Thorn Cycles Forum

Community => Cycle Tours => Topic started by: jags on January 06, 2017, 09:39:16 pm

Title: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 06, 2017, 09:39:16 pm
Love to do a bit of touring in bonny Scotland.is there a circular route I could do three or four days nice cycling no epic climbs great scenery quiet roads camping all the way can't afford
BnB ,any thoughts lads thanks.


Anto.
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: rualexander on January 07, 2017, 12:45:07 am
Plenty of good routes jags, a lot would depend on how you are getting here and where you are arriving?
If you are coming by boat from Belfast/Larne then you could do a nice route around Galloway and the borders.
If you are flying into Glasgow or Edinburgh, you'll probably be looking at taking a train somewhere.
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 07, 2017, 01:14:34 pm
Thanks Rual  belfast /larne would be the start .
only dreaming at the moment have to save the pennies .
yeah always fancied doing a short tour scotland  looks magic cycling country.
what map would i need to buy for that trip.if ever i get this audax up and running i would be using  28 slicks so not looking to do any rough stuff  smooth tarmac on quiet roads  ;)

anto
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: julk on January 07, 2017, 05:22:14 pm
anto,
KM Rally is Friday 26th May to Monday 29th May based at Barnsoul camp site 7 miles west of Dumfries.
A great way to experience the area by bike with 3 led rides available each day, short medium and long.
Cooked meal available in the evenings at Shawhead village hall with lots of cyclists chat and fun.
It is not free, but the rally charges are very reasonable, evening meals are extra (but fantastic) and camping charges are levied by the camp site.
Information here http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/news/kirkpatrick-macmillan-cycle-rally-km177-2017 (http://www.cyclinguk.org/local-groups/news/kirkpatrick-macmillan-cycle-rally-km177-2017)
I am booked in - see you there?
julian.
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 07, 2017, 05:36:08 pm
Thanks Julian sounds fantastic love to do it.im supposed to be doing ireland  sometime this year with a lad from the uk but nothing set in stone so scotland sounds like a plan to me ,thanks a million for the info much appreciated.

anto.
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 07, 2017, 06:24:51 pm
just posted the link on me facebook page see if anyone interested in doing it with me, doubt it to be honest there all roadies but sure you never know i might land a catch . ;)

anto.
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: AndyE on January 09, 2017, 08:59:26 am
Hi Anto, Have a good look at this site.

 http://cycle.travel/
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 09, 2017, 10:50:19 am
thanks Andy will do.

anto.
good site that Andy .
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 09, 2017, 11:29:07 am
larne to Cairnryan what would be the the best route to Dumfries to the cycle rally.distance best quiet route  thanks guys.

anto.

http://cycle.travel/map?from=Cairnryan&to=Dumfries&fromLL=54.9748082,-5.0245594&toLL=55.0699746,-3.6095639.
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: julk on January 09, 2017, 03:29:11 pm
anto,
the KM Rally link I gave earlier has an e-mail contact on the page for Mike Gray.
I would put your question to him about the best quiet route from Cairnryan.
Given the hills in the area it may be best to ride the main road at a quiet time.
julian.
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 09, 2017, 04:10:20 pm
Julian you said nothing about hills  :-\ :'( ;D
to be honest if my training plans go according to plan the hills wont bother me,seriously don't want to cycle on main roads not my idea of fun, i avoid the main roads here as well i know every back road in my county,
anyway i'll email that lad see if he can find a good route,
hopefully i'll make it over great if the lads here made a good weekend of it you guys (uk) wouldn't have as far to travel as me  ;)
thanks julk.

anto.
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: rualexander on January 09, 2017, 06:24:05 pm
Jags, your proposed route looks ok to me, the main thing is to avoid the A75.
The A712 which you have on your route between Newton Stewart and New Galloway shouldn't be too bad, the rest of the route is on minor roads which should be nice and quiet.
An alternative, but longer route would be to follow the National Cycle Network routes, NCN 73 from Stranraer to Newton Stewart then NCN 7 from there to Dumfries (you would cut off before Dumfries though, to get to Barnsoul).
See https://www.opencyclemap.org/ for these routes.
Following NCN routes can often be a bit infuriating though, unless you have it programmed into a gps device telling you where to go at junctions.

Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: Matt2matt2002 on January 09, 2017, 07:11:44 pm
Jag's, I lived near New Galloway for 18 years.
The roads have heavy lorries carrying wood running up and down between Ayr and Carlisle.
When I cycled from home up to Oban or Fort William the first stretch to Ayr was the worst.

Let me know if you carry on with your plans.
Most pleased to help out although I'm across country in Aberdeenshire at the moment.
Matt
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 09, 2017, 07:43:21 pm
thanks lads  nothing set in stone yet but no harm in having  some kind of tour in mind.
A roads are a no go area for this ould bird just no fun in it .
i haven't heard a word from my friend in the UK on the Irish tour he just emailed me asking if i was interested in doing parts of Ireland i said yes but that's as far as it went  :o.
i have a few trips planned for  northern Ireland , overnighters  is not a bad way for me cheap and cheerful .
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 09, 2017, 10:49:06 pm
anto,
the KM Rally link I gave earlier has an e-mail contact on the page for Mike Gray.
I would put your question to him about the best quiet route from Cairnryan.
Given the hills in the area it may be best to ride the main road at a quiet time.
julian.
just had an email from that lad seems like a right gentleman thanks Julian.
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: Relayer on January 10, 2017, 07:08:27 am
Anto, just found this thread .... a train from Cairnryan to Dumfries could be an option, more expense I know but you'd be fresh for 3 days great riding at the KM Rally.

Exciting times  ;D

Jim
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: rualexander on January 10, 2017, 08:20:45 am
There is no train from Cairnryan to Dumfries.
Not without going via Glasgow anyway.
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: bobs on January 10, 2017, 08:49:21 am
The  nearest train station is Stranraer  which would take you to  Kilmarnock  where you change for Dumfries.

Bob
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 10, 2017, 11:03:34 am
had an email this morning from  Michael the guy thats in charge he said i could get the bus from  the ferry to dumfries bikes are allow on the bus.
yeah but not really cycle touring  depends on the  time i would arrieve  i suppose ,
mind you he did say its hilly if i were to go blackcraig on the NCR7 between newtownstewart and creetown  he said that route avoids the A75 even tho i could ride the A75 as its pretty flat.

if i were to go i would need an early start to take the more hilly route and avoid main roads .
anyway as i said nothing set in stone  im still stone broke so would need to do a lot of planning to get money  time off from the wife although she would be glad to get rid of me  ::)
still no harm planning.

anto
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: bobs on January 10, 2017, 01:22:37 pm
Anto,

You just need to say you're going to do it, be positive and the rest will fall into place.

Bob
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 10, 2017, 01:36:42 pm
tying to nail a few of my cycling fiends to do it with me no takers this far there all roadies not much interest in cycle touring. more the pity i do like company .
your right of course Bob but im a geek get lost in a car park. :-\

anto
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: bobs on January 10, 2017, 03:15:59 pm
You might surprise yourself if you try.

Bob
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 10, 2017, 03:57:36 pm
i can see going solo is the way to go but i would rather have company to be honest as long as it was the right company  ;)
i think you take more chances when you have a buddy to tour with on your own you tend to stick to a route which is not a bad thing  but u never know what's up that other road  ;D
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: Relayer on January 10, 2017, 09:24:05 pm
There is no train from Cairnryan to Dumfries.
Not without going via Glasgow anyway.

Damn Google! They didn't say that in their route planner   >:(
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 10, 2017, 11:00:37 pm
would u believe it seen a programme on bbc4 tonight about that part of scotland sure is a great part of the country.
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: bobs on January 11, 2017, 08:41:07 am
https://youtu.be/2iJUOHzRsjo

Anto,

If this doesn't motivate you nothing will.

Bob
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: John Saxby on January 11, 2017, 03:08:55 pm
Brilliant stuff, Bob -- love the sunshine :-)
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 11, 2017, 06:35:32 pm
Thanks Bob only just to watch this vid now hospital most of the day and internet off.
anyway looks fantastic i can't book anything as yet but it's still on the cards hopefully.

anto.
Title: Re: Scotland
Post by: jags on January 18, 2017, 07:40:42 pm
Good programme on bbc4scotland.