Cycling UK Forum

Two years ago I cucled the coast of Britain and as part of this the route you are asking about except I was going north. Lots of details, photos etc on my website which may be of help. I cycled the quiet roads and cyclepaths as much as poss. www.petermaddern.weebly.com

In 2009 I cycled coast of Britain and did St Davids to Bristol as part of this. Full details with photos etc on my site may be of use to you . www.petermaddern.weebly.com

Hi Steve I did the whole coast of Britain in 2009 and would certainly recommend it. Had a brilliant time-great sites lovely people. Took my time and did lots of siteseeing. If I could I would do it again tomorrow-unfortunately got probs with vertibrae in my neck.
Story, as someone has said here http://www.petermaddern.weebly.com

Good luck on your trip. My fav bit was Cullen Harbour to Inverness. Much of it on cycle paths and the section across the Spey is beautiful.Looking forward to seeing a report and a few photos from you.
At the moment unable to cycle due to neck problems-waiting for physio appointment and taking lots of paracetomol. Probably doing too much at my age but glad I did.

Lovely route and area. If you look on my site there are lots of details of cycle paths and photos of the route you are planning. In 2009 I cycled the whole coast of Britain and of course Ed to Nairn as part of it. The East coast of Scotland was brilliant and a bit of a surprise to me as everyone raves about the west coast(also brilliant cycling country).

The section you want starts at the end of the Whitby to Edinburgh chapter.
http://www.petermaddern.weebly.com

A couple of years ago I cycled the coast of Britain which included Mallaig to Oban. Lots of details and photos on my site http://www.petermaddern.weebly.com
Beautiful route with some excellent accomodation. Good hostel in Strontian.
Had an interesting two nights in Oban-read section on Glasgow Wedding Party!

Lots of photos and details of the route and ferry you are asking about on my site http://www.petermaddern.weebly.com
I cycled the coast of Britain in 2009 and of course this included the section you are asking about on the 76th and penultimate day of cycling. Lovely area to cycle but as others have said very hilly-I was drowned on that day.It was like cycling through rivers-went uphills with the water pouring down like a waterfall.

If you look on my site there are lots of photos and details of the route you are asking about. I cycled the whole coast of Britain in2009 and of course this included the piece you are asking about. I came across from Bute having stayed the night there in the Hostel in Rothesay.I found the road alright apart from the gale of wind and you get to ride on that bit of road that goes up when it looks like its going down-forgotten its name for the moment.
www.petermaddern.weebly.com

Cornwall is very very hilly. As I said in my site there are hills all the way to Abbotsbury in Dorset and then it will be flat all the way to Deal. My advice is to take it easy on the first few days as it can get a bit demoralising- but it is also amazingly satisfying when you realise what you have achieved and the beer tastes lovely at the end of each day. Good luck.

If you look at this site http://www.petermaddern.weebly.com it will give you details, photos etc of the route you are asking about. In 2009 I cycled the whole coast of Britain starting from Penzance and going along the south coast first .
I used lots of ferries and they are all mentioned and have photos. My e mail address is on the site if you have any questions.

Lovely area to cycle and great ferry crossings. Super hostels-details on site. Lots of photos and details also on my site. I cycled all around here in 2009 on a cycle around coast of Britain. www.petermaddern.weebly.com

In 2009 I cycled the whole coast of Britain starting from Penzance where I live. As part of that of course I did the coast of Wales and south west England on the way back to Pz.
This was a lovely route and highly recommended.I actually started in April, the same as you are planning-the weather was very good.
Lots of details and photos on my website at http://www.petermaddern.weebly.com -just read it backwards if you are starting at Pz!

Yes it was Rattray. Lovely people. Another one on that coast was Cullen Harbour which was another superb hostel purpose built by the owner who live next door. I was soaking when I got there but they had a superb rayburn going. Lovely wet room showers and beds seperated by thick curtains although I actually had the hostel to myself.

Mick I went anti clockwise from Penzance starting in April. This was largely to get the south coast roads out of the way earlier in the summer as some of them are the busiest you will meet on your trip.
I used 28 ferries on my trip and found that a great addition to the adventure especially the rowing boat in Suffolk. The east coast through Yorkshire,Northumberland and the whole east coast of Scotland was brilliant and then of course the whole west coast of Scotland, England and Wales was a fantastic memory. Totally imposs to pick out the best.
Took 85 days of which 78 cycling.
Brilliant private hostels-one of my favourites was the lighthouse buildings north of Aberdeen-the name escapes me at this moment but the details and photos are all on my site.
Good luck. http://www.petermaddern.weebly.com

There are quite a few good value hostels in that area which might be better than camping at that time of year.
Last year, as part of my round the coast of Britain trip I stayed in the excellent hostel at Strontian. Then cycled to Lochaline where there is another very friendly hostel, as part of a diving centre, that I stopped at for lunch. Caught ferry over to Mull and stayed in Youth Hostel in Tobermory and then ferry to Ardnamurchan and after visiting lighthouse cycled back to Strontian for a second night in hostel there and then carried on south. It makes a good circular3/4 day tour.The community centre in Kilchoan on Ardnamurchan has all sorts of facilities including showers so if you did wild camp nearby you could pop in there in the morning- it also has a cafe.
More details and lots of photos here-just click on "more".

http://www.petermaddern.weebly.com