Gonna have to be a last minute booking for me mate. You can prove you're not an old fart as soon as the weather improves?
Theres also the other saying, "Better to live one day as a Tiger than a lifetime as a worm", but of course, who has ever heard of a wormskin rug?
Just got the Cannonball run in June and as many trackdays as possible. Possibly Assen BSB or somthing not too far away. Also looking at touring OZ for a couple of months at the end of the year
Hi All, Just booked a long weekend in Scotland. I will need to complete a 638 mile trip in one go from Wiltshire to Uig Skye on the Friday, over to Harris Saturday by ferry, back to Uig on Monday then back home the 638 miles the same day (Monday). I have only been given the long weekend off by my wife so extra days are not possible, I think this is do-able, my wife thinks I am mad, but what do you think? How long do you think it will take, quickest way? Regards, Rob.
Lucky sod! Don't know that kneck of the woods but it'll be one hell of a ride.Hope the weather is good for you.Get a sat nav fitted,that will give you the quickest route especially if you get lost easily.
fair play mate!! been thinking about doing scotland in may - have the same 4 day problem, i want to do as much up there as possible, but not sure i fancy the haul up on motorways etc.....
You know best what mileage you are capable of mate, ambitious I would say doing 638 in a day, twice in a weekend. However I'm one of the 'nearly deads' ! Be interesting to hear what some of the younger guys think. JD
Your words, is it do-able? why Yes, of course it is everything is possible. But lets look at the time scale. 638 miles is a long way, asuming you will be close or near the speed limits your looking at around 11 hours plus riding, take into account your going to need fuel approx what, every 100 miles? in any given fuel stop you need to allow around 30 minutes per stop theres another 3 hours onto the journey, the weather is going to have a bearing, i'd love to think its sunshine all the way, but lets face it some of the Scotland boys will confirm, snow is still known to be on the tops of Glencoe in July. your Route, you ask which is the quickest way? Assuming your going to jump on the M5 to Birmingham onto the M6? So take the M6 North follow to Carlisle, "You could jump off the M6 onto the A6 if you wish, break some of the boredom" here take the M74 and follow heading Glasgow where you will join the M8, follow M8 signpost Glasgow/ Loch Lomond/ Trossachs National park. As you pass Glasgow Airport, on your right look to Follow M898 Erskine Bridge. As you go over the bridge you will then bear left onto the A82. dual carrige way now to Loch Lomond, Jamestown i think? You then get some nice single carrige way, follow A82 now to Tarbet Loch Lomond and some stunning views will be on your right. At Tarbet there is a right turn onto you guessed it, the A82. Now the first part of this road is Technical, you have the Loch to your right, and a rock face to your left, watch for signs stuck out, oh and in places constant wet roads and a poor road surface, as you get towards the end of the Loch there is a set of traffic lights on a blind left hand bend, the road is traffic controlled because of a large outcrop of rock 8 out of ten the signs been knocked down, usually by lorries, Once here, the road opens up and you will start to relax again, follow the A82 to Crianlarich, "a little village" when here turn left following the A82, just as you leave the village another set of lights on a blind right hand bend under a rail track. A very good stretch of road to Strathafillan "don't forget to stop at the Green Wellie Shop"continue A82 heading towards Glencoe now amazing scenary and roads. just keep enjoying the view and keep heading for Loch Leven/ Fort William, you have not said how you are getting to Skye ferry or Bridge? lets say theres a gale force wind and the ferry is cancelled? so go through Fort william on the of course A82 to Invergarry, here you will turn left onto the A87 just keep heading signpost SkyeA87 you will go over the Toll bridge, not sure how much? onto Skye, Seriously now, fantastic roads but for the enjoyment of the trip and saftey, i would say book into a hotel north side of erskine bridge for the night, and be rested and fresh for the twisty technical roads scotland has to offer the next day, because you can look at a map as much as you like its whats on the roads at the end of the day, and my realistic estimated time scale if you were to do this in a day would be around 16 hours plus, But tell you what, you'll have a fantastic time
That sounds exhausting , I know I could not do that, especially as I am far from being a youngster (understatement). Personally, I would have to do the ride up there, stay overnight, do the roads i wanted to ride and the have another nights stay then ride back the next day. Riding challenging roads can be really tiring and it's hard to maintain concentration when your tired. I think most people would feel tired from the journey up there, let alone the ride around. To get the most enjoyment and have the most fun I personally think the time you have is not enough. It would certainly be a challenge and an adventure though.
