Route advice please

[Davel]

Me and a few mates are planning another 5-day ride in Scotland again soon.

This year, we want to get to Ullapool and, since we've all got road bikes at the moment, could I get any thoughts on the proposed route please?

From the North West, the plan is to head up the M6, using the A6 in parts and then join the A74(M) as far as Junction 8.

We plane to take the A71 to Kilmarnock before reaching Ardrossan.

We hope to make the Arran Ferry and maybe stay on Arran for the first night before taking the Lochranza ferry over to Claonaig, linking onto the A83 and A816, possibly spending the second night at Oban.

After leaving Oban, we plan to take the A828 and link with the A82 to Fort William. Staying then on the A82 to Inverness and linking via the A9 to the A835 to Ullapool for night three.

The route home would then be back to Inverness, then Perth and M90 to Edinburgh before taking the A702 towards Biggar and linking to the A701 for the last night stop-over at Moffat.

Have I got the mileages and stop-overs about right and any thoughts about Hotels or B&Bs en-route would be great.

We've done the Dunoon Ferry route a few times now and just thought that going via Arran this time might be a good idea.

You've got so many excellent roads up there, the problem is deciding which routes to take.

 

[Deleted Member MS]

Use the independant hostels up there.You can sometimes book a full room for you and all your mates, which eliminates sharing with people you dont know. (if thats what you want).If you get the right weather, its not always good to plan too much, you'll be astonished at the scenery(and may not want to rush to the chosen town etc at night).My opinion is that the further west and north you get, the better the scenery (and less traffic).My mate has just moved up to run a b/b in Tyndrum. He's a GS'er too so if you fancy stopping there, mail me back and ill pass on his details etc.
Have a good trip.

 

[Davel]

Thanks for that.

I snore like a freight train, so I don't think that we'll all be sharing.

Did the Crianlaric stop-over last year, after taking the Dunoon Ferry so thought Arran might be a good alternative.

 

[Deleted Member MS]

Not been to Arran but heard good reports.I use the Gs to go climbing up there, and im really getting to know the different areas quite well.(I use the Gs to transport me and climbing gear.I dont actually use the GS to climb with, that'd be silly).
Mull is good too, and Skye.

 

[michaelh]

After leaving Fortwilliam on the A82 when you reach Invergary take the A87towards Kyle of Lochalsh,the road into Kyle is possibly the best biking road in Britain. If you don't wish to go onto Skye turn right before Kyle on the A890 and then left on the A832 to Gairloch. This stretch contains one of the best roads to speed test a bike, a series of fast uphill bends followed by a flat straight section of road along the side of a mountain which goes for miles usually with no traffic on it.
From Gairloch head on round the A832 switching to the A835 to Ullapool.

These are must do roads while in the area.

Enjoy

 

[Davel]

Route suitably amended.

Thanks

 

[Deleted Member MS]

When headin north, go left at shiel bridge, and head for Glenelg.Guaranteed you wont be dissapointed with the view into Kintail.(you can get a ferry from Glenelg to Skye too.Its only a few cars/bikes in size, but its different to using bridge, and last time I used it, the guy in charge was a biker)

 

[sven]

After leaving Fortwilliam on the A82 when you reach Invergary take the A87towards Kyle of Lochalsh,the road into Kyle is possibly the best biking road in Britain. If you don't wish to go onto Skye turn right before Kyle on the A890 and then left on the A832 to Gairloch. This stretch contains one of the best roads to speed test a bike, a series of fast uphill bends followed by a flat straight section of road along the side of a mountain which goes for miles usually with no traffic on it.
From Gairloch head on round the A832 switching to the A835 to Ullapool.

These are must do roads while in the area.

Enjoy

I concur And I'll be riding those roads on Saturday

Whilst you're up there, you must ride up the coast north of Ullapool to Tongue (as I'll be doing on Sunday) - absolutely stunning scenary

 

[Big Lee]

And when you get to Tongue don`t forget the "I love Tongue" bumper sticker for the wifes car unlike me & I forgot

 

[davidmot]

look out for road works at forth road bridge from friday nights to monday mornings avoid like the plague.when leaving ullapool go north and head over towards the dornoch trail and then down to inverness that way couple of distillerys on route if i remember heading that way this weekend after collecting my 1150 gs from dalkeith

 

[Davel]

Well, I've taken note of your advice and the guys have also made a few changes to the route and so, now missing out Arran, the plan would now seem to be:

North up M6/A6 and A74(M) and head out to Gourock.

Night 1 in Gourock or Dunoon

Ferry to Dunoon and up A815 to A83, turning left to Lochilphead, then up the A816 to Oban, onto A828 and then the A82 through Fort William to Invergary.

Travel up A87 to Ardelve and onto Skye before taking A890 and the A832 to Gorstan heading left along the A835 to Ullapool.

Night 2

After Ullapool, we're planning to take the A835 to Keithown, right on A862 through Beauly, then A831 to Drumnadrochit. Down the A82 to Spean Bridge and onto A86 for Kingussie and Pitlochry.

Night 3

Heading south down the A9 as far as the A827 to Killin and onto the A85 to Lochearnhead, then A84 to Stirling and by-passing Edinburgh, joining the A702for Biggar, linking to the A701 for Moffat.

Then, after heading down to Carlisle and taking the A6 to Penrith and through the lakes, it's back onto the M6 homewards.

Night 4 should be in the Lakes somewhere.

I know that being on tourers, we can't do any of the off-road stuff but I would like a bit of advice on if the route seems to take in the right roads or if I've made any obvious blunders.

Any B&B advice would be great too.