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I’m going on a roadtrip round scotland next week, I’ve already done 2 similar trips but this time we’re wild camping to add a bit of adventure to it. It helps that there’s just 2 of us this year rather than the usual 5.
So my question is, if you had 6 days free to ride Scotland, no accommodation to worry about and no problems with driving several hours every day what would you do? Obviously with a focus on stuff where you can camp
I’ve already done Glentress, Ballblair, Inners (but not golfie), Learnie, Glencoe, Ft Bill (but gonna do that again), Golspie (also doing that, was very keen to camp up there last time but didn’t have the kit), Ae, Laggan and a few others.
My shortlist is:
Golfie
Torridon
Golspie ( a bit out of the way from the others )
Ft Bill
Kinlochleven
Cairngorms (could do with some routes though!)
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!
Thats a pretty solid list tbh. Worth bearing in mind that Torridon is further out of the way than maps you have you believe. Lots of singletrack roads to get there so you'll want to allow plenty extra time for the drive
Dalbeattie, Kiroughtree missing off that list. Great places to ride and plenty fairly empty places to camp.
Worth bearing in mind that Torridon is further out of the way than maps you have you believe.
It's a really, really ******* long way away.
6 days? 3 in FW/Kinlochleven and 3 in Aviemore, with Laggan brown on the way between the 2. Definitely a day on the Gondola too.
Spend your time biking, not driving.
Edit - Much as I like those 2 Tomd, in no way can they be mentioned in best biking in the country, sorry.
Thanks for the headsup on Torridon! Doesn't bother us as driving will be the chance to charge stuff up and chill with some music etc so not a chore at all. But good to know so we can plan for it!
I had kind of diso****ed kirroughtree and dalbeattie as they are a bit far south and a detour for us. Worth doing though despite that?
By the way we're driving up from the Isle of Wight so distance is a bit relative really
Personally I would suggest three days at Fort William, Kinlochleven & Glencoe, two days at Dunkeld & Comrie including at least one non trail centre / enduro ride, then whatever you have left in the Tweed Valley.
Nobeerinthefridge yes usually I'd agree, ride don't drive. However not having accomodation we're going to have alot of dead time so driving will fill that out nicely and give us somewhere to sit in the dry if it pours it down!
Citizenlee Ballater is going on the list. Sounds like exactly what we're looking for in the Cairngorms! Ride BAllater all day then do the Muick loop and camp halfway. Next day crack on the Torridon. May cut Golspie out though
chrishc777
MemberThanks for the headsup on Torridon! Doesn’t bother us as driving will be the chance to charge stuff up and chill with some music etc so not a chore at all. But good to know so we can plan for it!
I had kind of diso****ed kirroughtree and dalbeattie as they are a bit far south and a detour for us. Worth doing though despite that?
I love the drive, you'll just find that the roads get smaller and smaller and your speed drops accordingly. Think i'm 5hrs + any stops from Glasgow
I wouldn't bother with Kirroughtree and Dalbeattie for your trip. They are 2 nice undulating trail centres, but pale in comparison to the other destinations you're looking at. Similarly, Comrie nice but still 'just' a trail centre even if it is a nice wee one
Cheers Mashr, Comrie could be a stop-off option then if it is indeed wee
We actually have 8 days but the first 2 are taken by Snowdon and Dyfi bikepark
It’s a really, really ******* long way away.
What?? It's about 2 hours away. Now Swinley, that really is a long way away.
😁
What?? It’s about 2 hours away. Now Swinley, that really is a long way away.
Google maps give 11hrs 20 minutes door to door for me. So, with stops, 12+ hrs.
Even with the 2 hours to get into France from my door, it's as quick to get deep into the Alps.
Living in Kent sucks for UK travel.
My dream list would be -
Golfie
Dunkeld/Pilochry
Ballater (HB ridge and mastermind)
Quick stop at High Burnside.
Torridon (Classic loop)
Fort Bill
Kinlochleven (Binnein Mor)
Glencoe (Uplift or DS plus Ciaran Path)
Torridon loop is only 2 hours from Aviemore (start finish at Achnashellach station rather than Annat. All good fast A roads to there).
