Thame (bucks) to Chapeltown, Scotland - Route Suggestions ?

[Flipper_Man]

Doing the above in a couple of weeks. Taking 2days there, 2days back. From the North West originally so I'll miss out Lake District and likely shoot up through England on M1, taking in Northumberland (rather than Glasgow side).

Is it worth heading to the East coast ie Northumberland Coast, Berwick-upon-Tweed etc ?

Ditto after Edinburgh, head East along coast, take in St Andrews, Leuchars, across to Dundee ?

Can't do more than 2days either way unfortunately - wife and boy flying to Aberdeen and meeting me at mates house, Chapeltown.

First time in 17yrs I've done a trip for pleasure and not just commuting or catching up with family already on holiday in West Country etc !

Once route decided, going to scout out accommodation but really don't want to be tied down too much so need to mark out a couple of potentials.

I realise this is rather an open question.....

 

[MotoGoLoco]

This might go some way towards sorting out the accommodation question when it arises:

https://www.motogoloco.com/map/ <-- loads of bike-friendly/secure parking etc places on the map.

As for the route - what about zipping through Kielder Forest Park, then up to Tomintoul via the Spittal of Glenshee..? Much (MUCH!!) nicer ride than sitting on motorways and the hateful A9 all the way.

https://www.motogoloco.com/map?route=782

 

[Flipper_Man]

Great stuff, thanks, I'll take a squint.

Thinking of alternative off setting off Wednesday night and getting up to the 'olds' in Lancashire and then fresh start of my 2 days from Preston? Should be in Scotland by lunchtime Thursday easily, then i've got until approx 4pm (following day) to get to Chapeltown - lots more time in Scotland ? Maybe take in Northumberland on way back (time and work permitting) ?

This might go some way towards sorting out the accommodation question when it arises:

https://www.motogoloco.com/map/ <-- loads of bike-friendly/secure parking etc places on the map.

As for the route - what about zipping through Kielder Forest Park, then up to Tomintoul via the Spittal of Glenshee..? Much (MUCH!!) nicer ride than sitting on motorways and the hateful A9 all the way.

https://www.motogoloco.com/map?route=782

 

[MotoGoLoco]

A fine and sensible idea - more time to play in Scotland is never a foolish idea!

Seeing as you're from NW anyway, I didn't bother adding any wiggly bits in around Preston (cos frankly,you'll know them better than I will!), but how about this for an idea:

Day 1 - The Three P's - Preston, Penrith & Peebles
226 miles


Plenty of places to stay in and around Peebles, so you'll be easily sorted there. If you got there early, there's loads of fantastic biking roads surrounding the Borders - to the extent that you really can just pick a direction and follow your nose - you'll not go far wrong.


Day 2 - - Peebles to Chapeltown
241 miles


After a little dreggy bit near the start, this is a damn good day's riding. The little back road between Innerleithen and Gorebridge is a beaut, a quick* skirt around Edinburgh city by-pass and over the Forth Bridge and nip through Southern Fife. Back over the Forth at Kincardine (not quite as pretty as the Forth, but hey!), short stint of motorway and then you're in for a treat.

(*rush hour dependant!)

Dukes Pass - via Aberfyole is amazing, lunch stop in Killin (take your pick, loads of pubs cafes etc), hug the side of Loch Tay to Aberfeldy, hop onto some nice singletrack, skip past Pitlochry (passing the Edradour distillery) and on towards Glenshee. You'll pass one ski centre at Glenshee, bash through Braemar, swing a left past Balmoral Castle and you'll pass another at The Lehct. Right at Tomintoul (mine's a bottle of their 10 year old, if you're buying) and you're a short stint from Chapeltown.

That, my good fellow, is a damn good way to spend a couple of days on a motorcycle.

Enjoy!

 

[Yodagoat]

This is the way I'd go.

https://www.motogoloco.com/map?route=796

 

[Flipper_Man]

Brilliant - just need to work out Garmin and stick the route in !


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Flipper_Man]

Any easy method to get the above route into my Nav V please ? Basecamp doesn't look too straight forward and downloading route from site as gmz file isn't detailed enough ?

 

[MotoGoLoco]

Any easy method to get the above route into my Nav V please ? Basecamp doesn't look too straight forward and downloading route from site as gmz file isn't detailed enough ?

Sorry fella - only just spotted this now so I hope it's not too late. Here's a link to the GPX file (I've just saved it onto my Google Drive) which you can slap straight onto your Garmin.

Link ---> https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_wGSrCZfOnNbWZaalJMTWpjcFk/edit?usp=sharing

Enjoy!

 

[Flipper_Man]

Cheers but had to postpone due to knackered knee - I flew instead After driving around in a car I'm definitely going to try in the future. However - quite pleased I wasn't travelling back Monday through the storm....wouldn't have been very pleasant and local flooding was worst they've seen for years.

Has anyone taken their bike on the train ? With limited time available I like the idea of starting in Scotland...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[MotoGoLoco]

Firmly on the 'Items NOT Carried' list unfortunately, according to National Rail Enquiries site

Articles and Animals not carried:
- Articles exceeding one metre in any dimension that cannot be carried by the passenger concerned. This includes canoes, hang-gliders, sail/surf
boards, large furniture and any large musical instrument that cannot be carried without assistance.
- Motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters and motorised cycles.
- Livestock (for example, pigs. sheep and goats).
- Any animal or article which, in the opinion of the train company staff, is causing or is likely to cause inconvenience to passengers due to its size or behaviour. On train staff are authorised to have items such as these removed from the train.

Disgrace you can't take your Goat by train nowadays...

TBH, the price of train fares just now, even if they DID allow it you'd probably be better off flying up to Edinburgh/Glasgow and just hiring a bike instead.

* Not affiliated to any of these, but the dealerships are good, so I can't imagine their hire deals aren't:

- http://rentamotorcycle.co.uk/ (Dalkeith)
- http://www.saltiremotorcycles.com/motorbike-rental-edinburgh/ (Edinburgh)

Haven't used these guys, but they're based up Aberdeen way
- http://scotlandbybike.com/motorcycle-hire/