Scotland With My Son

[Kebabmonster]

Maybe a bit early to be posting this considering we don't leave until this weekend but thought I'd post up our route as a precursor and a bit of background into our trip.

My son is now 14. Around the beginning of last year, I decided it would be cool for me and him to have a few days on the bike in Scotland, tent and sleeping bags in tow. Now when I first decided this, he hadn't really been on the back of the KLV much (a few short trips to the bike shops in town etc). We then did a few trips up to Hartside and back (a total of about 120 miles a trip), and he was sound.

Then about 3 weeks before we were due to head to Scotland, the wife came in and said he was in tears. I knew without asking that he didn't fancy the 4 day gig. So, after a bit of calming him down, asking what the problem was (he was worried about how far we were going, and in case anything happened, I told him the roads would be empty the higher up we went), and the promise of a new helmet for him before we went, he agreed we'd head to the Red Squirrel Campsite at Glen Coe on the Saturday, and if he didn't like it, we'd come home on the Sunday morning. I knew the trip was safe if I'm honest.

On the Sunday, I asked him whether we head North as the plan, or South and go home. North was the reply Well, we had a magic time, something we will both look back on when we're old and say it was one of the best things we've ever done.

So, this year I thought I wasn't going to fit another trip in due to us having a family holiday in August. Then one day in February, I was sitting at work doing some mundane completions on the computer, and my mind started wandering to Scotland. So I came in that night, asked him if he fancied another run up (6 days/5 nights this time instead of 4/3 last time), and he said yes. So the planning then started.

Here are my currently planned routes (I hope these links work):

Day 1:

https://goo.gl/maps/hvhPcu2inSu

Day 2:

https://goo.gl/maps/dQc8jT63wB92

Day 3:

https://goo.gl/maps/ZQK4cyrKm7S2

Day 4:

https://goo.gl/maps/WSGYZg5M4BM2

Day 5:

https://goo.gl/maps/kaY2xYVpgT12

Day 6:

https://goo.gl/maps/Ns7pXvUc5Dm

The last night we may go B&B, not sure I can hack 5 nights of tents and sleeping bags

So, hopefully the links work, feel free to peruse the routes at your leisure with comments of places of interest etc, and I'll do a poper write up with pics when we get back.

Cheers for looking.

Andy

[sprintster]

You should both have a great time,that's a good route you've got planned! If you're looking for a b&b near Oban I would recommend this place.I stayed here for the May Day weekend and couldn't fault it. www.hawthorncottages.com (thumbs)

[Brads]

Looks good


As your first and last days are almost identical I would recommend a detour.

In the Scottish borders there are a number of pretty amazing roads.

One being the ride through the Ettrick valley to Langholm and onwards to Carlisle.


Along this road is a Tibetan monastry, complete with an incredible Buddhist temple. A must see.

Also, just South of Jedburgh on the A68 is a forestry road direct to Keilder Village. £3 toll to use it but is easily driven and feels like the outback. Well worth it (as is Keilder campsite )

[Kebabmonster]

Hawthorn Cottages fully booked when I just checked mate. I'll have a look about and see what's available.

Yeah, now you mention it, the way back is a bit samey. I'll look into changing it. Cheers. My intial thought was do a few B roads in the morning, then once past Glasgow, head back the way we came as we may just want to be home asap, but I'm going to do an alternative route in case we're feeling good and the weather is fine.

Thanks for the replies.

Andy

[sprintster]

If you're passing through Alford a stop at the Grampian Transport Museum is worthwhile.
www.gtm.org.uk

[MikeC]

Have a great trip...avoid the Lancaster hotel in Oban!

[Kebabmonster]

Do copy and pastes from Flickr not show the pics on here??

There's a waste of an hour :whistle:

Damn

[Kebabmonster]

I think I need to do the IMG code don't I??

Argh!!! Muppet

[Kebabmonster]

Test

[Tonibe63]

Enjoy (thumbs)