Things to Do in Edinburgh and Inverness

[Smurfsarepeopletoo]

Afternoon All, planning on a trip at the beginning of August, the idea is 2 days in edinburgh, and then 4 days in inverness, will be taking the push bikes and the camera, wondering if people could give me some ideas of things I should plan on seeing, or places to go and visit fo a bit of cycling, good spots for photos and some good driving roads.

Thanks in advance.

[Brads67]

Edinburgh is great for cycling and you could spend 2 days pootling about seeing as much of the city as possible.

Inverness is a starting point for some of the finest driving roads in Europe. Even the A9 North through the Black Isle is bloody magic.

[ianrb]

Glen Affric is handy for Inverness. Abke ride along the southern side would be rather nice in good weather.

[some bloke]

From Inverness you could nip over to Sheildaig on the west coast (1.5 hrs or so) then do the 50ish mile loop round the Applecross peninsular. I would ride up Beal-ach-nabar (sp? - 2300ft pass) then coast downhill and stop in at Applecross for lunch/pint, then the rest of the way back to Sheildaig is (relatively) flat. You're in Torridon here, which is pretty spectacular
Another day trip up there is heading east - dunno about cycling but there are some interesting (for a short time...) towns like Cullen, Pennan, Crovie, Gardenstown, Nairn etc. On a hot summers day there are plenty of beaches along there for a swim too.

Edinburgh - 2 days is only going to give you the basics but you can cycle around it. It's hilly in places...

[Gilhooligan]

Foe Edinburgh cycling I'd recommend going round Arthur's Seat, the road loops round it and provides great views of the city. There's also the 'innocent' railway tunnel next to it which is quite fun to cycle through.

Photography wise, Calton Hill offers a great spot for pictures down Princes Street.

Edinburgh castle is obviously the main tourist attraction and worth doing, see also Camera Obscura or climbing up the Scott Monument.

You didn't day where you're coming from but if you're driving up to Edinburgh from the M6 then take the A701 to Edinburgh. If coming up from the A1 side then turn off at the A68 or A697.

[S2red]

The way things are at moment I admire your optimism in being able to travel that far

[sherman]

Edinburgh I would leave the bikes and just walk everywhee with the camera. 2 days walking will cover the main sights in old and new town. By the time you have been to the castle, museum and queued for pubs etc that will be your 2 days.

[triathlonstu]

some bloke said:

From Inverness you could nip over to Sheildaig on the west coast (1.5 hrs or so) then do the 50ish mile loop round the Applecross peninsular. I would ride up Beal-ach-nabar (sp? - 2300ft pass) then coast downhill and stop in at Applecross for lunch/pint, then the rest of the way back to Sheildaig is (relatively) flat. You're in Torridon here, which is pretty spectacular
Another day trip up there is heading east - dunno about cycling but there are some interesting (for a short time...) towns like Cullen, Pennan, Crovie, Gardenstown, Nairn etc. On a hot summers day there are plenty of beaches along there for a swim too.

Edinburgh - 2 days is only going to give you the basics but you can cycle around it. It's hilly in places...

I live in a small village near the Bealach and I'd say that visitors are likely more than a couple of months away from being welcomed here.

If things have calmed down by then, lots of good riding around these parts.

[Brads67]

triathlonstu said:

I live in a small village near the Bealach and I'd say that visitors are likely more than a couple of months away from being welcomed here.

If things have calmed down by then, lots of good riding around these parts.

Being welcomed, or being allowed ?. Different things.

[triathlonstu]

Brads67 said:

Being welcomed, or being allowed ?. Different things.

Thank you for that insight. I'm sure people will be queueing up to be made to feel unwelcome during their holidays.

Edited by triathlonstu on Tuesday 2nd June 19:03

[Brads67]

triathlonstu said:

Thank you for that insight. I'm sure people will be queueing up to be made to feel unwelcome during their holidays.

Edited by triathlonstu on Tuesday 2nd June 19:03

That wasn't an insight, it was a question.

[Macneil]

Take a train across the Forth Rail Bridge to North Queensferry, they run every ten minutes or so, get off, get some good pics of the bridge close up, nip back, an hour and a half tops.

[some bloke]

triathlonstu said:

I live in a small village near the Bealach and I'd say that visitors are likely more than a couple of months away from being welcomed here.

