Touring Distance?

Finishing last ever Uni exams soon and have promised myself a short touring break around this fantastic country. So only have three days and two nights and was planning out my route. The question is how far is to far each day. The route i fancy taking is around 250 - 300 miles each day. Is this a bit much, first touring holiday and a little unsure.

Any thoughts?

Originally Posted by Jamie_SV

Any thoughts?

Unless you've got forearms like Popeye and a backside of iron I would say that's a little much!

About 150 miles pd gives you plenty of time for a lazy start, long lunch, stops to enjoy the view and take pictures, follow those wee brown signs to places, wonder how this farm track can possibly be classified as a A road, and arrive in good time for a hot shower and a couple of looseners.

Doesn't seem like very much I know, you probably do 150 miles on a blat without stopping, but don't forget it's a holiday and you're supposed to be chilling before your next journey, the 50 year salaryman's trudge to a cheap watch and a tiny pension...

If the week beginning the 26th of May suits, Dicky Ticker will be bringing the Essex Lounge up for a tour of Scotland - linky - which is as described above plus a bit of company to boot.

[Luckypants]

250 - 300 miles a day is perfect IMHO for a maiden tour. some days longer, some days shorter, whatever takes your fancy. Try not to set yourself targets, just go with the flow, stopping wherever and whenever takes your fancy.

Originally Posted by Jamie_SV

Finishing last ever Uni exams soon and have promised myself a short touring break around this fantastic country. So only have three days and two nights and was planning out my route. The question is how far is to far each day. The route i fancy taking is around 250 - 300 miles each day. Is this a bit much, first touring holiday and a little unsure.

Any thoughts?

Easily doable (albeit never done any long mileage on an SV - long stuff was on an FZR - IMO the SV is a lot more civilised for long distance!), but IMO mainly depends on the roads / traffic AND Weather if it is enjoyable......my advice - have a plan B (and C?).

I guess you are heading south?

Originally Posted by Luckypants

250 - 300 miles a day is perfect IMHO for a maiden tour. some days longer, some days shorter, whatever takes your fancy. Try not to set yourself targets, just go with the flow, stopping wherever and whenever takes your fancy.

+1

Thanks for all the advice everyone,

Think I am going to stick with the origonal plan of around 250 - 300 miles, but with room to alter the route if my **** and arms give out.

The long slow trudge to the pension begins on the 26th May so im planning on heading out the week before.

Not totally finalised my route yet but it looks like heading west from Aberdeen through Ballater, then through to lochcarron for the first night. then north over to applecross then head north up the country then second night somewhere around caithness. final day head back to Aberdeen via Granton on spey.

Sound doable?

depends on weather

Two things,if the weather is crap you will be making for hard days UNLESS you can take a more direct route on main A roads The northern Scotland roads have a lot of standing water and gravel wash when it rains and it can be very tiring plus I presume you will be traveling slower allowing for weather conditions
If the weather is good go for it,you will find out after your first day if you have over committed so adjust the next part accordingly

You'll notice the more conservative estimates on here are from the Scots, but thats not because were a pessimistic bunch of barstewards.

250-300 is easy on English A roads, but quite a long way on Scottish rural roads, so I would cut your daily mileage back a wee bit on this leg. 150-200 is more like it especially if you want to see some sights, visit the odd distillery, etc, etc.

When we do rideouts of that distance we usually start about 10:30 am and finish about 7pm, but that does include an hour and a half lunch and a lot chatting at stops. So it's OK for a day, but not every day.

Look at this route for instance http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl...,10.239258&z=7
only 228 miles, but over 5 hours no stop riding. Last time I did it with two other bikes we left Bellshill about 1:30 pm and arrived at our B&B in Portree at about 8:30, ****ing with rain the whole way. We stopped maybe 4 times for about 10 minutes, and stopped for 30 minutes once to get some dinner. It was a hard slog where we had to keep pushing on, but we didn't enjoy it very much.

Have a look at Dicky Tickers route that Tiger posted. He's does these trips every year and knows what to expect. 3-4 days is about right to tour Scotland. If you want to go north of Inverness and do both East and West coast and see the whole lot allow 4-5 days.

Good stuff Jamie_SV. Just enjoy it. Maybe aim for 300 miles say but have a minimum target of 200 miles just in case you can't do 300. Whereabouts in Aberdeen you from?