So, by some miracle @p20 and I have 10 days holiday together from Easter Friday (anyone has a shift worker in their family knows this is often easier said than done!).
Phase 1 of the van conversion will be complete (fully insulated, heated etc - just not a bed set up - but we can always sleep on the floor or in our little tent). Originally we had the idea of heading down to the Quantocks (as we've not been for a while), but I am not sure I can face the idea of the M5 at Easter.
Other idea is Scotland, as with the van converted we know we have warm and dry options. I ideally would like to do 2-3 days bikepacking, some kayaking (we have touring boats which we haven't used for ages) and enjoy the van. We know mainland Scotland pretty well having covered from Durness to Dumfries. We have bikepacked round Aviemore and Fort Bill in the past; kayaked at Arisaig etc. Any suggested locations - areas we may have missed?
Or anywhere else to suggest (I realise April could still be rather chilly in Scotland - my ideal of going to Majorca is off the cards with the money needed for the van) - we are Leeds based, so pretty central to get around. Will take the van to the Alps later in the year.
Argyll has you covered...
Loch Sween and area for some paddling.
Lots of bikepacking and road touring.
Kerry, The Iveragh peninsula, basically inside the ring of Kerry.
Argyll is a good shout.
Also Glen Affric and Inverpolly for the boats.
Argyll has you covered…
Straight off Matt, somewhere we haven't been - well done 🙂
Thanks Kilo - I will have just returned from Ireland the week before with a load of students - will reserve this idea for another time - good shout though.
Loch Sween is lovely if you get it right - fabulous wildlife, enough tidal movement to keep you on your feet yet feels pretty sheltered and inland.
We did a bit of paddling in inverpolly - utterly beautiful and lovely and intend to go back for some more. Loch Veyatie. the only issue was a headwind both ways. You can also go on cam loch with a short portage inbetween the two
Had a look at the Argle Gravel bikepacking route - we’d normally take the mtb, but that might be worth considering.
Having pedaled a fair bit of it with my son a couple of years ago, I'd greatly recommend it. Despite being on a road for lots, it's wild feeling.
April will be less traffic as well.