Scotland , Ireland July----2006

[gsamboo68]

Hi Guys

I am an Australian who will be travelling in Scotland and Ireland and also Britian in from mid July 2006. I am intending to buy an ols xtz60 or Honda Africa Twin from around London and then Head off in some direction, probably towards Ireland first up.

Was wondering if anybody knows of a bike place that may do a BUY BACK plan were i buy a bike from them and they guarantee to buy it back when i return to Australia at a price as long as it is maintained and in reasonable condition on return.

Would also be interested in places to see and things to do while i am there.

I do not have any kind of time restrictions as i will be travelling for as long as i feel like and the money lasts.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards


Guy Sambrook

[Matt Cartney]

Hı Guy
Scotland has some great rıdıng (ıf the weather holds!) Id go as far up the north west coast as possıble. The further north you get the better and wılder ıt gets. Theres lots of good campsıtes and B&Bs. Top tıps are: Arran, Skye, The Oban road, Glencoe (and the Clachaig Inn), the pie shop in Lochinver, Sandwood Bay, and then you could come down the East, through the Cairngorms, over Glenshee to perth and finally Edınburgh.
Matt

[XRM]

I would need to agree with Matt, although I'd add the Western Isles and Orkney for a bit of history.

I'll be home in July, so if you need info ......

Rob

[Stephano]

Originally Posted by gsamboo68

I do not have any kind of time restrictions as i will be travelling for as long as i feel like and the money lasts. any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards Guy Sambrook

Guy
I'll be in the UK in the summer and can offer you a free bed or a place for your tent to keep your costs down. I'm 12 miles from beautiful Lincoln Cathedral, one of Europe's greatest Gothic buildings (where part of The Da Vinci Code was recently filmed). It's on the way up North or back down the A1 from Scotland. Enjoy your holiday.
Stephan


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Cathedral

[gsamboo68]

Originally Posted by Matt Cartney

Hı Guy
Scotland has some great rıdıng (ıf the weather holds!) Id go as far up the north west coast as possıble. The further north you get the better and wılder ıt gets. Theres lots of good campsıtes and B&Bs. Top tıps are: Arran, Skye, The Oban road, Glencoe (and the Clachaig Inn), the pie shop in Lochinver, Sandwood Bay, and then you could come down the East, through the Cairngorms, over Glenshee to perth and finally Edınburgh.
Matt

Hey Matt

Thanks heaps for the info. You certainly look like a seasoned traveller.
How far into your trip are you at the moment.

any ideas on camp sites around Scotland, which book might be worth looking at or a decent map.

Have you ever done any touring in Ireland aswell. I am really keen to get over there and have a good look around.

thanks again

Guy

[gsamboo68]

Originally Posted by XRM

I would need to agree with Matt, although I'd add the Western Isles and Orkney for a bit of history.

I'll be home in July, so if you need info ......

Rob

Rob

thanks for your reply also.
any info you could give me would be great.
my resources will be limited. probably even will be needing to find some work while i am about.
any suggestions on cheap places to stay camp sites hostels etc and even any kind of work opportunitys would be great.

Thanks for your help.
you can email me direct on gsamboo68@hotmail.com

thanks again

Guy

[Matt Cartney]

Hı Guy,
There's a lot of good campsıtes in Scotland, most are marked on the 'Ordnance Survey' tourıst maps you can buy. There is a good set of three, one covers the North West, one the North East, and one the south. Sıtes that sprıng to mınd are Slıgachan on Skye and one ın Sutherland called Caırntoll (I thınk). There ıs a websıte I forget the name of whıch has a comprhensıve lıst of sitesand links etc.
However' if you want to cut costs recent legislation has saıd you can camp anywhere you like on uncultivated or 'wild' land. Just stay out of sight as some landowners are not too happy about the new access laws!
In bad weather theres also loads of B&Bs all over the hıghlands. You can buy a book called 'The B&B Guıde to Scotland' whıch ıs quıte useful. Most decent bookshops will have ıt.
I concur wıth the Orkney comment prevıous and have heard good thıngs about the western isles too. You can buy 'rover' tıckets whıch allow you passage over varying selectıons of the islands although they are not overly cheap.
Never been to Ireland I'm afraıd (one day!).
Matt
Oh, to answer your questıon I'm ın Turkey just now!

