Author Topic: First biking/camping trip scotland (Read 6113 times)

esetest · « **on:** 28 June 2013, 10:15:32 pm »

Finally booked it , going to Scotland for 4 nights from the 3rd August , staying at Glen Nevis camp site near Fort William , I am riding up from Bristol , I am wondering Bristol to Fort William in 1 day 500 miles and 9 hours according to google or leave on the 2nd august and stop overnight in a hotel near the Scottish border and do the rest of the journey next day, furthest I have been on a bike is 200 mile round trip . Planning to go to Loch Ness , John o Groats, Stirling , Edinburgh . Advice appreciated .

Andy FZS · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 June 2013, 10:20:34 pm »

Good luck remember to take plenty of pictures so we can all enjoy it when you get home.

andybesy · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 June 2013, 10:27:05 pm »

I'd suggest you stay and do it over two days.

500 miles is do-able but it's pushing it and you won't enjoy the riding so much as more comfortable chunks.

There's also a risk that if you get very sore it may take some days to really recover, affecting rest of the trip

But if you decide you want to blitz it can be done, trickt is regular stops before you start to get sore se not after, and just take your time, steady progress don't rush it

Ian-man · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 June 2013, 10:29:50 pm »

500 miles on your first day sounds a lot, especially if 200 is your previous max,
There must be plenty of places near Hadrians wall area and the borders that you could stop.
It would be a shame to knack yourself on your first day.

red98 · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 June 2013, 09:44:10 am »

yep as above....two days....iam doing a simular trip at same time,going up the east coast across the top and down the west also stopping at fort william......be great to meet ...........

Looney tune · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 June 2013, 09:45:30 am »

If it were me and I had the extra day option, I would use it. If your plan is to get to F William via motorway / quickest route then Moffat would be your best place for an overnighter. It's a popular spot for bikers with plenty guest houses to shop around with or the Buccleuch hotel is very bike specific with individual bike garages if I remember correctly. This will be roughly a 5 hour trip depending on stops, wake up fresh and energised and Glasgow is not to far from where you are. Then its onto the good bits to Fort William

Whatever you do I hope the weather is kind and you have a great trip and DON'T forget your skin so soft !!!!

Russ

unfazed · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 June 2013, 11:02:06 am »

Remember it is not the length of the journey which cause any problem, it is the length of time sitting on the seat. I have coverd 900mile in 26 hours two up (Missed the boat to France from Rosslare and rode through the night to Dover to make the first night stop in Angers France) and the secret was never stay on the bike until you arse is so sore you cannot get off. I usually time my stops with pertol fills (220 mies) and take a good walk around, have a cup of coffee or tea, a danish pastry(standing) and a trip to the loo before getting back on the bike.
My only advice for your camping in Scotland is to take plenty of midge repellent.
There are 38 species of midge in Scotland, 5 of them bite humans and there are billions of the little focckers there.
Enjoy it is a great place in good weather.

stevierst · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 June 2013, 11:08:05 am »

Get yourself a pair of padded cycling shorts, they help a little too, especially with you doing several days at a time. Enjoy, Scotland biking is ace! I keep promising to return. I met some of the friendliest bikers ever up near fort William.
And don't forget to wave! Its friendlier than a nod.

noggythenog · « **Reply #8 on:** 29 June 2013, 11:47:35 am »

500 miles is a long way.i do 500 in the car from South Wales to Fife, Scotland.Non stop, with no delays & around the speed limit equals a 9 hour trip with stops only being to take a piss & go again.
I'd second a stop in Moffat, it's kinda convenient as more or less the end of the Motorway slog & it's a nice place, get yourself into the massive Moffat Toffee Shop for some old school sweeties & wake up fresh the next day to enjoy Scotland.From Moffat theres the A701 - a cracking little road that takes you to Edinburgh, not far along it is the Devils Beef Tub, a natural Hollow within the hills where cattle thiefs used to stash their goods.
Also running almost parralel to the A701 is the A702, still a nice road, still to Edinburgh, however much busier with traffic as it is the main posted road whereas the A701 is signed 'scenic route'.You would no doubt miss these roads if you went direct in a day.Also that's to Edinburgh but to get to Stirling you may want to take a different route from Moffat & go back on the motorway but i cant recall as i never go wales to Stirling.

MikeRBiker · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 June 2013, 01:19:09 pm »

When you're up here don't miss the diversion from Glencoe to Kinlochleven to Ballachulish. 17 miles of biking bliss as many here will agree.
The A7 from Edinburgh to Carlisle is also nice to ride if you're looking for a fast alternative to the A701/702 options

esetest · « **Reply #10 on:** 29 June 2013, 09:35:24 pm »

Thanks for the advice guys , i'm gonna google places to stay near Moffat and take plenty of midge repellent , it would be great to meet up Red while I am up there , email esetesting01@hotmail.co.uk to arrange something .

red98 · « **Reply #11 on:** 30 June 2013, 07:52:19 am »

Quote from: esetest on 29 June 2013, 09:35:24 pm

Thanks for the advice guys , i'm gonna google places to stay near Moffat and take plenty of midge repellent , it would be great to meet up Red while I am up there , email esetesting01@hotmail.co.uk to arrange something .

will do ESETEST.......got to get my act together and book a few stops,not long now....will email soon...enjoy your trip

jabbascot · « **Reply #12 on:** 30 June 2013, 02:41:33 pm »

mikerbiker is right best bit of road ever

loads of good roads up here and less traffic and cops are pretty fair will give a warning mosttimes unless youve been silly. watch out for radar traps in small villages so always slow down

hawkeye · « **Reply #13 on:** 02 July 2013, 05:48:35 pm »

