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Scotland and Hebrides end of August - beginning of September Scotland and Hebrides end of August - beginning of September
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  #1  
Old 14 Aug 2015
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Scotland and Hebrides end of August - beginning of September
Starting August bank holidays weekend I'm planning to ride to Scotland for 10 days. I don't have a fixed plan but I would like to go as far as john'o'groads and then follow the coastal route along northern parts and then go down along west part of scotland to Ullapool to catch a ferry to Isle of Lewis. Then I would like to do some island hopping to Uist and Barra and then catch the ferry back to mainland (Oban).
Perhaps I'm being too optimistic and 10 days is not enough for all this? I don't know and I guess I will find out. Has anyone done similar journey in the past?
Any recommendations about scenic rides on the way, any attractions to see, good wildlife spots are welcome.
I'm 36 years old, female rider and I'll be riding alone. If anyone would like to share some parts of this journey with me, do some camping together, have a or do some hiking along the way somewhere, that would be great!
I'm planning to camp most of the time (weather permitting) but I will also stay in B&Bs when I'm too cold and fed up of camping:-)
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Old 14 Aug 2015
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Hello Syliak,

Sounds like a good trip. I’ve thought about heading that way but never really got round to it. Ten days should be ok but I guess it depends on where you’re starting off from and what sort of millage your comfortable with riding.

I’ve not long returned from riding round the Pyrenees and wouldn’t mind heading up into Scotland if you fancy a riding partner for a few days. End of the month, early September could work. Male, slightly older and ride a KTM 690.
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Old 14 Aug 2015
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Hey pheasant, that would be so great if you could join, even just for few days. It's always more fun to ride together. How much time have you got and which parts of scotland would you like to visit? I'm planning to start on friday 28th of august after work from luton and be back on sunday 6th of september. I would like to get to scotland as quickly ad possible (don't mind long riding for the first 2 days) and then take it easy from there, enjoy the scenery. I've heard that north-east should be really beautiful. Pyrenees have also been on my mind for a while so would be interesting for me to find out more about your trip. Pm me for more details and we can arrange something.
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Old 14 Aug 2015
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Ah forgot to mention: i'm riding bmw f650 gs and don't mind some off road detours as long ad it's on the easier side :-)
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Old 14 Aug 2015
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Have a look at the information page I stuck up at Shetland, Orkney, Hebrides.

Rather than B&B you might want to look at the low cost independent hostels.

I'm planning a two week trip starting about a week before you (so long as the weather forecast isn't dire) but in reverse of your route and possibly including Orkney and Shetland. Will probably stop at Haggs Bank bunkhouse on the way up and back down.

There's not a lot of offroad around, but you could try the route north from the 'Bridge to Nowhere' on Lewis.

Might see you on the road!
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Old 15 Aug 2015
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Thanks Tim that's awesome, i'll have a good read later.

Sylwiak, looks like your only just down the road from me, anyway i'll pm you my email and maybe we can arrange something. Not sure how much time i can spare at the mo, i'll have to play that by ear.

No preferance on where to go but i'll have a read through Tims post first. I'm good at route planning and all things gps so could easily cobble a little Scottish trip together after a bit of research.

Pyrenees are amazing, highly recommended.
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Old 15 Aug 2015
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Wow Tim, thank you for all that info, that's so usefull! I couldn't open your waypoints though, perhaps i try later from laptop rather than phone. Now i will have to add orkneys and shetlands on my list for some other trip in the future! I always thought it's too cold and windy there for motorbiking :-)
I hope to see you on the road somewhere!
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Old 15 Aug 2015
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You'll need some form of SatNav programme to make sense of the waypoints file—Garmin Mapsource, Garmin BaseCamp or TomTom Tyre on the PC.
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Old 15 Aug 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Cullis View Post
You'll need some form of SatNav programme to make sense of the waypoints file—Garmin Mapsource, Garmin BaseCamp or TomTom Tyre on the PC.
Or Osmand on your phone ... takes in .gpx files ...

Offline mapping with lists of waypoints (Shallow Thoughts)
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Old 15 Aug 2015
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sylwiak, I did a similar trip beginning of June this year and re visited some of the routes I have done before. Went all up and around the west coast and Skye. Although I've done it before it was still just as breathtaking as the first time, even in the rain. But on a sunny day it is just a piece of heaven! For me I would say WEST IS BEST
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Old 15 Aug 2015
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Originally Posted by g6snl View Post
WEST IS BEST
+1.

However, when the "Scotch Mist" is down and you can't see your proverbial in front of your face (not to mention the fogged up visor) then it is good to head toward the East - frequently, the weather can be very different between the East and West coasts of Scotland and it is not all that far at some latitudes.
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Old 15 Aug 2015
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Thanks guys for all the advice. I have recently ridden wild atlantic way in ireland and i didn't have a single day without the rain so i'm used to being wet (and i don't like it that much). I hope luck will be more on my side in Scotland and there will be few sunny days. West is a must! I visited isle of sky long time back but that was in the car and i loved it. Motorbike should be more fun though and this time i will explore much more. I'm really looking forward to hebrides. Tim, i managed to see your waypoints in garmin base camp and i will be going very similar route. If i somehow get this on my garmin nav it will be really handy to know the location of all these hostels, campsites and attractions. Great stuff!
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Old 15 Aug 2015
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I'm with g6snl on this one, stay on the west and the islands if its scenery and interesting roads you want, I would recommend the Lochinver/ Assynt area ,the single track roads in that area are wonderful, as scenic as any anywhere. Hope the weather is good for you!
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Old 15 Aug 2015
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Don't ignore the eastern side, the Spey valley, Strathdon, The Lecht Road and Glenshee for example are all well worth riding.

On the western side try to get to Torridon and Applecross, and cross over from Skye to Mallaig on the ferry and ride down to Fort William past Glenfinnan, taking a small detour to the Silver Sands of Morar (pic).



Near there the Ardnamurchan peninsular is very remote and beautiful. Glen Coe is spectacular, but watch out for cameras and wobbly Sunday riders at the biker hangout The Green Wellie in Tyndrum.

There is plenty of good riding in Argyll, I do like the run over Rest-and-be-Thankful to Loch Fyne and on to Crinan.

And the weather? End of August, beginning of September is usually pretty settled, but there are no guarantees up this way...
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Old 15 Aug 2015
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Originally Posted by reggie3cl View Post
Don't ignore the eastern side, the Spey valley, Strathdon, The Lecht Road and Glenshee for example are all well worth riding.
I guess the Cairngorm mountain range is in the middle ................ neither East nor West.
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Last edited by Walkabout; 17 Aug 2015 at 13:39.
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