Scotland
 

Hello,

I'm planning a trip for 1 week in may, next year to Schotland with my KTM-adventure.
Starting from Newcastle.
I like scenery roads, and (when possible) some off-road parts.
I saw 3 discribed routes on www.motorroutes.nl/prov/int/
Any recomandations ?

thanks,

Freek (Netherlands)

Hi,
Next year there's a new ferry service starting - Zeebrugge to Rosyth (near Edinburgh). Depending on your eventual route it might save you a bit of time, arriving further up the country. http://www.easywaytravel.co.uk/superfast.htm

One of the best roads/routes is the A82, passing through Glen Coe, incredible scenery.

Doug

Scotland.

Motorcycling heaven. Great roads, great scenery, few tin tops. All around the west coast is pure fun. The sun even shines all day if you go at the right time of year!

Freek,
I have to join Rocinante. The road passing through Glen Coe is really great. It brings you through the Highlands to Fort William.
Passing Lake Lomond is also pretty nice.

If you are driving up to Scotland through the UK I would plan my route going through the Lake District.
Unless you can take a ferry that takes you closer to Scotland offcourse.

For Scotland, if you are arriving Newcastle, head across toward Stranraer, then simply plan a route up the west of the country with a place called Kinlochbervie as your ultimate destination. This route takes in the best roads our country has to offer and also, the best scenery.

Hi
I'm going to Scotland myself in January so i'll let you know what I find.
Also I agree with Fireboomer,the lake district has some wonderful scenery and some of the best biking roads in the country.

------------------
Do'nt dream it, do it!

Griff,

Tried to mail you this directly but your mailadres failed.

"Are you actually going to Scotland by bike in January??? If so, think twice
about it, I went to Scotland in January two times. In each case I was
looking for pretty cold snow and winter expeditioning in the Highlands.
Great if your like this stuff. But then it's about crampons, ice-pegs,
snow-shoes,...
Can't imagin driving a bike in these potential very cold conditions for
longer then half an hour... let alone the snow and ice."


Just a thought,

Pieter Maes.
Honda Transalp 650
Belgium.

The weather can be good up here even in January, I live 60 miles North of Inverness,
The only problem at that time of year is some places close down for the Winter, and it gets dark early.
But this Morning 8/11/01 we awoke to a layer of Snow???

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[This message has been edited by badnellan (edited 08 November 2001).]

Fireboomer,
Thanks for the info,but I have done this a few times,yes you are correct,it is extremly cold,but over the years i have spent a ludicrous amount of money on gear for doing just this kind of thing cos I love riding in the snow,go figure?
As for the mail address,I'm lost,I've got mail from other people to this address.

------------------
Do'nt dream it, do it!

If you're going in May, try to see some of the Scottish Six Days Trial, run around Fort William 6-11 May, probably the world's most famous motorcycle trial.See www.ssdt.org.uk or something like that.

Have fun.

Hello everyone. I'm a first time poster on here, and saw this thread.

Freek, did you come to Scotland?
I've forgotten most of what little Dutch I had, so didn't find anything on that site you posted.

I agress that the A82 alongside Loch Lomond is a good road. You can then go North from Inverary to Fort William, or go South West onto the Kintyre peninsula, maybe even taking a ferry to Arran if you have time.

If you want to do some off-road, then when you come from Newcastle, pass through the Borders towns of Peebles and Innerleithen. They have excellent forests there, such as Cardrona and Glentress, all managed by The Forestry Commission.

The road from Peebles North West will lead towards Glasgow, then maybe onto the A82 as described above.

Oh, and there is only one Lake in Scotland, The Lake of Menteith, the rest are Lochs.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif

Griff, did you come to Scotland?

Hi,

Thanks everyone for the tips.

I'm going the last week of may.

Is it legal to drive some forestroads in Scotland ?

I've planned a trip from Newcastle to Hadrians wall, Galashields, Balmoral castle, Aberdeen, Inverness, Ullapool, Fort William, Stirling, Selkirk, Bamburg, Newcastle.

When possible I use the small roads.

Freek (NL)



[This message has been edited by Freek (edited 06 March 2002).]

