BlueDome welcomes the input of Torodd
Fuglesteg, a cycling Norwegian living in Scotland. Torodd has allowed
us to offer BlueDome readers 21 of his road routes with the promise
of more to come!
About Scotland
Scotland
is the closest a cyclist can come to heaven on earth. This part of
Europe offers a variety of cycling. Everything from easy cycling along
lakes, the coast and in valleys to quite hard cycling on steep mountain
roads. But the cycling is never extreme hard as cycling in Norway,
the Pyrennees and in the Alps. The highest mountain roads are on around
680 meters above sea level (Aberdeen- Perth). The landscape in Scotland
is normally breath taking. The road traffic is normally moderate outside
the central belt (from Glasgow to Edinburgh). Most cycle tours over
100 km. offers a wide variety of cycling. Which makes cycling in Scotland
highly enjoyable, wherever you go. Scotland is not recommended for
families with small children. But for everyone else; Scotland is the
paradise for cyclists.
The weather in Scotland can be quite bad. The mountains are quite
low, but they should not be underestimated. Even on small mountains
at 200 - 300 meters above sea level, the weather can be severe during
the summer months. These mountains should be treated with respect.
The rest of Scotland is quite exposed, due to lack of forests. In
the rural parts of Scotland (the Islands, Argyll, Galloway, the Borders
and in the Highlands); the distance between shops can be tens of kilometres.
Solid planning is essential for survival in those parts of Scotland.
The climate is made worse by the lack of forests and trees. Most of
the climbs in Scotland are very brutal and short. They normally end
with a fantastic view.
West of Scotland (Argyll and Kintyre) and the various islands have
the best cycling in my view. But the Borders and the Caithness also
have some fantastic cycling. The East coast of Scotland (Fife, the
Inverness area, Crampians and Aberdeenshire) have some reasonable
flat cycling. The mountains between Aberdeen and Inverness has some
extreme hard and high hills (well, around 650 meters above sea level...)
for those who are into this.
Scotland have everything for every cyclist. In my view; Scotland is
paradise for cyclists. Which I will now prove to you.
The roads in Scotland are terrible. But the most terrible roads offer
the best cycling. But be very careful. An added danger to the cycling
in Scotland is the midges. This pest is a gruesome, bloodletting reality
and not a joke. Midge repellent spray and roll-on is an essential
part of a cycling trip in Scotland. Another danger is the road kills
whose litter a cyclist's path. Or even worse; some animals only respect
cars and ignore cyclists. I have had countless close encounters with
rabbits, fox, mice, rats, lambs, sheep, hedgehogs, red deer and cows
in Scotland. The huge amount of wildlife in Scotland is very impressive,
but also dangerous for cyclists. In particular, sheep and lambs are
very dangerous.
The youth hostels and the B & B's in Scotland are cheap and pleasant.
They normally offer very good value for money. Please book your accommodation
some days before starting the cycle trip.
Most trains and ferries in Scotland takes cycles free of charge. But
book in advance and check out the time tables.
Recommended equipment
Please note that the road standard in Scotland is quite bad. A cycle
helmet is essential. Gloves and cycle shorts are also recommended.
You can easily cycle around Scotland with a light weight road racing
bikes (racing bike). Mountain bikes are OK, but the choice of cycle
is down to personal preferences. I use a racing bike with a small
rucksack. My rucksack is filled with cycle repair kit, tubes, long
cycle trousers, jumper, pump, first aid kit, socks, underwear, an
extra cycle shirt, bananas, map, midge repellent spray, sun oil and
a mobile phone. I also wear this rucksack on 3- 7 days long trips.
I have been cycling in Scotland with and without tent. Youth hostels
and B & B are so cheap (£ 10 - £ 30) that camping
are not recommended. But this depends on your budget.
About the author
32
years old. 15 years experience as long distance cycling (with long
distance cycling, I mean cycling for more than 75 km. a day). 130
kilo of fat, brain, bones and some muscles, divided on 184 cm. I never
eat healthy food or diet.
I am very lazy and un-organised individual who hates training and
physical exercise (which I never do), but who loves long distance
cycling. In particular, do I love cycling on the most extreme hard
stretches of roads in Scotland. I call my cycling programme "Hippo
on two wheels". The sight of a myself in revealing cycle shorts
and cycle shirts is enough to frighten the life out of anyone along
the roads in Scotland. The attitude against fat people is something
that need to be worked on whenever you go.
Please keep my personal profile in mind when you read my descriptions
of the various cycle trips. Every opinion is subjective. A description
of a cycle trip is in particular very subjective. But I have tried
to avoid the most subjective excesses.
After this summer's season (2001), I will be able to add some more
cycle trips. In the pipeline: Caithness, tours around Aberdeen and
Isle Of Skye.
Enjoy the read. Enjoy the ride!
Torodd Fuglesteg
25. May 2001
Links to cycle tours:
Tour # 1. Aberdeen
- Alford - Aberdeen. 120 km.
Tour # 2.
Stonehaven - Cairn O Mount - Aberdeen. 120 km.
Tour # 3.
Elgin - Alford - Aberdeen. 125 km.
Tour # 4.
Around Aberdeen. 90 km.
Tour # 5.
Elgin- Banff - Aberdeen. 150 km.
Tour # 6.
Dunoon - Dumbarton. 95 km.
Tour # 7.
Balloch - Callander - Balloch. 120 km.
Tour # 8.
Dumbarton - Loch Awe - Dumbarton190 km.
Tour # 9.
Stirling - Dumbarton. 60 km.
Tour #
10. Edinburgh - Dumbarton through the Campsie Fells. 100 km.
Tour #
11. Oban - Dumbarton via Tyndrum. 130 km.
Tour #
12. Fort Williams - Glen Coe - Loch Lomond - Dumbarton. 160 km.
Tour #
13. Dumbarton- Arrochar - Dumbarton. 85 km.
Tour #
14. Isle Of Arran (clockwise) 90 km.
Tour #
15. Isle Of Mull (the northern loop). 100 km.
Tour #
16. Aberdeen - Inverness (via The Lecht). 180 km.
Tour #
17. Inverness - Fort Williams (The Great Glen). 100 km.
Tour #
18. Fort Williams - Oban. 60 km.
Tour #
19. Kyle Of Lochalsh - Uig via Dunvegan (Isle Of Skye). 140 km.
Tour #
20. Uig -Kyle of Lochalsh via Trotternish (Isle Of Skye). 115 km.
Tour #
21. Aberdeen - Ballater - Corgarff - Alford - Aberdeen. 185 km.
Torodds Cyle Route Rating System Severity
* = Easy going with none or some small climbs
** = Moderate climbs. Easy going
***= Quite Technical with some climbs
****= Quite Technical with undulating road
*****= Very Technical cycling and very undulating road
******= Desperate difficult and hard cycling
Fun Rating System
*= Boring cycling and uninteresting landscape
To ******= Very funny cycling and breathtaking views
