Touring with Small People Scotland

[User6179]

Scotland
Summer
MIDGES


EDit: he beat me to it!

Went fishing to Loch Lochy ONCE in july and my m8 warned us before we went , 9 guys drunk, me the only one sober and I lasted till 3am when I joined my m8s in the cars where we slept till the invasion was over!

 

[slowmotion]

It's best to cover up.....

 

[User6179]

View attachment 30372 It's best to cover up.....

His hands are still exposed!

 

[slowmotion]

Poor, poor booby...

 

[Puddles]

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.

Ah yes Livingston... not Livingstone

Having peered some more yes if you are going to Fort William you need to move your bike at stupid o'clock in the morning but not Inverness.

I think the best way would be Livingston on the way back as then once again I could have assistance in getting small people and bikes loaded on to the sleeper train when they are tired.

So the general consensus is I am mad and this is not going to be a fun thing at the moment with small people?

 

[Crackle]

I think manhandling the kids, the bikes and luggage by yourself would be stressful at that age (the kids age, not you) but not beyond the bounds of doable. I once came across a family in Brittany, two adults, nine children including a baby in a basket. I've also seen a tandem towing a tag-a-long with a kiddie seat on the back as well, so much depends on your personal limits, which is why your first foray doing this will set the scene for you. Personally I never managed it until the kids were much older. I thought about it but the logistics always defeated me. I recommend the trip to Inverness though, Mrs C did it with our two to visit friends and loved it. She did say the sleeper train is pretty noisy though. I guess something like hostelling is out, is it? It would reduce what you needed to take by an awful lot.

 

[Puddles]

I think manhandling the kids, the bikes and luggage by yourself would be stressful at that age (the kids age, not you) but not beyond the bounds of doable. I once came across a family in Brittany, two adults, nine children including a baby in a basket. I've also seen a tandem towing a tag-a-long with a kiddie seat on the back as well, so much depends on your personal limits, which is why your first foray doing this will set the scene for you. Personally I never managed it until the kids were much older. I thought about it but the logistics always defeated me. I recommend the trip to Inverness though, Mrs C did it with our two to visit friends and loved it. She did say the sleeper train is pretty noisy though. I guess something like hostelling is out, is it? It would reduce what you needed to take by an awful lot.

There is a nice campsite near Inverness I have found that does have caravans for hire for a very reasonable rate So I probably would wimp out at the tent camping (only because of the extra luggage required to man-handle to do that) I am quite happy to have a "base" to explore from rather than go place to place with the children being the age they are and that sudden tiredness can hit them all of a sudden - a bit likes "Rain stops play" this is why I will only consider it with User76 in the Wee hoo as she can fall asleep in it safely and it is smaller to man-handle than a trailer.

Noise not too much of an issue the small people are used to camping with groups of people and so are used to a far bit of noise and I am not so silly as to think they will sleep at any decent time, they will be too excited,

 

[trampyjoe]

So the general consensus is I am mad and this is not going to be a fun thing at the moment with small people?

Wouldn't let the madness of the idea stop you. In fact, this has got me thinking about a weekend away on the bike with my little one (who is 2) before winter arrives.

 

[steveindenmark]

I think it would be a fun thing for you and the kids. It sounds that you have raised them to be independent.
In the end if it all goes tits up you can always get back on the train and go back. But I am sure it will be fine. Your an ex squaddie wife I am sure you have had to deal with far worse.

Steve

 

[andym]

Ah yes Livingston... not Livingstone

Having peered some more yes if you are going to Fort William you need to move your bike at stupid o'clock in the morning but not Inverness.

I think the best way would be Livingston on the way back as then once again I could have assistance in getting small people and bikes loaded on to the sleeper train when they are tired.

So the general consensus is I am mad and this is not going to be a fun thing at the moment with small people?

Coming back from Italy last week I came across an Australian family with two boys of similarish ages doing the return leg of Amsterdam-Verona. Two adults obviously makes things like getting on and off trains easier.

I'd have a word with ScotRail (or are they now First Great Western?) about what assistance they can provide. I haven't travelled on the Caledonian Sleeper for a while, but my memory is that they were pretty well staffed with cabin attendants so in theory there should be people around to help you - and they might also be able to advise on which stations would have staff to help you on arrival.

