I'm a newbie on the forum and wondered if I could have any advice on a planned trip my brother and I are planning in June 2009. We took up cycling last year and now want to cycle from Balloch to Inverness (about 190 miles).
We plan to ride about 50-60 miles each day and camp at various sites on the way. The proposed stops would be Callander, Kenmore, Pitlochry, Aviemore, and Inverness.
Can anyone recommend good sites at these stops? Would we need to book in advance?
Still to buy our tent so any recommendations for a relatively cheap 2 man tent and any other equipment suitable for carrying when cycling?
Any other advice greatly welcomed - many thanks
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
I haven't cycled that particular route but have done some cycle camping which included a stop at Kenmore. However, the main site at Kenmore no longer takes tents so you may have to find an alterntive along Loch Tay.
We're going on sunday to Aviemore and staying in the High Range campsite on the edge of town, we stayed last year and found it very convienient for all the shops and pubs, see the reviews below.
If you are cycle touring with camping gear, you will take far to much stuff on your first trip, everyone does this, I have been doing Manchester to Scotland each year, aprox 150 miles two overnights then B&B and get the train back to Manchester, first year 2004, I took 30Kilo (66lb) of kit, and failed to complete the journey these days I have got it down to 14Kilo (31lb), and that includes a tent twice the size as what I first took, the breakdown is rear panniers from Ortlieb each with 6Kilo (12lb) and front bar bag Ortlieb 2Kilo (7lb), I guess you have already got the bikes sorted, but you can have a peak at mine on www.spokewrench.com mine is the touring bike Andy from England, it may give you some ideas on back racks etc and choice of gearing, I use a different gear ratio set up each year, depending on route to be taken, as for tents, you can see the two I have used in my gallery. don't buy a cheap tent, go for as lightweight as you can get, also don't pre-book campsites as cycle touring never runs to plan, your target of 50/60 miles is very optimistic although quite dooable if the unexpected does not pay you a visit, I would aim for 45 miles max each day, always nice to have a little time to play with, especialy with all those very nice pubs you will be cycling past!. finaly you may not notice, but the Hilleberg tent in my gallery has got two touring bikes tucked away in the front porch, this certainley helps you sleep at night, knowing you bike is out of sight, out of mind.
I would certainly reccommend June for touring Scotland both from a weather point of view and also because of all the summer months, June is the quietest.
Have to agree with Lobey there, the quietest time with the best weather we have ever had up north is from mid May to late June. Hopefully the Western Isles will be the same this year as we are heading there for OH's 50th
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
If you are cycle touring with camping gear, you will take far to much stuff on your first trip, everyone does this, I have been doing Manchester to Scotland each year, aprox 150 miles two overnights then B&B and get the train back to Manchester, first year 2004, I took 30Kilo (66lb) of kit, and failed to complete the journey these days I have got it down to 14Kilo (31lb), and that includes a tent twice the size as what I first took, the breakdown is rear panniers from Ortlieb each with 6Kilo (12lb) and front bar bag Ortlieb 2Kilo (7lb), I guess you have already got the bikes sorted, but you can have a peak at mine on www.spokewrench.com mine is the touring bike Andy from England, it may give you some ideas on back racks etc and choice of gearing, I use a different gear ratio set up each year, depending on route to be taken, as for tents, you can see the two I have used in my gallery. don't buy a cheap tent, go for as lightweight as you can get, also don't pre-book campsites as cycle touring never runs to plan, your target of 50/60 miles is very optimistic although quite dooable if the unexpected does not pay you a visit, I would aim for 45 miles max each day, always nice to have a little time to play with, especialy with all those very nice pubs you will be cycling past!. finaly you may not notice, but the Hilleberg tent in my gallery has got two touring bikes tucked away in the front porch, this certainley helps you sleep at night, knowing you bike is out of sight, out of mind.
Thanks for all the advice especially that quoted above.
On my trip each year I meet a fair few doing the lejog, one chap had so much gear, that it caused his front forks to fall apart at Bridgwater, and when I met him in Kendal he was arranging to have his tent!, and other kit to be put on the train and shipped back home, whilst he continued cycling onto John O' Groats, I plan to do the lejog one day, but will start at John O Groats, my friends did it in 5 days!, they were on racing bikes, and had a man in a van as backup and B&B all the way, still quite an achievment but to much like hard work for my liking, my plan is to take around 3 weeks to do the journey.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Camping/Cycle trip Balloch to Inverness
