Scotland's Best A to B Routes

[-Ralph-]

Seen quite a few ride reports recently of trips to Scotland, then I see people who go every year, and they always take the same routes, and it's mainly Motorways in the South and main trunk A roads in the North.

I think this might be because when you look at a map it's only really the big trunk A roads that stand out, and you look at where you are and where you want to get to, and they seem like the obvious choice. On the map everything else looks like a country lane in comparison and most people on a trip have time constraints. But this is far from the truth and there are many roads that'll get you from A to B just as quickly.

The main A roads have great scenery, but look at this stretch of the A82 approaching Glencoe for instance...

http://goo.gl/maps/Sc2ov

Straight as a road through an American desert and in the kids summer holidays, you'll either have to sit at 40mph between two caravans and enjoy the scenery, or you'll miss the scenery because you do nothing but plan one long overtake after another. Significant stretches of the A9 on the other side of the country are a similar story, but on the A9 it'll be trucks all year round, not just caravans in summer.

There's loads of threads with 'Best Roads in Scotland' where you'll find things like the A821 Dukes Pass mentioned, but knowing that a certain short stretch of road is great, is only any good if you happen to be passing that way, and you have the time in your schedule for a detour. What I aim to do here is link them together, make the detour be the schedule, and give decent routes for covering distances and getting to where you are going, but avoiding the motorways and main trunk A roads wherever possible (not always possible of course) hence the thread title 'A to B'.

One post per route, first one coming up....

[-Ralph-]

Avoiding the M74 and Central Belt. Penrith to the M9.

http://goo.gl/maps/So5Kg

If you want to jump on the M74 for the stretch from Gretna to Moffat you can do, it will save you some time vs going through Dumfries. There is a road, the B7074 that runs alongside the M74, but TBH you'd just be using for the sake of not being on a motorway. It's straight as a die, boring, and you can see the M74 for much of it. You'll just be wondering why you're sitting there at 60mph, watching the traffic on the motorway passing you and getting there quicker.

[-Ralph-]

Avoiding the M74 and Central Belt. Penrith to the M9.

http://goo.gl/maps/So5Kg

Some google streetviews from this route

http://goo.gl/maps/WV1Op

http://goo.gl/maps/9r9mc

Hartside Cafe http://goo.gl/maps/N6yVq

http://goo.gl/maps/WIHC6

http://goo.gl/maps/JN7mm

http://goo.gl/maps/FptcD

[-Ralph-]

Totally skip the usual route to Fort William, all the best rides include a ferry - Option 1

http://goo.gl/maps/4ZhF1

The Ardrossan to Campbeltown ferry only runs from May to September and you'll need to plan it into your route.

Totally skip the usual route to Fort William, all the best rides include a ferry - Option 2

http://goo.gl/maps/MYh4J

The Gourock to Dunoon ferry runs pretty much every half hour throughout the day.

http://www.argyllferries.co.uk/Download ... e-2013.pdf

Totally skip the usual route to Fort William, all the best rides include a ferry - Option 3

The McInroys Point to Hunters Quay ferry route is very similar to that above, but runs about every 20 minutes and was cheaper last time I was on it.

http://www.western-ferries.co.uk/mptimes.shtml

[-Ralph-]

Avoiding the A66, M6, M74. Scotch Corner to the M8.

Coming from the East of England but going towards the West of Scotland?

http://goo.gl/maps/4KXRI

[-Ralph-]

Avoiding the M90/A9, Edinburgh City Bypass to Dunkeld

http://goo.gl/maps/gFD8f

Straight past Knockhill, Scotlands main racing circuit, book in a track day on your way past

[-Ralph-]

Avoiding the A9, Dunkeld to Inverness

http://goo.gl/maps/er6tm

This is one of my favourite routes in Scotland.

[-Ralph-]

Are these useful guys? I'll do some more this evening if so and start to look more at the West Highlands.

[lmac]

Always usefull, I sit and do this sort of thing meself for hours for me own travels, looks like you've taken some of the work out of it, thanks .

[sprintster]

Avoiding the A9, Dunkeld to Inverness

http://goo.gl/maps/er6tm

This is one of my favourite routes in Scotland.

That the one I would have suggested.