Touring with Small People Scotland

[Puddles]

I am considering cycle camping next year but it will be a no car job (as in no car to drop off anywhere) we shall have tried a few camping trips closer to home such as the *yawn* IOW & the campsite two villages over to iron out camping packing issues...

We live near Southampton, by next summer I shall have a 4 year old and 8 1/2 yr old (Hubby will no doubt be working in the summer hols) anyhoo...

I have a crazy notion to do the Caledonian sleeper train from London and then some camping in Scotland. I have a friend who will have us for the day or whatever in London who can assist on the getting to the London start train station and loaded on with bikes.

Squidge (8 1/2) currently has some Trax thing from Halfrauds the G.Parents bought him that is heavy than heavy and most likely will be changed by next summer for something better.

User76 (4) will be in a Wee Hoo attached to my Ducthie 8 Speed Chic

The most I have cycled in a day is 10 miles with big gaps between mileage I shall be increasing this in the coming year prior to going.

Apart from a stop in Livingstone at some point whilst up there to visit relatives I have no idea what else we shall do I would like to go to Inverness and there seems to be quite a bit to see there with small people.

Small people will want breaks from cycling to see and do things - but not expensive theme parky type things more walking looking at things things if that makes sense....

So any ideas for a route what is a must to get to, what is a give it a miss and also an am I totally mad to consider doing this with a 4 & 8 year old on my own when I shall be 40 ?

And what would suggest I get camping type wise (Bike changes are not happening except the 8 yr olds bike to something lighter/better)

 

[ScotiaLass]

http://www.thehelix.co.uk

This is very near me....central belt (not that far from Livingston), it is still being added to so will have a childrens play area by the time you visit and the water lagoon has activities (canoeing/kayaking (organised swimming in the summer) and they can play on the shingle beach/water. It also has water jets and misters for the kids.
The cycle paths are fab and it links to so many other areas around the area (see the link on the site).

There's lots to do around here but if you venture to Glasgow I can highly recommend the Transport Museum at Riverside (it's free) and the Kelvingrove Musuem (also free) - lovely ride between the two!

http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/riverside/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/member/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum

 

[Puddles]

http://www.thehelix.co.uk

This is very near me....central belt (not that far from Livingston), it is still being added to so will have a childrens play area by the time you visit and the water lagoon has activities (canoeing/kayaking (organised swimming in the summer) and they can play on the shingle beach/water. It also has water jets and misters for the kids.
The cycle paths are fab and it links to so many other areas around the area (see the link on the site).

There's lots to do around here but if you venture to Glasgow I can highly recommend the Transport Museum at Riverside (it's free) and the Kelvingrove Musuem (also free) - lovely ride between the two!

http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/riverside/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/member/kelvingrove-art-gallery-and-museum

That looks quite good the helix thing, I will not be doing Glasgow or Edinburgh we lived near them for 6 months and just, no, is probably the simplest thing to say and not really wanting to do busy city centres

I was thinking going further up and "stopping in livingstone" on the way up shall we say

 

[Puddles]

I quite fancy ending up in Inverness but only cos of the loch ness monster thing for small people and it looks like they might have other good things around there???

 

[ScotiaLass]

I holiday up that way most years.
Nairn has a gorgeous beach... http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/03/93/3b/41/nairn-beach.jpg

The Loch Ness visitor centre we went to a few years back was great and my (then) 10 yr old loved it.
http://www.lochness.com/loch-ness-monster-exhibition.htm

 

[snorri]

I was thinking going further up and "stopping in livingstone" on the way up shall we say

Livingston is no "further up" than Glasgow and Edinburgh.
You say you don't want to do Edinburgh or Glasgow, but if you want to go to Livingston then you would have to alight from the sleeper at one or the other.

I quite fancy ending up in Inverness but only cos of the loch ness monster thing for small people and it looks like they might have other good things around there???

