A few days in Scotland - tips please

[Martinl69]

I start my leave 28th and could take the scenic route north via the west coast rather than M74/A9, have a couple of days over there and head on up to Caithness when you head south. Don't want to take over your trip, I'll just go with the flow.

All sounds good to me, I'm just hoping to plod along and enjoy the sites. Where would you be thinking of joining me?

[Martinl69]

I seemed to have planned all A roads:

Dunoon A815 to Inveraray, A83 to Lochgilphead, A816 to Oban and then up towards Fort William then the A82 towards Loch Lomond.

Does anyone know these roads? Would I be better doing a route to take in more B roads? Such as:

After leaving Dunoon towards Inverary taking the B836 to the A886 then picking up the B8003 to Tighnabruaich (as recommended) and following the B8000 along the coast and back on to the A886 and on to Inveraray.

After leaving Inveraray there's then 73 which runs along Loch Awe and onto the A816 up to Oban.

If anyone knows this area, which are the better, most scenic routes to take?

[siddhartha]

After Dunoon - staying on the A815 and travelling alongside Loch Eck towards Strachur is one of my favourite routes to Inveraray, and a great scenic route with some nice bends along the loch and a few stopping places for photographs etc. The other route to Tighnabruaich is a lot of single track - which is again ok and scenic - but you will miss Loch Eck. It's short enough to travel to the end of Loch Eck and then double-back.

The Inveraray to Oban alongside Loch Awe is also a great route - and before Oban - over the Connel Bridge to Fort William - again one of my favourites. Lunch at Port Appin just off the A828 is recommended.

Another alternative is to continue from Inverarary down to Lochgilphead - and then take the A816 to Oban and from Oban to Ballachulish along the coast - excellent. From Ballachulish - the return via Glencoe to Tyndrum is majestic. At Glencoe - camp at the Red Squirrel or stay at the nearby Clachaig Hotel.

[siddhartha]

From Fort William to Mallaig - visiting the Golden Sands of Morar before reaching Mallaig is another great road - and there are campsites along the shore.

[Martinl69]

From Fort William to Mallaig - visiting the Golden Sands of Morar before reaching Mallaig is another great road - and there are campsites along the shore.

Thanks for the tips, there's some good places to visit.
I've got lots to think about, I'd like to get a good mix of roads for the few days I'm up there without trying to cram too much in.

[Irondonkey]

Just a suggestion, but couldn't you get more time off so you are not so rushed.

[Martinl69]

Just a suggestion, but couldn't you get more time off so you are not so rushed.

It could be an option but I might have to limit the trip to the area around Inveraray, Lochgilphead, Oban and then Loch Lomond on the way home.

I can always come back for another long weekend

[Skerry]

I can always come back for another long weekend

That's probably the best advice you've given yourself. Try to do too much in a short space of time and it becomes 'endurance' as opposed to 'enjoyment.' All the suggestions so far are sound, great roads and great scenery. My view nowadays on travelling/exploring is just to see a road, turn down it to see what's there rather than have a set route.

As for where to join up, I don't mind.

[Martinl69]

I think I'm getting there with the route, I'm now thinking of riding all the way up to Gourock to give me more time to take it all in on the Friday and so I don't have to ride past Glasgow on the Friday morning. I'll set off around 3pm on the Thursday and hopefully get there for about 8/9pm after a couple of coffee stops.

There might be a few last minute diversions if I see something interesting but it hopefully going to go something like this, with a rough idea of mileage.

Thursday
Warrington - Gourock - 230 miles

Friday
Gourock ferry to Dunoon
http://www.western-ferries.co.uk/genfares.shtml

Dunoon to Tighnabruaich (A815, B836, A886, A8003)- 22 miles
Tighnabruaich - Otterferry (B8000) - 13 miles
Otterferry to Inveraray (B8000, A886, A83) - 36 miles
Inveraray to Lochgilphead (A83) - 25 miles
Lochgilphead to Oban (A816) - 38 miles

Saturday
Oban to Ballachulish and Glancoe (A828) - 50 miles
Ballachulish to Tyndrum (A82) - 35 miles
On to Loch Lomond and ride the surrounding areas
Stay over somewhere in South Loch Lomond

Sunday
Leisurely ride back

I'm hopefully going to find some biker freindly B&B accomodation and book beforehand.

This is my first trip away on the bike and I'm excited just planning the route, can't wait.

Thanks for all the suggestions, it would have been a 5000 mile trip if I'd packed in all the destinations! But there might be a few diverted visits along the way if time allows.

I'm already thinking of touring the Isle of Mull next time.

[Pablo]

I can always come back for another long weekend

That's probably the best advice you've given yourself. Try to do too much in a short space of time and it becomes 'endurance' as opposed to 'enjoyment.' All the suggestions so far are sound, great roads and great scenery. My view nowadays on travelling/exploring is just to see a road, turn down it to see what's there rather than have a set route.

As for where to join up, I don't mind.

Here here. You can't do it all, just enjoy the route you've chosen. The of the places suggested are worth the effort, but they will all still be there for later.

Safe trip