Left it too late

[agfoxx]

OK, I did leave it too late. I'm going up to Scotland on the 3rd (after work, which is in London), and I must be back on the 7th. I'll overnight somewhere on the way up. But in Scotland itself I've only managed to book accommodation in Oban (4/5) and Glencoe (5/6). I'm still trying to figure out where I'll sleep 6/7.

Here's the question then. I want to see the Glencoe area, the Applecross pass/Ullapool, Skye and the road from Malaig to Ft. William.

I don't want to do mega miles - I want to stop and take pictures as much as I want to ride .

Is what I'm planning realistic? What would you add/ditch?

Thanks!

 

[Blackal]

If you are going via Oban - cancel the Glencoe accom(if poss) and continue up to Ullapool. Stay there 5/6 - and head back down to Glencoe for 6/7?

Have a look on the map and see if that works for you

Al

 

[agfoxx]

If you are going via Oban - cancel the Glencoe accom(if poss) and continue up to Ullapool. Stay there 5/6 - and head back down to Glencoe for 6/7?

Have a look on the map and see if that works for you

Al

Thanks, Blackal, that would be perfect, except I left it so late I don't really have a choice with hotels now. Even airbnb is quite full. So I'll have to make do with what I've managed to book.

 

[Northern jock]

As he said, cancel Glencoe, too close to Oban whichever way you go. Ullapool has a campsite that you could get into even if full (they don't take bookings for singles, they say they'll fit you in).
Or Gairloch - lots of B&B's.
Or just go and find something as you go, someone will give you a bed and if you have a wee tent you always have a plan

 

[agfoxx]

Thanks, chaps, the real bummer is that I've now decided to call it all off.
I would camp, only I hate it. I famously ditched my tent at HUBB 2014 and called a cab to a local B&B - I was too cold and miserable to stay in that field under that loud flightpath; and had had one beer too many to ride from there to the B&B!
So... whichever way I look at it, I simply cannot justify paying about £500 for a week in Scotland (5*50 for B/Bs+petrol+food). And even with AirBNB, that's the cheapest I can do. The sums simply do not work out. Especially given that I'm picking up a new bike on August 1, and it's the perfect storm of bike, bits for it (top box etc.), insurance and the other c-p.
But thanks for all your help.

 

[Northern jock]

I simply cannot justify paying about £500 for a week in Scotland .

Fair enough, but you can easily spend £500 in a week in many places. Just don't get too caught up with the theory that if you're going to spend that much you need to go a long way from home. All you need to do is have a good time.

I get on planes often enough (work and holiday) and spend money overseas. I also get on my bike and spend money here, sometimes it costs me more for a few days than a mate pays for an all inclusive week in Benidorm (etc). I know which I prefer.

 

[agfoxx]

Fair enough, but you can easily spend £500 in a week in many places. Just don't get too caught up with the theory that if you're going to spend that much you need to go a long way from home. All you need to do is have a good time.

I get on planes often enough (work and holiday) and spend money overseas. I also get on my bike and spend money here, sometimes it costs me more for a few days than a mate pays for an all inclusive week in Benidorm (etc). I know which I prefer.

No, I get this, of course I do. I do tons of traveling for work as well - I'm in Moscow at present, for example.
I think I'll just stay in sunny T/Wells and take it easy for a week. There's tons to do in SE England, as well.

 

[boatman]

Adventure biking !!
Printable words fail me

 

[bowser]

well sat in a campsite not far from glencoe, its been a great week, been to mull and all over, its been a long time since I have been up here trouring around, and suprised at just how expensive it is, got to be at double the cost of a visit to black forrest in June.
Given I live in the middle of a large tourist area of England in the cotswolds, its even more expensive than there, biggest supprise was cost of visiting national monuments etc. so much in some cases we just walked away and didnt bother, bit of a shame really.

 

[Blackal]

Well, only you know how your finances lie. At least you can budget for something in the future.

Enjoy the new bike when it arrives

Al

 

[Tinytim]

and suprised at just how expensive it is, got to be at double the cost of a visit to black forrest in June.
biggest supprise was cost of visiting national monuments etc. so much in some cases we just walked away and didnt bother, bit of a shame really.

Can you elaborate a bit more re costs ( might need to rebudget for a fast approaching trip up there)......how much more expensive are chips and beer up there then?

Monument costs? What monuments?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Shep]

Adventure biking !!
Printable words fail me

Agreed! Credit card, sleeping bag and a tarp for emergencies and just go.

 

[Northern jock]

well sat in a campsite not far from glencoe, its been a great week, been to mull and all over, its been a long time since I have been up here trouring around, and suprised at just how expensive it is, got to be at double the cost of a visit to black forrest in June.
Given I live in the middle of a large tourist area of England in the cotswolds, its even more expensive than there, biggest supprise was cost of visiting national monuments etc. so much in some cases we just walked away and didnt bother, bit of a shame really.

More expensive but perhaps a shorter season and fewer visitors and the whole supply chain makes things more expensive the more remote the area.

Anyway, plenty of the monuments look fine from the carpark

 

[bowser]

Yep that's what we did.

 

[mpgscott]

Surely we should start a bit where folk can offer up a bed in their hoose for the night??

Im in Inverness so get in touch only have the one extra room but happy enough to put up a fellow biker no bother if im at home that is....