Moto Guzzi Club GB Forum: A week in Scotland

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lucas
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Topic: A week in Scotland
Posted: 25 Jun 2012 at 21:30

Planning a week in Scotland on the California in a couple of weeks, going solo as just split up with the girlfriend.

I have a VW T4 so was thinking of taking that with the Cali in the back at least to Glasgow ( I live in Leamington spa) and doing a few day/ overnighters in b and b's etc...

Any advice/guidance?

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theone&onlymin
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Posted: 25 Jun 2012 at 23:06

Leave the VW behind.

theone&onlymin

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Cleveland
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Posted: 25 Jun 2012 at 23:50

Originally posted by theone&onlymin

Leave the VW behind.

theone&onlymin

Seconded

Manx Guzzi Riders
'89 Le Mans V & '90 1000SP III

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Mad Farquhar
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Posted: 26 Jun 2012 at 05:32

Getting into school holidays up here. Plenty of Dutch and German tourists to watch out for - driving on wrong side of road and stopping in the weirdest of places. In the remoter areas be careful at weekends (Sunday) of getting fuel and even Mondays if remote stations have taken a hammering. If it's nice weather on the east then the west is generally less so and vice versa. Check out this

Sport 1100 inj, Triking, ST 1100, V7 Stone

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lucas
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Posted: 26 Jun 2012 at 07:59

Thanks chaps!

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rbt1548
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Posted: 26 Jun 2012 at 07:59

As Mad Farquhar states "beware of the German & Dutch tourists on the wrong side of the road/ parking!", he is NOT joking!!!!!.

Round a blind bend or over the crest of a hill is usually their favourites.

My family are from the West coast Ardnamurchan area which is full of single track roads, if you are not used to riding on them just take your time and watch out for the gravel in the centre and edges of the road especially if you have to take quick action and get to your side quickly. Oh aye!, and if there's something behind you that wants past, let it past! pull into passing place and let it past, only takes about 2 secs; a lot of people dawdle along taking in the sights with a queue of traffic behind them, some people have work/ school / pub etc., to go to.

The roads should not be too busy at this time of year as the schools are on holiday from Friday, but going into late July /early August the rest of the UK's schools get their hols so it can get busier then, this is a good time to go.

Unmarked police bikes round the A82 Crianlarich/ Tyndrum area, try and avoid The Green Welly shop and food area it's expensive aimed at the tourist market. Just going on about 10 or 12 miles from Crianlarich, at the top of the Black Mount there is a good burger van with great views.

Watch for muppets on sports bikes howling round corners on the Loch Lomond roads trying to overtake everything.

Just enjoy it at your own pace, I'm sure you will!

Any other questions just ask, somebody will have the answer.

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KenH
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Posted: 26 Jun 2012 at 09:18

Take waterproofs. It's monsoon season from June to September.

Oh look ..... a squirrel !

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iandunmore
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Posted: 26 Jun 2012 at 10:05

Originally posted by KenH

Take waterproofs. It's monsoon season from June to September.

And then from October to May it is the rainy season.

MK111 Le Mans not for sale. One careless owner.V750 Breva, magic.North Oxfordshire.

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borderer
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Posted: 26 Jun 2012 at 10:32

And no one has mentioned the Midges.
Don't forget there is a really nice (Quiet) area in the south west. dumfries and gallowy, Galloway forest park etc few tourists and generally better weather and fewer Midges
Did anyone mention Midges?

Moto Guzzi the care in the community of motorcycles

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iandunmore
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Posted: 26 Jun 2012 at 10:35

And of course Applecross though I have heard it is not as good as it used to be.

And it has midges, but I didn't want to mention them as it might put people off.

MK111 Le Mans not for sale. One careless owner.V750 Breva, magic.North Oxfordshire.

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Cabernet
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Posted: 26 Jun 2012 at 10:46

Leammington Spa to the Buccleugh Hotel in Moffat is do able.

