Scotland - the far North and prices

[alan29]

I rode the NC500 a couple of years ago in June. Not congested at all and the weather was superb.
I kept the hotels to under £130 and it was a bad mistake. They were some of the worst places I have ever stayed in, and the food they offered was very poor - hotel restaurants that served up food that would disgrace a run-down pub anywhere else. Excessive demand and a shortage of accomodation means they don't have to try that hard to attract customers.

 

[JonnyBravo]

Alright mate, have a think about Strathpeffer as a base, I've done a few trips from here, stayed at the Ben Wyvis Hotel, usually a good deal on dinner bed and breakfast. What bike have you got now? Thought you'd never let the old gs go !

Thanks fella - will check it out.
Still have the GS.
The missus wanted something with a heated seat after our tour around Germany last autumn - which somehow resulted in me buying a K1600GT


See you in Kelso for a pint.

 

[busy builder]

Friend of mine has the riverside campsite in Contin, told me last week he's looking at packing it all in.His business rates have tripled this year.
Maybe why hotels are so expensive?

 

[Feltham08]

I did the NC500 in May last year. I booked each day on Airbnb and didn’t pay more than £90. The B&B I stayed in just north of Inverness was £80 including full breakfast and was really lovely.
My trip included a stay in a shepherds hut a first for me but it was great.
My most important ask was safe parking.
Be flexible and you’ll be fine. I really enjoyed the NC500 and will definitely do it again.

 

[bazman]

Thanks fella - will check it out.
Still have the GS.
The missus wanted something with a heated seat after our tour around Germany last autumn - which somehow resulted in me buying a K1600GT


See you in Kelso for a pint.

Oooh hark at you with the K1600
Be good to catch up again, and the other lads

 

[Udders]

You can now understand why some people who tour the north of Scotland take their own accommodation ( campers / motorhomes ) with them with the stupidly astronomical hotel / B&B costs. You may not know where you’re staying each night but you definitely know the quality of the accommodation is going to be ok.

 

[Flintlock]

Always take my camping gear when in Scotland & only use B&B/hotel/self catering as a last resort

 

[Davey B]

You can now understand why some people who tour the north of Scotland take their own accommodation ( campers / motorhomes ) with them with the stupidly astronomical hotel / B&B costs. You may not know where you’re staying each night but you definitely know the quality of the accommodation is going to be ok.

We did a weeks tour with 4 friends from the IOM in 2019. I suggested we have a nice house as a base and do day rides...oh no...we wanna tour, proper like. So I planned it, booked it and wouldn't you know....for them, used to 50 mile days, 250 miles was hard work, it cost way over £1.5k each couple for digs, food and drink etc....so the next time we did it, 2024...they 'suggested' a holiday home and day rides... Cost was less than £1k, we still ate out...lunch and a coffee and cake stop.....but had a nice home made meal together every evening...suited us older duffers to the ground.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Love Scotland on a bike

Booked again for first week of May again

With views like this and hot, sunny weather….what’s not to like

 

[Davey B]

Love Scotland on a bike

Booked again for first week of May agsin

With views like this and hot, sunny weather….what’s not to like

I reckon anyone who has been and ridden it will agree Johnny...it's the 'shooting themselves in the foot' with very pricey and often pretty poor accom that grates. When we move back to Gods own county later this year....it'd be borderline cheaper for Justine and I to ride to Plymouth, O/N ferry to Santander and a week in Northern Spain than a week up in the North (and we've been to Scotland once or twice every year for 20+ years...but prices are becoming offputting)

 

[bigtwin]

people do use motorhomes so they will be guaranteed somewhere to sleep, even illegally in a layby,

Has the law recently changed then?

It’s never been illegal to sleep in a lay-by.

In fact, it is rather a part of its purpose (to rest).

 

[glenn2926]

Because of the lack of accommodation people do use motorhomes so they will be guaranteed somewhere to sleep, even illegally in a layby,

Surely it’s not illegal to sleep in lay-bys truckers do it all the time and nobody is bothered. What’s the difference either a motorhome?

 

[JonnyBravo]

All change !
We have found a big 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house with parking and a garage in Nairn.
Pub, Basic eateries and supermarket on the doorstep.
£600 all in for the 3 nights.
Not the exact location we wanted but we can easily get to everywhere out west, so no problem.


£600 vs £1800 = no brainer
Happy days indeed.
Roll on spring

 

[Davey B]

Brilliant....and that means you can do a route to and from it that goes down thru the Cairngorms...win win

 

[Udders]

Has the law recently changed then?

It’s never been illegal to sleep in a lay-by.

In fact, it is rather a part of its purpose (to rest).

A lot of lay-bys up in Scotland had big yellow No Overnight Parking signs put up. They are completely unenforceable unless accompanied by a separate sign with a traffic restriction order ( or something like that, I can’t remember the exact wording before the dickheads start spouting it’s wrong! )
They were meant as a deterrent to people who didn’t know any different.
Some brainless twats do park in the most ridiculous places though.

 

[Captain jack]

The smelly socks taking the piss. It will come back to bite them

 

[bigtwin]

A lot of lay-bys up in Scotland had big yellow No Overnight Parking signs put up. They are completely unenforceable unless accompanied by a separate sign with a traffic restriction order ( or something like that, I can’t remember the exact wording before the dickheads start spouting it’s wrong! )
They were meant as a deterrent to people who didn’t know any different.

Indeed, many of the ‘anti-NC500’ brigade in the Highlands seem to make up ‘laws’ to suit their own agenda.

Some brainless twats do park in the most ridiculous places though.

Indeed they do.

 

[TIJ650]

I never understand the whole fiasco with accommodation in Scotland……….or anywhere for that matter?! I usually just “wing it” and book on the day. One of the great freedoms of being on 2 wheels is you can go anywhere……….and sometimes the quaintest, most obscure are the best. I generally travel alone though and understand that many acquaintances can get their knickers in a twist if somewhere not booked. Main reason I tour solo

 

[ymfb]

Love Scotland on a bike

Booked again for first week of May again

With views like this and hot, sunny weather….what’s not to like

View attachment 478333

I agree the riding in Scotland is amazing, plus there’s so much of it. Apart from the rental campervans being a fricking nightmare at belach ne ba/Applecross the roads are quiet compared with England. The cost of the accommodation is one thing but eating out is doubly expensive and not always great. Its only these tourist areas that are so expensive as I often go to Lanark’s for work and pay much less, for hotels and food.

 

[JonnyBravo]

I never understand the whole fiasco with accommodation in Scotland……….or anywhere for that matter?! I usually just “wing it” and book on the day. One of the great freedoms of being on 2 wheels is you can go anywhere……….and sometimes the quaintest, most obscure are the best. I generally travel alone though and understand that many acquaintances can get their knickers in a twist if somewhere not booked. Main reason I tour solo

thats just it - Solo, I do the same.
4 bikes and peoeple wanting their own space becomes a whole different kettle of fish ...trying to book on the day just wont work from about May onwards