Scotland
 

This summer in july i'm going with some friends of Belgium and the Netherlands to Scotland. We're taking the boat from Rotterdam, Netherlands.

We have more then two weeks, so we really want to visit the best places in Scotland. We love to ride offroad and wildcamp. If there are any tips, we would like to hear them!

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Harris in the Outer Hebrides

Most people stick to the Scottish mainland, or at most take the bridge to the Isle of Skye, but I'd encourage you to look at visiting the islands as the ferry prices are heavily subsidised. Last June I did a trip to Orkney (loads of neolithic, Viking, iron age and World War remains) and then across the tip of Scotland on single-track roads to visit Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides. I spent three days on Orkney, but could happily have stayed a week. Ditto the Hebrides. The west coast of Scotland benefits from the warm water current originating from the Gulf of Mexico so you will see palm trees and often the weather is really good.

We stayed in self-catering bunkhouses and hostels during the trip. Our favourite was Hamnavoe Hostel in Stromness, Orkney.

You could take a longish ferry journey from Aberdeen to Orkney, then return to the mainland at Scrabster or Gills Bay. Then west to Ullapool to get the ferry to Stornaway on the Hebrides, returning from Tarbert on Harris to Uig on Skye.

I found a wonderful spot for wild camping at Hushinish on Harris, but there's good proper camp sites as well such as Horgabost.

Happy to advise more with weblinks, places to visit and routes if you are interested in the islands.

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Tim, what are the best times to ride there weather-wise? It is unlikely I'll manage to go this year, but Scotland is firmly in my sights and travel plans. Perhaps 2015. But still.

Thanks for the information! As I saw your picture, we would really like you ro advise more links, places and routes in the islands!

Subscribed :)

Not in Scotland. doh

In two weeks you will be able to see plenty. In the Highlands, Glen Shee, the Dee valley, The Lecht Road over the Cairngorms, the Spey valley, Glen Coe, Bealach na Ba (to Applecross) are all spectacularly good rides. The West Coast (north) through Kinlochewe, Gairloch, Ullapool and Durness in the far north west corner is epic. As is the A87 from Loch ness to Skye. Try to ride the Road to the Isles from Corpach to Mallaig and take the ferry to Skye. Difficult to know where to start really there is so much good riding up here, but you won't need your TKC80s, sorry.

May and September are good months to travel up this way, with September being warmer. June is often wet(ter).

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Tjhanks already for all your information.
Too bad that it is not legal to drive offroad in Scotland. Aren't there any paths or something that you can use legally?

We will head up North and West. We'll go in july.

Not that I'm aware of, but don't worry, it's still an amazing place to ride.

I use Undiscovered Scotland Undiscovered Scotland: Home Page for local info. One thing might be handy: Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) offer multi trip passes for their ferries. You could save a lot of money if you are going to visit several of the islands. Official Caledonian MacBrayne Hebridean & Clyde Ferries site

Keep an eye out for old bypassed roads- this is the old road through Arisaig and Morar on the way to Mallaig. Just beautiful and totally bypassed now.

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In July the midges will probably be out and hunting down tourists, especially those in tents.

The east of Scotland tends to be less affected by them.

Some good advice on roads, one I'd add is from Lairg up to Tongue via Altnharra
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/...9505be4d6971d6 one of the least built up areas that I know of in the UK, there is only one building IIRC after leaving Altnaharra till Tongue, and it looks like to be a water control building. Then you could head across to the Smoo Cave, or the Castle of Mey.

I did the west coast and sky a few years back in August for 1 week camping. It did rain a lot when we were there but still great. We were turned away from the Sky ferry at Mallaig because it was windy. They don't like bikes on windy days ??? So we had to come all the way back and ride up the A87. That was a great ride, glad we couldn't get on the ferry. Lovely area. Insect repellent is no good for the bugs, JUST RUN AWAY!

Make your camp near the coast(where many of the campsites are) and the breeze keeps the midges away,have a supply of Skin so Soft for the evenings when theres no breeze,and IF you get the weather ,theres no place like the West coast and islands in Scotland,have a good time!:thumbup1:

I was really worried about the midges but they weren't as numerous as I had expected—not that I was camping...

On the way to Scotland you could visit Lindesfarne (the Holy Isle) which is separated from the mainland at high tide.

Ferries to Orkney: NorthLink and Pentland
Ferries within Orkney: Orkney Ferries
Ferries to Outer Hebrides: Caledonian MacBrayne

Like Reggie, I used Undiscovered Scotland for some of the research. Western Isles is the index for the Outer Hebrides. Another good site is OrkneyJar.

Orkney is rich in neolithic remains the most impressive being Maeshowe and Skara Brae. We visited many other smaller sites which had no guardians or entrance fees and enjoyed them as well. Kirkwell has cathedral of St Magnus (of Norway) and the palace of the Earls. The Italian chapel (constructed by WWII POWs) on the Churchill Barriers was especially memorable.

Smoo cave (mentioned above) is worth a visit on the traverse from Orkney to the Hebrides. On Lewis there's the possibility of a rather difficult 15km off road ride from The Bridge to Nowhere to Port Nis. I did the first few km and it seemed OKish (on a 690 Enduro). We watched locals cutting peat for winter fuel and visited 'blackhouses' on Lewis. The road to Hushinish on Harris is really beautiful and has a great wild camping site at the western end.

I've linked a .gpx file with a wealth of waypoints, most of which have weblinks attached to each waypoint. The file also has the route for our eleven day tour, starting from and ending back in London. The route we chose to ride across the north of Scotland on a series of single track lanes was the best ride I've ever had in the UK.

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The little devils have their own website, thanks to a company that wants to keep them off you:

Home | Midge Forecast

For roads up to Scotland, try the A68 from Corbridge (visit Hadrians Wall?) north, just believe the warnings about the humps in the road, and the number of speed cameras increases dramatically north of the border.

In July the midges will be out in force, so be sure to take some repellant. Some other good roads: A86 from Newtonmore to Spean Bridge. The B869 is a single track from Lochinver to Unapool that is a real pleasure to ride.

I have done a couple of trips to the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides, and I can confirm Tim's view that these islands are well worth a visit. Calmac the ferry company do hopscotch tickets that are a really good deal.

The Isle of Mull is also a great day out one the bike.

Midges are an early morning and evening problem and even then can't deal with a breeze. Stay in bed in the morning, head for the pub in the evening and camp by the beach or on the top of a hill. Sorted.