Probably Off To Scotland This Weekend

Sounds good. @Dougie D will give you some hints and tips

 

Hi Quarky, I know this is going to sound daft but with the mozies up around the Highlands being the size of Lancaster bombers, you might like to know that the best anti-bug product by a million miles is a product by Avon and is called (wait for it) "Skin so soft".

I was advised to use this when going to North Africa and it worked PERFECTLY - and it's dirt cheap !!!!!

And just before anyone asks, YES it does make yer skin feel soft anorl !!!

 

I personally like the east side of Loch Ness better than the west bank. The Falls of Foyers are very pretty. Other than that most of Scotland is pretty stunning.

 

I reckon both are great routes. The A82 is probably quicker, A85/A828 are smaller roads. Depends on how much time you've got really. I personally wouldn't want to miss Glen Coe though. Also, going along the A82 you get Rannoch Moor, which on a good day is also stunning. Just after Fort William there's really nice twisties in between Corran and Ballachulish by the way...

 

Hi I don’t want to put a dampener on your trip but coming all the way to Scotland from Northampton for only 1 days riding in scotland seems a bit of a crime to me, If it has to be a Saturday you’re riding in Scotland I wouldn’t bother going up the A82 to Loch Ness it’s a busy road and even busier at the weekend,have you set your heart on going up to Loch Ness? I'll send you a PM with a few ideas

 

380 mile commute to do 250 around Scotland !!! Bloody hell and good luck to you.

As a resident and biased to the hilt, Dumfries and Galloway have some great roads, and combined with the Borders you would have a great time around here. The roads up around Loch Lomond and Loch Ness at this time of year are quite busy and you will spend a fair amount of time following the many tourist mini / buses about. Where you are looking to head, is very touristy and best done earlier in the year, May being the best time. HAve you booked a hotel? Not always possible to just drop in around this time of year.

I can put you a belter of a route from North Berwick across to Portpatrick if your head is turned this way. And the best bit is that there will be buggar all traffic! Buccleuch Arms Hotel in Moffat,is a great biker friendly hotel run by a pal of mine, with secure bike storage.

Enjoy Scotland, what ever you decide.


If you decide to go north, after Fort William, turn left and head for Skye. Invergarry to Kyle of Lochalsh is a must-do road (one of my favourites) in Scotland and Eilann Donan Castle is worth the journey, iconic spot for taking picture with the bike in front of it. Over the bridge for another iconic picture with the bridge in the background from the skye side. Loch Ness is not that great to look at imho, and too many tourists, loads of chinese/yanks/japs evrywhere.

Another option is to go to Tyndrum (green welly) then Oban, then south to Lochgilphead around to Inveraray. That is a classic Scottish road. And definitely should be on anyone's to-do list of Scottish roads.

 

Tyndrum-Oban-Inveraray-Dunoon route - Belter of a day out, and again will be quiet.


In fact, I want to go do this again, I love these roads.

 

I am in agreement that your plan wastes precious time - a bit like an aircraft flying out 4 hrs, searching for 30 mins and flying back 4hrs. The important bit is ‘time on task’ not ‘time to task’.

I have lived all over the UK and from Northants in the time you have would aim to flog North of Leeds then carve a big figure of 8 through the Yorkshire Dales/Forest of Bowland and into the Scottish Borders via Carter Bar, Bonchester Bridge and the GMU route over to Moffat thence Dumfries and into the Stewartries. Off the main trunk roads it is superb biking territory.

Take a gander here:
https://www.motorcyclescotland.com/

 

+1 avoid A75 thru D&G, its boring and full of unmarked cops and scamera vans,

but it keeps them off all the other roads

 

Normally I would offer a meet n greet, if you did make it this way (D&G), but funnily enough I'm heading to Northampton tomorrow !!!

 

Be careful down there mate
Some strange people down that way

 

I’m for this area, went last year but went up to glen coe and down the west coast Lochgilphead and took the Dunoon ferry. Stopped at the anchor inn at garelochead for the night before heading north. You’ll kick yourself for only spending one day up there tho’
Do the borders around keilder national park, st marys loch etc then do Scotland later when you’ve 3 days to ride around there.

 

Beware of this offer! He offered the same to me and showed me some great roads, very quiet, he did have a shovel strapped to the back of his bike which made me a tad wary!

 

Apparently he is famously incontinent.......

 

No, That's Dilligaf !!! He of the tena man pants

 

No disgrace. Full of it masel’!