Secret Scotland
 

for those that have not done this route i suggest you do.

http://goo.gl/maps/Dkun

Peter and I done http://goo.gl/maps/MqXO yesterday and it stayed mostly dry but by far the highlight of the day was round the loop. the Leven loop hasn't got a patch on this, there was hardly any straight bits of road on the whole loop. you are greated with views like this http://goo.gl/maps/p8b6 everywhere and to top it off there is a small cafe about halfway round http://goo.gl/maps/2eaw (its been done up since google) that is bloody good prices for a cuppa they also do lunches and fish suppers.

the roads are a bit mixed from lovely fresh tarred 2 lane to narrow burgerd single track. when i do it again i will take the Corran Ferry instead and i suggest you do if you go as after that the road is a bit iffy and nothing really much to see.

Re: Secret Scotland
 

Forget that cafe. Try the Blue Parrot which is about 50 metres away on the left. Ask for Claire. Great food, drinks and hospitality, and take her some perfume - Cacharel's Eden. She loves it, and so does my wife - sox in a bottle!

Re: Secret Scotland
 

Defo gonna give that a go pretty soon! Crikey 350 miles day trip, that's dedication that is :)

Re: Secret Scotland
 

yes then add in the miles to and fro home. i was 398 miles according to the spaznav but peter being peter (chuckle chuckle) was a lot more.

me. peter we are going up the A9 to the laggan road over to ft billy. ok
peter. ok

gets to Dalwhinnie and no sign of peter so sends txt and heads off for laggan dam. gets to laggan dam still no peter. sends another txt to which i get a phone call 10mins later with..

peter.where are you?
me. laggan dam
peter. ahh ok i'll be there in 10min
me. ok

yes peter had gone up to newtonmore instead of taking the wade's rd at dalwhinnie.

so by my reconing peter had done an extra 10 miles plus he stays a good 10 miles each way from me.

325 miles for me! Wow!
I wouldn't complain because we did 330 miles 2 week ago but if we ever went up Scotland then we would certainly have to stay over a few days otherwise my ass will be tortured!

Worth having a drive up though :)

Re: Secret Scotland
 

it all depends on the roads you are on 400 miles on main A roads is easy but when you add single track and dodgey b roads it's a fair old jaunt.

i think to date the most i have done in a day was just over 500 of mixed roads while the average is around 250-300 each time i'm out.

Re: Secret Scotland
 

. . . barely worth firing her up otherwise? ;)
ps: that isn't the GMV Sunday jaunt is it?

Re: Secret Scotland
 

Thanks for the heads up Lance :cool: me and Hong will be doing this http://goo.gl/maps/9VgJ pre GM so be rude not to do this! I know you're not a fan but 1 of the highlights for me will be getting to play on the Leven loop for a wee while \\:D/

Re: Secret Scotland
 

Good roads there. Beware though there was a full red stag in the middle of the road outside the princes house at Glenfinnan last time I was I was on that road.

Re: Secret Scotland
 

Good roads there. Beware though there was a full red stag in the middle of the road outside the princes house at Glenfinnan last time I was I was on that road.

Re: Secret Scotland
 

who says i'm not a fan of the loop :confused:

i would not bother going all the way to mallaig and instead turn left and head round the other way then get the corran ferry unless that is your going over to sky in which case i would take the corran ferry after doing the loop and go that way. you will thank me later.

Re: Secret Scotland
 

Mods can we delete this thread so the Northerners only know about it ;)

sv4me you going up a few days prior to GM?

Re: Secret Scotland
 

The A830 Fort William to Mallaig is, and remains one of the finest stretches of motorcycling tarmac ever laid. It is absolutely magnificent, so much so I'm genuinely considering skiving off this afternoon, jumping on the bike and hitting it!

Re: Secret Scotland
 

James have you turned off and been down the b road?

yes the mallaig road is assume but the loop is well just better.

Re: Secret Scotland
 

+1. Love stretch of road. Only ridden it twice but it'll be done again after the GM. Nice to take the B8008 at the end of it as well.

Re: Secret Scotland
 

Not yet, but I shall certainly be taking your sound advice and hitting that as soon as fecking possible though!

Re: Secret Scotland
 

If I may be so bold and suggest a small, yet significant detour to that rather awesome looking route...?

Hop on the ferry at Gourock and head across to Dunoon. It bypasses all that horrible, grey lump of boaksville (aka the Central Belt) and drops you right slap bang into (yet another) tremendous biking road, the A815 between Dunoon and your original route.

The bit through Glasgow, Dumbarton etc is rank rotten, and although Loch Lomond is particularly beautiful (and it really is btw!), this bit is, I think, even better on a bike.

Enjoy!

Re: Secret Scotland
 

+1 Jamesmio

Road north from Dunoon A815, along the side of Loch Eck / Fyne is awesome, love that bit (when I stay at my Mum's in Dunoon, I just ride up and doon for fun!)

Police use a jap 4x4 (L200 or similar taliban tractor) for speed checks - especially at the weekend!

Re: Secret Scotland
 

Scotland never ceases to surprise-------possibly because I only have one holiday a year up there on the bike and although I have done routes before[Must be near 20,000 miles of touring] things change,be it weather,changes with the season or even a new bit if road surface.
I have an old road atlas that has highlighted routes that I have done,either by bike or car and not a lot left but as I said the same route on a different day can make the world of a difference,always something you have never noticed before.