Rainy Scotland

[davben23]

Hi guys
For my 1st ever tour i have planned a 5 day tour in Scotland with accommodation booked etc. Forecast is very grim predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms for the whole week.
As i'm new to this am I best postponing this until another time ?
As i'm new to this touring lark thought i would ask some more experienced riders.
Thanks Dave

 

[siddo]

Hi guys
For my 1st ever tour i have planned a 5 day tour in Scotland with accommodation booked etc. Forecast is very grim predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms for the whole week.
As i'm new to this am I best postponing this until another time ?
As i'm new to this touring lark thought i would ask some more experienced riders.
Thanks Dave

Never go to Scotland. Just nip over to France on the Eurotunnel. It'll be much more enjoyable.

 

[grantmac]

Hi guys
For my 1st ever tour i have planned a 5 day tour in Scotland with accommodation booked etc. Forecast is very grim predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms for the whole week.
As i'm new to this am I best postponing this until another time ?
As i'm new to this touring lark thought i would ask some more experienced riders.
Thanks Dave

If you can get away with cancelling with no costs and it’s your first real trip I would indeed cancel. Wait until next year or maybe take the advice of the above post and try heading over into France. Weather looks a bit better there

 

[Wapping]

am I best postponing this until another time ?

Is the accommodation you have booked, cancelable? Is an obvious question. If so, at what terms?

If it it’s not or the terms are not attractive, are you prepared to write the money off, for the sake of staying dry?

PS There is no advance guarantee that it’s not going to be raining somewhere else.

PPS Take some decent wet weather gear and go. You’ll be a wet weather riding god, by the time you get back.

 

[Flintlock]

I never book accommodation I advance for Scotland. I also alway get a Stena flexi (from N.Ireland) ticket, so I can change dates if the weather is not good.
Also, in the past when over there, due to bad weather we have changed our plans to divert to another part of Scotland where the weather is better - the advantage of not booking anywhere in advance.
Another thing I have done - particularly when my dates are not flexible, is to choose whichever area has the best weather, so, Ireland, Scotland (again, whichever area has the best weather) , Wales & Northern England is on the table.
If you can cancel your accommodation free of charge maybe this option is a possibility??

 

[Mzokk]

Hi guys
For my 1st ever tour i have planned a 5 day tour in Scotland with accommodation booked etc. Forecast is very grim predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms for the whole week.
As i'm new to this am I best postponing this until another time ?
As i'm new to this touring lark thought i would ask some more experienced riders.
Thanks Dave

I'd tend to go anyway If you are not camping at least you can test your wet gear. Take a wetsuit to go over the top of everything because eventually all suits, even Rukka stuff, will eventually wet out if the rain is bad enough. But at least you can get stuff dried overnight. for boots if they are not dry plastic carrier bags over your socks before they go back into the boots makes it a bit more comfortable. Its unlikely that the weather will be grim all the time everywhere, and If its wet plan your routes around the weather radar and go in the driest direction.

With regard to "I'd tend to go anyway" Myself and five others headed from NI to Scotland during Storm "Amy" last October It was the wettest weather I've ever ridden in (With the possible exception of a summer thunderstorm in France many years ago) but it was also horrendously windy. The Electricity in the Strontian Hotel went off not long after we arrived (it was blowing metal benches over!) and the following morning we scrabbled around to get B&B accommodation in the Borders at Moffat for a few days, having the previous night eaten an evening meal of smoked Salmon and lettuce Still we ended up with a story to tell and had a good time.

You may consider that as an example..........or a cautionary tail.

 

[ThreeDawg]

Just take a cheap impermeable wet weather suit (Goretex is mince) and understand that the weather changes often here, and can be very different depending on where you are. Go do it.

 

[glenn2926]

Hi guys
For my 1st ever tour i have planned a 5 day tour in Scotland with accommodation booked etc. Forecast is very grim predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms for the whole week.
As i'm new to this am I best postponing this until another time ?
As i'm new to this touring lark thought i would ask some more experienced riders.
Thanks Dave

I personally would just go. The weather is very rarely as bad as the forecasters make it out to be. If it is wet then put your waterproofs on and reign it in a little. It will be different but you will certainly remember it.

