Scotland in October

[mcshroom]

Hi everyone,

I've got a couple weeks off work coming up in mid to late October, and I fancy going touring

. I've got an idea of a route that starts in Oban, goes up the great Glen to Inverness, then down through the Cairngorms to Braemar and then on to Edinburgh either via Dundee & St Andrews or Perth - roughly like this but with a bit more cycle path and a little less main road. All this comes in at about 300-330 miles (so about 30ish miles a day), and I would be looking to camp (with a few hostels/B&Bs thrown in).

I have never toured this part of Scotland before (I've never been North of Glasgow/Edinburgh) so if anyone has any experience, ideas for places I should look to visit or any other advice then I would be very grateful.

Do the campsites etc close down that late on in the season?
Also would riding through the Cairngorms in late October be sensible or is it going to be very cold/icy?

 

[snorri]

It could be wonderful it could be dreadful, depends on the weather, the quality of your clothing and camping gear and your attitude to adverse weather conditions. I doubt if any summer camping sites will be open, but probably sites in the ski areas would be open, but you would never be stuck, there are plenty of options for wild camping. Listen for weather forecasts and road reports on the radio particularly before traversing higher ground.
The shorter daylight could be a bit restricting, and the possibility of hitting a prolonged spell of adverse weather is obviously higher by late October, but there will be few caravans on the road, and no midgies.

 

[Paladin - York]

Hi m

I've just had a brief scan over some of the campsites listed on scottishcampingguide.com and some campsites in the Aviemore & Deeside areas are open all year with others closing in October. You'll need to check out the different regions.

Hope this helps.

 

[mcshroom]

Thanks

My attitude to bad weather is pretty stoic, and I used to do quite a bit of fell walking/wild camping so my kit is reasonably decent.

My biggest worry is the chance of ice, but looking at the historical data for Inverness and Braemar (I'm assuming they are the colder places) then it only seems to drop below zero every now and again overnight in October, so I think I should be ok.

 

[HLaB]

Thanks

My attitude to bad weather is pretty stoic, and I used to do quite a bit of fell walking/wild camping so my kit is reasonably decent.

My biggest worry is the chance of ice, but looking at the historical data for Inverness and Braemar (I'm assuming they are the colder places) then it only seems to drop below zero every now and again overnight in October, so I think I should be ok.

Ask Snorri what it's like, they're from up that way and they do a lot of touring. Further south in the central belt (except for the odd exception!) it doesn't really freeze often until the new year, I think up north is similar but check.

 

[snorri]

My attitude to bad weather is pretty stoic, and I used to do quite a bit of fell walking/wild camping so my kit is reasonably decent.

My biggest worry is the chance of ice, but looking at the historical data for Inverness and Braemar (I'm assuming they are the colder places) then it only seems to drop below zero every now and again overnight in October, so I think I should be ok.

I think you have the right attitude, and know what to expect, you'll be fine.

 

[aberal]

I wouldn't worry about ice to be honest. You do reach a fair old height passing through the Cairngorms but you should be ok at that time of year. Dark nights might be more of an issue so your days might be quite short. At 30 miles per day you should be ok too so long as you set off early enough.

The route looks great. A few suggestions: Take the east road along Loch Ness from Fort Augustusto Inverness. The West road can get quite busy and is narrow and windy in bits. When you leave Inverness, make sure you use the cycle way down the A9 rather than the road iteself. The road from Grantown to Braemar is very, very hilly, taking you over the Lecht ski resort with a downhill bit at the end towards Cockbridge which will scare the pants off you. Depending on your itenery I'd suggest making that day a short day if you can. I'd also suggest that you take a minor detour and stay in Ballater rather than Braemar. It avoids one big hill apart from anything else, but the town is nicer and has a lovely campsite. I'd also suggest that from Dundee you take the coast road via St. Andrews and round the "east neuk". It may add a few miles but is extremely pretty and reasonably flat, whilst the main road through Fife on your map is a busy main road. The towns of Crail, Pittenweem, Ely etc are all fabulous old fishing villages and well worth a visit.

Looks like a great route all in all - hope you have a great time.

 

[mcshroom]

Thanks Aberal. Definitely some things to note there

I figured that looked very hilly in parts, but the idea of riding through the mountains there just seemed too good to detour round (that may change when I'm staring at them

). I might look at lowering the chainrings on the front to a 42-32-22 before I set off though.

My itinerary will be very relaxed, with only a train ticket up and back (and maybe the fist night's accommodation) booked, so I'll pretty much make it up as I go along, looking at the weather, what sightseeing I feel like doing and how my legs feel. I'm hoping to cover a bit more than 30 miles/day, but if it all takes too long then I'll just have to catch the train from wherever the nearest station is back to Edinburgh and get home that way.




PS: Pants-removal level scary decent, fully laden tourer and oryx canti brakes - what could possibly go wrong .

 

[aberal]

You're welcome - hope some of that proves useful. If you do stay in Ballater, take the South Deeside Road to Braemar, not the North. You'd avoid a big climb out of the town first thing - but the South road is very pretty - less touristy and takes you out at the gates of Balmoral. But, yes - regearing wouldn't go amiss...

 

[mcshroom]

Well I'm committed now - trains are booked to the start and finish

I've also done a bit of work on the route, including staying in Ballater instead of Braemar. I joust hope i can keep to my schedule as the campsite in Ballater shuts the day after I want to stay there. If I'm late then I'll have to wild camp somewhere.

Oh well - getting a bit excited now

 

[Telemark]

Hi Mcshroom, just coming across this a bit late ... I hope the weather is kind to you, it COULD be stunning in October if you are lucky, fingers crossed. If it were to be a bit cold higher up, you could always take the long way round the hills, with some assistance of local trains for bits ...

Do let us know when you are passing through Edinburgh, if you fancy meeting up!

T

 

[Danny]

It could be wonderful it could be dreadful, depends on the weather, the quality of your clothing and camping gear and your attitude to adverse weather conditions.

Which can also true of Scotland in August in my experience.

 

[laertes]

I've only ever been on holiday in Scotland off-season (February, March, late Sept, October, November) and always had decent weather most of the time, so good luck. SHould be a great trip. Loch Ness is beautiful, Oban is a lovely spot. I thought Inverness was a dump, but others like it.

 

[westcoaster]

The road up the west side of loch Ness should be quieter in October but if you want to avoid the main roads you could try the east side of the loch which is a decent B road. After Fort Augustus it's fairly flat and then there is a very steep and long climb. You can see the elevation on www.bikehike.co.uk. Once you're past loch Tarff it's pretty much downhill into Inverness. You could also find a wild camping spot as you go down towards the lochside.