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13 Feb 2010
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Most Northerly road in UK?
Hi Guys,
well I know most people on this site are looking to visit far and distant area's but I've just had a look at the UK map and reckon I could almost reach the 60th Parallel North line in the UK!
It was a bit of a surprise to me, I must admit but the most Northerly road in the UK appears to be the B9087 Skaw road, on Unst, in the Shetland Isles.
So has anyone here been there?
I could be tempted to visit the place on Team Serow.
One interesting piece of info I've discovered is that the highest wind speed ever recorded in the UK was at the RAF Radar station at RAF Saxa Vord, just down this very road. The speed reached a maximum of 177mph, before the recording equipment and the radar itself were blown away! That's 96 miles per hour faster than Team Serow's ever reached, whilst going down hill, with wind behind!
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13 Feb 2010
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Very interesting....
Hey Cameraman, I was very intrigued by what you posted. Ive been wanting to do the tip of Scotland for a few years but have been held back time and again. It seams that the 60th Parallel North passes near Maywick and Leebotten on Shetland Mainland and the most northerly road branches off the B9087 at Norwick and takes you right to the tip of Unst.
Ohh I wonder.....would my 125cc Derbi do it without a fuss....probably not but who cares.... 
Question though, would that be far enough to see the Northern Lights???
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13 Feb 2010
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Hi Tommy,
I'm sure a 125cc Derbi would do it with ease! Which model have you got, as I reckon the Adventure's a little beauty?
As for the Northern Lights, well it's tricky enough at the best of times to see it in Norway, so I don't know how difficult it would be to catch in in the UK?
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13 Feb 2010
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Oh to visit Muckle Flugga. Here's a list of places on the 60th parallel...
60th parallel north - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
All I can say is thank god for the gulf stream.
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13 Feb 2010
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Cameraman, that sounds very interesting. We'll be in the UK this June for a month, and so far I was planning to get to the northernmost place on mainland Scotland, which, according to my research, should be Dunnet Head. Now that I think of it reaching the 60th Parallel North does sound tempting. What ferry would you recommend? Orkneys first, then ferry to the Shetlands? Or Aberdeen - Shetland?
And another question: we'll also be in Ripley, June 24-27. Is it doable to be in Northern Shetland on June 21 (solstice) and get to Ripley in three days? When do you plan to go there?
__________________
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!"
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13 Feb 2010
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I have the Cross City. Yeah the Adventure in orange is drop dead gorgeous!
Turns out you can get a ferry in Aberdeen to the South Shetlands if one were so inclined (nobody shout cheat  )
Turns out the best time to see the lights is in autumn to winter given the clear nights, although there is a "solar cycle peak" occuring now until 2012 so the lights may be more extreme.
link: The Northern Lights in Scotland
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13 Feb 2010
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[quote=mj;276417]Cameraman, that sounds very interesting. We'll be in the UK this June for a month, and so far I was planning to get to the northernmost place on mainland Scotland, which, according to my research, should be Dunnet Head. Now that I think of it reaching the 60th Parallel North does sound tempting. What ferry would you recommend? Orkneys first, then ferry to the Shetlands? Or Aberdeen - Shetland?
if you are going to Dunnet head then you should go to Orkney via Scrabster near Thurso, or Gills bay near John o groats,you will only be a few miles from ether port.Orkney is well worth spending a couple of days in.You can get a ferry from Kirkwall to Shetland.
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13 Feb 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mj
Cameraman, that sounds very interesting. We'll be in the UK this June for a month, and so far I was planning to get to the northernmost place on mainland Scotland, which, according to my research, should be Dunnet Head. Now that I think of it reaching the 60th Parallel North does sound tempting. What ferry would you recommend? Orkneys first, then ferry to the Shetlands? Or Aberdeen - Shetland?
And another question: we'll also be in Ripley, June 24-27. Is it doable to be in Northern Shetland on June 21 (solstice) and get to Ripley in three days? When do you plan to go there?
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MJ
Providing you can get ferries ok you can make Ripley in a (long )day on an adventure from Thurso-we will be heading down to Ripley fom Inverness probably 22nd or 23rd. Probably going alot slower than you though . If you just end up going to Dunnet head and you are looking for somewhere to pitch a tent or get a shower on the way up North let me know - I am about 20 miles from Inverness.
Chizz (Bruce)
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13 Feb 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyingdoctor
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Hi Doc,
that's exactly where I was looking for when I started the search! What a great sounding place Muckle Flugga!
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13 Feb 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mj
Cameraman, that sounds very interesting. We'll be in the UK this June for a month, and so far I was planning to get to the northernmost place on mainland Scotland, which, according to my research, should be Dunnet Head. Now that I think of it reaching the 60th Parallel North does sound tempting. What ferry would you recommend? Orkneys first, then ferry to the Shetlands? Or Aberdeen - Shetland?
And another question: we'll also be in Ripley, June 24-27. Is it doable to be in Northern Shetland on June 21 (solstice) and get to Ripley in three days? When do you plan to go there?
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Hi MJ,
Aberdeen would be the easiest ferry to go for. I'll be at Ripley myself but plan a gentle ride up north and back, rather than a rush job!
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13 Feb 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tommysmithfromleeds
I have the Cross City. Yeah the Adventure in orange is drop dead gorgeous!
Turns out you can get a ferry in Aberdeen to the South Shetlands if one were so inclined (nobody shout cheat )
Turns out the best time to see the lights is in autumn to winter given the clear nights, although there is a "solar cycle peak" occuring now until 2012 so the lights may be more extreme.
link: The Northern Lights in Scotland |
Hi Tommy,
there's now't wrong with a Cross City, lovely little bikes.
As for the Northern Lights, I'd prefer to be up there during warmer times rather than Winter.
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13 Feb 2010
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@ the cameraman
too right mate ! 
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14 Feb 2010
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Ferry from Lerwick to Aberdeen overnight,Aberdeen to Ripley next day.Give me a shout if you come to Shetland.
60 North has a marker at the side of the road.There is also the Simmer Dim Motorbike rally around the 21st. June.
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14 Feb 2010
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Hi Johnny,
thanks for the info. It would be great to get a shot of the bike alongside the roadsign!
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14 Feb 2010
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[quote=The Cameraman;276394]Hi Guys,
It was a bit of a surprise to me, I must admit but the most Northerly road in the UK appears to be the B9087 Skaw road, on Unst, in the Shetland Isles.
So has anyone here been there?
I've been there. Two summers ago on my Triupmh Tiger. It was really quite weird as the road ends at a farm house and small beach. There is no sign or anything but it most certainly is the most northerly road in the British isles. You turn your bike around and there you are, the whole of the UK south of you. All roads lead south. A weird feeling. Just as I was about to leave someone came out from the farm house and asked me if I wanted to sign their book. They were on holiday too, but knew the people who lived in the house and they have a visitors book for people to sign. So I did.
I met very few bikers on either Shetland or Orkeny, mainly Germans and Dutch. It seems Brits. prefrer to go south for the sun but we really are missinf some wonderful scenery and roads by ignoring Scotlnad and heading from France/Spain.
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