Scotland - Few days - Suggestions

[Ban_6]

H folks,

hitting scotland in May with a few others. We have decided to give Germany a miss this yr to try out the Highlands etc. Driving up from Dublin to get the ferry ex Belfast then to Cairnryan. We'll be in Scotland for a few days, NOT interested in cities at all, we want nice twisty fun routes with all that Scotland can offer Bikes will be mixed ( sports & adventure) but we're "seasoned" I use that term very loosely

Be late when we dock in Cairnryan on night 1, so looking ot get a good cheap hotel for the night somewhere between Cairnryan & Oban. Some ppl say Oban is overcrowded etc, what say you ? Its just a bed, food & beer we want.


On day 2 we are planning to head to Fort William then onto Eilean Donan caslte of course. after that.......who knows......

We'll have 4/5 days after night 1 we are open to suggestions re hotels or decent B&B's with a bar & grub & roads.

Maybe there are two towns which are a good basecamp and we can ride out from there ? Staying in each place for 2 nights perhaps. OR we will just move on day after day.

Thanks in advance !!!

( I will get pics & some vids of course! )

 

[ghiribizzo]

Before Oban I'd recommend going to Near Gourock - Western Ferries McInroys Point to Hunters Quay. Over the hill road to Tighnabruaich (maybe stay around there) and Portavadie to East Loch Tarbert. Up the coast and a detour to the Crinan Canal and south to Tayvallich. Seafood there if you want. All single track so can't go mad on speed due to incoming traffic. Back to Crinan itself, watch the yachting types. Take a fast RIB tour to the Corryvreckan whirlpool maybe?
Up to Oban and then north over the Connel Ferry bridge to Ballachulish. But instead of just going north to Fort William (St.Moritz without the money...) tour round the Kinlochleven loop.
After Ft. William, back south a few miles, take the Corran Ferry and roads to Lochaline if you want to tour Mull.
Tobermory to Kilchoan Ferry, west to Ardnamurchan point then east and up to Mallaig and then you can go to Glenelg (ancient Brochs and Barracks if you're interested) - ferry to Skye and a tour, returning to the mainland over the bridge, north to Plockton and Applecross.
Money back if you don't like it...

 

[Pablo1]

Why not join the forum and if you have a garmin we can send you some routes

 

[BuzzTree]

Hi there, I stay in Nairn.

You want to get out into the far north west, out above Ullapool.

Wester Ross and Sutherland are incredible,mother views out over the Summer Isles are to die for on a clear day.

The Fort William / Mallaig area is fantastic but to many tourists.

Get out to the NW and you'll be virtually on your own.

http://www.pentland-sac.ukdiver.com/psac_summerisles.htm

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Before Oban I'd recommend going to Near Gourock - Western Ferries McInroys Point to Hunters Quay. Over the hill road to Tighnabruaich (maybe stay around there) and Portavadie to East Loch Tarbert. Up the coast and a detour to the Crinan Canal and south to Tayvallich. Seafood there if you want. All single track so can't go mad on speed due to incoming traffic. Back to Crinan itself, watch the yachting types. Take a fast RIB tour to the Corryvreckan whirlpool maybe?
Up to Oban and then north over the Connel Ferry bridge to Ballachulish. But instead of just going north to Fort William (St.Moritz without the money...) tour round the Kinlochleven loop.
After Ft. William, back south a few miles, take the Corran Ferry and roads to Lochaline if you want to tour Mull.
Tobermory to Kilchoan Ferry, west to Ardnamurchan point then east and up to Mallaig and then you can go to Glenelg (ancient Brochs and Barracks if you're interested) - ferry to Skye and a tour, returning to the mainland over the bridge, north to Plockton and Applecross.
Money back if you don't like it...

Pretty much what he says.....................!

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Hi there, I stay in Nairn.

You want to get out into the far north west, out above Ullapool.

Wester Ross and Sutherland are incredible,mother views out over the Summer Isles are to die for on a clear day.

The Fort William / Mallaig area is fantastic but to many tourists.

Get out to the NW and you'll be virtually on your own.

http://www.pentland-sac.ukdiver.com/psac_summerisles.htm

What he says is good too......................!

