Scotland in November
Discussion
Depends how 'last minute' you can leave it. It might work; it's not unheard of to have a dry spell and you might get up before the gritters start. But then again it will be cold anyway, and a real possibility of very wet, sleet, and snow on high ground and salt on the roads. If you can cancel the day before without penalty then no problems booking something (you won't be in a tent at that time of year!) and keep an eye on the forecast right up to the 'go/no go' decision. Or just make the call at the time - I doubt accommodation will be a problem at that time of year.
But if I was taking bets and you booked to go but were keeping an eye on the forecast, I'd reckon you'd call it off; unless there's an unusually late start to winter. Stranger things have happened, by my expectation would be bloody cold and wet.
But if I was taking bets and you booked to go but were keeping an eye on the forecast, I'd reckon you'd call it off; unless there's an unusually late start to winter. Stranger things have happened, by my expectation would be bloody cold and wet.
I wouldn’t.
We were desperate for a lads driving weekend last year after Covid etc, so went up in October in the cars. A rowing boat would have been more suitable.
We just slid around in a monsoon for 3 days, getting soaked at every photo stop etc. Not that there were many of those, as you couldn’t see anything.
The only one good thing is that Scotland was in one form of lockdown or another, so the roads were empty.
The flip side was no alcohol anywhere and most places closed by 6/8pm so not even a meal or any banter after the days driving.
Crap trip compared to normal, but still better than being at work I guess.
No way I’d head up on a bike though, not that late in the year.
Oh yeah, plus the salt was already down.
As said, if you can leave it really last minute to watch the weather then it might, just might be worth a punt I suppose, but I wouldn’t.
Having said that me and the wife did the NC500 about 4 weeks ago and got eaten alive by the midgies, so you can’t win.
We were desperate for a lads driving weekend last year after Covid etc, so went up in October in the cars. A rowing boat would have been more suitable.
We just slid around in a monsoon for 3 days, getting soaked at every photo stop etc. Not that there were many of those, as you couldn’t see anything.
The only one good thing is that Scotland was in one form of lockdown or another, so the roads were empty.
The flip side was no alcohol anywhere and most places closed by 6/8pm so not even a meal or any banter after the days driving.
Crap trip compared to normal, but still better than being at work I guess.
No way I’d head up on a bike though, not that late in the year.
Oh yeah, plus the salt was already down.
As said, if you can leave it really last minute to watch the weather then it might, just might be worth a punt I suppose, but I wouldn’t.
Having said that me and the wife did the NC500 about 4 weeks ago and got eaten alive by the midgies, so you can’t win.
Dr Jekyll said:
A bike trip to somewhere like Torridon or Aviemore in early November would obviously be at least a little bonkers. But would it be just mildly eccentric or totally red-wine-with-fish?
It's going to be cold to freezing, you might see snow, you'll definitely see rain.On the plus side you'll have the place to yourself.
Dr Jekyll said:
A bike trip to somewhere like Torridon or Aviemore in early November would obviously be at least a little bonkers. But would it be just mildly eccentric or totally red-wine-with-fish?
f
k the bike off and take the car, any time of year near Aviemore is stunning. I would move to that part of the world tomorrow given a lottery win 
Dr Jekyll said:
A bike trip to somewhere like Torridon or Aviemore in early November would obviously be at least a little bonkers. But would it be just mildly eccentric or totally red-wine-with-fish?
I was still riding one of my bikes at the start of November last year. After almost crying from the pain in my hands when I got into work after a 30 min ride and soaked to the skin on the way home I seen sense and took the motor. That's in the central belt.I had a boy from work buy a gs a few years ago around that time. He was determined to take it out, I strongly advised him not to even though he was a dick. Spilt it on black ice, broke his arm and I had to go pick it up.
It can be done, but it's not going to be much fun unless your wrapped up like the boy from hurt locker in gortex.
I rode London to Manchester and back in mid November one time some years back on a 954 Fireblade.
I was well wrapped up and even bought some handlebar muffs for the ride back - but was unfortunate with the weather - patches of freezing fog on the return journey - all fingers and toes burning badly with cold - had to stop frequently to warm them up on the engine.
I was well wrapped up and even bought some handlebar muffs for the ride back - but was unfortunate with the weather - patches of freezing fog on the return journey - all fingers and toes burning badly with cold - had to stop frequently to warm them up on the engine.
