I just finished a three-week bicycle tour through Scotland (and a little bit of England), and figured I’d share the experience.
Scotland was incredibly beautiful, and incredibly wet.
The locals told me “Even for Scotland, it has been a rainy summer”. On the one hand that was a bummer; on the other hand the fog and the drizzle did give me the desolate myst-shrouded ambience that I was hoping for.
(Also, the rain keeps the midges away, which is a huge plus.)
From Inverness I had intended to cycle the busy (and car-focused) North Coast 500, but I changed my mind — instead taking the Far North Way all the way up to the Orkneys, before lazily training back to Inverness to cycle the Caledonian Way past Loch Ness, down to Glencoe and Oban and all the way back to Glasgow, closing the loop.
**Accommodation**
I slept in my trusty tent and lived mostly off of cookies, cucumbers and fried haggis. Wildcamping is legal in Scotland, and I made several attempts of varying success.
You all make it sound so easy to wildcamp!
True, a few times I found a quiet, sheltered spot with an amazing view — but I’ve also had to pitch on a garbage patch next to the road in the middle of a bog.
But usually I tried to end the day at campings… which don’t seem to be as much a thing in the UK as they are in continental Western Europe! They’re mostly meant for campervans.
**Roads**
Compared to that same continental Western Europe, the British roads are shit. So many potholes!
But as compensation the British drivers are very kind. At times I found myself on busy shoulderless carriageways with long queues of cars behind me waiting to pass, all surprisingly patient and forgiving.
The best parts were (of course) the dedicated cycle lanes through the National Parks.
**Some highlights** for me:
* Numerous chonky castles along the east coast
* Deep black lochs everywhere, and far more waterfalls than I expected
* Feeling like a tiny insignificant human on the Drumochter Pass
* The infinite bogs of heather and moss in Flow Country
* Coos
1 Comment
Hi all!
I just finished a three-week bicycle tour through Scotland (and a little bit of England), and figured I’d share the experience.
Scotland was incredibly beautiful, and incredibly wet.
The locals told me “Even for Scotland, it has been a rainy summer”. On the one hand that was a bummer; on the other hand the fog and the drizzle did give me the desolate myst-shrouded ambience that I was hoping for.
(Also, the rain keeps the midges away, which is a huge plus.)
**Route**
I did about 1500 km over 17 cycling days, sticking mostly to established [National Cycle Network routes:](https://explore.osmaps.com/?lat=56.622050&lon=-4.101522&zoom=7.3210&style=Standard&type=2d&overlays=os-ncn-layer) the route 1 up from Newcastle along the Northumberland coast to Edinburgh; the 75 to Glasgow, then the 7 northwards, through the national parks of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs and Cairngorms to Inverness.
From Inverness I had intended to cycle the busy (and car-focused) North Coast 500, but I changed my mind — instead taking the Far North Way all the way up to the Orkneys, before lazily training back to Inverness to cycle the Caledonian Way past Loch Ness, down to Glencoe and Oban and all the way back to Glasgow, closing the loop.
**Accommodation**
I slept in my trusty tent and lived mostly off of cookies, cucumbers and fried haggis. Wildcamping is legal in Scotland, and I made several attempts of varying success.
You all make it sound so easy to wildcamp!
True, a few times I found a quiet, sheltered spot with an amazing view — but I’ve also had to pitch on a garbage patch next to the road in the middle of a bog.
But usually I tried to end the day at campings… which don’t seem to be as much a thing in the UK as they are in continental Western Europe! They’re mostly meant for campervans.
**Roads**
Compared to that same continental Western Europe, the British roads are shit. So many potholes!
But as compensation the British drivers are very kind. At times I found myself on busy shoulderless carriageways with long queues of cars behind me waiting to pass, all surprisingly patient and forgiving.
The best parts were (of course) the dedicated cycle lanes through the National Parks.
**Some highlights** for me:
* Numerous chonky castles along the east coast
* Deep black lochs everywhere, and far more waterfalls than I expected
* Feeling like a tiny insignificant human on the Drumochter Pass
* The infinite bogs of heather and moss in Flow Country
* Coos
I kept an online journal, which has far too many words to advise anyone to read. But if you want to see more pictures or look at the route, [please feel free.](https://www.polarsteps.com/MarkChristiaan/13312011-fietsvakantie-2024)
All in all a definite recommendation from my end.
Prepare to get wet, though.