 

[Iain.M]

Depending how late you arrive in Cairnryan, it is a fair track from there to Oban. I can recommend the kings arams hotel in Barr for an overnight stop on the way north. Kenny is a biker and give biker discount. Good food, clean rooms and a nice pint of the black stuff. Www.kingsarmshotel.co.uk.
The wigwams in kinlochleven are a good place to stay with Oban fort William and Glencoe all are easy reached. Once heading north go Invergarry and take the A87, being sure to stop at the viewpoint to see the map of Scotland. From there keep on the 87 till past Ellan donnan and take a right for loch Carron. Unless you want to do Skye. From loch Carron take the pass of cattle up over to apple cross. Good campsite there and a good hotel( depends on your budget) from apple cross head north road the coast and onto to poolewe and then Aultbea. Fantastic black pudding from here. At loch broom junction you can go left for Ullapool or right to Inverness. Before geting to inversnecky, head for Invergorden and up the coast there to Tain. If you are heading up that way then a good spot to stay is the railway carriages at rogart. Nice we place and the local hostelry is pretty good again good food and a grand pint of Arthur's creation. Great jumping off place for John o groats , Durness and the like.
www.sleeperzzz.com

 

[mark-a]

Hi Banzai

Me and younger brother did a 5 day tour of Scotland two Summers ago, mostly camping apart from a stay at Lochbay b&b on Skye, couple of tossers own it and were more than helpful, brilliant breakfast and gave us access to their personal computer to search routes etc when the weather turned bad. Stein Inn is a short walk away (take a torch - it's well dark at home time). Can't give you much in the way of hotel's etc in other places as we were wild camping but we were taken aback by the beauty of the far north, went around by cape wrath and Thurso - all around the raggy edge - it was STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL - and there's no bugger there - one day around from Thurso to cape wrath we had to stop every few miles - it just got more and more stunning and we only passed about four or five vehicles ALL DAY.

You gotta go further north - away from Fort William and the touristy bits - still mega-pretty but lots of caravans. Empty further north.

I hear Applecross is also a must see - we must go there next time

Enjoy

Mark

 

[Ban_6]

Why not join the forum and if you have a garmin we can send you some routes

Dont got a GARMIN, old skool with a map and osmeone else's GPS

Before Oban I'd recommend going to Near Gourock - Western Ferries McInroys Point to Hunters Quay. Over the hill road to Tighnabruaich (maybe stay around there) and Portavadie to East Loch Tarbert. Up the coast and a detour to the Crinan Canal and south to Tayvallich. Seafood there if you want. All single track so can't go mad on speed due to incoming traffic. Back to Crinan itself, watch the yachting types. Take a fast RIB tour to the Corryvreckan whirlpool maybe?
Up to Oban and then north over the Connel Ferry bridge to Ballachulish. But instead of just going north to Fort William (St.Moritz without the money...) tour round the Kinlochleven loop.
After Ft. William, back south a few miles, take the Corran Ferry and roads to Lochaline if you want to tour Mull.
Tobermory to Kilchoan Ferry, west to Ardnamurchan point then east and up to Mallaig and then you can go to Glenelg (ancient Brochs and Barracks if you're interested) - ferry to Skye and a tour, returning to the mainland over the bridge, north to Plockton and Applecross.
Money back if you don't like it...

Hi there, I stay in Nairn.

You want to get out into the far north west, out above Ullapool.

Wester Ross and Sutherland are incredible,mother views out over the Summer Isles are to die for on a clear day.

The Fort William / Mallaig area is fantastic but to many tourists.

Get out to the NW and you'll be virtually on your own.

http://www.pentland-sac.ukdiver.com/psac_summerisles.htm

Spot on lads,

@ ghiribizzo, that Gelenelg sounds intersting too ! Gourock looks like i must check it out.


love that link too @ Buztree. Bit of reading to be done over the web investigating the above.

Pretty much what he says.....................!

What he says is good too......................!

Tks !

