My planned road trip in August—What do you think?

[teddee]

Hiya

I've mapped out what I think will work for my trip in August. I've got a rental gladius out of Cupar. The first night will be back at my sister's in Hexham but after that I have 4 days to get the bike back to the dealer.

I'm hoping you locals will have a much better idea of the roads, the lay of the land, the distances and the time it will take to travel.

My favourite roads are fast sweepers and although I love the twisties I tend to take it very easy if it's too tight. I have a ridiculous fear of heights so I don't travel well on roads where there's a sheer drop on my side of the road.

Being an Australian, I'm accustomed to traveling long distances when I tour my longest day ever being 888km's but 400ish is comfortable and I understand touring in Scotland in August means I will have lots of daylight. Even with the longer summer days here, touring has some limitations in the early morning and at dusk coz that's when the kangaroos are out feeding. Do you have wildlife that I should be aware of and if so, what are their habits, times of the day, etc.?

Anyhoo, here's a link to my first version of the route I think may work.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=210202674882462659898.0004a69d54befba8930c 7&msa=0&ll=56.114936,-3.867187&spn=2.934124,8.822021

Any feedback is most welcome.

TIA

cheers
Linda

[Artful]

Hi, Im sure one of the more seasoned pathfinders will be along shortly to help you to edit your route. Looks like its going to be a lot of fun. Hope you enjoy yourself and hopefully you'll get decent weather.

[dyzio]

If you're going to travel all the way here, i need to say this: STAY OFF THE A9!!

Take this route instead: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Pitlochry,+Perth+and+Kinross&daddr=braemar+to:nairn&hl=en&ll=57.007842,-3.405762&spn=0.981117,2.90863&sll=56.705136,-3.733074&sspn=0.030908,0.090895&geocode=FXBAYQMdrgnH_ymxa-dVkQKGSDF-QBA0KRGWgA%3BFWjXZQMdCCfM_ynD0-npWOSFSDFNeoNqkRaN1w%3BFVGobgMdyt7E_ymLWx5o_n-PSDFAN6R8HGgMCg&gl=uk&mra=ls&z=9

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~mctavish/A93.jpg

[STRAMASHER]

The Granton / Tomintoul / The Lecht / Spittal Of Glenshee route that Dyzio suggests is one of the best in the country, to ride and to stop and gawp at the views (if it ain't pishing down with rain...be lucky!:) )

It really is a must-do instead of the dreaded A9.

The Gladyus sounds perfect. Have fun and remember to post up how you get on!

[teddee]

Gawd, I hope it doesn't rain :( If it does, I'll really hafta rethink everything. Nah, I'll just keep praying to the motorcycling gods for good weather :notworthy:

I've updated my map...googlemaps doesn't seem to hold the changes and rearranges the list on the left but the route on the map is closer to what I'd drawn up. I haven't been able to save changes so I just keep starting again.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=210202674882462659898.0004a6b0bb6af6f2bea3 3&msa=0

Thanks for the link Dyzio...my mate whose mother I'm going to visit in Forres gave me the same link but I had mapped in incorrectly. I hope I got it right this time. I'm so glad you picked up on it otherwise I mighta ended up on a ****e road and thought Paul had lived away for far too long. Nice pic too :).

[Sally]

Only wildlife is sheep, and don't worry, they crave a bit of loving ;)