West to East Scotland

[Havana7]

Hello, I’ve joined this forum for some advice. I’m planning a trip across Scotland for 7 days and have my tour planned from East to West (Inverness, Invergarry, Oban, Dalmally) but I’m struggling a bit with the best route to Edinburgh from there. I’ve allocated 3 days for for Thai part of the tour. I’d be massively grateful for suggestions. Intermediate level, some hill climbing is obviously fine but not looking mountain summit. Going this November. Thanks again

[Paulatic]

https://cycle.travel/map/mobile?journey=268583
100ml in three days good luck with November weather and daylight.

[Tinnishill]

Hallo,

You don't say what sort of bike you are riding, or what sort of road conditions you are comfortable with, or which dates you are actually travelling, or what accommodation you are planning so I will make several assumptions here and explain them as I go along.

Because you mention Invergarry and Dalmally I assume that either you have a specific reason for visiting these places (which are essentially just road junctions) or you aren't that familiar with the west of Scotland.

The trunk roads in the West are not nice cycling routes. I try to keep off the A82, A85, A86 and A826. Other A roads aren't so bad. Similarly, the main roads in the Central Belt can be a bit tense.

I assume that you are arriving in Inverness and departing from Edinburgh by train. Check the Scotrail website for industrial action; the RMT have authorised a strike on all Scottish trains from the 1st till the 12th of November.

It will be dark from 5.30pm to 7.30am each day in mid November. You have a 50/50 chance of good or bad weather. If a spell of bad weather causes you trouble than you can bale out onto the train at the Fort, Oban and Dalmally, if the trains are running.

If you are planning to wild camp be aware that, while legal under specific conditions, finding somewhere you can physically camp can be a struggle. You will need to be looking for somewhere while it is still daylight. There isn't much opportunity for food shopping outside the main towns.

In the Great Glen there are small campsites along the canal; you can see details here;

http://greatglencanoetrail.info/plan-a- ... index.html

https://www.highland.gov.uk/greatglenwa ... _the_route

Assuming that you can reach Inverness and you are OK with cycling on lower quality Sustrans type surfaces, here are some Cycle.travel suggested routes:

Inverness to Fort William;

https://cycle.travel/map/journey/268623

The Camusnagaul Ferry ramp at Fort William is next to the really obvious fish restaurant on the waterfront. The Corran Ferry is run by the Highlands Council. These ferry time tables are on here;

http://www.lochabertransport.org.uk/Tra ... rries.aspx

From the Corran Ferry to the Ballachulish Bridge the Sustrans route is essentially just riding on the pavement, but you can hop on and off the road according to road traffic levels. From the Ballachulish Bridge to the Connel Bridge the Sustrans route is mostly smooth off road.

The Fort to Oban;

https://cycle.travel/map/journey/268625

Oban to Dalmally;

https://cycle.travel/map/journey/268627

From Dalmally the route that Paulitic suggested would be your first choice if you are OK with cycling on busy roads. An alternative is here, still A roads, a bit further but a bit quieter;

https://cycle.travel/map/journey/268628

Once you have crossed either of the ferries at Dunoon, head east past Glasgow. Be aware that the centre of Glasgow is being heavily restricted from 23rd of Oct till the 15th of November by the security around the UN compound. (more on here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... t-58940897 )

From the Gourock end of the ferry there is this route, mostly on canal towpath;

https://cycle.travel/map/journey/268637

Once you are in the Central Belt there are again opportunities to escape by local train.

Have fun.

[mattheus]

Once you are in the Central Belt there are again opportunities to escape by local train.

Have fun.

What are the local trains round there like for bikes i.e. bookings, number of spaces?

[LollyKat]

No booking required or even possible - the Scotrail site has details. The fast Glasgow-Edinburgh has 4-6 spaces though you can usually pile in more. The slower stopping services have larger carriages so can cram in some more.