Edinburgh to Inverness by bicycle is likely to take you at least three days, quite tiring for "small people" I would suggest. Unless you were thinking of taking the sleeper from Euston to Inverness, but that would bypass Livingston. Seeing the monster is probably best done from one of the Loch Ness cruises which start from Inverness. Monster spotting from a bike would involve cycling on the A82 to Fort Augustus. Many experienced cyclists are wary of sharing that road with heavy tourist traffic in the summer months.The alternative is the much hillier road on the south side of the loch which is energy sapping and has few (if any) cakestops along the way, and is further from the loch for the most part.
Sorry to sound so negative but perhaps this is a tour better undertaken when the children are a little older?
Hey, you are only nearly 40, there's plenty of time!

 

[Crackle]

In my view, it's unrealistic on trains. However the idea, without the bikes, is a real good one. Try your starter trips first and take it from there.

 

[Crackle]

You want some ideas that you can manage by yourself, check out these folks

http://www.bretonbikes.com/

 

[steveindenmark]

Puddles, you are puddled. Totally barking mad, but as brave as hell. Even the children's names, your bike and the child carrier have eccentric names. I love it.

Is there a reason you chose Scotland? It is quite a lot of faffing to get there. Have you not thought of Normandy? Lots of great beaches and camp sites with pools and play things for the children. And not too far away from you.

Steve

 

[Noodley]

Is there a reason you chose Scotland? It is quite a lot of faffing to get there. Have you not thought of Normandy?

Possibly as Livingston is in Scotland and not Normandy?

 

[steveindenmark]

Noodley, it sounded like the relative stop was a by the by.

Having lived in both Edinburgh and Southampton I am aware that Livingstone is in Scotland and not Normandy.

Pointing out the obvious was not really needed.

 

[Puddles]

Okay I would not be cycling to Livingstone from Edinburgh or Glasgow, I am fairly 100% sure that the person I am visiting would come and get us and stick bikes on the back of the car to go stay with them for a couple of days from where ever we alight from the train

Scotland because with Mr Puddles being ex-KOSB there are sort of eleventy million hundred of them scattered across there that should I get myself in some sort of trouble of any description Mr Puddles could make calls and I could be rescued quite quickly

Also it is the sleeper train I really really really like the sound of and I think the small people would find it very exciting! The main thing that bothered me on the sleeper train was it said if you want to carry on to further up Scotland you had to get up at 5 AM to move your bike to a different van which was a little worrying.

Campsites with pools & playthings - Umm no no no no, even when we camp in the car we avoid anything that says such things vile places to me. Especially if they have a "children's club" or a bar. I know loads of people like them I don't it is just not me.

I know Livingstone is not further up much than Edinburgh or Glasgow what I said was going further up i.e. to Inverness but stopping in Livingstone on my way to further up.

Okay I am avoiding Edinburgh or Glasgow as I am bound to bump into someone that knows the Mother-In-Law who will not be informed we are coming the Cousin (in-law) would maintain "radio silence" and would not let on I had visited until I was safely back over the border

 

[snorri]

Okay I am avoiding Edinburgh or Glasgow as I am bound to bump into someone that knows the Mother-In-Law who will not be informed we are coming the Cousin (in-law) would maintain "radio silence" and would not let on I had visited until I was safely back over the border

Hey, this is getting quite exciting, military connection, wishing to keep movements secret, avoiding cities, lots of agents already undercover in the area. Are the accompanying children merely a front to avoid suspicion falling on you?
Anyway, my tip....check out that intelligence officer of yours, there is no e in Livingston, and the story about wakening at 05.00 to move your bike is most likely a load of mince. It is certainly not necessary if travelling to Inverness, but just might be if going to Fort William.
I suggest you make a decision as to visiting Livingston, do you want to visit it on the way north, or on the return journey south? If northbound, book sleeper London Euston to Edinburgh, visit Livingston then take a daytime train north to Inverness. On return, book sleeper berths from Inverness to London Euston.

 

[User6179]

Go as early in the year as possible if your going north of Stirling as the Scottish midgy is horrendous , camping is great May/June then it is war!

 

[slowmotion]

Scotland
Summer
MIDGES


EDit: he beat me to it!