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The Big Scotland Tour April 2016


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The way I see it is this:

 

For the Southerners

Thursday 14th - Possibly travel part way up to somewhere around the Stafford area

Friday 15th – Travel north – Suggest overnight at the Premier Inn Dumbarton/Loch Lomond - The Scottish contingent could either also stay or join us on the Saturday morning.

 

Saturday 16th – Travel north via Fort William and then Mallaig for the ferry to Skye – Accommodation to be agreed.

Sunday 17th – Stay on Skye to see the whole Island as we missed a lot of it last year - Accommodation to be agreed but possibly the same place.

Monday 18th – Travel north ending in Durness – Visit the Smoo Caves – Accommodation to be agreed

Tuesday 19th - Head south – Suggested accommodation at the Premier Inn Dunfermline

Wednesday 20th - Head for home possibly stopping half way to break up the journey

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https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zGPLZNE5yy2s.kr7sPObZ-Q3U&usp=sharing

 

Thanks to Whiz for putting the route together - looks fantastic.

 

The link above ties the route together and breaks it into the pieces identified by David S

 

The daily mileage totals and google estimate of travel time are as follows (from my home in Stafford):

 

Day 1 - Stafford to Dumbarton 280mls 4hr 32min

Day 2 - Dumbarton to Skye 153mls 4hr 30min (plus ferry)

Day 3 - A loop around Skye 127mls 3hr 18min (we can extend to whatever we have appetite for)

Day 4 - Skye to Durness via Applecross and Ullapool 234mls 6hr 37min

Day 5 - Durness to Dunfirmline 321mls 8hr 5min

Day 6 - Dunfirmline to Stafford 290mls 4hr 46min

 

The above doesn't include fuelling stops, breakdowns, catch-up time or coffee / lunch stops which makes me think Day 5 looks a bit optimistic

What do you think?

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The mileage & times are optimistic -- ie Day 1 needs an average speed of 62 MPH to cover the distance in 4.5 hours ( IMO speeds need to be around 100MPH when-ever possible to make 60 -- unless its all motorway )

 

Day 5 works out at an average of 40 much closer to what will be achieved although its still a long haul. Day 6 its back to 60+ average.

 

And as said above no allowance for coffee/pee/fuel/weather/ breakdowns.

 

Day 1 & 6 are not a problem for me & Mo as this is the start & finish of the trip -- so we could probably add an extra over night stay.

 

Is this all the time that can be allocated to the trip -- can understand that most of the runners/riders have jobs to get away from & back to -- unlike us old folk.

 

The whole round trip for us soft southerners will be just shy of 2000 miles.

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Following on from Paul's findings, could day 5 come back down to maybe Fort William instead of Dunfermline? It might cut a hour or so off the day? The locals may want to head for home but the Southerners might prefer a slightly shorter day with there being a long trek the next day.

 

The other thing I have been doing is looking at accommodation on Skye. There are a lot of hotels but not many are under 3 figures per night. The place we stayed last year was OK and I think Andy rang them up and got us a deal on the rate. We paid £60 DBB last year where as this year they are quoting from £95 if you go on the website. There may be better options that I am not seeing. Perhaps Andy could work his magic again?

 

I am also struggling to see where we could stay in Durness in a large group? Has anyone else had a look yet?

 

Like Bob and Mo, I will stop on the way back to break it up and add an extra day on that way.

Edited by David S
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On our trip down to Italy we covered some long stretches in a day but it was as Richard said more like 6 hours ( plus breaks ) for 300 miles, & these were on "A" roads.

 

2 hours driving then a break for coffee/fuel/leak then another 2 hours in the car before lunch & 2 more before hotel will make it a 71/2 -- 8 hour run without hiccups & weather mechanical gremlins may make it longer.

 

As always we travel as optimists but try to allow time for life to throw in a curved ball.

Edited by florin metal works
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https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zGPLZNE5yy2s.knZKG2bnfZYU&usp=sharing

 

 

Here is a couple of alternatives for Day 5 / 6

 

Day 5 if we stop at Fort William instead of Dunfirmline the mileage drops to 190 and google drive time to 4hrs 48min

Day 6 then increases to 411 mls with a google drive time of 7hrs 30 or a more direct route home which is 370mls and 6hrs 30min

 

Day 1 and Day 6 are simply direct routes / motorway hence the high average speed - this can be changed of course, but gives less time to play in Scotland

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Making rapid progress ! May yet be in :) is someone going to decide for sure on hotels ?

If you need a hand you only have to ask mate and I will be straight over! Especially when it comes to getting the engine in/out, I know you can do it on your own but always easier with a second pair of hands!

 

Just shout mate whenever :)

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I have been doing a bit more digging for accommodation on Skye and in Durness.

On Skye I think we are probably looking at The Dunollie like last year. Every other place I have looked is either booked already when I have checked the dates or are in to 3 figures per night for B&B only. If people don’t fancy The Dunollie, we could just leave it to each person to find their own accommodation and then we just meet at a central place at a specified time ready to do the tour of the island the next day. Personally I think it would be nicer if we were all together. Andy (Wizz) rang them last year and got us a group rate so perhaps he would be kind enough to do the same again this year?
As for Durness, there appears to be 2 actual hotels in Durness. ! isn't open until May, and the other doesn't have enough rooms for all of us (The Smoo Cave Hotel). There are a number of B&Bs, but you need to go away from Durness a bit to find more hotels. I used the interactive map from the Notrth 500 web site to find some options. http://www.northcoast500.com/interactive-map.aspx
These are just the few that I looked at and it would be good if someone else were also to have a look. There are a lot more but some are probably too expensive or are miles away from Durness. I suppose it depends what people are prepared to pay!
http://sangosands.com/ - camping from £8 per night - Not sure I fancy that in April!!

 

http://www.tonguehostelandholidaypark.co.uk/ - Hostel type place with rooms from £39 or £18 in bunk rooms - Not sure about this but may be OK just for 1 night if there is nothing else.

 

http://www.tonguehotel.co.uk/index.php - has 19 rooms from £45 per person BB or £60 DBB per person. This may be OK if we get in sooner rather than later but is a way beyond Durness.
These next few are on the road towards Durness.
http://www.rhiconichhotel.co.uk - This has 10 rooms. A single is £60 B&B and the doubles £98 B&B
http://www.kinlochberviehotel.com/ This has 12 rooms from £40 per night upwards
http://www.kyleskuhotel.co.uk No idea how many rooms but this is from £70 per night upwards
It is looking a bit like it might be a free for all in Durness. Perhaps it will be up to people to sort their own place and then we agree to meet at The Smoo Caves the next day at a prescribed time?
Perhaps others can have a look and then we can reach a consensus.
It would be good to get this tied down so we can get things booked sooner rather than later.
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Thanks DavidS for looking at the Hotels. Here's my preferences - feel free to modify.....

 

Day 1 - Stafford to Dumbarton 280mls 4hr 32min – stop over Premier Inn Dumbarton / Loch Lomond

Day 2 - Dumbarton to Skye 153mls 4hr 30min (plus ferry) – stop over 2 nights at the Dunoille in Broadford

Day 3 - A loop around Skye 127mls 3hr 18min (we can extend to whatever we have appetite for)

Day 4 - Skye to Durness via Applecross and Ullapool 234mls 6hr 37min – stop over at either

 

http://www.rhiconichhotel.co.uk - This has 10 rooms. A single is £60 B&B and the doubles £98 B&B

 

http://www.kinlochberviehotel.com/ This has 12 rooms from £40 per night upwards

My preference on Kinlochbervie simply because it has more capacity therefore more likely to get us all in

 

Day 5 - Durness to Fort William 190mls 4hrs 48min stop over Premier Inn Fort William

Day 6 – Head home from Fort William 370mls 6hrs 30min

 

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zGPLZNE5yy2s.knZKG2bnfZYU&usp=sharing

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If you need a hand you only have to ask mate and I will be straight over! Especially when it comes to getting the engine in/out, I know you can do it on your own but always easier with a second pair of hands!

Just shout mate whenever :)

engine and box are out if all goes to plan will be reinstalling Sunday. Just got to build the engine and replace the synchos
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