Triumphrat

fenderbender · 03-15-2006

I'm heading for Scotland at the end of May with a couple of mates to tour for five or six days. We don't have much planned apart from quite fancying a look at the Mull of Kintyre and Isle of Skye. Can anyone recommend some good biking roads, must-see spots and the like?
We thought it might be a good plan to take the ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick to pootle round the Isle of Arran, and thenceforth from Lochranza to Claonaig. Is this easily doable by just turning up at the ferry ports with no prior arrangement? We are all escaping the rat race, albeit briefly, and we don't really want to give ourselves too much of a timetable in advance.
Also, we spent a week in Ireland last summer - great fun despite daily downpours - and we got by on B&B's without any booking ahead. We just rode into a village and took pot luck. Is this lack of planning going to condemn us to sleeping under the odd bush in Scotland, or is accommodation plentiful? We're going around May 28 onwards.

Spacecom · 03-15-2006

:-D
Not that I can help any, living in Colorado... But please post a report when you've done your trip... I want to come over there and ride in the near future...

Thanks

chrisn · 03-16-2006

I think you'll find accomodation no problem at the time you're planning and hopefully the weather may be kind too. I toured mainly the western highlands in 2004 but left the Islands for my next visit. IMO the further north you go on the western mainland the better the riding becomes. A must-ride is the Road over to Applecross Bay - a great Tiger road! Checkout my tour report HERE

And while you're counting down the days take a look at these PHOTOS and daydeam!

Have fun

FifeTiger · 03-16-2006

Yep, agree the further north you go the better it gets. Once you're passed Fort William you're starting to get into wilderness. Wester Ross is just awesome, it's like the moon, but with beautifully surfaced roads, no hedges or fences, fantastic biking land.

If you can take in Glen Coe on the way up it's worth it, just to give you your first taste of the scale of the Highlands.

Rolling across the north coast passed Dounreay glinting in the sun is quite eerie, and by the time you get to Thurso it feels like a really big place. Worth the detour to John O'Groats (or Dunnet Head for the lighthouse photo opportunity) just to see how close Orkney is, pop over on the ferry if you fancy.

Inverness down on the A9 is dull though but efficient if you want to get home, there are some scenic detours through Braemar and roundabout you can pick up.

Was up that way a few years ago and stayed at this place for a night

http://www.theoldinn.co.uk lovely people, great food and not badly priced. After a day in the saddle it was a much better option than the throwout bed on a floor being offered by the local B&B.

And that's my word of caution about accommodation, we went up in May, the place is already busy with walkers so maybe best to have a list of places to stay and check in advance.
the Visitscotland.com website's pretty good for B&B's and pubs and stuff, just there aren't that many way up north.

If you take hangers on, I'd love to join up with you for a day or two. Usually pop down to the Lakes/Nth Yorks in May but missed it last year and was planning a trip to Skye anyway.

iansoady · 03-16-2006

Just to echo what others have said, the far north west up past Wester Ross is an amazing place - few settlements and refuelling stops so be warned. There's a little loop of the B869 SW of Kylesku which has some of the best views I've ever seen.

karl · 03-16-2006

Rather than going Thurso - Inverness route, which is boring and often busy with lorrys, cages and caravans, there is an alternative route.
I thinks its the A897, it goes from Helmsdale to melvich , going straight through some lovely coutnry side. But watch out for the sheep sleeping on the road.

bigD · 03-16-2006

Fenderbender

As a self confessed promoter of my homeland where do I start? You are heading in the right direction, west coast & islands are the "berries" as they say up here. taking the route you are suggesting is a good starter, Can I suggest going onto the Calmac website & checking out the Island hopscotch (route 5 is what you are thinking about) if you you were feeling flush I would then add on route 7 & that would get you all the way to Skye through some of the best scenery you could imagine, you will ride some brilliant roads on the way (not all of them mind, some are narrow & need given respect but brilliant all the same) at the time of year you are going you should be able to turn up at the ferrys & go. coming back off of Skye, use the bridge & travel on that way. If you have time turn left as you come out of Kyle of Lochalsh & head further north for some stunning roads & more brilliant scenery. There are some excellent stretches of road up that section of the west coast. If not, head for Fort William Via the A87 through Glen Garry to Invergarry where you pick up the A82. follow the A82 down through Fort William & Glen Coe down & over the Rannoch Moor. By the time you reach Crianlarich you can decide whether you want to come down Loch Lomond side towards Glasgow or carry on towards Stirling & head for Edinburgh. Once south of the Rannoch Moor you need to pay attention to your speed as there are a lot of unmarked cars, bikes & mobile cameras, this area is prime "Weekend Warrior" territory because it is within easy reach of Glasgow & the central belt & the "Power Rangers" use the loop round the Trossachs as a race track.

There are some very good B & Bs to be had for around £20-£25 per night (sharing) & its generally easy to find one, unless you pick a holiday weekend or busy time, you should be OK in your time frame. If you are heading into more remote areas like knoydart & up beyond Kyle of Lochalsh & on the Islands it is worthwhile booking ahead to be sure you can get a bed for the night. I have found our tourist offices are brilliant, if you are off into the back of beyond you go into a tourist office when you come across one early in the day, tell them where you are heading & an approx time you will be arriving, pay them £3 and give them twenty minutes (ideal coffee break) then you know you are sorted, saves the long drawn out door knocking sessions you can get later in the day when you are tired (maybe even wet) & desperate for a pint, you can even ask them to make sure you are within spitting distance of a pub or hotel. :chug:

Whatever you do make sure you enjoy it. I have been bumming around the west coast for years now & I find that bikes are welcome just about everywhere, only ever had one door closed in my face when the guy realised we were "bikers" sad to say he was English & that was in Oban. Exception that proves the rule though.

D

[ This message was edited by: bigD on 2006-03-16 13:51 ]

fenderbender · 03-17-2006

Lots of great ideas there....thanks very much indeed, guys