Hi all.

Been a guest reader for a couple of years and now my bike touring life is on the up I thought I’d officially join.
Originally a suvvener I’ve been living in Bonny Scotland for 25 years now and loving every minute. Every time I go down south to visit the family it makes me realise how lucky I am being a biker in Scotland, especially living in the Scottish Borders (Moffat road and half a dozen brilliant shorter roads on my doorstep).
Current owner of a few bikes (VFR800, Suzuki B King, ZRX1100) I would be embarrassed to compare myself to quite a lot of you in the adventure biking experience, but hope to change that for my remaining biking years.
My experience so far includes a fair few weekenders all over Scotland and one main trip to Italy/South of France on my DL650 V-Strom 2 summers ago. Annecy back to my then home in Dunfermline in 26 hours without sleep (Not recommended and never again)
This year myself and my mate are off to Switzerland and South Germany for 15 nights. I’ll be taking the VFR800. Starting and finishing in Amsterdam (Ferry to and from Newcastle)
After that I intend to stretch my Horizons (See what I did there ;.) to Eastern Europe/Turkey, Baltic Circle or North Africa over the next few years and then further afield once my one year old daughter is grown up.
I started my round the world savings account two years ago ready for going for it in 10 years time. Currently plan to do it on a Honda Dommie (Of the mindset that less electronics is the way to go after reading some threads on here). Plan is to sell my 08 DL650 soon and then with that buy and fund the add ons for a Dommie (Acerbis tank with oil cooler, upgrade suspension, strengthen subframe etc. thanks to the threads on here).
Can’t offer much advice that has already been said but if anyone wants to know any of the best roads and places in Scotland just let me know. Apart from the Western isles and Shetland/Orkney I’ve been pretty much everywhere else.

Looking forward to many posts and some banter on here.

Cheers.

Tommo.

Hi Tommo, welcome to the gang. A very useful site indeed.
I did the above crossing a few years ago. I was at a petrol station not far from the ferry in Newcastle and I got talking to a couple of Dutch bikers who were returning home after a trip to the UK. When I said I was getting the boat to Amsterdam one of them seemed to take great offence and in a manner akin to that of a police officer he informed me that the boat went from Newcastle to Ijmuiden, and NOT Amsterdam. I told him it was still Amsterdam to me and he wasn't best pleased! lol
Good luck with your planned trip. Am I right to assume you're going to do the Stelvio Pass? If so then I envy you even more!

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"Life is too short to drink cheap wine!"

Hi Tommo.

I am sure you will find a wealth of knowledge and experience on this site....I did!!

Ideal if you are planning and setting out on a trip to somewhere you may not have been to before.

I prob live not a million miles away from you as was in Moffat on Sunday. Brekky up on the Loch (now the rd has reopened) then Farmers market in the town.

Ali

Thanks Chris, i'll remember that when I speak to the locals on the ferry. Yip, doing Stelvio and many other passes. Rough plan is
Overnight in Dachau to visit the Dachau Concentration camp memorial site
Besucherinformation - KZ-Gedenkstätte Dachau

Lindau for a few days
Bormio for a few
Interlaken
Freiburg
last night in Amsterdam to finish in style

Hi Ali, the cafe at St.Mary's Loch and the rumblin tum in Moffat are our cafe's of choice. Moffat/Beeftub down and Grey Mare's tale/St.Mary's Loch back (Or Vice versa) is the usual route down there.

Thanks for the replies.

Hi I just signed up too and also from Scotland. Maybe see you around.

Cheers Steve, up for a rideout anytime.

Hellcome if you pass in Portugal just call

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VIKING RAVENS - VFFV

Haven't done much riding in the borders so I'll be down that way soon.

Greetings! I live in Melbourne now but originally from Kilmarnock. I really do miss biking in Scotland; so much variety of roads. Tibbie Shiels Inn was always a good place for an overnighter in your area!!

Welcome from Spain, we went to a wedding last summer in Scotland, really lovely place and roads, good luck with your trip, if you are riding in the area, you are welcome,.Fernando.