Highlands

[av185]

P675 said:

Bit of a broad question but is there a decent route from near Birmingham to Inverness which avoids the boring motorway part through England, on a bike so can get through traffic to some degree.

Always enjoy the drive through Derbyshire via Bakewell Buxton Chapel and Hayfield. Refreshing alternative to the dreaded M6.

M66 north then M65 east Settle Ingleton Kirby Lonsdale Wndermere Kirkstone Pass Ullswater Penrith pick up M6 north.

Biggar to Edinburgh a decent drive.

[P675]

plenty said:

Yep - I go via the Yorkshire Dales, Pennines and Northumberland and Cairngorms but that's another 1-2 days. Albeit some of those bits are as good as the best bits further north.

After a brief map scroll I was thinking about that, but I'm doing it all in one day. Will have to mess with some routes and see what seems worth the extra time. 8 hours of only motorway and then back again on a bike is so incredibly dull.

[plenty]

P675 said:

plenty said:

Yep - I go via the Yorkshire Dales, Pennines and Northumberland and Cairngorms but that's another 1-2 days. Albeit some of those bits are as good as the best bits further north.

After a brief map scroll I was thinking about that, but I'm doing it all in one day. Will have to mess with some routes and see what seems worth the extra time. 8 hours of only motorway and then back again on a bike is so incredibly dull.

This is a typical route north for me. https://shorturl.at/CJX06

[P675]

plenty said:

This is a typical route north for me. https://shorturl.at/CJX06

Cheers that looks like a gopd place to start

[thepritch]

P675 said:

Cheers that looks like a gopd place to start

Nice route, taking in glenshee and strathdon.

If you head north, you must then have to head south when you go home . Rather than double up this route, when you come back over strathdon, take the road east from Crathie to Banchory along the river Dee. It’s a beautiful driving road, long straights with fast corners through pine trees taking in Ballater and Aboyne. Lots of good coffee shops to stop at. Then when you get to take the amazing road over Cairn O mount to Fettercairn which is one of my favourite roads around the NE. Link up to the A90 dual carriageway south and head home.

[some bloke]

thepritch said:

P675 said:

Cheers that looks like a gopd place to start

Nice route, taking in glenshee and strathdon.

If you head north, you must then have to head south when you go home . Rather than double up this route, when you come back over strathdon, take the road east from Crathie to Banchory along the river Dee. It’s a beautiful driving road, long straights with fast corners through pine trees taking in Ballater and Aboyne. Lots of good coffee shops to stop at. Then when you get to take the amazing road over Cairn O mount to Fettercairn which is one of my favourite roads around the NE. Link up to the A90 dual carriageway south and head home.

I did a run with some guys a while back where we got onto the B976 at Balmoral castle then headed down to Cairn o' Mount etc. Maybe not the fastest road but some great scenery.

[Dr mojo]

Just come back from NC500 in my LC500. Surprised how good it was on those roads. The wail of the naturally aspirated engine was addictive and despite what the car journos say it was surprisingly nimble around the bends. I think the 4ws helps. Had an amazing few days and although weather was changeable the scenery just kept on giving. Well need to go back again. April seemed not too busy plenty of overtaking opportunities.

[Mr Tidy]

I did the NC500 last May with some other BMW Z4 owners and had a great time.

So in October I did another trip in October around Dumfries and the Borders.

Then went back in March for more border action and should be back in October for a Coast to Coast trip.

I live over 400 miles away but roads and scenery like that don't exist anywhere near Surrey.

[POIDH]

Another warning of traffic chaos from central belt to Fort William area this weekend...

There's three large sporting events on on horse, motorbike and mountain bike.
Anywhere from A82 Loch Lomond side or A84 via Callander to Fort William will be busy at all hours. Also the A9 upto Dalwhinnie then A85 will be busier than usual in my experience, likely even to Oban on A85.

Time to explore Borders, Galloway, ferry routes to Argyll or head up to Royal Deeside and Aberdeenshire... Anywhere but central west coast....

Edited by POIDH on Tuesday 30th April 19:29

[egor110]

What's the motorbike event ?

[sjabrown]

egor110 said:

What's the motorbike event ?

Scottish six days trials. Pre-65s this weekend coming then main event next week. Kinlochleven, Fort William, Ardgour, road to Mallaig all busier than usual on various days.

[thepritch]

POIDH said:

Or head up to Royal Deeside and Aberdeenshire...

I’d strongly suggest avoiding and sticking to the borders or west coast. You’d hate it if you came this way. Not a nice place at all. Horrible in fact. And the people speak funny. Yup. Avoid.

