To enjoy CycleChat without adverts - Register now - it's free and easy!

Scotland suggestions please,i'm spoilt for choice!

Discussion in 'Touring and Expedition' started by SINGLETRACK, 22 Feb 2012.

    SINGLETRACK Member

    Hi, I have 10 days riding to fill fom either Glasgow or Fort William...ish! I will be towing a BOB and wild camping as much as possible. I would like to see the west coast, or the cairngorms,and don't mind if there is some off-road involved. The more remote the better! Anyone have any routes that they can recommend. I know there are tracks and old drovers roads all over but if anyone has any experience of some good rideable ones then please let me know and I will start planning.
    Many thanks

    theloafer Executive Member

    Location:
    county durham
    applecross..:thumbsup:

    lpretro1 Member

    Location:
    Chorley
    Train from Ft Bill to Corrour - cycle down Loch Ossian on landrover tracks and through forest to Loch Laggan. Along north shore to Ardverikie Castle ( Monarch of the Glen!) then to newtonmore. From Newtonmore via Kingussie and then quiet roads up Glen Feshie to Aviemore. Aviemore to Glenmore and through Ryvoan Pass (off road to Grantown. Head up towadrs Inverness and pickup Great Glen Cycleay back to Ft Bill!

    dalewheeler Member

    Location:
    East Sussex, TN33
    great bit of road, altough i have to admit i used a car :ohmy:

    srw AGM 2008, Dykes medal 2011

    Glasgow - Arran - Kintyre - Western Isles if you fancy - Bute - Glasgow

    We did the bit excluding the western isles from Houston in three days of cycling last "summer". Considering how close you are to several million people, even the roads near Glasgow are very quiet. There's an offroad route near the Gryffe reservoirs cutting off the busy roads which was a bit rich for a conventional tourer but which would do on a proper offroader.

    Members enjoy CycleChat without adverts - Register now - it's free and easy!
  1. The Western Isles (I lived there for 6 years ) is a nice place but the weather can be a bit of a downer even in summer. It's either wet and windy, or dry and full of midges.

    Noodley Keeper of the cockwombles

    Sounds to me as if you need to get in touch with the Rough Stuff Fellowship, George Berwick's yer man...I doubt there are many places George hasnae been in Scotland on a bike!

    http://www.rsf.org.uk/local-groups.html

    There are also links on the site to a few routes which might interest you.

    theloafer Executive Member

    Location:
    county durham
    in that case get back with your bike ...:laugh:

    peelywally Member

    thats a great site , going to be reading that later as i plan my summer trips

    theloafer Executive Member

    Location:
    county durham
    not forgetting cape wrath too..:thumbsup:

    saoirse50 Member

    saoirse50 Member

    Sorry about that non post- seems to happen if I use my work computer.
    Anyway, I was going to say, I have done quite a bit of touring in Scotland and if it's your first trip, and you have ten days, I would start in Fort William rather than Glasgow. I would get the Camusnagaul ferry to Ardgour if it's running, or the Corran ferry if it's not and ride through Ardgour, down the Kingairloch road by Loch Linnhe, then round Loch Sunart to Salen and Acharacle, on up through Moidart to Lochailort, around the coast road to Arisaig (there are some lovely campsites right by the sea here, or you can find wild pitches. I have done both. From Arisaig you can head to Mallaig and get the ferry to Skye. Head up the east side of Skye and take the bridge back to the main land. Now you can head up the little roads to Stromeferry and thence northwards to Lochcarron, Shieldaig, Torridon, (you could detour to Applecross if you wanted, but the main road is also beautiful and not really busy). I don't know your daily mileage when touring, but by this time, even if you are only a 30 mile a dayer you will have seen some amazing countryside and still have a few days left to get even further north towards Ullapool and Durness. I think it's about 300 miles that way from Fort William to Durness- without the Applecross (or any other peninsular detour).
    There are dozens more options, but if it's your first time there (I'm not sure if you said so or not) that's what I'd go for.

    Brandane Executive Member


    Recommended reading for you:

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scotland-Mountain-Biking-Wild-Trails/dp/1906148104

    As you would expect from the title, it is a guide to mainly off road routes; but might give you some ideas.

Share This Page