ABR Issue 39 Route Files: Discover Britain, West Highland Weekender

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Bryn
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ABR Issue 39 Route Files: Discover Britain, West Highland Weekender

Post by Bryn »

In the last issue of Adventure Bike Rider magazine we began our circumnavigation of Scotland with a pleasant two-day ride around the Southern Uplands, starting and finishing in Gretna Green and taking in the best of Dumfries and Galloway. For this issue we head just past Glasgow to ride, what I would consider to be, a two-day tour through the West Highlands that rivals any other on our fair island.

Our route starts in Dumbarton, just on the outskirts of Glasgow, which is a great base to locate yourself in if you're travelling up from the south on a Friday night. Here you're just a 10 minute ride to the shores of Loch Lomond, the largest inland body of water in Great Britain, at which point the tone for the next two days is set. As you ride north on the A82 the mountains start to get larger and larger until you pass under Ben Lomond, the southernmost munro (Scottish mountain over 3,000ft in height), and you take a left to follow the A38 away from the loch.

Before long you get your first taste of riding one of Scotland's spectacular mountain roads and you are taken to the shores of Loch Fyne. Here the road twists and turns as it caresses the banks of the loch, and while I was riding it I counted the number of cars I passed on one hand. At Lochgilphead we head north to Oban, riding the rollercoaster-esque A816. Again, this road was almost deserted, though I imagine it's a bit busier in the summer months. This is a stretch of tarmac that you can really enjoy as you take in the stunning coastal views and exciting riding.

Oban offers our first chance to discover one of Scotland's most famous exports, whisky, by taking a tour of the Oban distillery. It's also a fantastic place to stop for lunch, the fish and chips on the front being particularly nice. If you thought the going was good so far, the second half of day one will blow you away. It's just epic roads and world class scenery here on in as we head east along the A85 to Tyndrum, home to the quirky Green Welly Stop. Here you'll head north towards Glencoe, and what I would consider to be one of Britain's, if not the world's, most incredible views. Nothing will quite prepare you for the sheer beauty of Glencoe, and as you approach it from the east it's hard to focus on the riding, such is the visual allure of the dramatic mountain valley.
SeethisGlencoe.JPG
SeethisGlencoe.JPG (45.57 KiB) Viewed 9468 times
Take some time to soak in the glory of Glencoe, it's worth it, before taking a scenic 14-mile loop around Loch Leven. From here's it's a short ride to Fort William, the outdoors capital of the UK, where you'll find ample accommodation and restaurants in which to unwind after a great day of riding.

While day one ends with a bang by riding through Glencoe, it's just a warm up for a day of riding that you'll never forget. Start day two by heading west of Fort William, to Mallaig, a lonely port town on the shores of Loch Nevis. Here I'd fully recommend you getting the ferry to Inverie, and exploring the UK's most remote village, which is only accessible by ferry or a 17-mile hike. Why not also grab a drink at the UK's most remote pub as well. After returning to Mallaig, hop on the short ferry to Armadale in Skye.

The route from Armadale to Uig is simply amazing. Wide, open coastal roads cut a solitary line through the bleak and wild landscape of the Isle of Skye. All the while the magnificent Cuillin Ridge towers above you on the horizon. Once you reach Uig you'll head east and ride a road that's so dramatic in its setting that you'll want to stop and savour it for a few minutes, the Quiraing Road which will take you to the incredibly fun A855. Passing under the beautiful rock formation of the Old Man of Storr, you'll continue to Portree for a quick bite to eat, and then on to Kyle of Lochalsh.

After crossing the bridge to get off the Isle of Skye, the road back to Fort William is a joy to behold as it twists and turns through lonely valleys and along the shores of wild, untamed lochs. Pass the Commando Memorial and head back in to Fort William where you can finish your trip with one final pass through Glencoe on the way back home.

If you'd like to ride this route, we've plotted it out so that you can download it and stick it in your SatNav. Simply right click on the attachments below called 'West Highland Weekender Day 1.gpx' and 'West Highland Weekender Day 2.gpx' and choose 'Save Link As', once you've saved it to your computer load it into your SatNav as per the manufacturers instructions and get riding!
WestHighlandWeekenderDay1.gpx
(651.73 KiB) Downloaded 364 times
WestHighlandWeekenderDay2.gpx
(677.48 KiB) Downloaded 380 times
Day 1:
WestHighlandWeekenderDay1.JPG
WestHighlandWeekenderDay1.JPG (109.42 KiB) Viewed 9468 times
Day 2:
WestHighlandWeekenderDay2.jpg
WestHighlandWeekenderDay2.jpg (89.25 KiB) Viewed 9468 times
BartBSS
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Re: ABR Issue 39 Route Files: Discover Britain, West Highland Weekender

Post by BartBSS »

Any chance you could also add the files to this thread please?
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Bryn
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Re: ABR Issue 39 Route Files: Discover Britain, West Highland Weekender

Post by Bryn »

BartBSS wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:44 am Any chance you could also add the files to this thread please?
Done
BartBSS
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Re: ABR Issue 39 Route Files: Discover Britain, West Highland Weekender

Post by BartBSS »

Bryn wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:48 am
BartBSS wrote: Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:44 am Any chance you could also add the files to this thread please?
Done
TOP MAN!

Thanks again
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