They give bikers a 10% discount and a private garage for you bike for the night.

Used "The Spean Bridge Hotel" which is fine.

"Torguish House" just south of Inverness is an interesting place which I enjoyed but won't be to everyones taste. Worth having a good meal before arriving and having a cold supper with you. Proper characters

Kevin,
A Kentish man in Manchester.

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guzzibear
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Posted: 26 Jun 2012 at 11:57

This is a real useful site too

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/

Edited by guzzibear - 26 Jun 2012 at 12:01

"The older I get, the better I was!"
Leics

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Cabernet
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Posted: 26 Jun 2012 at 13:31

I was up there this spring dispite snow and fuel shortages.

We found the A83 to Lockgilphead, A816 up the coast to Oban and A85 back to A82 before going over Glen Coe a good loop.

Kevin,
A Kentish man in Manchester.

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lucas
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Posted: 27 Jun 2012 at 17:14

thanks all, so helpful, im going to start working on a rough plan tonight

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rapheal glynn
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Posted: 27 Jun 2012 at 20:57

hey Lucas

have you ever visited the tiller pin ?

thats on your manor

oh and if you are touring scotland make sure its not the last week of the skool holidays its different to england

last time we got the rab c nesbit fan club on the camp site

if I had a gun I would have shot most of them !!!

take the ferry from glasgow up the clyde to to Dunoon

its magic and you can get a cup of tea and cake on board

very civilised it is

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hooters
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Posted: 27 Jun 2012 at 21:02

Originally posted by theone&onlymin

Leave the VW behind.

theone&onlymin

What he said!

Lovely country, was up there in May. Just take your time hopping from one small town to the next and enjoy the scenery. Wish I could sack off work and head up there again.

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theone&onlymin
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Posted: 27 Jun 2012 at 21:43

Just got back from 10 days on the road to Durness and back down the West Coast. Great holiday again.

This was our wee route;

Hunters Quay / Dunoon Ferry

up through Inverary to Tyndrum

Glencoe

Fort William

Loch Ness

Cut across to Muir of Ord

Dingwall

Bonar Bridge

Lexford Bridge

Kinlochbervie

Durness

Then Back Down the West Coast

Stoer Point

Lochinver

Summer Isles

Ullapool

Gairloch

Applecross

Over the Bridge to Skye ( short on time but prefer Kylhera Ferry)

Armadale / Mallaig Ferry

Ardnamurchan Point

Ferry to Mull

Fish and chips in Tobermorey on the pier

Ferry to Oban

Down the Mull of Kintyre

Tarbet Ferry

Onto Bute

Landing back at Weymss Bay

1900 miles from London return so it was. Saw every mountain top on route . Perfect weather. Apart from a couple of hundred miles monsoon South of Oban.

And for avid readers of this site there was no bang dee bang this year. Faultless so it was. Re-balanced my carbs way up north as my hands were going numb. ( I had put new throttle cables on the day before I left )

theone&onlymin

Edited by theone&onlymin - 27 Jun 2012 at 23:11

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rapheal glynn
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Posted: 27 Jun 2012 at 22:01

sounds like you had fun min

most excellent route I know it well

my sis in law ( barking mad) lives on Mull they have had a drought???

its a nic eplace to ride round and visit the islands at the bottom cnt recall theri name but very holy

John Smith is buried their

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lucas
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Posted: 27 Jun 2012 at 22:10

might just follow your route Min!

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lucas
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Posted: 27 Jun 2012 at 22:12

Yeah i have been to the tiller, not for a while though, we have many great pubs to choose from in leamington

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guzzijack
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Posted: 28 Jun 2012 at 12:31

Originally posted by theone&onlymin

Leave the VW behind

Thread hijack alert!

Going across to the Western Isles for 10 days starting next week. Wildcamping and looking to be as self-sufficient as possible, plus travelling with the dog, means not on a bike this time so will be touring in the truck.

