Touring Scotland

how was it for cars?

I got pretty annoyed with the long convoys of VW clubs/twats in ferrari/aston martins/porsches that were doing it when I went round. I think there must have been about 45 VW campers with their legendary 60 horsepower that didn't really mix with passing places on single track roads and we seemed to have to wait half an hour for every day... locals must be delighted too. It is pretty glorious but made me want to stay off the beaten track on some sections.

It was pretty much deserted apart from the A9. On the first 4 days I probably got overtaken by 20 cars a day and saw about 1 other rider a day. Lots of motorbikes though, but all were pretty good.

Nice, I think I was straddling a bank holiday of some sort so maybe just unlucky-would be shit if it was like that all the time.

Definitely agree it's better missing the A9 section, rubbish/stressful road, poor camping options compared to the western side too.

agree with @Saffronspokes - avoid the east coast a9. Grim as fuck.

I ran 50/34 and 11/28 and managed - 11/32 will be fine, though with loaded panniers you might want more?

6 days is good for a relaxed pace.

Cheers @Saffronspokes that would be amazing. Considering NC500 for later summer jaunt - some much to squeeze in.

Anyone done Faroe? Most roads look good and pretty quiet. Scenery looks pretty decent.

Thanks @gillies, will start building bike, have some ideas.

@Saffronspokes thanks for heads up. It would be nice to see where to cut the route but will look around as well. A9 seems like a no go area from everyone's experience.

A9 is horrible, and the cycle route 77 somehow put you on it near Pitlochry.

Cycle route 7 is awesome that take you off the A9, bit of gravel but style great.

It's actually not that bad-probably comparable to fast B roads in Essex in terms of speed/volume-but compared to the rest of it-and the potential for other far more sublime, enjoyable routes-you're better sacking off the idea of the 'official' route, much as it's nice to say you've done it.

Even driving or taking the train along the A9 route is a bit shit, lots of trucks and cars coming from the Thurso/Dounreay and narrow windy sections following the coast. Think if I go up there again I'll train it to Thurso and go counter clockwise back to Inverness and with the prevailing winds!

It’s poor planning if you end up on the A9 from Pitlochry heading south towards Ballinluig

There are two alternative routes on either side of the river and A9

Happy to sort routes for people in this area if they coming up and the routes online aren’t clear

And also if anyone wants to stop in for a beer/tea/natter, please do as we are on NCR7

Where are you again? If I move back to Scotland I'm aiming to be in Inverness I think.

We are in Strathtay, in Perthshire.

Inverness is ace, got a few friends up there

Cycling is nearly as good as Perthshire 😝

ha! Yeah, Perthshire's pretty beautiful for riding and a bit closer to the action-hope you're enjoying it. Will just need to see where I can find work tbh!

That the one, I was puzzled by that, so did risk it until I reach Ballinluig and had a great coffee and breakfast at Nae Limits.

Incidentally I saw this memorial on the picturesque Cycle Route 7, the A9 again.

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I was just heading to Strathtay to stay the night but was having too much fun on the NCR7, that I completely missed it!

Made it to Loch Katrine instead and did a semi-wild camp there (no access to bathroom), so all is good.

Never noticed this thread before.

I'm doing this on Thursday, it's under Audax regs so we have 75 hours to complete. After LEL last year I was determined to ride more in Scotland this year as that was by far the best riding in the whole event.

The route passes through Oban twice which means so I have the luxury of a hostel for two nights rather than bus shelters, but means we have to do about 450k in the first 24 hours to make check in closing, if we manage that we will have also bags of time to complete the ride so a decent incentive.

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FML. That's some casual pootle you're taking yourself on... Oban pier near the ferry port has an immense seafood shack that should be open by now btw. Just incase you want to accompany your ride with some distinctly fishy sharts...

Wave as you go past

Oban also has a great ‘spoons on the harbour as well

Did you go along the railway line from Grandtully to Aberfeldy?

Very fashionable surfaces

Spoons are a pretty typical feature on my audaxes, so it's likely we'll end up in there!

Top tip thanks, I'm usually pretty good with food so may chance it!

Oli this is the variation I'd suggest (or something similar). Essentially NC500 clockwise past Tongue then more inland after that

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27627006

Echoing 'spoons and seafood recommendations. The Wetherspoons is sadly probably the best pub in town. Extraordinarily cheap ale/whisky in there, you can actually buy the Oban whisky cheaper by the dram in there than in bottles at the distillery on occasion.

Don't eat seafood myself but many of my friends have eaten there and all of them sing its praises (I had to ride around to find a crap supermarket sandwich whilst they were feasting on this nice fresh food, was rather jealous)

Look out for a fat chap on a pink bike next week probably be hung over the bars regretting a lot of things.