Scottish tour

[shamone46]

Ahoy
I want to take my GSA and my ladyfriend around scotland on a touronyack, inc edinburagh, il be heading from dublin and was wondering whats a good circle route to take?
and is there any particurally biker friendly hotels around. il have 3-4 midweek days free for it
thanks in advance

cheers

 

[Jazbee]

Loads of choice mate, would stick mainly to the west coast though. I would recommend two choices as a starter heading northwards. Oban, Argyle or Pitlochry in Perthshire. If Pitlochry, head up towards Loch Tay, stop at Killin for a bit and head up the loch to Kenmore, worth a stop here to, for a cold one in the Kenmore hotel at the riverside. From Kenmore, head over to Tummel on the B846 (rather than up through Aberfeldy) and take a tour down to Rannoch before heading back to Pitlochry. A very good (but wee bit pricey) Hotel is the Mill Inn right in the town centre with parking
From Pitlochry, head up through Blair Atholl to Bruar, your missus will love a gander round the massive Harrod's like shopping place there, out in the middle of nowhere, been dragged screaming round there a few times From there towards 2nd night accomodation, I would say Ullapool, and a favorite with the Scottish Section, the Arch Inn Hotel, reasonable price and great food / beer The following route is a good one once you get off the A9 up to Inverness - over the bridge to the black isle (A836), If you want to do Applecross as well (why wouldn't you?) turn off about 5 miles past the strathpeffer turn, and on to Applecross before taking the longer route to Ullapool on the B832. This is a long day, but well worth it
Next day head up to Durness and Tongue before heading south again on the B836 past Loch Loval and Altnaharra, back through Inverness and on the A9. Turn off to Granton, then Tominoul and over the Lecht (Ski area) to Ballater. I would stop here B&B, nice wee town. Then your last day head to Braemar and over Glenshee (ski centre) into the Angus glens stopping at the Bridge of Cally hotel for a bit of lunch before picking up the boring roads back to the ferry
I'm shite at maps or I would post one. There are dozens of routes like this that others might post up as well but this is a fav of mine. If you went the Oban way, you would still end up in most of these places but go up past Ft William, Loch Ness etc. The choice is yours, have a good time

 

[Jazbee]

PS...Feck Edinburgh, the festival will be on and no accom
PPS. Oban. The Kelvin Hotel, basic, cheap and clean and a good breakfast.

 

[Blackal]

Get down to Inveraray, Lochgilphead - and head all the way up through Oban, Connel bridge, Ft William, Loch Garry, Dornie, Applecross, Kinlochewe, Gairloch, Poolewe, Ullapool.

Then - head back south via Garve, Drumnadrochit, Glencoe, Tyndrum and back home.

If you have time - throw in a loop of Skye.

Fit in your overnighters in there along the way, and you're sorted.

The scenery heading north from Lochgilphead to Ballachulish is absolutely stunning.

Accommodation/eateries to recommend?

The Grey Gull Inn - Ardrishaig (By Lochgilphead) Linky
Castle Stalker View (for lunch - north of Connel Bridge)
The Lochy Bar, Ft William Linky
The Arch Inn, Ullapool Linky
The Applecross Inn Linky


Hope you get good weather

(oh! - if you happen to make it over to Braemar........... The Hungry Highlander does a fantastic Haddock'n'chips - caught the same day, from the local burn)

Al

 

[shamone46]

Thanks a million for your help lads!onyack

 

[Posh Pete]

Base yourself in a couple of centres and explore

Inverness is fine if you want to do the north west and across the top of Scotland.

Try to go as far north as you can. At this time of year, the further north you go, the less motorhomes and nutters on sports bikes.

This hostel is good if you can get a room to yourselves. There's secure parking for the bike in the multi story right next door.

I'd do around the top of Scotland via Ullapool, Cape Wrath, Tongue and Alltnahara on one day.

Second day, head for the central north west : Kinlochewe, Torridon, the Applecross Peninsula and maybe a jaunt over to Skye. Retuen via Fort Augustus and Loch Ness side.

A third day from Inverness could take you down to Braemar via the wee road I mention in the "wee gems" thread.

Based in Oban, you could do an Island rover ferry trip around the isles over a couple or more days. Make sure you plan well and book ferries and accomodation ahead.

Oban is a bit of an OAP bus tours magnet but there's plenty of places to stay. This B&B is very good but not cheap.

Make sure you book ahead. It's pretty busy in August.

As to routes, you can't really go wrong anywhere in Scotland but you might want to avaoid arteries like the A9.

Embra is very busy at this time of year so accomodation could be tricky. Easier if you come later after the Festival, in September say.

See the threads on "wee gems of roads" and "roads to avoid" for a few ideas.

Lots to think about. Get those maps out!