You're talking about two quite different places - Torridon is considerably more remote than Aviemore. That means there's a lot less to do if you got stuck somewhere for a day due to the weather.
I'd hugely echo what a previous poster said about flexibility. I used to travel a lot around Scotland with work and the winter can be very pleasant. One year I took four-five days around Aviemore at pretty much the time you're talking about. The weather was amazing - low teens and then on the last day 18 on the beach at Nairn. I am not claiming this is typical and it was down to low single figures at night time. But I have also been in Aberdeenshire and Moray in the winter months and not needed a coat.
Your bigger issue is actually the ride up. The A93 over Glenshee might be shut, for example, but it's not like the Alps or Pyrenees where you know it's going to be shut. You feel the cold less on a fun rideout as you are concentrating on the fun, and stopping more for tea and shortbread if you are me. It's the long, boring slog up there on the motorway that you're more likely to feel it. By the time you feel cold, your reactions have already slowed down, and if it gets bad you're into the same sort of slow reactions as drink driving.
Where are you starting from? Would you consider something like The Bike Bus for transporting the bike up?
I'd hugely echo what a previous poster said about flexibility. I used to travel a lot around Scotland with work and the winter can be very pleasant. One year I took four-five days around Aviemore at pretty much the time you're talking about. The weather was amazing - low teens and then on the last day 18 on the beach at Nairn. I am not claiming this is typical and it was down to low single figures at night time. But I have also been in Aberdeenshire and Moray in the winter months and not needed a coat.
Your bigger issue is actually the ride up. The A93 over Glenshee might be shut, for example, but it's not like the Alps or Pyrenees where you know it's going to be shut. You feel the cold less on a fun rideout as you are concentrating on the fun, and stopping more for tea and shortbread if you are me. It's the long, boring slog up there on the motorway that you're more likely to feel it. By the time you feel cold, your reactions have already slowed down, and if it gets bad you're into the same sort of slow reactions as drink driving.
Where are you starting from? Would you consider something like The Bike Bus for transporting the bike up?
I'm in South Bucks not a million miles from Slough, so M40, M6 toll then M6.. The motorway slog up there wasn't too bad the couple of times I've done it, by lunchtime I was past Lancaster and on to a clear scenic and relatively twisty motorway.
But unless there is a freak warm spell, doesn't look the best time of year for such a trip.
But unless there is a freak warm spell, doesn't look the best time of year for such a trip.
there we go yer big jessies - 14th December at Kirriemuir all the way from Manchester and back in day
"oooh it'll be cold, oooh the salt will be down, ooooh the roads will be closed" ffs
and a pleasant view
just go it'll be fun, you'll talk about it forever
there's no need to use the toll road just filter that st bit (Birmingham) in fact A1 to Newcastle (mind the road works) then A68 to Edinburgh OR A697 to A68 woudl be just as good a route
"oooh it'll be cold, oooh the salt will be down, ooooh the roads will be closed" ffs
and a pleasant view
just go it'll be fun, you'll talk about it forever
there's no need to use the toll road just filter that s
t bit (Birmingham) in fact A1 to Newcastle (mind the road works) then A68 to Edinburgh OR A697 to A68 woudl be just as good a routetvrolet said:
Depends how 'last minute' you can leave it. It might work; it's not unheard of to have a dry spell and you might get up before the gritters start. But then again it will be cold anyway, and a real possibility of very wet, sleet, and snow on high ground and salt on the roads. If you can cancel the day before without penalty then no problems booking something (you won't be in a tent at that time of year!) and keep an eye on the forecast right up to the 'go/no go' decision. Or just make the call at the time - I doubt accommodation will be a problem at that time of year.
But if I was taking bets and you booked to go but were keeping an eye on the forecast, I'd reckon you'd call it off; unless there's an unusually late start to winter. Stranger things have happened, by my expectation would be bloody cold and wet.
This pretty much - if you are lucky the roads could be fine and not too cold or wet, and it will be deserted and great. If unlucky you could be writing your vehicle off at Glenshee on black ice as I did many years back in November despite the temps being forecast not to be near freezing and gritters being safely tucked up in the depot.But if I was taking bets and you booked to go but were keeping an eye on the forecast, I'd reckon you'd call it off; unless there's an unusually late start to winter. Stranger things have happened, by my expectation would be bloody cold and wet.
Deer also an issue with quieter, remoter roads - shorter days makes riding at dawn/dusk/night harder to avoid with an exponentially increased risk.
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