West Coast and North Coast 29th December

[Deleted account 200123001]

I'm considering doing a "regain my sanity trip" over the xmas break over 3 days.

This is my planned route, main coast roads and main roads.



I'm thinking the coast roads should be largely clear of snow and the main A roads will be kept clear.

I was looking for a bit of wisdom from those who know the route well as to whether this is viable or whether I'm insane to even be considering this.

I'm not bothered about the cold or even the rain but 12" of snow even on TKC80's might be problem.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

The west coast stuff should be reasonably clear although some of the higher parts might be iffy IMO

I would worry about the eastern part and the legs around Carlisle

Personally i think you are bonkers as it will be bloody freezing and likely wet but I doff my cap to you

 

[Reggie P]

Depends on the weather , high pressure and some heated gear - would be worthwhile.
Low pressure -possibly contaminated roads, could be the most stupid thing ever undertaken.

 

[Deleted account 200123001]

I would worry about the eastern part and the legs around Carlisle

Thanks Rick, yeah its thats part that concerns me the most.....A9 closed springs to mind.....

Personally i think you are bonkers as it will be bloody freezing and likely wet but I doff my cap to you

Desperate times...desperate measures didn't manage any trips away this year so far...

If it's frosty but clear blue sky's it'll be worth it.

 

[RevvingRev]

I realise that getting away has some huge value - but this will be cold.

Even if it is dry (and that is pretty unlikely going up the west coast) it will be very cold. The Drumochter Pass on the A9 at the end of December will likely be 0 degrees and below before you even factor in a windchill from the weather and extra for the windchill from the speed you are doing.

Then other thing that would put me off (indeed scare the crap out of me) would be the possibility of ice on some of those North West Roads especially in the morning.

I ride my bike all year round up here in Aberdeen, but that kind of distance in those conditions wouldn't be fun to me.

Sorry to sound like a spoilsport - others may very well point out that I am just a big softy!

 

[west coast traveller]

The main routes in the north west rarely become impassable ( the beallach to Applecross being one exception) and the gritters are usually out on a "pre-emptive strike" at the merest sniff of cold weather (though sometimes not so frequent at weekends). The Gairloch to Ullapool road can get snowed up but clears quite quickly at lower coastal levels. It can get pretty hairy north of Ullapool when the snow arrives and it doesn't take much for some roads to resemble a ski run. One thing that often made me think twice about venturing out on the bike in near sub zero winter weather up there was the poor mobile phone signals which meant if you had an "off" summoning help could be a problem and could soon turn into a life threatening situation. Whilst the northerly roads are busy in summer, during winter, passing traffic can be very infrequent.
If the forecast is for mild weather then give it a go, otherwise I would think carefully about doing it unless there are others travelling with you .........

 

[bazman]

Go for it fella
I went a spin upto Glencoe from Annan on Sunday and back home , just to test out my GSA , temperature varied from 3-8deg , no fancy warm clothing just base layers and decent textiles. Was cold up in the hills, and the salt on the roads caked me and the bike!! But enjoyed every minute. The weather can change overnight at the moment and was 12 degrees up here today

 

[Mr Derek]

You're a braver man than I. Good luck. I'm leaving my Scotland trip until July!

 

[Vic929]

Getting bloody cold up here, like bazman says there is a lot salt on roads bloody nightmare to clean off

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Deleted account 200123001]

Thankyou guys great feedback. I may hold off booking accommodation or atleast only book accommodation that I can cancel at short notice then just watch the weather.

 

[bazman]

Lol vic929!! Feel your pain But worth it.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[beekeeper]

Hi Blue Ranger,

Post #6 is pretty much on the mark. Winds must be considered at this time of the year, they can also be very dangerous too. The part of your route between the North coast and down through Altnahara and onto Helmsdale is likely to be badly affected by snow, wind and very low temps, I cannot predict, but it may be well worth avoiding by continuing along the coast to JoG. As I live here I would not choose to do this run at the year end, however it could be immense fun on a suitable bike. You will have the road to yourself which can be good and bad, mobile connection is iffy in a lot of places.

If you do it I hope you enjoy it, me, today I leave for 4 weeks in St Lucia & The Grenadines, there I know the weather will be OK.

M

 

[Northern jock]

If you get weather like late November you're stuffed. Get weather like early December and you're laughing. But I'm hoping for winter to start. For my own winter sports selfish reasons.

Enjoy

 

[Posh Pete]

Thankyou guys great feedback. I may hold off booking accommodation or atleast only book accommodation that I can cancel at short notice then just watch the weather.

. That's the way to do it.

 

[gerarddwatts]

Can't say I'd bother going all that way this time of year...don't forget its getting dark at the back of 3. Great if you can get an hour or two close to home, but no fun if you've to trog all the way up and back. And get smothered in salt for your troubles. Not much snow in the forecast yet....

 

[taminator]

Stay in the hoose n get pished next tae a fire, best advice.

 

[sojelade]

I'm considering doing a "regain my sanity trip" over the xmas break over 3 days.

This is my planned route, main coast roads and main roads.



I'm thinking the coast roads should be largely clear of snow and the main A roads will be kept clear.

I was looking for a bit of wisdom from those who know the route well as to whether this is viable or whether I'm insane to even be considering this.

I'm not bothered about the cold or even the rain but 12" of snow even on TKC80's might be problem.

If you are that desperate for a ride then I suggest you come down south as at least you will be guarantee no snow in Norfolk. Its so good here we even go for a swim in Hunstanton beach on Xmass day. If you come this neck of the woods I will even show you some interesting roads in Norfolk. Just to add that I do bike all year round and have been caught in the past in bad snow in the highlands but it was not fun at all.

 

[waterloo700]

Bleedin' Roasting

Moray hit 17 centigrade a couple of days ago. Roads have dried out too.
OK two days earlier it was at minus 5 but the weather is all arse over tit these days. Watch the forecasts and then decide is the best advice I can offer

 

[Mongoose]

After a long trip up there one December, I remember being unable to feel my fingers or toes, was wet, desperately low on fuel and couldn't find a petrol station that opened after 9pm. Possibly the most miserable I've ever been on a bike. Mind you, like they say, there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear. The point about mobile phone signals is well worth bearing in mind. At times, I went for over an hour without seeing another vehicle, the A9 was (is??) largely unlit and there was a lot of surface crap on the tarmac from tractors etc. not to mention the possibility of hitting random wildlife. The upside was that the following morning, the weather was better and the scenery spectacular.

Enjoy!

 

[Deleted account 200123001]

Hmmm...can I get my outfit finished in time for this?

Sojelade, very kind of you to offer if getting there wasnnt so torturous Norfolk would be a great idea for some xmas respite. If my childhood memories service me well the area around Cromer was really rather picturesque in places.