Need advice on a bike tour of Scotland

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
Radomir
Posts: 16
Joined: 17 Nov 2014, 10:51am

Re: Need advice on a bike tour of Scotland

Post by Radomir »

To: Pete Jack
Thank you very much. Everything is clear and easy now.

To: all
I carefully studied all the offers. At the end of all I have made the following new projects:
1. Mainland with Inner Hebrides (the main project) http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId ... Leave=true
2. Mainland with Outer Hebrides (in case of good weather without SW wind) http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId ... Leave=true
3. Option 1 http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId ... Leave=true
4. Option 2 http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId ... Leave=true
5. Option 3 http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId ... Leave=true
We can take alternatives 1, 2 or 3 in case of free time.
All tracks together are here http://www.gpsies.com/viewTracksOnly.do ... Leave=true
Who can give any comments about the above?
Make it easy to find the above I have posted the same at the 1st page.
Last edited by Radomir on 1 Dec 2014, 5:11pm, edited 2 times in total.
Norman H
Posts: 1331
Joined: 31 Jul 2011, 4:39pm

Re: Need advice on a bike tour of Scotland

Post by Norman H »

Here are a few thoughts:-

Option 1 ..Has been fairly well covered earlier in the thread.

Option 2 ( the Outer Hebrides)
I can recommend Heb Hostel in Stornoway. Very convenient for the ferry. http://www.hebhostel.com/home.html

The Gatliff Trust Hostels on Berneray and at Rhenigidale are a little basic but are set in beautiful locations. The one at Rhenigidale is a little off your route and also quite a challenge to reach. http://www.gatliff.org.uk/

I see you are taking the east coast route on Harris. It's a difficult choice. The east coast is rugged and undulating. The west coast route has some beautiful beaches and is probably an easier ride but not if the wind is from the west. If you use the ferry between Tarbert and Uig on Skye,rather than from Lochmaddy, you could do both.
Finally don't forget there is strict observance of the Sabbath on Lewis and Harris. You wont find many shops open on a Sunday.

Option 3 (detour via Lochinver)
Hostel at Achmelvic. Like many coastal routes this one involves a lot of ups and downs.

Option 4
A nice route but again a couple of big climbs.

Option 5 (detour via Tarsavaig)
I've never done this but it looks very good.
Have fun
Radomir
Posts: 16
Joined: 17 Nov 2014, 10:51am

Re: Need advice on a bike tour of Scotland

Post by Radomir »

I see you are taking the east coast route on Harris

I found the only way shown on the track. I mean the way from Stornoway to Lochmaddy. What are the other options?
User avatar
andrew_s
Posts: 5795
Joined: 7 Jan 2007, 9:29pm
Location: Gloucestershire

Re: Need advice on a bike tour of Scotland

Post by andrew_s »

Radomir wrote:
I see you are taking the east coast route on Harris

I found the only way shown on the track. I mean the way from Stornoway to Lochmaddy. What are the other options?

The west coast main road on South Harris
http://goo.gl/maps/4KVB8

General point:
Don't forget to factor the ferry times into your planning. For example, if the ferry from Lochmaddy to Uig is at 12:00, you may find that you've got to push on from Stornoway to Leverburgh in order to make the sailing, rather than staying at Tarbert.
Summer 2015 times don't seem to be out yet
Norman H
Posts: 1331
Joined: 31 Jul 2011, 4:39pm

Re: Need advice on a bike tour of Scotland

Post by Norman H »

Heading south from Stornoway and about 7km after leaving Tarbert on A859 you turn left onto the minor road that heads roughly down the eastern side of Harris.
https://goo.gl/maps/qTsr5
The main road continues on, at this point, down the western side of the Island. Both routes are equally nice and they rejoin at Leverburgh. If you wanted to explore both east and west sides you could do a circular route, starting at Tarbert. If you choose this option it would be better to take the ferry to Skye from Tarbert rather than Lochmaddy.
http://www.calmac.co.uk/tickets/island-hopping/hopscotch-13-skye-harris-and-lewis.htm

