Cycling UK Forum

Hi , after my NC500 adventure in May this yr I'm looking at next yrs trip .
Having been working on the recent World Championships in Stirling I'm thinking of a trip in general area .
Roughly train to Dumfries then ride to Fort William via Loch Lemond , return south to Stirling ,Edinburgh and Northumbria and train from Newcastle .
Just a rough idea at mo , want around 500 miles max in 7 days riding using Hostels mainly .
Any thoughts from those more experienced.
Cheers

Starting at the end, I'd aim to finish in Morpeth and get the train in to Newcastle from there!

And personally I'd avoid Loch Lomond - leave it for the neds. The A82 does have cycle lanes and so on but it's a pretty depressing ride with all the traffic noise.

If I was starting in s/w Scotland, I'd take a train to ardrossan and get the ferry to campbeltown or Arran.
Then take the route up through Argyll to fort William, with a possible diversion via mull, lochaline and the Corran ferry.
But then, I like the seaside and bikes on ferries.
I wouldn't go anywhere near loch Lomond on a bike. Roads are scary enough in a car.

Thank you for replies so far , all important information
Cheers

Agree with the others. Avoid the A82. The cycle path only goes halfway up Loch Lomond where the road narrows and has been said is awful in a car

How about:
Start in Dumfries and take cycle route 7 to Ardrossan using the Clatteringshaws option (much unsurfaced forest roads to trekking rather than road tyres best). Also consider following the coast more from Dumfries and join the 7 at Kirkcudbright

Then as has been suggested ferry to Arran and Campbeltown. From Tarbert consider the ferry to Partavadie. Make your way to Hunters Quay spending taking whichever route takes your fancy. Ferry to the mainland

Cycle route 75 and minor roads to Lesmahagow then strike across the Southern Uplands towards Newcastle. Again whichever route takes your fancy

Totals around 500miles with around 7,500m of ascent. The roads generally good with little traffic. The route links several of my favourite cycling areas and includes a number of my favourite day rides

I'd second the Arran / Tarbert route: also consider adding Islay and Bute.
Some photos etc of my trip this summer...
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/ret ... st-3439718

hamster wrote: ↑18 Sep 2023, 11:12am I'd second the Arran / Tarbert route: also consider adding Islay and Bute.
Some photos etc of my trip this summer...
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/ret ... st-3439718

Yes to all this, but I think he'll end up getting a train back to Newcastle rather than riding!

Excellent stuff chaps , my plan is loose at mo .Winters evenings to draw it all together .
The planning is all part of it and ideas from you guys help massively ( local knowledge)
Much appreciated
NC500 was great except for the headwinds (documented elsewhere) !
Cheers
Ps I'm happy to get a train from Edinburgh instead if mileage fits:)

Those pics look tempting

I agree with what others have said. If I was cycling from Dumfries to Fort William I would head for Ardrossan and via Aran to the Kintyre peninsula, then follow route 78 all the way to Fort William. Route 78 is part of the Calledonian Way and could even be followed all the way to Inverness. From Inverness I'd be inclined to give Stirling a miss and instead head south on Route 7 to Callander. From there There are a number of routes you could take to Edinburgh.

Pendodave wrote: ↑17 Sep 2023, 5:47pm If I was starting in s/w Scotland, I'd take a train to ardrossan and get the ferry to campbeltown or Arran.
Then take the route up through Argyll to fort William, with a possible diversion via mull, lochaline and the Corran ferry.
But then, I like the seaside and bikes on ferries.
I wouldn't go anywhere near loch Lomond on a bike. Roads are scary enough in a car.

If you choose the Corran ferry, keep up to speed on the news. There have been numerous problems with breakdowns and boats out of service. When I used it a few weeks ago there was only an emergency small passenger service which could take 3-4 bikes max.
It’s been an ongoing nightmare for residents of the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Businesses are suffering so do deserve some support if possible.

Thanks for further replies .
I'll get planning in the winter months ahead and post my intentions here .
I was recently in Stirling at the World cycling event and liked to scenery on the horizon )

Cheers

Something like this:

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1379398763? ... dKkXq3wnRe

Train to Dumfries and cycle to Fort William, Train back from FW. 462km. Great roads and scenery. Majority not too busy.

You could then extend it to Dalwhinnie and down the A9 cycle route to Perth and either into Fife or towards Stirling.

Hi funny you should suggest this as I've come up with adding Mull in
Train to Glasgow , ride to Ardrossan , Arran lap , Ferry to Cloanaig then ride to Mull of Kintyre .
Ride to Oban , cross to Mull and loop to Tobermory.
Ride back to get ferry to Lochaline then onto Fort William . Train back from somewhere .
Rough idea at mo .
Some accommodation looks tricky though .
Cheers
I'll read through your post tomorrow!

Hi all , booked Arran , Campbeltown ,Oban then 2 nights in Tobermory.
Plan was /is ride to Fort William on a Saturday to get train back to Euston Sunday.
As the train timetable not available yet I've looked at options that are on Trainline at end of this month , not many trains and poor bike availability.
Anyone with experience of above journey, I could stay another night in FW to get home Monday ( leaving on first train ) the Jan date has no bike availability and I wonder if this is usual for first train .
I wouldn't mind walking Ben Nevis on the Sunday if I stayed there ,or part of it .
Thanks for reading