Yer as posters have said above 500 miles in a day is a lot of riding , add at least another day and enjoy it , remember that 500 miles might be very wet riding , a group of us from south Wales did Scotland trip while ago and spread over 8 days ,was still a lot of time in the saddle and sometimes very wet , we stayed b&b and hotels , if you get wet gear when you camp consider at least one stop in same as you can then dry your kit off a bit , and dont forget Mossie repellant -Jungle formula .

esetest · « **Reply #14 on:** 02 July 2013, 09:42:58 pm »

i'm gonna be doing a sun dance between now and august , but if that don't work and it pisses down, I will probably find the nearest premier inn . Hopefully I won't make the same mistake as my brother who drove to Snowdonia with his wife & 3 kids and new tent from go outdoors , when he went to unpack it , there weren't any bars with the tent , when he phoned go outdoors to complain , they said the the bars were in a separate bag and he would have to drive back to Bristol to pick them up .

Hedgetrimmer · « **Reply #15 on:** 02 July 2013, 09:51:40 pm »

That reminds me - better get my tent out and check it over before I head to Wales. Had an interesting problem with it last year (spent two months fell-walking in the Lake District). I camped for a few days in a little wood, and kept finding tiny little holes in the silnylon fabric - was told that tree sap can do this. I hope it hasn't spread since being packed away again!

esetest · « **Reply #16 on:** 07 July 2013, 03:04:59 pm »

Hi all , nearly ready for the trip to Scotland, as a glass half empty person, could any Scottish members recommend bike mechanic/garages in case the bike breakdowns , I've upgraded my AA just in case , I've also booked into a hotel in Moffat for the Friday night ,to break up the journey .

Grandma · « **Reply #17 on:** 30 July 2013, 07:39:07 pm »

How did you get on? Only just seen this, as regularly rode from Sevenoaks to Crianlarich on the R1 similar mileage in one day, with stops every 100 miles for wee & tea plus top up fuel. Stayed at lovely biker friendly B&B just outside Crianlarich, very peaceful and huge cooked breakfast.
[/size][/color]Long day and knackering, but worth it to spend a week exploring the Highlands, with lovely empty roads.[/font]
[/size][/color]Recently competed in Somerset Advanced South Western Rally on Fazer 8, same mileage, but longer day, as had to keep stopping to find clues and have card stamped, but more comfy than R1, plus I was able to leave luggage at B&B.[/font]
[/size][/color]Fazer 8 is amazing, even enjoyed a couple of 20 mins around Brands Hatch Indy and looking forward to another go on August 19th, as Kent Fire Bike holding another Rider Skills Day[/font]

esetest · « **Reply #18 on:** 30 July 2013, 09:59:38 pm »

I'm leaving Bristol , Friday morning at 8am , planning to stop every 2 hours , and hope to get to Moffat hotel early evening . Packed the luggage tonight , checked , adjusted and cleaned the chain , hoping to clean the bike before Friday , flat out busy with work at the moment . Nervously looking forward to my first proper road trip .

red98 · « **Reply #19 on:** 31 July 2013, 09:37:48 pm »

hi esetest.iam in inverness.your golng to love the roads up here.well worth the treck up here.if you still want to meet up text me using the number on the left.ill be down the west coast on friday

noggythenog · « **Reply #20 on:** 01 August 2013, 09:39:19 am »

Hey red - is that the Tomintoul road, looks familiar from my recent trip up there.
it was awsome!!!

budgiemurray · « **Reply #21 on:** 01 August 2013, 11:01:44 am »

I second the carlisle to edinburgh by the a7. Thats my haunt. Motorway to stirlings pretty boring from there take the callander road to ft william.. The a9 is boring and droll. Frim ft william to inverness past loch ness. A9 to john o groats.
Head east for durness then south to inverness andft william again.

If time allows head for north ballachulish and take the oban loop back to tyndrum ( green welly stop) continue on to crainlanarch and take the loch lomand road south to glasgow.. After that your back onto boring roads again..

Budgie

bigbluebear · « **Reply #22 on:** 01 August 2013, 11:48:22 am »

Quote from: budgiemurray on 01 August 2013, 11:01:44 am

I second the carlisle to edinburgh by the a7. Thats my haunt. Motorway to stirlings pretty boring from there take the callander road to ft william.. The a9 is boring and droll. Frim ft william to inverness past loch ness. A9 to john o groats.
Head east for durness then south to inverness andft william again.

If time allows head for north ballachulish and take the oban loop back to tyndrum ( green welly stop) continue on to crainlanarch and take the loch lomand road south to glasgow.. After that your back onto boring roads again..

Budgie

He could take the A76 from Kilmarnock to Dumfries and then the A75 to Gretna, as Killie is only 15 minutes up the A77 from Glasgow........much better than the M74

budgiemurray · « **Reply #23 on:** 01 August 2013, 11:53:17 am »

Good idea yeah bigbluebear. Dont know that area well but anythings better than motorway

Budgie

esetest · « **Reply #24 on:** 01 August 2013, 07:42:40 pm »

Hi Red , leaving Bristol tomorrow morning , should be in Fort William Saturday morning , I will give you a text when I get there , what's the weather like up there , its supposed to be cooler with showers tomorrow all the way up , the bikes all cleaned and ready to go .