If you wanted to continue to Lochmaddy you would have to travel one of the roads twice.
I hope that makes sense.
Radomir
Posts: 16
Joined: 17 Nov 2014, 10:51am

Re: Need advice on a bike tour of Scotland

Post by Radomir »

I have changed the track "Mainland with Outer Hebrides". OK?
Which way will be more interesting - Mainland with Inner Hebrides or Mainland with Outer Hebrides. In case of good weather without SW wind, of course. I understand the mainland has more climbs... but nevertheless...?
Radomir
Posts: 16
Joined: 17 Nov 2014, 10:51am

Re: Need advice on a bike tour of Scotland

Post by Radomir »

Hi there,
I came back here again because at the end of all we have decided don't change our plans and visit Scotland.
We wait now decision of UK Visas&Immigration and hope to get visas soon and arrive in Scotland during next few days.
Of course, we have paid attention to all your advices.
Nevertheless we have to cut some parts of previous track and current one is the following:
http://www.gpsies.com/mapOnly.do?fileId ... Leave=true
We think to take overnights in our own tents in campings or in case of bad weather in budget accommodation (B&B, Bunkhouse, Youth Hostel, Travelodge etc.).
Who can give any comments about the new track? May be we have to change somethings but not too much.
May be somebody knows other cheap accommodation which we could not find by ourselves?
Can we find anywhere OSM (Scotland part) for our GPS Garmin? We have now Garmin City Navigator Europe NT 2013.10 but it is not much detailed.
Thank you very much in advance for your advices.
User avatar
Peter Molog
Posts: 95
Joined: 16 Oct 2013, 11:45am
Location: The Netherlands

Re: Need advice on a bike tour of Scotland

Post by Peter Molog »

Radomir wrote:Can we find anywhere OSM (Scotland part) for our GPS Garmin? We have now Garmin City Navigator Europe NT 2013.10 but it is not much detailed.

OpenFietsMap (updated january 2016) http://www.openfietsmap.nl/downloads/europe
Not only Scotland, but UK and Ireland. :D
Peter

Please, excuse my English. I'm Dutch.
Radomir
Posts: 16
Joined: 17 Nov 2014, 10:51am

Re: Need advice on a bike tour of Scotland

Post by Radomir »

Peter Molog wrote:OpenFietsMap (updated january 2016) http://www.openfietsmap.nl/downloads/europe
Not only Scotland, but UK and Ireland. :D

OK, thank you. Already installed and works.
Radomir
Posts: 16
Joined: 17 Nov 2014, 10:51am

Re: Need advice on a bike tour of Scotland

Post by Radomir »

Yesterday evening we all have got British visas and bought flight tickets. We will go to Scotland from 12.06 until 05.07.2016.
Your opinion about our new track is very important especially part from Mallaig to airport Edinburgh through The Trossachs and Loch
Lomond National Park.
nosmarbaj
Posts: 366
Joined: 17 Aug 2011, 3:02pm
Location: West Berks

Re: Need advice on a bike tour of Scotland

Post by nosmarbaj »

Radomir wrote:Your opinion about our new track is very important especially part from Mallaig to airport Edinburgh through The Trossachs and Loch Lomond National Park.

As you probably know already, north of Crianlarich and Perth there are not very many roads so it is difficult to get lost.

Mallaig to Callander looks fine. Depending on the amount of traffic you may find the A82 through Glen Coe to Crianlarich is OK, and faster than the cycle path you seem to be following (I don't know the cycle path, I have cycled the A82 and it was OK. It was not busy when I did it.)

After your circuit of Loch Katrine, it would likely be quicker to return to Callander and follow main roads via Stirling, to Falkirk. I don't know the route you are using so I could be wrong.

It is definitely worth visiting the Falkirk Wheel - the only construction of its kind in the world.

From there to Edinburgh Airport I would probably just follow the main road A803/B9080 - it should not be too busy since a lot of motor traffic will be on the M9. As I remember the route is not very exciting but it's OK. By the time you are there you will be used to Scottich roads and traffic and be able to make a better judgment yourself.

Have fun!
Post Reply