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Scotland Tour !

Posted: 12 Aug 2014, 5:42pm
by hondated
I really do need to get my act together and finally get out on that first tour so I really do need some advice.

What my current idea is is to travel up to Fort William where one of our forum friends has agreed that I can park my vehicle and hopefully join me and my friend on the ride.
To summarise my plans I want to do it in September/ October and cycle over to Skye and if possible Island hop back to the top of Scotland and then return to FW.
My first question then is that possible !
The second question is would it be easier to do it the other way ie prevailing winds etc.
And the final one for now am I being realistic in trying to do this.
Oh yes and I want to camp wherever possible.
Once I have your views on this I will then research times dates and costs of ferries but I don't want to do that until I see what you have to say.

Thanks Ted

Re: Scotland Tour !

Posted: 12 Aug 2014, 7:24pm
by bogmyrtle
Yes
No
Yes

Re: Scotland Tour !

Posted: 12 Aug 2014, 8:37pm
by al_yrpal
Fort William to Oban Jon Snows favourite trip.

Al

Re: Scotland Tour !

Posted: 12 Aug 2014, 9:24pm
by hondated
Thanks for quickly responding.I will now set to and find out the answers to those other questions I need to address.

Re: Scotland Tour !

Posted: 13 Aug 2014, 9:51am
by phil parker
I set off last May to do a tour from Fort William to Skye then up the west coast to Cape Wrath, Tongue and then back...but really bad weather and a non-improving 5-day forecast made me switch plans whilst in Portree. I was camping and had plans to camp everywhere so that is easily possible. Due to better weather on the east coast I went from Portree to Inverness and then followed the coastline round to Aberdeen, St Andrews, Edinburgh and then made my way back to N Manchester (where my car was parked at my parents).

Having done the Outer Hebrides on a previous occasion I know it is also possible to get there from Skye and there are plenty of campsites (or wild camping) and perhaps back to Ullapool then Fort William. Ferry price for a Scotch Hopper is very reasonable. September is a good time to go - there will still be a few midges around and the weather will hit and miss, but I prefer September (or May) for Scotland.

Whilst there are prevailing winds - I've had head winds or tail winds in all directions!

Re: Scotland Tour !

Posted: 13 Aug 2014, 10:15am
by Vantage
Realistic? Definitely. I'm starting my first tour this Thursday morning. If I can do it anyone can so get planning.
Every last drop of advice you'll ever need is covered in this forum (admittedly it takes a while to find it all), the Travelling Two book and site and general tinterweb.
Dunno about prevailing wind direction. I have a 20 mile loop I like to ride regularly but every time I do it, I somehow have a headwind on both the outbound and return journeys. Go figure.
Good luck :)

Re: Scotland Tour !

Posted: 13 Aug 2014, 4:43pm
by hondated
Thanks again everyone. And Vantage have a great time.Oh and I think my plans are now going to be easier as I have decided to grow a beard !

Re: Scotland Tour !

Posted: 13 Aug 2014, 5:42pm
by Vantage
That made me crack up laughing as I'm currently in my 2nd month of owning a fairly bushy goatee and tash :mrgreen:

Re: Scotland Tour !

Posted: 14 Aug 2014, 2:38pm
by al_yrpal
hondated wrote:Thanks again everyone. And Vantage have a great time.Oh and I think my plans are now going to be easier as I have decided to grow a beard !


Ted , if you wear a skirt too, you'll fit right in!

Cheers

Al