[TheConsultant]

POIDH said:

Another warning of traffic chaos from central belt to Fort William area this weekend...

There's three large sporting events on on horse, motorbike and mountain bike.
Anywhere from A82 Loch Lomond side or A84 via Callander to Fort William will be busy at all hours. Also the A9 upto Dalwhinnie then A85 will be busier than usual in my experience, likely even to Oban on A85.

Time to explore Borders, Galloway, ferry routes to Argyll or head up to Royal Deeside and Aberdeenshire... Anywhere but central west coast....

Edited by POIDH on Tuesday 30th April 19:29

What are the horse and mountain bike events?

Just planning on how we can stay out of the way as we may at risk of being affected.

[flatlemon]

TheConsultant said:

What are the horse and mountain bike events?

Just planning on how we can stay out of the way as we may at risk of being affected.

The bike one will be the World Cup at nevis range near Fort William.

[egor110]

TheConsultant said:

POIDH said:

Another warning of traffic chaos from central belt to Fort William area this weekend...

There's three large sporting events on on horse, motorbike and mountain bike.
Anywhere from A82 Loch Lomond side or A84 via Callander to Fort William will be busy at all hours. Also the A9 upto Dalwhinnie then A85 will be busier than usual in my experience, likely even to Oban on A85.

Time to explore Borders, Galloway, ferry routes to Argyll or head up to Royal Deeside and Aberdeenshire... Anywhere but central west coast....

Edited by POIDH on Tuesday 30th April 19:29

What are the horse and mountain bike events?

Just planning on how we can stay out of the way as we may at risk of being affected.

Worth watching the downhill mtb is your in the area .

[Red Devil]

TheConsultant said:

Tye Green said:

here, sir is your route!

bit of a drive if there's kids on board but great roads all the way except the inevitable motorway section past Glasgow.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Ponteland/Bellin...

Ha, I'd love to do that! Not so likely with a baby boy on board though - but maybe one day in the future

I think based on the balance of feedback above, that the A83 (Rest and be thankful) looks tempting. Just had a quick scoot around it on Streetview and it looks quite spectacular.

If you're going that way, the A69 at the start carries a lot of traffic and can be quite tiresome on the S2 section beyond the Corbridge bypass.
From the Brampton bypass both routes to the motorway. especially the A689 past Carlisle Airport, are a real PITA.
I stay off it as much as possible using this route to the A74(M) - https://maps.app.goo.gl/yPfM4d67kagC3x6GA

Also, heartily detest the A82 along Loch Lomond. If you get stuck behind an artic with its attendant camel train it's purgatory.

Drive Blind said:

try and fit in the A817 rollercoaster road too

^^This^^ The Haul Road which was built to access HMNB Clyde, the nuclear submarine base at Faslane.
Then the A814 to Arrochar - https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ay5qGmwghrkW4BEQ8

[Red Devil]

plenty said:

Craikeybaby said:

P675 said:

Bit of a broad question but is there a decent route from near Birmingham to Inverness which avoids the boring motorway part through England, on a bike so can get through traffic to some degree.

It depends on how much time you have got... Personally, I put up with the M1 or M6 slog up from Coventry and prioritise the more exciting bits further north.

Yep - I go via the Yorkshire Dales, Pennines and Northumberland and Cairngorms but that's another 1-2 days. Albeit some of those bits are as good as the best bits further north.

Lichfield>Ashbourne>Buxton>Hayfield>Charlesworth>Mottram in Longdendale is quite nice, but there is no straightforward way from there to reach the North Pennines.
The majority of the roads run on a west to east axis. Any south to north route is either too circuitous or will end up in urban sprawl.

From Birmingham, M6/M65 then
https://maps.app.goo.gl/KVWVUPknou92scQFA
https://maps.app.goo.gl/eN345Dj1tdHtccJd9
https://maps.app.goo.gl/pv8HKbTVQMNw57saA

[Russ-2g113]

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Hi all. I have just written up our recent road trip here.
Awesome time spent in the Highlands last week.

[Ramsden2019]

I’ve been up here for the last few days. The weather has been sublime!

I’m still up here for the next couple days so will post some pics when back - BUT!

First major disaster since I’ve been coming, I stupidly left my DSLR camera at the top of the applecross pass next to the road as I took some pictures for some cyclists then forgot to put it back in my bag and started driving off.

I got 2 mins down the road and realised so turned back but by this time it had GONE!

I can only hope some kind person took it to hand it in!

What will the local police station be to there?

[Russ-2g113]

Maybe give the pub a call? If it were me finding it I think i would have handed it in there.