You might also want to talk to them about compartments - I've always slept in twin-bunk cabins but presumably they must have facilities for families (although it should be possible fo one small person to sleep on the floor).

I can't think of any reason why they'd want to move the bikes between different vans.

I forget when you said you were going, but bear in mind that Edinburgh festival time is busy - so the Glasgow route is going to be less crowded during August. (I can't remember whether the Fort William trains go via Glasgow or Edinburgh)

PS the 'traditional' midge repellent is Avon Skin So Soft (although I can't testify to its effectiveness).

PPS Having just come back from cycling in Toscana I'm a big fan of campsites with pools - you can't beat a nice swim after a hard day's cycling. But I imagine that campsites with swimming pools aren't thick on the ground in Scotland.

 

[Puddles]

Coming back from Italy last week I came across an Australian family with two boys of similarish ages doing the return leg of Amsterdam-Verona. Two adults obviously makes things like getting on and off trains easier.

I'd have a word with ScotRail (or are they now First Great Western?) about what assistance they can provide. I haven't travelled on the Caledonian Sleeper for a while, but my memory is that they were pretty well staffed with cabin attendants so in theory there should be people around to help you - and they might also be able to advise on which stations would have staff to help you on arrival.

You might also want to talk to them about compartments - I've always slept in twin-bunk cabins but presumably they must have facilities for families (although it should be possible fo one small person to sleep on the floor).

I can't think of any reason why they'd want to move the bikes between different vans.

I forget when you said you were going, but bear in mind that Edinburgh festival time is busy - so the Glasgow route is going to be less crowded during August. (I can't remember whether the Fort William trains go via Glasgow or Edinburgh)

PS the 'traditional' midge repellent is Avon Skin So Soft (although I can't testify to its effectiveness).

PPS Having just come back from cycling in Toscana I'm a big fan of campsites with pools - you can't beat a nice swim after a hard day's cycling. But I imagine that campsites with swimming pools aren't thick on the ground in Scotland.

Avon skin so soft does apparently work but alas I am allergic to it makes me itch like I have ants in my pants... so I shall stick with the stinky spray we have a lot of salt marshes and bogs around here and they seem to liketh taste of me & Maggot, Squidge seems to escape but we head to toe spray in repellant anyways!

 

[fimm]

http://www.scotrail.co.uk/cycling
all sounds very friendly, but I would check about your weehoo - because if they decide it is a tandem, or a third bike, or something, you won't be going anywhere... (I know of a woman who was left at a station with a toddler in a child seat on her bike by a fairly empty train because there were already two bikes on the train and the jobsworth guard wouldn't let them on).

 

[Scoosh]

I think your plan is brilliant and not really nuts !

I know nothing about the trains, only a wee bit about Inverness but I see what you are planning - and I say GO FOR IT !

Both you and the weans will have so many wonderful memories - good and bad - and that is without price.

The midges are not quite as bad on the east of Scotland but it's worth being well prepared.

Hope the plans and the holiday go well.

 

[doonhaemer]

The A82 Glasgow/Fort William/ Inverness road should be avoided with children, which rules out the Lochness visitor centre. Really not worth all that cycling anyway.
I would recommend you get the train from Livingstone through Glasgow and on to Gouroch then ferry over to Dunnoon. There you have the choice of the wild outdoors or seaside things in the town including a swimming pool in Dunnoon. Choice then of cycling/ ferries to Isla, or up to Oban, where you could even ferry over to the outer hebridies. There may not be many kiddie attractions but they will probably love the adventure of Cal Mac and the beaches. You could train back to Edinburgh from Oban for the sleeper home.

 

[Sara_H]

I think it's a fab idea if you're certain you can manage the logistics of getting yourselves on and off the train.
On another practical note, make sure you'll be allowed to take the trailer on the train, as far as I'm aware most train companies don't allow them.

Me and my son did a little mini tour in Derbyshire summer 2012, so he was 9. He absolutely loved it and I'm sure it'll form some of his happiest childhood memories.