Depending how late you arrive in Cairnryan, it is a fair track from there to Oban. I can recommend the kings arams hotel in Barr for an overnight stop on the way north. Kenny is a biker and give biker discount. Good food, clean rooms and a nice pint of the black stuff. Www.kingsarmshotel.co.uk.
The wigwams in kinlochleven are a good place to stay with Oban fort William and Glencoe all are easy reached. Once heading north go Invergarry and take the A87, being sure to stop at the viewpoint to see the map of Scotland. From there keep on the 87 till past Ellan donnan and take a right for loch Carron. Unless you want to do Skye. From loch Carron take the pass of cattle up over to apple cross. Good campsite there and a good hotel( depends on your budget) from apple cross head north road the coast and onto to poolewe and then Aultbea. Fantastic black pudding from here. At loch broom junction you can go left for Ullapool or right to Inverness. Before geting to inversnecky, head for Invergorden and up the coast there to Tain. If you are heading up that way then a good spot to stay is the railway carriages at rogart. Nice we place and the local hostelry is pretty good again good food and a grand pint of Arthur's creation. Great jumping off place for John o groats , Durness and the like.
www.sleeperzzz.com

Some great suff there, cheers. Had a look at the " wigwams " They look cosy. Loving the sound of the pudding too. Cant beat good grub !!! Again, thanks, a lot to digest there, pardon the pun

Hi Banzai

Me and younger brother did a 5 day tour of Scotland two Summers ago, mostly camping apart from a stay at Lochbay b&b on Skye, couple of tossers own it and were more than helpful, brilliant breakfast and gave us access to their personal computer to search routes etc when the weather turned bad. Stein Inn is a short walk away (take a torch - it's well dark at home time). Can't give you much in the way of hotel's etc in other places as we were wild camping but we were taken aback by the beauty of the far north, went around by cape wrath and Thurso - all around the raggy edge - it was STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL - and there's no bugger there - one day around from Thurso to cape wrath we had to stop every few miles - it just got more and more stunning and we only passed about four or five vehicles ALL DAY.

You gotta go further north - away from Fort William and the touristy bits - still mega-pretty but lots of caravans. Empty further north.

I hear Applecross is also a must see - we must go there next time

Enjoy

Mark

Tks Mark, appreciate that. I assume we're ok for pretrol stations further north anyway (?). Must investigate " Applecross" " also. Nice one, Ray



Cheers folks !!!

Will keep this updated as I go !

 

[iftikartaxis]

Apple cross ulcer pool Inverness to stay glen Garry to skye

 

[Stanley Knife]

Always a good night out in Oban,plenty of bars,restaurants and accommodation,not too busy in May but lively enough,there is an SYA hostel there which I have been told is good and close to the town.

 

[boatman]

For your first night ,you could see if a deal was available at the Kings arms in Ballantrae . thats the first wee town north of Cairnryan, the hotel is on the left on the main street on the way through and has handy parking.
Not stayed in it myself but it gets a reasonable shout on Trip Advisor. ( about 30min north of the ferry terminal.

 

[Nutty]

Make sure you drink copious amounts of Scotch and eat lots of haggis I'll dig out the details of some of the places we stayed at a couple of years ago

 

[pablo666]

Hi Fellow traveller, what dates are you travelling? I'm in a group of 7 travelling up there 18th to 25th May.

 

[boatman]

For your first night out of Cairnryan there is at the roadside a new motel/hotel www.woodlandbayhotel.co.uk south of GIRVAN

 

[AndyScot]

Visiting Dunoon Area

If you do manage across on the ferry then turn left and head down to Innellan wher you will find best pub in the world with great food, beer and gin and whiskey. Also thats wher I stay so theres a room here for you too.

Nice quiet part of the world with some magic views right enough.

Hope you make it up this way and the weather is good to you.

 

[gerarddwatts]

WHISKEY!!!!!! ????

 

[Northern jock]

WHISKEY!!!!!! ????

I saw that but I think he must be thinking close to the ferry, probably got some Black Bush.

But just to reassure - you can stay off the whiskey, real stuff available once over the water

 

[von K]

Draw a line from Inverness down the Great Glen to Fort Bill.

Now get on the North side of that line and enjoy roads that are virtually tourist free compared to bits further South.
Ullapool to Durness, A9 North of Dornoch Bridge to Groats (give it some...), lesser known roads like through Strath Brora, or Strath Halladale off Helmsdale, Glen Loth, Kyle of Tongue to Altnaharra...the world is your lobster.

 

[Rusty]

The link that BuzzTree ( first page ) has put on here looks just fantastic ... might have to go back and check it out again !