Scotland Tour 2011
 

Hi everyone,

I'm thinking of going a bit of a tour of your territory later in the year (May-ish).

At the moment it's looking something like this http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...5ce53350ada109

However I wondered if anyone had any general advice on whether thats a good time of year to visit (midges etc) and any tips for good things to see on the way round.

Thanks,

Tom

Re: Scotland Tour 2011
 

May is a perfect time to visit. can be a wet month though but no midges to speak of.

gives a shout when your staying in St Andrews and i'll pop up and take you for a cuppa lol or depending on what day it is i might even meet you at Braemar.

Re: Scotland Tour 2011
 

Depending when in May you are up this way I will meet up with you in the St A's area but i will probably not be around from 11th May til September.

Re: Scotland Tour 2011
 

I'd try using the A713 from Castle Douglas to Ayr, in my opinion its a better road. but it does mean you miss out one of your 'stops'.

I'd also try using the 'Military Road from half way up Loch Lomond to Garelochhead. its a blinding bit of road and way better than the bit round to Helensburgh. But thats just me.

Other than that your route will have many an entertaining turn on it and i'm sure you'll enjoy the whole thing. I'm also sure that if you mention dates nearer the time people will be willing to tag along and help you along the way (i'm quite happy to do Glasgow area to Oban with you)

Re: Scotland Tour 2011
 

Looks like a good route to me - happy to offer any help along the D&G / Borders bits. The A713 CD - Ayr is a good road, but the Crocketford - Newton Stewart bit is sublime! The road between Newton Stewart and Girvin is good fun too (few potholes to look out for, but that's just D&G for you I'm afraid).

Another possible alternative to skimming around Glasgow could be to get the ferry between Gourock & Dunoon, then heading North and re-joining your route at Arrochar.?

Re: Scotland Tour 2011
 

+1 on JamesMio suggested amendments.

Crocketford to Newton Stewart is a cracking road but do watch out for the potholes from Newton Stewart to Girvin, nearly had me into the side of a bridge:evil: when me & Buckstone did it on 1st WestCoastAyrRun!

As one of our Ecosse orgers said - every ride out should have a ferry ride, and the road from Dunoon upto Inverary is good but watch out for unmarked Mitsibushi Shogun Sport the local constabulary have just purchased. They are very keen on nabbing speeders on that road.

Re: Scotland Tour 2011
 

That's blinding mate, you'll have a blast and you've chosen a great route. Just shut your eyes when you go through Dundee. As for things to see on the way round, well sunset at Ullapool is one of the most fantastic sights anywhere on earth. Don't get me wrong, it's a great spot for lunch too but if you could reschedule the ENTIRE thing just for that you wouldn't be disappointed. ;-)

Also, are you quite sure you can't squeeze in a bit of Skye? Really? The view of the Cuillins from the Dunvegan road is actually breathtaking. Not figuratively, actually. Hairs up on the back of the neck, the whole thing. You could get the ferry from Mallaig (I'm the ferry evangalist) loop round and back over the bridge.

+1 on skipping the A77 between Girvan and Irvine by the way but don't worry about what to see and where to go too much, you'll never fit it all in in one trip anyway and Scotland isn't going anywhere. May is a top time to come too, the 10 days of summer quite often fall around then. Have fun!

Re: Scotland Tour 2011
 

Even if it's raining? ;)


Route looks good, if it was me, I'd change the route from Inverness to Tomatin, looks very narrow. Damn it, I've just looked at the road on street view, it's narrow but looks amazing :smt103.

If you want to go faster on a great road think about going through Nairn.


Onwards, Aviemore to Dandaleith is nice, but again the back roads look narrow and the main ones are great.

Rest of the trip is in our playground looks good. To put it short, if you do any (or all) of these roads, you won't be disappointed, even if you have to ride some roads a few times :D

Re: Scotland Tour 2011
 

And come and visit me! In N/S that is!

Re: Scotland Tour 2011
 

Don't branch off, go through Rhynie, go to Huntlaw, then west to Dufftown? :p

Love that bit of road ;)