MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Van should be almost done by then (at least this will be a motivator for me) so am planning a trip around the above at Easter. Not quite sure what this entails yet and I only have around 1 week which is limiting I know (driving from the North West (Wirral)) but hopefully the first trip of many.
We will be living in the Van (T6) so need to consider places to stop/camp and there will be me, Mrs Surfer and our Spaniel. No bikes involved unfortunately but I will be looking for places to run (rugged routes welcome)
So given the collective knowledge what would you do if you had the same opportunity. What should I see and what routes would you recommend?
As always, thanks muchly 🙂
Easter is not a bad time to go as the NC500 route won't be as mental and avoid-at-costs as it is later in the year. Re campsites - not all will be open and you'll need to check. Some with grass standing only might not open for a while.
Depends what you have and have not seen so far. With the weather possibly a bit average (but often lovely) at that time of year going further south to places with more population and therefore indoors stuff to do might not be a bad shout.
Oban, wee trip out to Kerrera and maybe to Lismore (from Port Apin is best imo) too (both of those are on foot with van left on the mainland), up to Glen Coe, Off to Mull with the van for a couple of days. Maybe up to Arisaig and ferry to Skye (which I would also say is horrible in the full summer tourist rush but could be great at Easter) and back to the mainland via the bridge.
^^^ that sounds like a pretty good plan.
Do you need specific T6 route suggestions, or would a beaten up old Transit type trip be any good?
😉
My default for anyone doing 'short' time trips is Arran, always. Real easy to get to, quiet, stunning, some of the best ridges outside of Skye, and easily accessed too.
I love it. Thankfully I'm 20 mins from the ferry.
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Try the Isle of Bute. Cheaper ferry. Lots of places to park overnight.
+1 on Arran, Bute and Argyll.
Some lovely places, you will barely see a soul, no midges at that time either. Feels proper 'away from the world' because of the ferry crossings.
+arran and Bute, Can cheeky on both ok,
We liked the rurality/isolation of the Kintyre peninsulas(but not so much the Campbeltown leg), Gigha was lovely but a day trip/bike might be better there and the general area down towards Easdale and Luing, Jura was lovely, but is linear, Islay brill and Colonsay on a summers day is poss the best bike bimble we’ve ever done.(rivals Crinan canal as a bimble)
Dont forget Dumfries and Galloway, Some nice bits, Glentrool, rockcllife walk to pub at kippford, see Galloway forest forest drives,*check they are open, a nice place to breakdown for the evening as you’re not allowed to stop.
We looped Galloway, arran, kintyre then N to tarbert ferry portvadie, ferry colintraive to Bute s Rothesay ferry to mainland , motorway(*after a bit)
Thats fantastic thanks everyone... I can feel a plan forming 🙂
I need to start thinking about ferries, my natural inclination is to try to cram too much in so I need to think about what we can do and for it still to be relaxing!
@nobeer if you have any routes feel free to share 🙂
@Mowgli Tranny routes fine 🙂
Yeah, you've got to decide how much driving time vs leisure time. Personally, I'd head across Mull (couple of days), then Kilchoan and Ardnamurchan, Moidart, Ardgour etc. Largely untrammeled as yet. Maybe I should keep quiet about it.
I would go Arran - Claonaig - Mull of Kintyre - Oban - Mull - Ardnamurchan - Arisaig - Skye (Cuillin) and back via Kyle, Glenfinnan, Glencoe etc.
Your secrets safe Scotroutes....
Awesome thread, I've had cycle round Arran on my to-do list for years now so I might book two extra days over Easter and take some tips from this thread and do similar and drive a dodgy transit van!
Cycle around Arran, catch the early ferry get the last one back, park at the mainland but if there's a puff of wind forecast check the ferries you may get stranded
Don't cycle round Arran, seriously, just don't, it's the 2nd worst way to see the place, only driving is worse.
Surfer, gimme a shout for routes if you decide to go, I'll even come for a run/walk if I can.
Dovebiker, all great places, but too much driving for a week, sorry!.
Too many folk come up here and spend all their time in a car.
Edit - book Arran ferry as soon as you decide, since the introduction of RET, it's bloody busy.
Don’t come to Arran...you may never leave 😜
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-51004994
If you enjoy road biking, a circuit of Arran is a lovely few hours riding, especially if you add a couple distillery and cafe stops...despite what Nobeer says 🤔
Only way to see Arran is on foot Marko! 😊
Last time I went up Scotland for four days(only in a T5, so not sure if it counts ;-)) I did:
Cuillin ridge Glenbrittle to Glenbrittle solo.
Short cycle in Glen Sligachan on the rest day.
Full Annat Achnaschellach MTB route in Torridon.
Cairngorm and Ben Macdui by bike.
Then drove home to Manchester feeling very pleased with myself.
I agree, but for a small island there’s an awful lot of it to see 😀
@thegeneralist Thats sounds like a good day out 🙂 that I would love, mrs Surfer may take a different view...
An alternative:
https://www.visitsouthwestscotland.com/attractions/swc300map/
Google Norman Nielson, Dalbeattie if you want some running. He can hook you up with others and plenty of routes
7Stanes for biking, hiking and running
@Trekster ye fancy pairing up for the hardrock this year, you bike, I'll run?. Be guid. 👌🏻