Living in Kent sucks for UK travel.
Try the Isle of Wight 😀
On the positive side though we have awesome trails, beaches and woods from our doorstep. I only ever load the bike in the car if I'm going off the island with it!
Try the Isle of Wight 😀
On the positive side though we have awesome trails, beaches and woods from our doorstep. I only ever load the bike in the car if I’m going off the island with it!
You're probably similar distance from the peaks/laets etc etc (we have London right in the way of anything north!) but I'd happily swap the beaches and being able to surf, and trails from the doorstep with what Kent has to 'offer'.
I have ridden a lot of the country. Most trail centres and lots of off piste. Not done torriden as its bloody far!!
High burnside in Aviemore was my favoutite. Just the right side of hard. Use trailforks.
Golfie is high up there but with all the wolves shut due to logging some great stuff is missing.
Dunkeld is ace and en route to Aviemore, again use trailforks.
You also should try to get a proper mountain in there. Ben Lomond is a proper techy ride following a 2 hour climb if you want a challenge.
You’re probably similar distance from the peaks/laets etc etc (we have London right in the way of anything north!) but I’d happily swap the beaches and being able to surf, and trails from the doorstep with what Kent has to ‘offer’.
Distance is similar but you don't have a 1.5hr to add on for the ridiculously expensive boat! But yes, I live here so that means I'm happy with it! I still wouldn't trade it for much else. Colorado is about the only place I'd move to at a drop of a hat if the mrs would get on board
Ben Lomond looks awesome as well. I reckon we keep that for the trip from Ft Bill to Inners if we still have the legs
So the route I have in my mind is this:
LLandegla (quick loop)
Snowdon (after Degla)
Dyfi (uplift)
Golfie (ride what is open and drive to Ballater same day and camp the evening)
Ballater (lots there by the looks of it, thanks for the suggestion. Camp the night after riding)
High Burnside (possible stopoff as is on the way)
Torridon (classic loop, possibly camp halfway)
Fort William (As many WC laps as I can manage. 11 is the number to beat from last time))
Kinlochleven (hopefully ride this after Ft Bill and camp)
Lomond (if we have anything left in the tank)
Inners uplift (followed by the 9hr trip home)
Home!
Optimistic I know but we will probably end up cutting one or two locations and we'll probably ride 2 places in 1 day a few times. We're pretty fit as I was training for 2 weeks in the Himalayas next month which isn't going to happen (along with the Madagascar trip I had just before it to chill and relax before going...)
One question though, the scenery in Scotland is always more barren than foresty which causes me an issue with my preferred camping method of hammocking. Do any of the above locations not have any trees at all? Doubt it but best check!
Cycled past Ben Lomond car park at 0530 last week, it was 3/4 full, it may be busy....
Jeez, that's some trip!!
Enjoy! I prefer to stay at least a couple of days at a place, find it too quick otherwise, but at least you'll be ticking off a LOT of places to ride!
Edit: You've got me looking at motorhome hire for a similar trip hitting up loads of scottish places for 2-3 days at a time next year now...
Edit: You’ve got me looking at motorhome hire for a similar trip hitting up loads of scottish places for 2-3 days at a time next year now…
We did look into that but decided adventure was higher on the priority list than comfort! Plus we're going in a Berlingo so worse case if the weather was horrific we can sleep on our camping mats in the back
We usually would do 3 days per spot due to the hassle of checking in/out of accommodation but that's not an issue this time! If we do take a particular liking to a place then we will stop an extra day and scrub something off the list for later. Plus we'll need to keep the car running to keep charging our stuff up! And the car heater may be the only way of drying kit as well.. That's gonna be one smelly Berlingo when I get home next week!
One question though, the scenery in Scotland is always more barren than foresty which causes me an issue with my preferred camping method of hammocking. Do any of the above locations not have any trees at all? Doubt it but best check!
Plenty trees lower down, just check out google maps and streetview. Find some native Scots pine for the most awesome hammocking experience, midges may be present.
Here would be nice.
Plenty trees lower down, just check out google maps and streetview. Find some native Scots pine for the most awesome hammocking experience, midges may be present.
