Cycling Scottland Summer 2012

Cycle Route Forum > Scotland Forum >
Corrado 04 Jan 16:34  

Joined: 04 Jan 2012

Posts: 9

Bike:

My name is Corrado. I'm Italian, I live in Barcelona and I just love cycling.
Every Summer I always take a couple of weeks off to do some mountainbiking. Usually long distances susch as The Camino de Santiago: from the French Pyrienees to Santiago and further on to the Galizian coast.

But next Summer 2012 I really wanted to organize a 2 weeks trip around Scottland, and I'm lloking for general information about routes, accomodation etc.

Please, as it's going to be a self made trip, as I usually do, if you have any tips or sugestion, or you are planning something similar, do not exitate to contact me at corradosannaspain@hotmail.com


Thanks

Corrado


Corrado 06 Jan 23:02  

Joined: 04 Jan 2012

Posts: 9

Bike:

If anyone is planning to do something like this, and wouldn't minda getting together to organize it, just let me know.

Cheers, and enjoy cycling


skiad1 22 Jan 16:37  

Joined: 09 Dec 2011

Posts: 70

Bike:

My Profile 		Coming from Scotland, and having toured extensively here and abroad, I might be able to help. Are you looking at on-road or off-road? In 2 weeks, on a road-based set-up, and given fair weather(always a gamble here!), you could expect to see much of our land. I'd look to ride up one side and down the other(again, weather patterns between east & west may decide which is the best choice over 2 weeks). My own route would take in the Outer Hebrides, Durness-Thurso, Inverness-Perth via Braemar, then? Depends how much time's left. Off-road routes, suitable for loaded touring, I'd put at the Great Glen Way as other off-road routes,e.g. West Highland Way, are too sketchy with a 2 week load, though I'm sure others might disagree......

Best of luck!


Corrado 28 Jan 14:48  

Joined: 04 Jan 2012

Posts: 9

Bike:

Excellent, mate!

I'll take it into account. But,yet...got so many things to organise that much depends really on accomodation, time... I'd really like to manage visiting the whole country, islands too, and my original idea was cycling mainly off-road, load up with my rear bags only.

I'll be in touch, and if you have any other tips...or even track you can share, I'd appreciate

Bye now
Corrado


skiad1 28 Jan 16:33  

Joined: 09 Dec 2011

Posts: 70

Bike:

My Profile 		Hi Corrado, no problem, you're very welcome. You could try searching the internet for 'touring off-road in Scotland' but what I know of our off-road routes, I think you'd be struggling to do something like the West Highland Way, loaded, even if it is just rear panniers, esp. if you're carrying camping kit too. Again though, google it and see what comes up. We really(as far as I know) only have the WHW, Great Glen Way and the Southern Upland Way. Perhaps there're off-road sections you could factor in to your route but my tours have always been on-road so couldn't help you there with routes which are part on, part off, road. If it's summer, beware the midgies(google it)......

Regards,

Adrian


Corrado 28 Jan 23:04  

Joined: 04 Jan 2012

Posts: 9

Bike:

Hi there, Adrian

thanks once again for the helpful tips. I'll be starting soon searching infos and alternative routes, both road and off-road.
By the way, where you from?

Keep in touch

Corrado


threescorpion 29 Jan 20:52  

Joined: 11 Mar 2010

Posts: 3

Bike:

i would recomend the Peebles are , about a 1/2 hour drive south of Edinburgh there are purpose built forset tracks or look up sevenstanes . 7 diferent large forest parks with good mountain bike routes , this includes Innerliethen where mountain bike champion comps are held quite often


skiad1 29 Jan 21:11  

Joined: 09 Dec 2011

Posts: 70

Bike:

My Profile 		Hi Corrado, I live in a small town in Fife, Scotland. Don't know when you're planning your tour but I suspect it's the summer and I'm usually away at le tour/touring Europe for 5 weeks in the summer. Otherwise, I'd offer to meet up/put you up, should you be pasing this way on your tour. I remember having to ride into Barcelona from Villdecans(where I was camping) along a very busy & very large dual(but for some stretches quad) carriageway, past the airport and the port! Made for a very interesting few rides while I was camping there!


Corrado 30 Jan 18:26  

Joined: 04 Jan 2012

Posts: 9

Bike:

Hi, Andy!

Cool...so you are pretty familiar with the Barcelona surroundings.
I know the road you mean, it's alway very busy and dangerous, but always full of roadbikers 'cos it links Barcelona with Sitges..
I live in a small village up the mountains, 44 kms away from Barna (barcelona) very close to the Mountain of Montserrat, fantastic area for cycling both MTB and Road.

About my Bike Journey 'round Scottland, yes! you right,as usual I'm planning to do do it in the Summer: I always leave when I'm off from work which is from July until beginning of September.
Every Sunmer I usually cycle "The Camino de Santiago" starting and ending up my trip from different points of the Pyrinees(I guess you've heard about it)
But as I said, this year I wanted to cycle around Scottland, and if possible, doing the Whiskey route: Lagavulin and so on........ "Having long been possessed with an ardent desire to see the Distilleries of Scotland...O Thou, my muse! guid auld Scotch drink"
Nice plan, isnt'it?

Soon I'll start making phone calls here and there to hace an idea of how much accommodation can cost, and above...where to stop at the end of each stage.

We'll see what happens
Thank you alwa for your tips and suggestions



Corrado 30 Jan 20:28  

Joined: 04 Jan 2012

Posts: 9

Bike:

Sorry, got confused...meant Adrian!!!


Be in touch


Sloribble 19 Feb 14:07  

Joined: 19 Feb 2012

Posts: 1

Bike:

Hi Corrado,

There are quite a few off road possibilities in the Highlands ( estate roads/forest roads/drovers roads and even some old disused tarmac roads )but I think it could be difficult to link them up to make a long continuous trip.
I lived in the Highlands for a good number of years but was mostly a roadie at the time.
One tip- cycle the Hebrides from south to north. The Islands can be exposed to strong winds and these mostly blow from the SW.
The normal road from Fort William to Mallaig is very beautiful and you can take the Ferry over to Skye.
Nice off road riding I did with 2 rear panniers included the 'Corryairack pass' (an old military road) and an old disused highway that leads from Tomdoun to Clunie. This last one is only passable if it's very dry and if Loch Loyne has a low water level because then you will be able to get over an old bridge that is usually under water.
There are many fantastic off road opportunities but like I say, expect some big road sections to link it up.
Good luck and as someone pointed out - be prepared/psyched up to meet the Midgies! They won't bother you much while you ride - but they will when you stop to eat/camp.

Roy