Our Trip to Big Mac

Hi guys,

for those of u which are interessted in - this is our pre-planned way.

Who knows, maybe some of you will join/riding with us.

19.07.2011
Way to Amsterdam ferry (Boarding ca. 15:30 Uhr)

20.07.2011
New Castle -> (short track on highway) Shotts (Rosco) ...for a short coffee-stop.
Shotts - Glasgow

21.07.2011
Glasgow -> Fort William (maybe a short trip to Ben Navis or Glenfinnan Viaduct) -> Fort Augustus

22.07.2011
Fort Augustus -> passing Loch Ness -> Inverness -> Lairg (Carbisdale Castle)

23. + 24.07.2011
Tours planned by our britsh friends.

25.07.2011
Departure direction -> Forres (Suenos Stone) and Dufftown (here we will stay a night, tasting the good old stuff :-D)

26.07.2011
Passing „The Cairngorms“ -> Edinburgh (Sightseen).

27.07.2011
Early in the morning we'll start. destination Melrose (Melrose Abbey.

Round about 12 o'clock two of us (Ludwig and myself) has to leave. Way back to New Castle passing „Northumberland“.
(Boarding in New Castle 1600)

28.07.2011 – 30.07.2011
For three of us the trip still goes on.


So, if anyone has a good idea what we should see or what we should change - please post it.

greetz
Bigfoot

On your way Newcastle to Shotts I would recommend this MAP

I'll get round to the other bits before July!

I freu mi so!!!!!! [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

The Three: Tom & matzi and the little dachsi

Bump this nearer the time and i shall put in some info

Some of me local roads

Davie

Hi Guys!

Still a few days left. We will start on 19.07.2011...

20.07.2011 - arrive at Newcastle port. 9:30 am - 1st Day Tour

Ross, hope we are still welcome at your place :-) Shotts is on our plan for this day.

I guess, we will stay in Glasgow first night. Is there any important place we have to visit? ...or what do we need to know about Glasgow?

And last but not least,...who wants to join us for the last miles to Ullapool. Someone who knows secret places and good roads is prefered :-D

If you need contact to our group...I will have my cell phone with me. (Number: 0049 173 72 52 074)

See ya

greets
Bigfoot (Stephan)

Stephan,
Whereabouts in Glasgow are you staying overnight?
I will be heading up by Fort William towards Ullapool from Glasgow but not until friday 22nd..
I will post up an alternative route you can take where there are great roads on the way up towards Fort William and some stunning scenery.
It includes a 20 min Ferry ride but if you have the time and the weather then it would be worth it!!
It takes you back onto the A82 to Fort William.

Stephan, alternative route is Here

The bit from Glasgow to the Ferry is mainly motorway unfortunately, about 30 miles..ish.
Once you get off the ferry at Dunoon the roads open up all the way to Fort William..The ferry costs about EUR10 for bike and rider.
If you decide to go this way let me know and i'll meet up with you along the way and guide you to the ferry terminal.
I live about 10 mins from the ferry terminal.
Inveraray is a nice spot for Lunch and has it's own Castle for a bit of touristy stuff if you want to..
Glasgow itself is a bit built up and the city centre is not that great for bikes..
Let me know where you have picked to stay or if you want i can try and find somewhere more secure for the bikes etc.

Till now, we have nothing booked or planned for the stay at Glasgow.

If you can help us to work out something,...that would be great!

Should be good/cheap. Bed&Breakfest would be quite good.....

Ok Stephan i will see what i can do...
Do you want to be near the city centre??
The further out you go the cheaper/more secure it will be..
If you decide to go the alternative route i can find something closer to the ferry terminal and maybe meet you for a beer at night..
How many rooms do you need?

This place Is near the ferry terminal and is owned by a German lady i believe..The website says she speaks German so might be worth a look..Prices are on the site ..
( i have e-mailed her to ask room availability on your date).

Hi Stephan (and all our german friends)

Yes - You are more than welcome to come and visit me on Wednesday 20th. Unfortunately I'm still at work that afternoon but will hopefully get away early and meet you at Shotts for a well earned coffee.

I'll PM you my contact details Stephan. Please keep me posted with approximate eta and I'll do my very best to meet you.

As for things to see and do in Glasgow.

I'd suggest the following - Glasgow Cathedral (free entry), Peoples Palace@Glasgow Green (free entry), George Square, Kelvingrove Art Gallery (free entry), Glasgow University (building and cloisters if you can get access)

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Or [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] (as above) for the German version.

It includes the co-ordinates for all so you can plot them in.
The order I have done them is the order I would do them travelling from here.

You probably won't have time to go inside all or see them all but that's my list anyway.

You should be able to park no problem at all those venues without issue (especially since they are foreign bikes) Just try and close to the main entrance of everything ..... that's what bikes are for!

I'd suggest a different route to Fort Augustus HERE

I really like the West coast of Scotland!!!!

If you do decide to go this route and go through Oban then I would recommend visiting McCaig's Tower - [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The few that are staying over at mine and I will be meeting DirtBikeDave and heading up the A82 on the Friday.

Cheers
Ross

Bigfoot wrote:And last but not least,...who wants to join us for the last miles to Ullapool. Someone who knows secret places and good roads is prefered :-D
greets
Bigfoot (Stephan)

Whare are you planning stoping on the Thursday night as i could meet up with you and ride up to Ullapool

Davie

PS: I'm in Inverness

Tuesday we leave Germany
Wednesday we'll arrive and start into direction Glasgow (1st night 20th-21st)
Thursday planned to start into direction Fort William. (2nd night 22nd-23rd)
Friday might be a longer way, but we will go at least to Ullapool :-)
Guess we can pick u up in Inverness ;-)


Can you send me your mobile numbers please.

Hi Stephan

Trust you received my PM with my contact details and address.
Look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

Hope the journey and ferry crossing go smoothly.
Look forward to seeing you all on Wednesday.

Cheers
Ross

Hello there Stephan

Just let me know whare you are staying on thursday night and then i can make up a route to suit that will take us to Ullapool

Davie

PS: Rosco how do i send Stephan a PM? with my phone number?

pps: Rosco do i just put an 0 in front of 173 72 52 074 this number to call him from Scotland

Hi Davie,

To call a German number from the UK....

00 49 ...

eg 00 49 173 72 52 074

Hope this helps,
Chris

PS See you in Ullapool

Will text you my number

Thanks for that Chris, i will send Stephan a text then he will have my number

Yes looking forward to Ullapool Chris

Davie and Davy - almost a shared numpty point but seeing as you asked so nice.

To PM just click the PM button under his avatar and type away OR click on Messaging and then type the recipients name.

Cheers
Rosco

Rosco wrote:Davie and Davy - almost a shared numpty point but seeing as you asked so nice.

To PM just click the PM button under his avatar and type away OR click on Messaging and then type the recipients name.

Cheers
Rosco

Ok smarty So it will be the one with the S on it? not very fluent in German ( can't speak any at all)

Davie

Hopefully the weather will clear up for your trip.

Couple of wee things.
If you decide to take the ferry from Gourock to Dunoon, use Western Ferries (at the far end of Gourock) instead of Caledonian MacBrayne, they're a fair bit cheaper and it's a shorter crosing.

If you're looking for something to do in Ft William, then take a run up Glen Nevis to the car park and follow the footpath through the gap (takes 20 minutes to walk) up to the Steall Waterfall.
And if you are going to head out to Glenfinnan, I'd keep going all the way to Mallaig, it's a really nice road.

And finally, if you are at a loose end in Ullapool then I'd recommend taking the road out to Reiff.

The Caledonian macbrayne ferry is passenger only now. Western ferries is the only vehicle ferry which is cheaper anyway.