Going to be staying in the Oban area for a night or two before Barra, Uists, Harris/Lewis then back over to Skye but totally flexible in our timings. Obviously supporting the local economies with generous consumption of alcohol, seafood etc.!

Any advice on places to head for or see?

GJ

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Cabernet
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Posted: 28 Jun 2012 at 13:05

The kennels to drop the dog off allowing you to take the bike.

Kevin,
A Kentish man in Manchester.

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iandunmore
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Posted: 28 Jun 2012 at 13:35

I have heard that the air around Sellerfields is non too salubrious.

MK111 Le Mans not for sale. One careless owner.V750 Breva, magic.North Oxfordshire.

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guzzijack
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Posted: 28 Jun 2012 at 14:55

Originally posted by iandunmore

I have heard that the air around Sellerfields is non too salubrious.

Well, we deffo won't be taking a dip in the briney at that location, that's for sure!

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iandunmore
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Posted: 28 Jun 2012 at 15:41

And don't argue with the locals, that extra arm makes them nifty in a fight.

MK111 Le Mans not for sale. One careless owner.V750 Breva, magic.North Oxfordshire.

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jim mac
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Posted: 28 Jun 2012 at 15:48

Monsoon update - it has been monsooning it down in central Scotland for past week and a bit and into middle of next week looks the same.

Suggest oilskins and wellies

Edited by jim mac - 28 Jun 2012 at 15:49

Too old to die young

Cali 1100i
T5 Polizia

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rbt1548
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Posted: 28 Jun 2012 at 16:30

Originally posted by iandunmore

And don't argue with the locals, that extra arm makes them nifty in a fight.

That's why, (according to the Imperial War Museum), the Scots have been at the forefront of every battle the the British army have won for the past 300 years.

We have two levels of tolerence.... "you are starting to P*ss me off" and "lets get the B*^%)*s"

Just ask the gentlemen who tried to bomb Glasgow airport.

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Danspics
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Posted: 29 Jun 2012 at 07:46

Have to agree with Mins route. I always stay up in the lakes on the way up to break the journey and work my way up the west coast via Mallaig and Skye then back across up to Applecross over to the East and back down.

Did it on my old Cali in '92. If you weather is with you (which it often is) it is one of the most stunning countries in the world.

Whatever you do leave the van at home...

Dan, Oxfordshire.
Le Mans II cafe racer
1100 Sport Injection
Aprilia ETV 1000 Caponord

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padgman
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Posted: 29 Jun 2012 at 14:04

Recently completed a tour which included Harris and Lewis - stayed north of the bad weather but it looks like Scotland are getting it now! Recommend campsites at Uig Bay and Ullapool. Re former; good pub next to ferry terminal (a short walk) which sells real ale brewed across road - very good but not cheap! Re latter; food and drink (more real ale at CAMRA pub) a little cheaper if you visit bars/hotel one street back from waterfront. Good wild camping on beach at Talmine, near Tongue.

The Padgman
T3C/Eldo/LM2/750S3/Granpasso

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Zecis
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Posted: 29 Jun 2012 at 15:20

Forget the VW - go up the Welsh border (Wye valley?) to Manchester, then there is a road just above the M62 that runs parallel with the M6 - its been renamed to make it difficult to follow.
As has been said before that whole area around Ayr is good, then keeping an eye on the weather (rain) forecast and escape roads to the drier East Coast get up above Fort William... that is where my Scotland starts, it gets better still above Ullapool, Summer Isles, and North more North and North again.
It is the most fantastic place (and no I am not from there)
... but did anyone tell you about the midges?
We found last year that a portable BBQ is the answer (not the throw away ones) rig up a proper charcoal BBQ - as long as you sit close enough to it

Enjoy... I am jealous

Adam

1200 Sport with Stage 1 kit
and Daytona RS...previously a VFR 800 VTEC, Honda 400/4, CB 250, Yamaha RD 200 and a wonderful BSA A65L

located close to Stonehenge

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