As I say, it can be, but I wouldn't. It would ruin the trip. If this was me, I would seriously consider transit van the bike up to Erskine, get a few hours kip and do the riding. That's again another story, it's extra costs but IMO would be worth it. We did Jedburgh and the Scottish Borders in August, that was plenty. It rained most of the journey up, Ok we didn't do motorway but all the same it still took over 5 hours. And that's only 160odd miles. My main concern would be tiredness setting in. If I had to do it just by bike I would plan to do my motorway work during the night/early hours and leave the technical to the daylight.
Hi mate. If I were you and going by the timescale you have I'd say that you would have to think about getting a van for the motorway haul. Get yourself up to the M74 that now goes all the way to near enough Glasgow airport and the erskine bridge as it has now been extended, avoiding the M8 that would easily add another 45mins. Use the park and ride car park at the airport. Then travel up the west coast from there. I stay 25 mins from Glasgow and did the trip from here to the Isle of Skye in 7 hours taking in the west coast all the way up. Absolutely stunning all the way from Loch Lommond, and if your doing this trip it is a must or you would be kicking yourself if you missed it out on the bike. Do your thing up there and then head back down through Glencoe to the van and a nice easy trip home again in the van.
I keep forgetting about that new M74 stretch CollinBR. And yes I agree, the West coast going up towards Oban is awesome. That's it! I'm inspired. I'm going to chomp the lads ears about another trip across the border again this year.
Get it done mate and I'll tag along if the timings right. I've spoken to a couple of my mates and they're defo up for another trip upto Skye. I'd gladly meet up with you guys for a blast
Hi all thanks for the info, I will now plan an extra night on the way up and one for the way back, more info to follow. Regards, Rob.
Booked my summer tour with my pal at weekend.... 8th to 16th June Fri- Calais to Nancy Sat - Nancy to Grenoble Sun - Grenoble to nice (route napoleon baby) Mon - nice to bologna Tue - ducati factory tour then short ride to monza Wed - Monza (maybe ferrari tour in modena on way through) to innsbruck Austria (alpine roads) Thur - innsbruck to Baden - Baden (b500 black forest - be rude not too) Fri - Baden Baden to koblenze (yep you've guessed it) Sat - couple am ring laps then off to Calais via the twisties Sat night, indoors to a hero's welcome from the mrs, curry, two beers and pass out for 14 hours! Lol "LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE, SLEEP WHEN YOU GET HOME!"
I'm loving the look of that one Jimbo, guess who's going to have the map on his knee tonight Lottery win, and i'll be coming with you
Google maps mate.... It's the way forward, enter your mile stones, drag route onto your preferred roads, save for later!! Simples No lotto win required, £15 each for hotel each night in formula one... Germany is cheap as chips too! Even Italy - booked a novotel in bologna today for £25 each...
Thats a smashing price, i'll have a look at the route, i've seen quite a lot mentioned about route Napoleon, And yes the formula one hotels, mum and dad use them to and from spain, reckon they are cracking VFM. That approx 3000 miles for me http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
Route napoleon would be one of your best days on a bike for sure. I done a thread on it - have a look http://1000rr.co.uk/touring/1762.htm Yeah f1 are great, rock up, enter your pin, room sorted, always clean, self cleaning pod showers and CHEAP rates, perfect for lads road trips!! Only neg is they are usually out of town, but we have full on days in the saddle so usually f@cked anyway...
