Stonehaven to Glasgow

[Nebulous]

Anyone done or have any more information on this route?

Mountains and Lochs

I'm intending doing my first long distance ride from Aberdeen to Glasgow on the weekend of 2nd / 3rd April.

Looking for a route to avoid the main roads I found this on the Visit Scotland website.

The problem is that the route doesn't seem to exist other than in their imagination, and the map isn't nearly good enough to plan. It isn't listed on the Sustrans website. I emailed Visit Scotland about a week ago and they haven't responded.

Plan would be to split it in half so roughly 90 miles a day, with an overnight likely in a youth hostel in Pitlochry. I'm assuming they would be bike-friendly, but I'll check with them by phone first.

So any help or advice welcome folks.

James

 

[Noodley]

I know the route from Callander, over the Viaduct, onwards. Very easy to follow but also not very flat in bits and their claim to use roads which are good for cycling fails to mention the state of the roads esp. on south of the loch which can be terrible (and undulating). The climb from Pitlochry is quite tough but a great descent into Kirkmichael...then more climbing thru Glen Isla to Kirrie...the route from Kirrie to Stonehaven in quite good, with a few climbs but mostly short and not too bad.

I'd say it was probably the best route you'll find between Callendar and Stonehaven...

 

[snorri]

with an overnight likely in a youth hostel in Pitlochry. I'm assuming they would be bike-friendly, but I'll check with them by phone first.

I've stayed at two of the Pitlochry hostels, and both had bike sheds. At this time of year there shouldn't be a problem finding accommodation there.

 

[Nebulous]

Thanks folks

Noodley - have you ever seen that route billed as Mountains and Lochs?

Would there be any signage on it?

It's good to hear that it probably is the best route though. I suppose I can always go to Google and just plan it out for myself, but when it was named I thought there would be an easier way, or even a printed map which covered it all. I obviously wouldn't want to do the circular loops.

Snorri - I didn't even know there were two hostels at Pitlochry! I was looking at the SYHA one, so it's good to hear it has a bike shed.

As you can probably guess I'm new to this. I'm intending travelling relatively lightly on a road bike.

I only got a road bike in October, but haven't been out nearly so much as I would like, due to the weather.

James

 

[Nebulous]

Well folks

I sort of did this, actually I cheated a bit, but still managed over 180 miles in two days.

Preparedness or lack of it was an issue, and sense of direction and geography certainly aren't my strong points.

Given my previous longest ride was 52 miles it was a big step up. I'll write it up at some point over the next couple of days and put it in touring, which is probably more appropriate.

Cheers - James