[MikeS]

I'd agree with Matts comments on scotland.

As for Ireland, my trip started in belfast, moved quickly on to donegal then down the west coast, along to cork and up to dublin and belfast again. Personally, i'd avoid the cities if you can, the best stuff for me was the west coast and sw corner (ring of kerry etc). We were lucky though as the weather was fantastic and only rained once. Plenty of campsites and great B&Bs.

cheers


mike

[Stephano]

Guy
I received your e-mail today but it seems to have taken 4 days and arrived via Grant. Some glitch in the internal system, perhaps?

I've sent some contact details to your hotmail address.
Cheers,
Stephan

[Rossa]

Hi, i wrote a few weeks ago about a route up the west of ireland but i see now it didnt arrive, im still low tech when it comes to computers, prefer to be knee deep in muck,
as we say the west is the best, the route i would take is as follows;
from swansea to cork, south to west cork an over the hills to kerry, lovely, up to north kerry, tarbert an across the shannon to clare,
along up to lahinch an the cliffs of moher, inland through the burren, up to galway an connemara, lovely, westport is really nice town, through the nephins an ballina to sligo town an donegal town,
if youve time west donegal is beautiful, otherwise east along the noth coast of antrim, the giants causeway is a must, to belfast an across to Alban,
like the lads say the west of Alban is beautiful,
the islands are a must, arran, mull, skye, lewis an harris, then inland again at ullapool, from here back south to glen mor an fortwilliam then up glencoe to rannoch moor, lovely,
south along through the grampians an cairngorms if you go to edinburg, though glasgow is way more scottish, as is cork more irish than dublin,
dont bother with dublin,
the roads in Eire are pure shit so an xt will be more than enough, the africa twin is too heavy i reckon,
so thats my advice, no need for campsites either, there isnt many farmers thatll refuse you, an when they offer a cup of tea, it means a full plate of meat an spuds, an theyll have your life story out of you,
enjoy!

[Boxer]

Try this address for a range of hostels in addition to the YHA
http://www.hostel-scotland.co.uk/
I've toured NW scotland a few times on a bike. The route up the west side taking in Applecross peninsula(campsite), through Glen Torridon to Gairloch (campsite)up to Ullapool(camping in town, or a few miles north at Ardmair bay for quiet night), round the peninsula from Ullapool to Lochinver then on past Stoer (campsite) up past Scourie (campsite) and up to Tongue will give you great riding.
Note also campsites at Shieldaig and Annat (in Glen Torridon) which are ultra basic - just put a bit of money in the honesty box. Shieldaig has a public toilet a hundred yards away. Annat is near Torridon youth hostel which provides a public toilet/washbasin and a shower.
You could consider crossing the Corran ferry near Fort William then going via Loch Sunart around the coast to Mallaig, cross to Skye, do a bit on Skye, then come off over the Skye bridge to join the above route over Applecross. The Bealach na Ba over Applecross is a great pass and the ride round Applecross superb. There's a million combinations. I would keep out of the cities if it were me and go for the small roads. Have a good time.

[mustaphapint]

I'll second everything Boxer just said about the west coast of Scotland. I've lived and worked up there (in fact I camped at the Shieldaig campsite whilst I was working at Loch Kishorn) I've toured the area several times by bike since then, but it's over 20 years since I was last there. If they're still using an honesty box at Shieldaig it can't have changed much. I want to go back myself now!

[David and Cheryl Laing]

Every road in Scotland and Ireland will amaze you......but then....watch for the roads in ireland....many that are listed as senic are in actual fact bordered on both sides of the road by hedges....seems that hedges are more practical than fences.....but that means you dont see a real lot....except hedges and a slight glimpse at whatever as you pass a gateway....but then it is Ireland....how else would you expect it to be. There are lots of great youth hostels in Scotland and great camping grounds in Ireland.
Life doesnt get better than camping on the banks of Loch Lomond or circumnavigating Loch Ness. And there isnt a horrid spot on The Isle of Skye. Allow more time than you think for the isle of Skye....so easy to spend longer there.