Tour of Scotland - SV650.org

14-04-06, 03:29 PM

Planning to do a 4 day ( 3 nights) tour of Scotland. I'm coming from Manchester and was planning on getting to Fort William on the first day then working my way round the north of the country. Any advice on routes or places to stay would be most welcome.

ethariel · 14-04-06, 11:44 PM

From Fort William, you have to take the time to pop over to Skye A82 then A87). The road up there is absolutley fantastic and the roads on the island can be fun too.

When heading to Inverness on the A82 (Unless you do Skye then head up towards Ullapool then over to the east that way) be bloody careful, I have had too many near misses on that road with tourists to count.

If you can hack the mileage, a trip to John O'Groats up the A9 is a nice run too.

As for places to stay, have never found a B+B that refused me even when dripping wet after a day in the rain. Best to plot a route though and if you can, book a slot in advance. A few of the West Coast places even have drying rooms (lots of climbers/walkers about) for when that rain gets ya.

Well thats my 2 penneth worth.

Colin

15-04-06, 08:28 AM

Yup - go west! After Skye, If you fancy something exciting go across to Applecross - very steep, highest road pass in Britain, numerous hairpins and unless it is in cloud, fantastic views. Then up to Gairloch, Gruinard, Ullapool, Achiltibuie, Lochinver... In my view the far north is less interesting - flatter although the roads are a bit faster.

Fill up with petrol when you can and allow lots of time as unless you want to die there's a limit to how fast you can go. Also given the views etc. don't see the point in going too fast! Depending on how far north you want to go and when, you'll have daylight til very late. When I went to Durness one June it never really got completely dark. Unless you are extremely lucky it will rain (driest in May) and it can rain incessantly although if you live in Manchester you'll be used to that

.

Have a greta time. I'm envious...

15-04-06, 09:48 AM

Post this in the SV Ecosse section. You may find some experts there.

northwind · 15-04-06, 07:17 PM

There's a really good shellgripped slip road near the Gyle shopping centre in Edinburgh.

15-04-06, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by northwind

There's a really good shellgripped slip road near the Gyle shopping centre in Edinburgh.

That was it? of all the roads you could have suggested? the slip road at the shopping centre?

not tyndrum? or the A91? or the A7?

no

the gyle shopping centre?

northwind · 15-04-06, 11:39 PM

Hmm, sense of humour failure I think...

If a serious answer is required, the twisty route up from Moffat, the one that goes past the grey mare's tail... That's my favourite bit of road in the world. So varied. There's long stretches you just can't go fast because you can't see 20 metres ahead, no chance of overtaking anything much, but it's still great.

Though I do like that sliproad.

16-04-06, 02:07 AM

i feel a website coming on - www.bestsliproads-uk.co.uk

STRAMASHER · 16-04-06, 08:39 AM

Here's a large carrot for any touring motorcyclist as to why to take a wee detour Applecross way.................( a very cool way to get to Ullapool too

)

[img]

[/img]

STRAMASHER · 16-04-06, 08:51 AM

Another brilliant piece of road that is worth doing, is the Kinlochleven loop. Glencoe village,hang a right,do the loop(B863) and you come back onto the F.William road 16 glorious miles later.

A feckin' GEM

To be honest you can't go wrong even on the main roads.

Have a good one!

14-04-06, 03:29 PM	#1
andyaikido Guest Posts: n/a	Tour of Scotland Planning to do a 4 day ( 3 nights) tour of Scotland. I'm coming from Manchester and was planning on getting to Fort William on the first day then working my way round the north of the country. Any advice on routes or places to stay would be most welcome.

15-04-06, 07:17 PM	#5
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	There's a really good shellgripped slip road near the Gyle shopping centre in Edinburgh. __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

15-04-06, 11:39 PM	#7
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	Hmm, sense of humour failure I think... If a serious answer is required, the twisty route up from Moffat, the one that goes past the grey mare's tail... That's my favourite bit of road in the world. So varied. There's long stretches you just can't go fast because you can't see 20 metres ahead, no chance of overtaking anything much, but it's still great. Though I do like that sliproad. __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

16-04-06, 08:39 AM	#9
STRAMASHER Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sunny Glasgow Posts: 1,715	Here's a large carrot for any touring motorcyclist as to why to take a wee detour Applecross way.................( a very cool way to get to Ullapool too ) [img][/img]

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14-04-06, 11:44 PM	#2
ethariel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London (for my sins) Posts: 806	From Fort William, you have to take the time to pop over to Skye A82 then A87). The road up there is absolutley fantastic and the roads on the island can be fun too. When heading to Inverness on the A82 (Unless you do Skye then head up towards Ullapool then over to the east that way) be bloody careful, I have had too many near misses on that road with tourists to count. If you can hack the mileage, a trip to John O'Groats up the A9 is a nice run too. As for places to stay, have never found a B+B that refused me even when dripping wet after a day in the rain. Best to plot a route though and if you can, book a slot in advance. A few of the West Coast places even have drying rooms (lots of climbers/walkers about) for when that rain gets ya. Well thats my 2 penneth worth. Colin

15-04-06, 08:28 AM	#3
Steve W Guest Posts: n/a	Yup - go west! After Skye, If you fancy something exciting go across to Applecross - very steep, highest road pass in Britain, numerous hairpins and unless it is in cloud, fantastic views. Then up to Gairloch, Gruinard, Ullapool, Achiltibuie, Lochinver... In my view the far north is less interesting - flatter although the roads are a bit faster. Fill up with petrol when you can and allow lots of time as unless you want to die there's a limit to how fast you can go. Also given the views etc. don't see the point in going too fast! Depending on how far north you want to go and when, you'll have daylight til very late. When I went to Durness one June it never really got completely dark. Unless you are extremely lucky it will rain (driest in May) and it can rain incessantly although if you live in Manchester you'll be used to that . Have a greta time. I'm envious...

15-04-06, 09:48 AM	#4
Cronos Guest Posts: n/a	Post this in the SV Ecosse section. You may find some experts there.

16-04-06, 02:07 AM	#8
Gnan Guest Posts: n/a	i feel a website coming on - www.bestsliproads-uk.co.uk

16-04-06, 08:51 AM	#10
STRAMASHER Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sunny Glasgow Posts: 1,715	Another brilliant piece of road that is worth doing, is the Kinlochleven loop. Glencoe village,hang a right,do the loop(B863) and you come back onto the F.William road 16 glorious miles later. A feckin' GEM To be honest you can't go wrong even on the main roads. Have a good one!