Coming your way soon...

[chelseadude]

After nearly 7 months with out a break I have managed to con, I mean persuade my family I need break and next Thursday I am embarking on a trip to a mate's house in Grantown on Spey. Stupidly or not I intend to go for it and get there in one go from London. My first question is would you go A1M and then on the A66 up or just grin and bear the M1 etc...?

My second question is where should I head for once I have got there. Where are the best scenic roads? I have a day on my own on Saturday which I would love to get to know the area and friend has rented a bike for two days from Perth and we want to bumble around.

Any suggestions much appreciated.

 

[chelseadude]

Anybody.....?

 

[Coolcarbon]

Try a search, for example 'Glen Lyon Tea room' and various others....

There's loads of info within the Scottish Section pages....

Have a look at this thread for examples of stuff on here...

 

[chelseadude]

thanks coolcarbon much appreciated.

 

[chelseadude]

Any fellow GS'ers in the area - don't worry the nickname only relates to where I work......!

 

[Voyager]

Are you heading north on a bike - or driving (not sure who the rented bike is for) ? ?

M1 / M6 can get very congested and is a pain in a car. Its also a pain on a bike if you have panniers and have to filter. Once you are north of Liverpool it gets easier and once you reach Lancaster its quite a pleasant run North.

A1M/A1 then A66 to Penrith and join the M6/M74 is a bit better, you could turn onto the A68 but that's quite slow and full of cameras in Scotland.

The A66 can be 'interesting' on a bike if its windy .

If you take the A68 you will arrive in Edinburgh. From Edinburgh, cross the Forth Road Bridge onto the M90 and then join the A9 at Perth. Be warned however, the Forth Road Bridge can be closed to everything except cars if its windy (quite unnecessarily restricting bikes in my view - Health and Safety get everywhere ) which would mean a detour west to pick up the M9 near Linlithgow.

If you stick to the M6/M74 you will arrive in Glasgow from where you can take the M73/A80/M80 and pick up the M9/A9 to Perth and the North.

You have loads of great roads around Grantown-on-Spey but for my money I would come south on the A95/A9 to Kingussie and then take the A86 to Spean Bridge and the A82 to Fort William. Have lunch at the Lochy Bar and then take the A830 to Mallaig. Depending on how you are feeling either retrace your steps to Fort Bill or else do the circular route around Loch Shiel (narrow gravelly tracks). That will be a very long day by the time you get back to your mate's house .

Others will have different, and possibly better, advice

Enjoy your visit.

Bob.

 

[mac163]

Trip North

Hi,
For that distance, best bet would be M1 - M6 - M6 Toll to Stafford and rejoin old M6 heading North.
Once you pass Preston - traffic should drop off.
Only 2 fixed cameras both at Auchterarder about 14 miles from Perth.
Watch out in Cumbria for the occasional camera van parked on a bridge over the M6 - I got done for 78 mph!!
This is a regular run for me - not so picturesque but much more reliable than the east coast route.
I am travelling to Perth on Thursday from Derby - by car unfortunately this time - will keep an eye out !
Enjoy the ride,
Cheers,
Mac

 

[Klanky]

Or you could go M1 onto M18 south of Sheffield and join the A1M there.

It's a pretty straightforward run up north from there. The A68 for Jedburgh and Edinburgh is a good road on a bike - but as Voyager says, there are a few cameras once you get over the border.

Runs around Grantown? Take yer pick...there's not really a duff route around there.

 

[chelseadude]

Are you heading north on a bike - or driving (not sure who the rented bike is for) ? ?

M1 / M6 can get very congested and is a pain in a car. Its also a pain on a bike if you have panniers and have to filter. Once you are north of Liverpool it gets easier and once you reach Lancaster its quite a pleasant run North.

A1M/A1 then A66 to Penrith and join the M6/M74 is a bit better, you could turn onto the A68 but that's quite slow and full of cameras in Scotland.

The A66 can be 'interesting' on a bike if its windy .

If you take the A68 you will arrive in Edinburgh. From Edinburgh, cross the Forth Road Bridge onto the M90 and then join the A9 at Perth. Be warned however, the Forth Road Bridge can be closed to everything except cars if its windy (quite unnecessarily restricting bikes in my view - Health and Safety get everywhere ) which would mean a detour west to pick up the M9 near Linlithgow.

If you stick to the M6/M74 you will arrive in Glasgow from where you can take the M73/A80/M80 and pick up the M9/A9 to Perth and the North.

You have loads of great roads around Grantown-on-Spey but for my money I would come south on the A95/A9 to Kingussie and then take the A86 to Spean Bridge and the A82 to Fort William. Have lunch at the Lochy Bar and then take the A830 to Mallaig. Depending on how you are feeling either retrace your steps to Fort Bill or else do the circular route around Loch Shiel (narrow gravelly tracks). That will be a very long day by the time you get back to your mate's house .