If things have calmed down by then, lots of good riding around these parts.

Nice - Torridon is just about my favourite spot in Britain. I have stayed in the boathouse on Loch Damph a couple of times.
I took this about 20 years ago when I was into paragliding - took off near the top of the pass to the bottom left of the photo:





I landed down the road aways and had to walk through a mile of bog while getting eaten by midges. We had a pint and fish & chips at Applecross that evening, watching the otters play at sunset. Awesome.

[triathlonstu]

Brads67 said:

That wasn't an insight, it was a question.

A question which had already been answered.

Edited by triathlonstu on Wednesday 3rd June 11:44

[triathlonstu]

some bloke said:

Nice - Torridon is just about my favourite spot in Britain. I have stayed in the boathouse on Loch Damph a couple of times.
I took this about 20 years ago when I was into paragliding - took off near the top of the pass to the bottom left of the photo:

I landed down the road aways and had to walk through a mile of bog while getting eaten by midges. We had a pint and fish & chips at Applecross that evening, watching the otters play at sunset. Awesome.

That's a cool spot, don't envy the midges at all... And don't even start me on the tics.

I think this part of the world is amazing, I'd hate for someone to leave with a bad taste in their mouth if they weren't welcomed with open arms. Cycling is next level, whether it's road/ mountain or cross that you're after. Would just wait and see how it all pans out before I recommended someone show up, everyone got a bit more nervous with the outbreak on Skye.

[Smurfsarepeopletoo]

Thanks for the suggestions so far, im not planning on interacting with people while I am there, and there is only me and the wife going, so hopefully will be relatively easy to socail distance.

And whilst I appreciate that the locals might not be overly welcoming, I suspect that the people who rely on tourism for their livelyhoods will be extremely welcoming to visitors.

I am hoping that nothing changes in the mean time, however, I live on the edge of the Staffordshire Moorlands, so if all else fails I will do some days out cycling and visiting local driving roads.

[S2red]

You will be more than welcome to come North

BUT

The lockdown rules are different up here It is advised to only travel approx. 5 miles and broadly speaking stay at home

At moment I doubt any guest houses/hotels are open for normal business restaurants and attractions also closed so may be an idea to keep eye on Scotgov page for latest rule/restrictions up here

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covi...

Enjoy you visit when we are open for business hopefully sooner than later

[Smurfsarepeopletoo]

S2red said:

You will be more than welcome to come North

BUT

The lockdown rules are different up here It is advised to only travel approx. 5 miles and broadly speaking stay at home

At moment I doubt any guest houses/hotels are open for normal business restaurants and attractions also closed so may be an idea to keep eye on Scotgov page for latest rule/restrictions up here

https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covi...

Enjoy you visit when we are open for business hopefully sooner than later

Thanks, I am keeping an eye on things, we have only booked to stay at premier inn as they allow bikes in the room, we are fairly easy going, happy to spend the evenings sitting somewhere with a nice view, so not really an issue if pubs are busy or still closed.

Not spent alot of time in Scotland, so looking forward to just spending some time taking in the scenery and culture.

Spent a couple of weeks on the isle of Bute a number of years ago, and that was a very enjoyable time.

[malks222]

edinburgh has a great cycle network, loads of old railway lines have been converted into walking/ cycle paths which can take you all about the city pretty safely/ away from traffic.

for cycling, i’d consider a cycle along the water of leith path down to leith/ the shore area. also worth a cycle along the shore front to crammond, lovely big wide open tarmac surface. crammond is a little tidal controlled island that’s worth a wee trip out for ice cream and walk about. could easily cycle out to south queensferry for views of the bridges.

photography wise- calton hill has some pretty great views of the city, especially pretty at sunset/ night time. arthur’s seat/ crags again have great views of all the city. another good vantage point is blackford hill and has the royal observatory. oh and walk along the water of leith toward ‘dean village’ very pretty little area of edinburgh great for photographs.

for an idea of some nice locations etc..... maybe have a look at www.edinburghphotowalks.com ive been on a couple of photography lessons with him and he had loads of great spots round edinburgh. worth a look for some inspiration

[flatlemon]

As mentioned, plenty of cycle friendly routes in and around Edinburgh. Check out the Sustrans website for more detailed information.