Hello Amy
Sorry for the delay in replying but day to day life just took over for a while !
Anyroads, good to see things have progressed but I'm slightly confused as to the lower half of the route Amy/Grahame. I thought that the idea was to be reasonabley near to the coast on the route, and whilst the A76 is fun ( A75 is however pretty boring tbh ) it's no where near the coast. Going as far as Newton Stewart and then taking the 714 to Girvin would be more in keeping if that's the idea. From there the A77 is a great road up to Ayr, If not then no matter.
More importantly though, the A71 after Kilmarnock is dull as ditchwater dual carriageway, and the 737 isn't really any better though it has
some single lane. If you're dead set on the M8 and Erskine Bridge (yawn) as opposed to the dead exciting Hunters Quay ferry (between £3.50 and £6) and then up to A815 to join the A83 at Glen Kinglass (yipee) then there are better options to get to the Erskine Bridge <yawn> but definately forget using the a726 no matter what. That'd be like thinking the A4 from Hounslow in is going to be scenic ! It's residential 30/40mph, much longer and crap. If time is
that tight then M77 to the bottom, double back onto M8 out to Erskine (yawn) Bridge.
The route looks pretty good apart from that !!
though I'd be tempted to come off the A83 and take the A819 at Inveraray over to the A85 and then up to Fort William as before. Certainly if you're running late this will save a fair bit of time without removing too much from the route the way the A82 would.
Anyway now I've ripped your plan to shreds,
I'm still game to come along if you'll have me. When are you thinking of hitting Gretna on the day ? If you're sticking with the A75/A76 then I'll probably meet you just south of Dumfries and bring you round the bypass onto the A76. Hope your man got a bike sorted yet ??
Let me know. . . . .
Toodle Pip
PAul