Others will have different, and possibly better, advice

Enjoy your visit.

Bob.

Thank you for the tips. I am going north on my GS and my friend who has the house in Grantown on Spey is renting a bike from Perth I think when he gets up there for a couple of days.

 

[chelseadude]

Are you heading north on a bike - or driving (not sure who the rented bike is for) ? ?

M1 / M6 can get very congested and is a pain in a car. Its also a pain on a bike if you have panniers and have to filter. Once you are north of Liverpool it gets easier and once you reach Lancaster its quite a pleasant run North.

A1M/A1 then A66 to Penrith and join the M6/M74 is a bit better, you could turn onto the A68 but that's quite slow and full of cameras in Scotland.

The A66 can be 'interesting' on a bike if its windy .

If you take the A68 you will arrive in Edinburgh. From Edinburgh, cross the Forth Road Bridge onto the M90 and then join the A9 at Perth. Be warned however, the Forth Road Bridge can be closed to everything except cars if its windy (quite unnecessarily restricting bikes in my view - Health and Safety get everywhere ) which would mean a detour west to pick up the M9 near Linlithgow.

If you stick to the M6/M74 you will arrive in Glasgow from where you can take the M73/A80/M80 and pick up the M9/A9 to Perth and the North.

You have loads of great roads around Grantown-on-Spey but for my money I would come south on the A95/A9 to Kingussie and then take the A86 to Spean Bridge and the A82 to Fort William. Have lunch at the Lochy Bar and then take the A830 to Mallaig. Depending on how you are feeling either retrace your steps to Fort Bill or else do the circular route around Loch Shiel (narrow gravelly tracks). That will be a very long day by the time you get back to your mate's house .

Others will have different, and possibly better, advice

Enjoy your visit.

Bob.

Hi,
For that distance, best bet would be M1 - M6 - M6 Toll to Stafford and rejoin old M6 heading North.
Once you pass Preston - traffic should drop off.
Only 2 fixed cameras both at Auchterarder about 14 miles from Perth.
Watch out in Cumbria for the occasional camera van parked on a bridge over the M6 - I got done for 78 mph!!
This is a regular run for me - not so picturesque but much more reliable than the east coast route.
I am travelling to Perth on Thursday from Derby - by car unfortunately this time - will keep an eye out !
Enjoy the ride,
Cheers,
Mac

Mac Thanks for the tips - I am torn by getting there asap and enjoying the route.....:confused

 

[AndyT]

You are spoilt for choice around Grantown and I would go with the weather as the East, centre and West of Scotland can vary alot. If the weather is nicer in the centre I would head fron Grantown down to Aviemore, Kingussie, to Blair Atholl and Pitlochory and then you have a choice of either a longer route at approx 255 miles or a shorter one of approx 160 miles). For the longer route go via Aberfeldy, Killin, LochearnHead, Crieff, Dunkeld, Blairgowrie and then take the Glenshee pass to Braemer (The higherst Road in the UK I think!!). For the Shorter option from Pitlochory head towards Moulin and KirkMichael and then over Glenshee to Braemer. Once in Braemer continue along the A93 and just before BAllater turn left towards Cockbridge and then over the Lecht to Tomintoul and back to base at Grantown. If time is on your side (and these things should never be rushed when you are at Aberfeldy visit the Glen Lyon Team rooms as mentiioned by CC and visit Boxertools memorial).

If the weather is better on the west coast I would either take Voyagers or one of my favourite routes which is:

Grantown down to Aviemore, Kingussie and then Laggan, Spean Bridge, Invergarry down to Dornie and then head north to LochCarron and Achnasheen, Garve, Inverness. From Inverness you can either just go down the A9 to Carrbrdige and over to Grantown or for a finalie head along the A96 towards Nairn and then turn off right for Cawdor and then along the A939 back into Grantown. Total mileage approx 240 miles note pic shorws final route along A9/Carrbridge.


If the weathers awful theres a lovely cafe in Grantown

Have Fun

AndyT

 

[R1200GSA]

A939 to Nairn, from memory is

 

[G.C.]

Great advice above, cant think of any bad roads around the Granton area, apart from the A9.
Id go with Andy's recommendation of checking out the weather forecast.
Either that or just take a left

 

[chelseadude]

Guys - thanks for all your efforts - really looking forward to it....!

 

[boatman]

hi when you are out and about watch oot on the main road in the area the A9 very easy road to ride very fast on but i have seen a fair few traffic cars on here. welcome and i hope you enjoy your trip!!