SCRATCH THAT ITCH : best road's in scotland #1

ROADS:

A84-A85-A827 (arrive in stirling on M9,from south/east)
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START OFF:

Stirling / Scotland
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FINISH:

Killin / Fall's of Dochart
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DISTANCE:

70 mile's round trip
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FUEL:

drive it like you want to keep it = 8 litres

drive it like you borrowed it = 9.5 litres

drive it like you stole it = 10.5 litres

cost = £11 - £14
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TIME: 35mins - 1hr +
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STOPS:

Doune = hotels / Doune castle (annual Monty Python festival every september)

Callander = petrol station (small) / hotel's / chippy's / bars / restaurants / cafe's / ice cream parlour / supermarket / gift shop's are all avilable in callander,theres also a turn off for Bracklinn fall's (not suitable for sports bikes).

Loch Lubnaig = beautiful scenery, around 2 miles long, lot's of parking spots,but busy.

Strathyre = restaurants / hotel's

Killin = beautiful scenery, restaurant's / gift shop's / Fall's of Dochart / hotel's / Loch Tay nearby (and the dreaded cave of caerbannog)
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BE AWARE :

Stirling is the the HQ for central Scotland's traffic police. They are almost constantly on patrol wth unmarked police vehicle; car and bike, incuding a suburu imprezza and honda blackbird etc. Expect radar gun's and mobile speed camera's near some speed limit change sign's even in Stirling. During summer there are often many police out in force along Loch Lubnaig and other popular camping spot's,thank's to the massive influx of 'buckfast drinking hoodies' because of the camping ban at Loch Lomond and other site's,and they often have sniffer dog's.
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TRAFFIC :

HGV = traffic is not excessive,but there are a few logging camp's turning onto the main road's,so be careful.

CARAVAN's = are extremely common in the summer so mind those wing mirror's.

CAR's = some boy racer's on wrong side of the road after Callander, and traffric jam's outside Stirling heading into the Highland's can reach upto 3 mile tailback's in summer (or due to accidents).

CYCLIST's = common, please give em lot's of room.

BIKE's = lot's n lot's n lot's (this is one of the best biking roads in the UK,just ask MCN). Lotta sport's bike's with grunt will come flying by many vehicles at one time. If you're one of those vehicle's, don't feel you need to have a race, there's plenty of road to tavel yet,just give yourself some space.
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ROAD:

Kept in excellent conditon due to it's commercial importance, not too much overbanding, and a generous helping of twisty's and straight's (especially along Loch Lubnaig). Some part's of the road are prone to flooding,and it's uncommon,but possible to see a deer or large rock wandering across the road occasionaly. Several layby's ,some with snack van's.
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JOURNEY:

Leaving Stirling by the A84, it won't take long before you have the magnificence of the scottish highland's before you. It's mostly straight road until you get to Doune, followed by more of the same until you get to Callander. Once out of Callander the road follows the River Garbh Uisge for several miles upto Loch Lubnaig,where most of the fun begins. Through Loch Earnhead, the road continues on through the majesty of Glen Ogle,past Lochan Laing Cheile before turning right onto the A827 toward's Killin. This part of the road is mostly straight; and it barely seem's worth riding it unless you want the high speed thrills, but when you get to the Falls of Dochart,have a rest,and enjoy an excellent example of what the Trossachs have to offer, whilst you watch the water's of the River Dochart crash it's way under the bridge,past Killin and onto Loch Tay.
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DANGER's :

Drive as the weather allow's. When there are many leave's on the ground,under the shade of the tree's and its been raining, remember they will be as slippery as a custard welly. Blizzard's are not uncommon in winter, nor several patches of black ice; a lot of the road is shaded by trees,so even when it's sunny out, that doesn't mean there's a lot of heat in the road. This is a high fatality road,not just for bike's but car's also, so dont TT it unless you're willing to throw off your earthly shackles. If you are tempted to go dip your skinny in any of the Loch's,please remember that even in the height of summer, the water temperature is around + 4 deg centigrade (as cold as the milk out of your fridge). Many people have sadly lost there live's ignoring this fact. When in Callander,don't eat too much butter scotch icecream,or it will give you the s**t's.
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[Geodude]

Very good write up that. Dont know if it would be better in the rideout section though.

Good write up indeed, was down that road today. I did it today from the Crianlarich direction and didn't go up to Killin though. Got to Callander and wanted to go over the Dukes Pass but it was closed, hopefully they are resurfacing it!...

[Viney]

10.5L for 70 miles!!! Even riding like you stole it, you need to check your fueling

Other than that, good write up. Just mveo Scotland a bit closer to London will ya!

I don't agree that the roads kept in excellent condition. Also tail backs outside Stirling in the summer months are usually due to cars waiting to turn in to the Safari park.

well it's that time of year again... the ride continues on towards Fort William near the west coast... there are a few good straights on this part of the journey... Hayabusa happiness for some.. but the twisties,, just keep getting better and better.... and many of the roads have been resurfaced after last years dirty,stinking,,horrible nasty weather... I have checked my fueling,,and it was emissions ok,,but very rich... new rear tyre fitted... sun expected for the weekend... And i plan on killing several generation's of the dreaded scottish midge... So join in on the vizor kill,, and have a go at this road trip...

More to follow....

[Bibio]

do you reside in Scotland?

[carelesschucca]

Its a good road but there are better up here.