There are more wheelchair spaces than bike spaces, but as it’s rare to see a wheelchair you could use those too, provided of course that you’d be prepared to move if necessary.

[mattheus]

No booking required or even possible - the Scotrail site has details. The fast Glasgow-Edinburgh has 4-6 spaces though you can usually pile in more. The slower stopping services have larger carriages so can cram in some more.

There are more wheelchair spaces than bike spaces, but as it’s rare to see a wheelchair you could use those too, provided of course that you’d be prepared to move if necessary.

Thanks. (not planning to use them, but might change plans mid-tour!)

[Havana7]

Hallo,

You don't say what sort of bike you are riding, or what sort of road conditions you are comfortable with, or which dates you are actually travelling, or what accommodation you are planning so I will make several assumptions here and explain them as I go along.

Because you mention Invergarry and Dalmally I assume that either you have a specific reason for visiting these places (which are essentially just road junctions) or you aren't that familiar with the west of Scotland.

The trunk roads in the West are not nice cycling routes. I try to keep off the A82, A85, A86 and A826. Other A roads aren't so bad. Similarly, the main roads in the Central Belt can be a bit tense.

I assume that you are arriving in Inverness and departing from Edinburgh by train. Check the Scotrail website for industrial action; the RMT have authorised a strike on all Scottish trains from the 1st till the 12th of November.

It will be dark from 5.30pm to 7.30am each day in mid November. You have a 50/50 chance of good or bad weather. If a spell of bad weather causes you trouble than you can bale out onto the train at the Fort, Oban and Dalmally, if the trains are running.

If you are planning to wild camp be aware that, while legal under specific conditions, finding somewhere you can physically camp can be a struggle. You will need to be looking for somewhere while it is still daylight. There isn't much opportunity for food shopping outside the main towns.

In the Great Glen there are small campsites along the canal; you can see details here;

http://greatglencanoetrail.info/plan-a- ... index.html

https://www.highland.gov.uk/greatglenwa ... _the_route

Assuming that you can reach Inverness and you are OK with cycling on lower quality Sustrans type surfaces, here are some Cycle.travel suggested routes:

Inverness to Fort William;

https://cycle.travel/map/journey/268623

The Camusnagaul Ferry ramp at Fort William is next to the really obvious fish restaurant on the waterfront. The Corran Ferry is run by the Highlands Council. These ferry time tables are on here;

http://www.lochabertransport.org.uk/Tra ... rries.aspx

From the Corran Ferry to the Ballachulish Bridge the Sustrans route is essentially just riding on the pavement, but you can hop on and off the road according to road traffic levels. From the Ballachulish Bridge to the Connel Bridge the Sustrans route is mostly smooth off road.

The Fort to Oban;

https://cycle.travel/map/journey/268625

Oban to Dalmally;

https://cycle.travel/map/journey/268627

From Dalmally the route that Paulitic suggested would be your first choice if you are OK with cycling on busy roads. An alternative is here, still A roads, a bit further but a bit quieter;

https://cycle.travel/map/journey/268628

Once you have crossed either of the ferries at Dunoon, head east past Glasgow. Be aware that the centre of Glasgow is being heavily restricted from 23rd of Oct till the 15th of November by the security around the UN compound. (more on here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland- ... t-58940897 )

From the Gourock end of the ferry there is this route, mostly on canal towpath;

https://cycle.travel/map/journey/268637

Once you are in the Central Belt there are again opportunities to escape by local train.

Have fun.

Wow! That’s brilliant, thank you so much, exactly what I was after. I’m using a road bike and yes the landmarks are largely centred on point a of accommodation taken from planning through Komoot based on the level mileage I’d expect to cover. I think it all still needs more planning and your advice is really helpful. Thanks again

[LollyKat]

No booking required or even possible - the Scotrail site has details....

Thanks. (not planning to use them, but might change plans mid-tour!)

I forgot to add that where you do need to book, you can do it at the last minute at the station - if there’s space they’ll let you on.