So... Does the sun shine in Scotland in May?
We are planning our shakedown ride in scotland the middle of May, after shipping the bike over from Canada. Thought we would start in an english speaking country and practice driving on the other side of the road.will head up to Fort William (if) the weather cooperates, will it?
Cheers Cameron

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Freek, in England there are BOATs and RUPPS
Byways Open to All Traffic
- and -
Roads Used as Public Paths

These don't exist in Scottish Law.
Technically, there is no trespass law in Scotland, but if a landowner _asks_ you to leave, you should.
Basically, if in doubt, ask the landowner nicely first.
If you get an angry landowner, plead ignorance http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

A lot of decidouous forests have been replaced by coniferous forests, in the drive to bring in money from the wood quicker, so you may have to ask if there is any logging at that time.
If there is, it's usually confined to a section of the forest, leaving other firebreaks open.

You don't mention how you are going from Galashiels to Balmoral. Consider going over the Forth Road Bridge, to get a good view of The Forth Bridge.
Also consider the East coast road, A92, as you mention smalller roads. This will take you through some towns that will sell you some good seafood if you like that kind of food.

Cameron...
The saying in Scotland is "If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes" :-)

Take clothing for every eventuality.
Today, visiting a motorcycle show near Edinburgh, there was snow in the morning, rain in the afternoon, and bright sunshine in the evening.

Fort William is a good base camp.
Fort William, translated from Gaelic to English and shortened, is "The Garrison".
If you are adventurous, climb Britain's highest mountain, which probably pales in comparison to your ones. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

Again, go prepared if you do, because as Billy Connolly says, the mountain rescue are sick of rescueing people from the top in khaki shorts and sand shoes.

Hope it goes well folks

Thanks for your advise.
I indeed planned my trip over Forth bridge.
From there I want to go to Perth and Blairgowrie , where I want to visit a couple that I met on a flight to Miami 14 years agoo.(with a 28 hour delay in London, thanks to Virgin airways)

Freek (NL)

[This message has been edited by Freek (edited 11 March 2002).]

Thanks Scottydog,
I know travelling in constant sunshine is a myth, but one can always hope.
Climbing Ben Nevis is on the list, a good chance to stretch the legs, and I never underestimate any mountain, as they have a way of humbling the unprepared.
Do you know if there is a good safe place to park while we are climbing Ben Nevis or is it best to leave the bike in Fort William and get a ride out?

Cameron,
It was about 4 years ago a group of us mountain biked in the area, including Ben Nevis, but thinking back...
There are two routes up. The most travelled one is on the south side. On this side, near the base, there are campsites with washroom facilities, shops, and you could put the bike in here, asking nicely if they would watch them.

The other route is marked on the map with a Mountain Rescue Post, on the opposite face. It has a few steeper gradients. This is the route less travelled, but was good for the moutian biking because it was a rideable gradient, with a few sharp jumps up. There are some houses at the base, which are off the main road, but you're less likely to have the bike guarded.

I suppose it's a long way of saying to take the bike to the side with the campsites, but don't leave them overnight.

A good map site is www.multimap.co.uk

[This message has been edited by Scottydog (edited 15 March 2002).]

It was a dry and even warm today, so I took a trip down to Peebles, Innerleithen and Galashiels on the bike.

I didn't stop too often, because the roads were so good, but they are posted here --> http://homepage.mac.com/scottydog/PhotoAlbum2.html

P.S. I asked at the Forestry Commision office in Glentress Forest about off-road biking.
They said Glentress has a _lot_ of new trails, but that forest is really just for walkers and mountain bikers, and too busy for motorbikes.

However, she did say that in Innerleithen, Caberston Forest (with Preisthope Hill) is recommended, and they want to develop it for motorbikes in the near future.

From past experience, this forest has less trees and more open spaces, the trails are more hard packed rock than soil, and it is quieter than Glentress.

[This message has been edited by Scottydog (edited 18 March 2002).]

I went up to Cape Wrath and the far NW of Scotland at the start of May. Fantastic! Had 3 straight days of sunshine, came home with sunburn, and some brilliant photos. It really is a beautifull place, and I would urge anyone to visit.

Iain

Hello,

Came back yesterday from Scotland.
I've travelled from newcastle to the north-coast and get south on the westcoast. I've taken the B-roads where possible.
Very nice country. It looks like Norway.(even the weather and the prices)

Freek