Scotland trip from London
 

Hi there Guys and Girls!!

My mate and me + our ladies are going up North on the 12th of September. We're going for five days and will be staying in Edinburgh. During that time we'd like to see some nice places, ride nice roads etc.

Sooooo, if any of you out there has any advice and suggestions as to where to go and where not to go and if there are any scheduled SV meetings planned please share.

Any tips are much appreciated.

Many thanks and regards
Mike

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

Edinburgh... if you want nice roads, think Kelso, Galasheils, Peebles.
If you want to go a bit further north, look at Crief, Aberfeldy, Blairgowrie plenty of great roads there (just be careful around Kirkcaldy :plod:).

And if you're heading up norf, give us a shout :thumright:

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

If your staying in edinburgh, one place close by is South Queensferry, you get great views of both bridges and the Hawes inn do pretty good meals.

And one road you MUST do when you're up here is the A93 from Perth to Breamar. The road goes up over the cairngorms past the Glenshee ski centre and down to Braemar. Great road with lots of twisties and straights once up in the mountains :cool:

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

Pray for good weather.

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

Let me know if you want a few pointers from the border to Edinburgh...

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

+1, I've done this road, its great

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

It's great, although if you go that way watch out once you've passed the Ski centre. Guys on the local forum were complaining about chukkies from there to Braemar.

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

What are chukkies :confused:

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

testicles only smaller

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

Haggis testicles. they are like lemmings at this time of year. they run onto the roads and drop their chukkies to get a new set of 3 for next year.

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

this is a nice route for an evening blast:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=...3&via=2,6&z=10

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

I'm still none the wiser and its not a term I've ever heard my BIL talk about :p

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

These replies really made me laugh lots thanks guys :D

Gravel or stones ;)

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

tell him your gonna see who the real man among you is and its time to get the measuring tape and your chuckies out.

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

lol :d

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

Right. Thanks a lot for advice especially about chukkies;). A93 will be taken into consideration. If anyone would like to join us yer more than welcome. I don't know which day we will do it but if anyone's got any plans PM me. I'll have my laptop with me.

So far apart from Edinburgh Castle and other attractions city wise (my gf's been there already so she knows more or less where to go) we thought about visiting Stirling for Wallace monument and Falkirk as I wanna see the Falkirk wheel. Any other places to see within lets say 100 miles from Edin?

Mike

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

Loch Lomond, Scone Palace, St Andrews (for ice cream - yes even in November!), Anstruther (for Fish and Chips) Stirling Castle, Moffat Toffee Shop (Moffat)

The National Museum of Scotland on Chamber Street in Edinburgh has just re-opened after a multi-million pound revamp and is well worth a visit.

The Wallace monument is great, but take trainers, there's a lot of steps up it, and a big walk up a hill to get to it!

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

Climb to the top of Arthurs Seat and appreciate the view

The wiskey museum near the castle

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

The ticket office at Waverley Station. "Return to Glasgow please."

Be good to yourself. :)

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

On a practical note.

Did this at Easter 4 years ago, well an extra few hours north to Aberdeen, I also did it over 2 days, stopping at Preston.

1) Its a long ride - are your pillions used to that kind of distance? Are you?

If the answer to either of these is no, then plan for "non-bike days".

2) It gets dark earlier at this time of year, and when it does the temperature will drop.

On the plus side, although temperatures will be lower because of being further north, it will be lighter for longer.

So make sure that thermals etc are being worn, or you will be making a lot of stops just to warm up, making a miserable journey even more miserable.

3) Just get there.

Dont plan a long circuitous route to get there, especially if you have novice pillions, save any "pleasure" riding for when you get there.

My route would be M1 -> M6 toll -> M6 -> A74(M) -> A702 then whatever gets you to where you are staying. The A702 route is about the same time-wise as the M74/M8 but a little more fun. If tired, it DOES lack in Service Stations, so the Motorway may still be the better bet.

Ok so maybe its wussy advice, but the last thing you want/need is to be REALLY dreading the ride home.

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

if you come to St Andrews way then let me know and I will meet up with you.

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

theres a service station at the junction between the m74 and a702, (jc 13) so fuel shouldnt be a problem. theres also a number of pubs/etc along the 702 and places to stop in biggar aswell.

last time i went i took the A7 from carlisle because i was getting bored of the motorway. and the roads here were refreshingly clear of traffic.

alternatively if your coming via the a1. taking the A68 from darlington and then up through northumberland national park is also a nice road.

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

Then carry on and go past the Lecht ski centre towards Grantown-on-spey, that road is even better.

Here is an epic full day route (allow 12 hours including stops, lunch, and tourist attraction visits), starting and finishing in Edinburgh and taking in some of the best roads, with a ferry ride, then a stretch of motorway to let you relax at the end of the day. I'm assuming you like tight twisty technical roads, and that is what is good in Scotland.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Queensferry+Rd%2FA90&daddr=56.08723,-3.46555+to:A823+to:A822+to:A822+to:A93+to:A924+to: A827+to:56.3833014,-4.0315354+to:A84+to:Duke's+Pass%2FA821+to:A811+to: Glen+Fruin+Rd+to:56.0860739,-4.8227194+to:Church+Rd%2FB838+to:A815+to:Marine+Pa rade%2FA815+to:M8+to:M8&hl=en&ll=56.279198,-4.01001&spn=0.497072,1.674042&sll=56.494343,-3.953705&sspn=0.494272,1.674042&geocode=FbLlVQMd4o LN_w%3BFb7SVwMdsh7L_yl3OFswP9KHSDEhhmrcGWgMEw%3BFd 6YWAMd8lfK_w%3BFb3sWwMdI0nF_w%3BFUABXwMd4ivJ_w%3BF fwTYAMdmsbM_w%3BFe6sYQMdRCvI_w%3BFVL6XwMd4BnF_w%3B FUVXXAMd0XvC_ykj1wsQFJGISDEBjIHcGWgMEw%3BFZxHWgMdM CW__w%3BFZNWWQMdGhO9_w%3BFRR5VgMdYt-5_w%3BFahBVwMdnPK4_w%3BFTnOVwMdQWm2_yk5ZdkBQKiJSDE ROmDcGWgMEw%3BFWh3WQMdfo63_w%3BFTr1WQMdyvqz_w%3BFd YMVgMdzhO1_w%3BFVhPVQMdjtq6_w%3BFXJTVQMdMGzN_w&vps rc=6&mra=dpe&mrsp=8&sz=10&via=1,8,13&t=m&z=10

If you don't like twisty stuff and prefer open twisting sweeping A roads like many English sportsbike riders seem to, then ignore this route, and just pick up a map and draw your own route on the main trunk roads and you won't be disappointed, with a trip through Glencoe being a must for the scenery (but not the road). Avoid the A9 from Edinburgh to Inverness unless you are just using it as a fast way from A to B.

Lol, Dyzio is picking up the lingo :lol:

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

Aye, aye :lol:

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

I was meaning more for comfort stops - its going to have potentially been a long day (depending on rider/pillion experience)

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

This route looks really interesting I must say. We'll have a look at that. And yes I do like twisty roads. I really enjoyed AR11 rideout. Have you been there?

Thanks guys for all the advice. Was really helpfull. Cheers.

Mike

Re: Scotland trip from London
 

No, I just went round the route on google streetview one day.



















Used to live there mate ;) :lol: