Cycling across Scotland

[Beck]

We are looking to cross Scotland from Stonehaven (South of Aberdeen) to Dunoon (West of Glasgow) and I was wondering if anyone could help with some comments on the roads on this route?

http://goo.gl/maps/6dNOh

Seems like a lot of "A" class roads to me and i am little worried that we might be riding in some traffic...

The ride will be two days (Friday and Saturday) and done on road bikes.

Any shortcuts, alternative trails or just general comments on the route would be really welcome as this is not an area we have cycled in before.

 

[Rasmus]

I can't comment on the northeastern portion of your route, but you'll want to stay off the A9 from Perth to Dunblane (as discussed recently here).

Dunblane to the Clyde looks pretty good. Make sure you get on the cyclepath on the off-ramp from the A82 onto the Erskine Bridge.

The A8 is cycleable right from the end of the motorway outside Bishopton, but I would suggest it more enjoyable to use the Old Greenock Road which takes you to Port Glasgow.

 

[Beck]

Thanks for the info.

I never noticed that stretch on the A9. I only know that road on the Northern part but it has a bad reputation for accidents. We will find another way to Dunblane.

Good idea on the old Greenock Road, I seem to remember that there are some really nice views along there.

Much appreciated...

 

[Brandane]

I can't comment on the northeastern portion of your route, but you'll want to stay off the A9 from Perth to Dunblane (as discussed recently here).

Dunblane to the Clyde looks pretty good. Make sure you get on the cyclepath on the off-ramp from the A82 onto the Erskine Bridge.

The A8 is cycleable right from the end of the motorway outside Bishopton, but I would suggest it more enjoyable to use the Old Greenock Road which takes you to Port Glasgow.

+1 re the A9 from Perth southbound. It's a motorway in all but name, without any type of hard shoulder. It carries a lot of HGVs, in fact just about ALL HGVs from Aberdeen and the north use this route. Avoid at all costs would be my advice! There are nice minor roads throughout Perthshire, but the A9 is a scar running through it. It serves a useful purpose in that it keeps traffic off the other routes. BikeRouteToaster.com should be able to help you find a better way. Sustrans as well.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Hold on, you CYCLE the M8?

I thought the A82 was bad, but the M freakin' 8??!!


EDIT: A8, but.... Still!

 

[stephenjubb]

+1 re the A9 from Perth southbound. It's a motorway in all but name, without any type of hard shoulder. It carries a lot of HGVs, in fact just about ALL HGVs from Aberdeen and the north use this route. Avoid at all costs would be my advice! There are nice minor roads throughout Perthshire, but the A9 is a scar running through it. It serves a useful purpose in that it keeps traffic off the other routes. BikeRouteToaster.com should be able to help you find a better way. Sustrans as well.

good idea, I've had all sorts of abuse from car drivers on the A9 from beeping horns, to fingers pointing to the old A9.

I made a mistake last year from the north going into Inverness riding on the road and not the cycle path. I did not know it was the A9 and got two fingers, told to get on the f'ing cycle path.

In the second instance they were correct, I'd just been cycling on Autopilot after 65 miles from Ullapool, I was just shocked by their venim and ferocity.

Stay off A9 at all costs, horrible road in most places. It is one of their fastest routes north and they dislike cyclists on it.

To keep it in balance I've found most car users perfectly fine in all my years of touring in Scotland, it's just some drivers and the A9 they have a personality transplant.

 

[Beck]

Managed to avoid the A9 fairly easily. We can head out through Tibbermore and take the A822.

Brandane - thank you for the BikeRouteToaster link - excellent website!

 

[Isla Valassi]

Please bear in mind that the 'bicycling' selection in Google is not always strictly accurate - for instance it always indicates that you should use the A92 dual carriageway when plotting routes through Fife. Best to double check with the Sustrans route maps when primary routes are indicated on Google.