Me and the Mrs have an opportunity to take a few days out on the bike on the 22nd - 25th (Fri - Mon) My mums going to look after the kids, but both the Friday and Monday will need to be travelling to and from our destinations, ideally with the Monday not taking all day as we need to be back for the kids about tea time. SCOTLAND: We both really liked Scotland the last time we went, although I'd like to try something slightly different this time as before we pretty much just headed fairly straight north from Glasgow e.g Loch Lomond, Loch Ness (A82 ish?) So Friday we'd have to travel from Derby, therefore first day would really just be about getting north of Glasgow again ready for the nicer stuff Saturday onwards. Its 325miles just from our house to Loch lomond so a good 5 hours including stops of fairly boring motorway we have to do Friday and Monday I'm wondering if there are any good suggestions for somewhere we can stay for more than one night in a row to use as a base and we can head out each day on some really good roads? You see last time was a different night in a different hotel as we headed further up and then down again, it's not a huge problem, but it'd be nice if we can unpack some gear so that for at least Saturday and Sunday night we can be in the same place. The killer about the Scotland trip with the Mrs is the massive journey Friday and Monday, it just makes things a little tight on time so it needs planning WALES : It's either that or we try getting a good couple of days tour out of Wales? Obviously there's less time spent with us getting across, but are there enough 'engaging' routes and scenic winding roads to last us all day Saturday and Sunday? Bare in mind that Friday we can head to a decent starting point as I can get to Cardiff within 3 hours easy Inspiration is what I need
if you chose scotland but cant be arsed heading all the way up. i would recommend getting the ferry from adrosson to brodic and staying on the isle of arran. you can get the we ferry from....cant mind the name on the opposite side over to skipness? on the kintyre peninsula. that runs all day. superb routs from there up to oban. often overlooked. Aran is a cool we island a kind of scotland in miniature. you can easily spend the day taking your time riding around. also sells the best cheese in the world. not that i am allowed any.
Not really, well...... i went round and round a few times at Anglesey but that was a track day........ if i can somehow manage to distract the Mrs so she doesn't notice we pull on track that could be an idea But in all seriousness.....no
I used to go up to Scotland every year but kids and work added pressure. Last time I went was a couple of years ago and did 1400 miles in 46 hours. Won't be doing that again! Not till I've got at least 3 clear days up there, like you say that slog up to Loch Lomond Friday and Monday takes up a big chunk of the trip. Last couple of years I've done some trips with riders from another forum and they've been excellent. North Yorkshire, based in Northallerton with a day over to lakes, around and back or up to Kielder, on in to Scotland and back. The other great one was based in Shropshire hills with a great day up through Wales to Snowdonia, and back. The previous year took in more of South Wales. Both trips had 2 full days riding aroun 250-300 miles on great roads, scenery and without the bum breaking slog up the M6. A lot of work went into route planning. I think it's easier in Wales as with Scotland also as you find good roads in all directions. North Yorkshire and Northumberland/Lakes is a bit trickier to stay on great roads but still worth it I reckon.
Me and a mate are doing the lakes and Scotland next week, we always do Wales because it's so close to me but never get bored of it Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
That sounds great Finm but I'm not sure whether we have time to account for Ferrys etc although ill check time tables. I could do with an extra evening just to get the miles done but i can't leave Thursday night due to work commitments
What about heading down from Derby towards Cardiff way, Brecon Beacons sort of area and then head upwards towards Snowdonia? Is that a good 3 days worth if we throw in a few nice landmarks/coastal bits?
For the past few years there's been a group of us go to Scotchland for a long weekend. Barring one year when the weather was glorious it's always pissed down but that has never stopped us having great rides around the highlands. It takes us a day to get up there going on A and B roads on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday are long riding days, and Monday is a relatively quick blat home using motorways and A roads. All in we tend to do around 1400 miles over the weekend.
Through Northumberland to Edinburgh, Stirling and Perthshire, possibly as far as Glenshee, Braemar and Deeside ???
You could do germany as quickly as getting to scotland, ferry from hull then holland and into the eifel region
Im a fan lof Rhyader as a base in wales. From there id do a trip right out to st davids which is beautiful, via the Elan valley, zig n zag back making sure to finish on the A44. Then id head north westish next day making sure to hit the back roads from capel curig area to machynllyth. Maybe do the big zipline in snowdonia. Good cafe at lake Bala and the gated mountain road from there towards portmadog is quite Scottish. Edit: HAving seen Bumpkins route, I can see that I'd got Capel Curig further south in my head..... Ive just been down camping to the southern end of the mountain rd to Machynllyth in Llanidloes without even realising I was there!!!!! Would have riddent aht way home if Id had my brain switched on!!!! Doh!
That was my original plan but I was only there last month on the bike so the Mrs suggested something different. I want to head back before summer is out so I'll do that without her so I can get a wriggle on Think I've got something coming together, I've been kindly offered a place to stay in Pembrokeshire on Friday overlooking the ocean. So figured I'd do that and we'll ride up the coast, snowdonia and then back home. Probably stop in Aberystwyth Saturday night, then carry up through snowdonia around the coastal Colwyn bay roads and then find somewhere in Cheshire. That'll make Monday riding home quite easy
Plus 1. Did this on the GS in May and had a great time. Loads of places to stay. Scotland, would go through Glencoe then get ferry to Strontian. Superb location.
Like finm said, you can get the ferry from Ardrossan (a good 30 miles South of Glasgow) across to Brodick on Arran. It is a beautiful island with some dramatic scenery, great walking and, if you're into it - superb rock climbing on very grippy granite (you getting this El T). You could happily burn a couple of days there coz it's a nice place to be. If you wanted more travel then you could take the ferry from Lochranza at the North tip of Arran across to Cloanaig then pick up the A83 at Kennacraig and follow it North through Tarbet, Lochgilphead, Inverary and then round to Arrochar. Your only half way up Loch Lomond at this point and I don't think you'd be disappointed by the trip.
I think it's just the time aspect of getting up and back down to derby within the 4 days, 2 of which would pretty much be taken up entirely of motorway give or take
