshee
Continue to Blairgowrie and on to Scone and Perth on A93.
Jump on A9 and head for routes home.
Day 1
Stirling - A84/A85 to Crianlarich
A82 up through Glencoe
Overnight somewhere around Loch Ness (Fort Augustus)
Day 2
A87 either from Invergarry or Invermorriston to Eilean Donan
A890 to A896 to Applecross over the pass
Continue round coast road to A896 again
At Kinlochewe you can head to Inverness via Achnasheen or if you still feel good you can go left round Gairloch and back to Inverness from there (they both end up at the same place but Gairloch loop adds some distance.
Alternative Day 2
Up to Drumnadrochit
Turn left and go over the top to Beauly and Muir of Old
A835 to Ullapool (watch for police on some of the straights nearer Ullapool)
Coffee in Ullapool
North on A835 to Ledmore
North on A837 and either loop round A837/B869 or turn right to A894
North to Laxford Bridge and you can either continue on to Durness or go back south on A838 to Lairg/Bonar Bridge and over the top to Alness and a few miles down the A9 to Inverness (or loop round Cromarty)
Overnight Inverness or elsewhere
Day 3 to home
Short run down A9
Turn off to Grantown on Spey
A939 to Tomintoul
Continue A939/B976/A93 to Lecht/Crathie/Braemar/Glenshee
Continue to Blairgowrie and on to Scone and Perth on A93.
Jump on A9 and head for routes home.
Rocky - I'm located in a similar area and this year I've done (on the bike):
- Braemar/Aviemore/A9 etc. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
- Dumfries & Galloway. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
In the car this year I've also done up to Glencoe, along Loch Ness, up the east coast of NC500 (nice coastal views but I can imagine the west coast is better). This over two and a half days.
So yes - get out and do it (and photos of the trip too please!).
- Braemar/Aviemore/A9 etc. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
- Dumfries & Galloway. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
In the car this year I've also done up to Glencoe, along Loch Ness, up the east coast of NC500 (nice coastal views but I can imagine the west coast is better). This over two and a half days.
So yes - get out and do it (and photos of the trip too please!).
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