 

[Ex-Call Centre Chimp]

It depends on:-
A) How comfortable you are getting cold and wet.
B) Riding in the wet.
C) Putting wet gear on the following day.
And
D) How desperate you are to be away from home/in Scotland.
E) Repeat as above.

I had 10 days of constant rain and fog in Ireland last year, whilst it was 30+C at home. I was cold and wet but stayed because Ireland in the wet is, for me, a far better place to be than Lincolnshire in the sunshine.
I'm heading back for 2 weeks in a couple of days with a chap I know. I'm expecting to get wet and cold again but I'll see it through, I'm expecting him to bail after a week and I won't blame him at all if he does.

You could, if bookings allow, head off, see how you get on and if you don't like it head home.

 

[Baked Bean]

I would go. The main of the holidays are over and i'd rather ride quiet wet roads than busy dry ones. And as above if you,re looking at doom mongering bbc weather it will probably be better than predicted. What ever , Enjoy.

 

[Micky]

If you listen to the weather forecast you'll never go anywhere

Just go and have a great time regardless .... the stories will get better with the passage of time

 

[davben23]

Guys
Thanks very much for taking the time to reply, The accommodation cancellation was an easy fix (And free) so going to postpone until a later time. Looking at retirement next April so will wait until the chance of improved weather. And as a few have mentioned a trip to Europe may be an option.
Thanks again for the input and experienced opinions its much appreciated.
Dave

 

[fatbaldbob]

It’s Scotland; rain is inevitable at any time and it’s all part of the experience. If you worry about it that much then potentially you will never get to go there. It rains a lot, all year, that’s the gamble you take.

 

[siddo]

It’s Scotland; rain is inevitable at any time and it’s all part of the experience. If you worry about it that much then potentially you will never get to go there. It rains a lot, all year, that’s the gamble you take.

And that's exactly why I'll never go there, plus the time and traffic battle to get there.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

If you listen to the weather forecast you'll never go anywhere

Just go and have a great time regardless .... the stories will get better with the passage of time

Indeed and wise words

I have been in the Alps and Dolomites in June and July, over the years and ridden in snow

Ridden the Stelvio pass with Andy Malton from here, in June many years ago…with literally a 6’ river running down the Stifeljoch side

We survived, we got wet, we got cold ….but we got home and tell the tales

 

[Barnoe]

When touring Scotland and indeed anywhere in the UK, always presume it will rain and take what you need to deal with it.
if it doesn't rain happy days.

The UK weather is the reason i bought goretex kit, i got sick of stopping to put waterproof over jacket and pants on at the side of the road.
Having gear that is just as happy in the warm, cold and rain is a game changer.

On the plus side, if its raining in Scotland there will be less midges

 

[Wapping]

If you listen to the weather forecast you'll never go anywhere

In one.

One Easter, I took some Tossers on a Wander to the Ardennes, where the bloke with the fir cones and seaweed had predicted dire weather for Belgium. The same warnings were repeated by some on these pages. We had perfect weather, whilst the UK was battered.

There again, I have been to the Ardennes, and experienced four seasons’ weather in as many minutes.

 

[Wapping]

When touring Scotland and indeed anywhere in the UK, always presume it will rain and take what you need to deal with it.
if it doesn't rain happy days.

The UK weather is the reason i bought goretex kit, i got sick of stopping to put waterproof over jacket and pants on at the side of the road.
Having gear that is just as happy in the warm, cold and rain is a game changer.

On the plus side, if its raining in Scotland there will be less midges

In one, again.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

When touring Scotland and indeed anywhere in the UK, always presume it will rain and take what you need to deal with it.
if it doesn't rain happy days.

The UK weather is the reason i bought goretex kit, i got sick of stopping to put waterproof over jacket and pants on at the side of the road.
Having gear that is just as happy in the warm, cold and rain is a game changer.

On the plus side, if its raining in Scotland there will be less midges

Correct

I only use Goretex XCR stuff nowadays as well and hate stopping to take off and on over suits and jackets continuously (did that enough in the 80’s and 90’s)

With XCR the rain just runs off like a duck and if it fines up the wind soon dries out the gear

 

[Davey B]

Unless you're camping, go. It's rain. Embrace the seasons. You could end up booking for next May and get the same forecast (and when you get up there...it is nowhere near as bad as the forecast) Improve your smooth riding skills, ride in the wet.