Cycling UK Forum

Good morning all, I have a spare 4-5 days at the beginning of March and was thinking about doing something along the lines of Fort William to St Andrews (Bridge of Orchy, Crianlarich, Killin,Crieff, Perth, Newport-on-Tay, St Andrews). I am a complete beginner with regards to touring ( I cycle around 18 miles a day as part of my commute) but was wondering if this would be a pleasant route to start with. It does look a bit main roadish so if anyone has a better suggestion I am very open to ideas. I have a mountain bike, a hybrid and a road bike so fairly flexible. Many thanks in advance, Charles

I is pretty busy on the A82. I'd suggest doing a coast to coast from Stranraer to somewhere on the east coast between Edinburgh and Berwick. There is plenty B roads down there that carry very little traffic and have great scenery. It's a much under rated area for bike touring.

Hi... in October last year I did a really lovely circular route that started in Edinburgh. I dont ride huge distances each day - maybe 30 - 5- miles.... heres an outline of what I did. It was over about 7 days I think but obviously you could do longer days than I did or adjust it...
Edinburgh to Kirkaldy, St Andrews, Perth, Pitlochry, Killin, Stirling, Edinburgh.
It was absolutely stunning... favourite bits were from Pitlochry onwards, specialy to Stirling. you can follow cycle routes the whole way alongside lochs and its so pretty and off main roads.
Enjoy!

My inclination would be to head to the islands. Mull and Ardnamurchan, Arran, Islay and Jura, or the Outer Hebrides are all lovely, and travelling by bike and ferry is a great way to get around. We've done this on the last two Easters, and will be doing so again this year.

many thanks to all for the ideas

In March you're going to be at the mercy of the weather, you could get lucky or it could be foul. For this reason I'd follow a rail route, Edinburgh north along the coast look good, if you want mixed riding there the Sustrans Coast and Castles route that goes this way.
If it were the summer I'd go island hopping as AndyB suggested, some beautiful stuff in the west, but can be very bleak. A few photos from a tour last Sept;
http://www.derbyctc.org.uk/pictures/scotland/

PH wrote:In March you're going to be at the mercy of the weather, you could get lucky or it could be foul.

I saw the sun in Scotland in June 1992 and May 2008. The Scottish climate is could and rain, though rain of light, moderate,heavy and torrential types.

Take a look at the tours of Scotland at the following link - http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/iaincullen. There may be something there you'd like.

gbnz wrote:

PH wrote:In March you're going to be at the mercy of the weather, you could get lucky or it could be foul.

I saw the sun in Scotland in June 1992 and May 2008. The Scottish climate is could and rain, though rain of light, moderate,heavy and torrential types.

Yes, but hail, sleet, snow and storms are more likely in some months than others and in Scotland March is one of those months. All the walking guides say to treat March as winter.
It just makes sense for anyone, let alone someone on their first tour, to choose a route with options that some of the remote areas don't have.

You could still encounter sleet and snow in March, also the clocks don't change until the end of the month so daylight although lengthening, is more limited than later in the year.

+1 for the west coast islands. If you have never toured before island hopping is a way of enjoying fantastic scenery and cycling without having to do excessive distances. The ferry journeys add an extra element to any tour.

If you live in England and distance to your start point or home from your finish point is an issue, you could consider Dumfries and Galloway.

Richard wrote:Take a look at the tours of Scotland at the following link - http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/iaincullen. There may be something there you'd like.

For an inexperienced tourer I wouldn't advise any of the high off road routes like the Corrieyairick, Mount Keen, Glen Tilt etc. in Scotland for early March. If travel time to and from isn't a problem I agree the islands would be OK. No high roads and no big gaps between shelter.

Of course if the OP has winter hillwalking or MTB experience and is comfortable with off road navagation then that's different. It would depend on the weather and the conditions on the ground at the time. March is considered a winter month.

Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders has the advantage in winter weather that more of the roads have shelter from trees. On the islands whatever wind is there is what you get.

Once again, thanks for all the responses. I am considering driving from Hampshire to Fort William with bikes and then doing a roughly circular Lochailort/ Arisaig/ Glenuig/Acharacle/ Ardnamurchan and back/ Salen/ Strontian/ Drunsallie / Fort William.
I understand that the weather might be hideous in which case will alter plans. How long would this take for a relative novice under normal conditions (no howling headwind etc !) and any recommendations for B&B's to stay in ? I am very interested in the commando training during WW2 in this area and hence this route.
Many thanks, Charles

Make sure you stay in /stop at the hotel at Spean Bridge then.
This has a display dedicated to the commandos and has a mass of photos and other memorabilia.
(I think it was their local!)

PH wrote:

gbnz wrote:

PH wrote:In March you're going to be at the mercy of the weather, you could get lucky or it could be foul.

I saw the sun in Scotland in June 1992 and May 2008. The Scottish climate is could and rain, though rain of light, moderate,heavy and torrential types.

Yes, but hail, sleet, snow and storms are more likely in some months than others and in Scotland March is one of those months. All the walking guides say to treat March as winter.
It just makes sense for anyone, let alone someone on their first tour, to choose a route with options that some of the remote areas don't have.

I would reiterate this advice..... especially as some of the terrain is remote and unforgiving if something goes wrong.

I always tour in March for various reasons, and plan accordingly with escape routes and alternatives. I did the Southern Lochs and Glens in fine weather, but then spent four days snowed in in Inverness when I tried to do the Northern part.

I have also been snowed in and kept waiting for ferries at Ullapool and Stornoway - a weeks cycling and only two days on the road!

By all means plan and attempt, but do realise your limitations, and keep safety in mind all the time.

Last uear I cycled coast of Britain and as part of that obviously Scotland. East coast was great and nowhere near as hilly as west. You might find some ideas for dif sections to do here. www.petermaddern.weebly.com
The coast from Fraserburgh to Inverness was good with a lot of traffic free sections.
Also Edinburgh-St Andrews-Dundee-Montrose.