Scotland

[Maddock]

Hi everybody looking at heading to Scotland for a holiday. How long would it take to ride round it. It will take 2 days hard riding from Finchley and a further 2 days from the border back so 4 days of my 7 day break will be consumed from riding north to south of England. One last question do they accept Nat west cards up there. I know this may be ok but I'd thought I'd ask.
Thanks
J

 

[Schtum]

I'm not sure why it's going to take you 2 days to get from London to the Border. If all you want to do is get up here to Scotland, you should be able to do it in a day quite easily.

That leaves you 5 days to ride around the coast if that's what you really want to do.

 

[brassmonkey001]

Hi Maddock. Welcome to the site, I hope you'll stick around.
What bike will you be riding?

I know of a very nice place to stay while you're up there, BTW. PM for details...

 

[Maddock]

Hi 12gs I don't enjoy more than 200miles in a day as I'm not as young as I used to be. Scotland is a big one for me the furthest north I've ever been was too Manchester on a course in 1984.

BTWPM sorry I don't understand I'll ask my grandaughter what it means

 

[ghiribizzo]

He means By The Way - send a Personal Message...

Not everyone can do 1000 a day Maddock, but if you'll only have 3 days then you won't see much. Could you perhaps extend your 'days out' to 2 weeks?

 

[gerarddwatts]

Dear Maddock

You must try and visit Skye--especially Skye skins--and cop a look at the blondey bird.

This is a very rough neighbourhood with very undesirable inhabitants, but she is worth a gander

You should probably top up with oil before you leave London--I'm sure some-one here can help you with the appropriate grade for the colder weather.

 

[Coolcarbon]

Dear Maddock

You must try and visit Skye--especially Skye skins--and cop a look at the blondey bird.

I'm detecting a pattern with your latest posts Mr Watts.... counseling required may-hap....

 

[robroy]

Hi Maddock

There are many members on this site far more qualified than myself, but my advice would be to not try too much and go for quality rather than quantity. Instead of trying to ride right round Scotland in a rush, pick a spectacular area like the West Coast and Skye and take your time to soak up the fantastic views and roads.

If I only had three days, I'd cross the border near the middle and spend your first day riding up from the Stirling area and down Glencoe to Loch Ness, then across to the Isle of Skye via the bridge for the first day.

Base yourself on Skye for two nights, and spend your second day exploring the roads and scenery of Skye. Dont miss the ride across from Uig to Brogaig.

Then spend your third day in Scotland riding from Skye across the Armadale-Mallaig ferry, then across the Loch Linnhe ferry and back down past Loch Lomond and southwards.

Adjust for personal preference

Just my 2p worth

Rob

 

[(RIP) Nakambale]

Base yourself on Skye

Wot he said. There's a fine little B&B out there you may like. The owner's a bit of a handful, but has his good moments when not prone to table diving

 

[Deeley]

Hi Maddock. Welcome to the site, I hope you'll stick around.
What bike will you be riding?

I know of a very nice place to stay while you're up there, BTW. PM for details...

Don't think he can PM, he's a tight git....

(Mind, the way things are at the moment, I'd keep your money in your pocket

 

[gbpot]

I'm not sure why it's going to take you 2 days to get from London to the Border. If all you want to do is get up here to Scotland, you should be able to do it in a day quite easily.

That leaves you 5 days to ride around the coast if that's what you really want to do.

One day max. All bank cards are fine, we have electricity and running water as well. Hee hee.
And we don't eat tourists.
Come, you'll have a great time, and some of the best scenery in the world.
Stick to the West Coast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Keith Chapman]

Maddock,

I have just got back from a week in Scotland. I was based in Aviemore. I took 2 days getting there, 300 easy miles to Carlisle over night stop then 230 easy miles with a bit of sightseeing the next day. Then it was 5 days of rideouts ranging from 120 to 200 miles. I came home in one day 530 miles and does my backside know it!!

There are some great roads to be played on, and dont worry about the midges, they dont come out in the rain.

hope that helps

 

[Packer]

Looking forward to your ride report Maddock.

Remember to split the evenly between the two panniers as otherwise you might ride in a circle and find yourself back home after two days

 

[MarkShelley]

I drove up to St Andrews from Cambridge yesterday. I took the slow route A15, Humber Bridge, York, Darlington, A68 to Edinburgh, Forth Bridge.
I left at 6am and arrived at 2pm having stopped for a sandwich and filled up twice.
If I had gone straight up the A1 to the A68 junction I could have knocked well over an hour off. I will do this next time as the roads and scenery for the first bit did not justify the extra time it took.
From Finchley you would need to add on an hour to my times so it really is comfortable to get up the Edinburgh/Glasgow in a leisurely days riding.

 

[ThreeDawg]

Seems a shame to waste two days riding up from London but as someone else said not everyone can do 1000 mile days (although I one did Streatham to Inverness on a VT250 on Xmas eve in one hit...) You could always have the bike shipped up (£150 each way IIRC) and fly up with easyjet from Luton. You can have it delivered to my place in Inverness if you like.

Midgies not a problem until dusk and even then not everywhere. Don't have 'em in Inverness.

Three Dawg

 

[Michael R1150GS Adventure]

Hi good luck with your trip up north.
Dont forget your passport and guide for translations.
There's no electricity up here either, so bring some gloves for muckign in with shovelling coal.

Ican recommend west coast scotland, see where they filmed highlander etc ,up to ullapool way ( no further) then across to inverness and back down through gorgeous northumberland.
Back down A1 to home sweet southern home...

The post office will change any left over money you bring back.

 

[Deeley]

Why not catch a plane up to to Skye, hire a motorbike for half hour, bomb around the island and then come back home, there's not a lot up there in all fairness, and it's dog rough.

It may also be worth, so I'm told, checking if they do bike hire, as from what I understand, they've only had electricty on the island for the past three years.

PS: when you land, put little finger and thumb together and chant "We mean you no arm, we come in peace"

Hope you have a great time.....