Oi Spearies

[missyburd]

I'm coming up your way (before GM, I know, TWO trips to your bonnie country in one year! :-P) for a fortnight, volunteering again. Coming up on the bike, will probably have a couple of days and a few evenings to explore the area, any must-see places you lot can advise me on? Or indeed anyone with a Scots influence :cool:

Also any info on filling-up spots be good too.

I'll be based near Kingussie. Ta muchlies :)

[carelesschucca]

If its bike roads you want you've got the time you should try to get to the A939 http://g.co/maps/76yme

Or even the road your actually staying on the A86 http://g.co/maps/vx6w2

There are petrol stations just along the road in Aviemore and a few bars are things, I can't remember if there's fuel in Kingussie but I can't see there not being any...

[dyzio]

You're in a good location for riding for sure.
Pitlochry, Aberfeldy, Crief, Blairgowrie, Braemar, (Lost :D), Grantown, Nairn...
Or go west, lap of Loch Ness, Fort William (as above), Eilean Donan, maybe even higher towards Ulapool.

All brilliant biking roads, but stay off the A9 ;)

[missyburd]

Bugger was planning on taking the A9 to get up there, take it I've got to be careful there. Cheers chaps!

[dyzio]

Well, you haven't got much choice if you're getting there, unless you fancy a detour through F. William ;) It's not that bad, just boring.
For getting there, it's ok. For fun, use other roads.

Fuel wise, I'm guessing you're doing 150+ miles on a tank, I've never had a problem with running short on fuel neither on the SV nor the Aprilia. The towns aren't that far away, keep an eye on your mileage and you'll be fine.

[The Guru]

...Or even the road your actually staying on the A86 http://g.co/maps/vx6w2...

Agreed.

Thats one of my favourite roads.

[DarrenSV650S]

The Blairgowrie to Dunkeld road is epic town. Either the north or south, they're both great. You could actually just do the loop. And Glenshee obviously, but I'm guessing you've done that.

Oh and if you come even further in to Angus you can do Glen Clova! You have to tell me if you are going there though. That's my favourite road :p

[missyburd]

Looks like I'm spoilt for choice, no surprises there! Cheers guys, can see routes forming already. Do really want to go to Ullapool, that might be a weekend job if I'm feeling sprightly. I want to get a lot of walking done too, need to find an OS map of the area.

[missyburd]

Cheers Clanger :D I can see this being an expensive trip! :pale: :D

[Small Clanger]

Ullapool's lovely. When a bunch of us go we stay at the Ceilidh Place's bunkhouse which has room only/shared facil's for £15 pppn. When I go with the wife we stay in the main building which is a bit cosier/pricier. If it's chucking it down there's plenty to do based around Kingussie/Aviemore. You'll love it and if all else fails, there's plenty of distilleries to do the tour of.

[dizzyblonde]

You know where Pegs favourite place in the world is after Cyprus, Maria?



You only need ask him about Ulapool, when passing :)

[Small Clanger]

This was taken at about 3am one summer morning, after we had driven through the night for breakfast in Ullapool. I :smt049 it.

[punyXpress]

Hi Maria
Have OS Landranger 35, Kingussie and 36, Grantown
Outdoor Leisure 3 - Cairngorms
Explorer 428 - Plockton & Applecross and 435 - Kinlochewe.
Can pop em in post if you want
Pal's son spent a year at Wildlife Centre & think he was in charge of wolves ( but they managed to 'rescue' some good venison from them, so didn't starve!

[carelesschucca]

One thing not to do while your up there is go drinking with Sally :-)

You know it'll end in trouble, good or bad

[Bibio]

i sorta disagree about the A9. up till you hit Pitlochry its crap but once past there i think it's a nice road with some stunning views. just watch out for the speed cams.

[missyburd]

You only need ask him about Ulapool, when passing :)

Oh he's told me lots about it already, I *have* to see a sunset apparently :D

Hi Maria
Have OS Landranger 35, Kingussie and 36, Grantown
Outdoor Leisure 3 - Cairngorms
Explorer 428 - Plockton & Applecross and 435 - Kinlochewe.
Can pop em in post if you want
Pal's son spent a year at Wildlife Centre & think he was in charge of wolves ( but they managed to 'rescue' some good venison from them, so didn't starve!
Now you're talking Dave, that would be fantastic sir! The Cairngorms one definitely, I'll be biking everywhere else so my road map will do, but locally I'll be doing lots of walking, weather permitting :-)

And where's might this Wildlife Centre be, could well be worth a visit!

[punyXpress]

Just north of Kingussie

[haggis]

Heya Maria.
That would be Kincraig Wildlife Park, abt 5mins north of Kingussie. Our fave place for a day out. Say hi to Walker and his new pal Arktos, the polar bears there if/when u go. Also there, amur tigers, lynx, wildcats and much more. Well worth it.

As for roads, head in any direction - its all good. West to Spean Bridge/Fort William/Mallaig is fantastic, as you'll remember.

[maviczap]

The Blairgowrie to Dunkeld road is epic town. Either the north or south, they're both great. You could actually just do the loop. And Glenshee obviously, but I'm guessing you've done that.

Oh and if you come even further in to Angus you can do Glen Clova! You have to tell me if you are going there though. That's my favourite road :p

Haven't ridden it for a long time, but I agree that is a great road. Go to Glenshee and get the chair lift to the top

Ullapool's lovely. When a bunch of us go we stay at the Ceilidh Place's bunkhouse which has room only/shared facil's for £15 pppn. When I go with the wife we stay in the main building which is a bit cosier/pricier. If it's chucking it down there's plenty to do based around Kingussie/Aviemore. You'll love it and if all else fails, there's plenty of distilleries to do the tour of.

Also haven't been there for a long time, but its a really nice place

I arrived by sea, which is another great way to see Ullapool

[missyburd]

Kincraig, cheers Haggis, will pop that on the mustvisit list :) Thanks for all your help everyone.

[missyburd]

Puny, you have PM :)

[punyXpress]

Thanks, myb - spoke to Chris

[missyburd]

Giddy giddy time :D Route up planned, b&b booked, just hope it stays fine-ish for the weekend!

[Manuell]

One thing not to do while your up there is go drinking with Sally :-)

You know it'll end in trouble, good or bad


agreed and if u do make sure u walk him home, last time he got back to the hostel he tryed getting in the fire exit door and woundered why it wound not open lol

[missyburd]

Well what a trip! Over a thousand bike miles in mostly gorgeous weather, Scotland at its bonniest indeed :)

For those interested, this was a rideout I did while staying up there http://goo.gl/maps/HM6w

Whoever recommended that A86, what a road, so good I did it on the route back home too in the opposite direction :-D Also managed to take a 24 mile detour at Braemar, but it's not like it's a crappy place to get slightly lost...although when you cross a bridge made of planks onto a gravel track it's pretty clear you're not quite where you think you are :lol:

[Geodude]

We getting a photo story pleeease MYB go on you know you want to :)

[missyburd]

Haha I might do when I've got more time Geo, still got lots of pics to upload :D

[Geodude]

:smt041:smt041:smt041:thumbsup: xGx