Here would be nice.
Yeah that was my thinking, must be trees lower down. I'll have a tent in the car anyway if we did want to camp up high one night, provided we have almost certain good weather. Just treated myself to a new fancy hammock as well after using the cheap amazon one for alot longer than I thought it would last
Awesome pic, where is that?
Heartbreak Ridge - really lives up to the hype!
Ah excellent! We're planning on doing that, I'll bring the camping stuff and we'll set up near that spot if I recognise it!
So jealous, it's exactly what I wish I was doing next week. Planning rides and then riding rides is my happy place. Hope you get the best of the weather
If sleeping in a hammock in a forest then bring a huge mosquito net. You will cry uncontrollably if you forget.
I think riding the golfie and then moving on to Ballater the same day is a bit optimistic. It's at least 3 hrs drive although I guess traffic is good these days due to wfh. Even though there's logging going on there's still plenty of riding.
Don't bring a mosquito net. The holes are too big.
traffic is good these days due to wfh
Hm. Return trip yesterday from Moray to Glasgow would say otherwise - especially later in the day, there was a good deal of traffic on the A9 heading North. I'd say traffic is not far off back to pre-COVID days.
Traffic is pretty much pre covid, all the wfh are replaced by no one taking trains.
Buy a hammock with a midge net built in, only way you can camp unless in a tent
I live by Fort William, and have been knocking about the highlands on my bike for a few decades.
To me the best area - one I holiday in every year for a week - is Deeside. Lots of small rides such as Heartbreak Ridge, and some corker days out such as the White Mounth munros.
Deeside is the zenith for me due to relative dryness and a lower midge count than the west.
Camping season is late March until May and at no other time.
Traffic levels seem to have tailed off the last week or two, it's as if there was a rush a month ago.
Cheers for all the tips guys, really appreciate the local knowledge. Never would have thought of most of these without the input.
For those of you feeling jealous I haven't had a single day off since January so I think it's deserved!
Traffic is pretty much pre covid, all the wfh are replaced by no one taking trains.
Buy a hammock with a midge net built in, only way you can camp unless in a tent
I have a DD hammock, judging by your Instagram post above I'm guessing you have the same so I should be good!
I think riding the golfie and then moving on to Ballater the same day is a bit optimistic. It’s at least 3 hrs drive although I guess traffic is good these days due to wfh. Even though there’s logging going on there’s still plenty of riding.
I'd count that as an easy day. We'll wake up early due to camping, get riding by 8, be finished after lunch, drive to Ballater and be there before teatime. I once rode the Whole Enchilada trail in Moab, Utah in the middle of summer then drove the 9hrs back to Denver and went straight to work. If I'm keen for something I get it done 🙂
Got back last Saturday night, that was possibly the best riding trip I’ve ever done! Thanks everyone for the advice!
In the end we did:
Llandegla, didn’t make it to snowdon in time to get up and down in the light so didn’t do that
Dyfi bikepark, awesome, slab track triple black is just ridiculously good
Golfie. We did 6,000 ft altitude in just over 25 miles. My new favourite riding spot
Ballater, heartbreak ridge was awesome and mastermind and old school finished the day off nicely
High burnside and Laggan wolftrax, both great. One steep and loose the other rocky and techy
Fort bill, gondola wasn’t running and road to glencoe and kinlochleven was closed so we rode a bit of fort bill Trailforks stuff then had a pizza
Back to golfie for the last full day. This just made sense, was by far the best riding and there was loads we still hadn’t ridden. We did another 6k ft day here
Last day was inners uplift and drive back home
I now see what people meant by just staying in the tweed valley for 3 days, it’s unbelievable how much riding is in there
We camped every night in the end, had some rain but were fine with our tarps
Sounds like a good trip.
There’s loads everywhere- if you were in Ballater you could easily add Aboyne, Scolty in Banchory, Pitfichie and Bennachie plus others that you need to speak to locals about then do some proper big mountains with massive descents and unbelievable scenery. That’s not even thinking about some of the smaller networks.
Awesome, that's a great trip matey.
I understand why people wanna see a bit more of Scotland, but there is so much great riding in the valley.