http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Mull2Muckle: The Scottish end-to-end en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:35:42 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836&page=2#post-75717 Sat, 23 Jun 2012 19:49:04 +0000 LaidBack 75717@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well done Tom... good blog on this. </p> <p>Something I'd like to do one day. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836&page=2#post-75710 Sat, 23 Jun 2012 10:47:07 +0000 shetlandic 75710@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks to everyone for support, advice and help with the trip, which ended successfully on Wednesday on a glorious day in Unst. It all just proves that a fat 56-year-old fond of a pint and a curry can do 450 miles without serious training...</p> <p>Couple more things: Sustrans got back to me, politely pointing out that their routes have to be suitable for 'anyone between 8 and 80'. Alas, I fear parts of NCR1 and the canal towpaths simply aren't.</p> <p>And the LHT may have been slightly too big, right enough...but last minute substitution of my 20-year-old B17 for a newer one solved all problems.</p> <p>Finally (that's three things, I know): the infamous A90 Stonehaven problem. There IS a cycle path by the side of the dual carriageway, on the east side, between Stonehaven and Portlethen, but it doesn't start until the golf course turnoff, and it's informal for the first mile, ie, narrow dirt. There is NO path between the golf course and the A92 turn off.</p> <p>More, and pix, at <a href="http://mull2muckle.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">http://mull2muckle.blogspot.com</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-74966 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 19:52:41 +0000 gembo 74966@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The forth and Clyde canal towpath is great from centre of Glasgow until Kirkintilloch. After that it is muddy (well it was last summer in wet conditions). the route actually improved from falkirkmto Edinburgh? I have cycled Falkirk to Edinburgh, many times on the union canal towpath so maybe I know what to look for? Again the surface becomes nice from Heriot watt to Lochrin basin, though as we have said on here quite busy after the aqueduct. Shetlandic did you spot the piping centre at Twechar? I came off the path for a while there as it was more like a river, the road was OK. I have found Sustrans routes to go round the houses for sure. They do sometimes avoid fairly quiet more direct routes, they often have no signs just when there should be more signs. Still good. Maybe one day the towpaths will join and be tarmacadam all the way. The Broughton Spurtle announced the Rodney St tunnel at cannon mills as the final part of the route 75 linking glaswegians to sunshine and civilisation (their words, not mine, I am from Renfrewshire). Anyway well done on your trip. I nearly took daveC up on his ticket but had scouts. If he had mentioned the wine tasting the scouts could have looked after themselves. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-74892 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:29:39 +0000 chdot 74892@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well done!</p> <p>Thanks for that info - lots for British Waterways, Sustrans, Fife Council and Keith Brown to think about-</p> <p>If only...</p> <p>Other info at <a href="https://twitter.com/thebeatcroft" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/thebeatcroft</a> (and no doubt more on Radio Scotland between 2:30 and 4:00 this week.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-74890 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:19:42 +0000 shetlandic 74890@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Safely back home in Shetland, with only 15 miles to go to Muckle Flugga...<br /> ...apologies to anyone who turned up at the One World shop to say hallo at 4.00pm on 12 June. I was an hour and a half late. Million thanks to the determined few who waited.</p> <p>One or two things: I spent much of this trip fuming about the often ludicrous detours imposed by NCN routes, which I was trying to follow. The NCR1 through Dunfermline and Fife generally is just crazily long, high and obscure. Same in avoiding the A90 at Stonehaven further north.</p> <p>And the cycle route on the Union canal from Falkirk seemed to me unsuitable for anything but a decent mountain bike, particularly under some of the bridges. Crumbling cobbles, deep mud and much less well maintained than the Forth and Clyde equivalent.</p> <p>One thing to note: there IS an informal cycle path from Stonehaven to Portlethen beside the (east) side of the A90. But it starts at the furthest north end of Stonehaven, not at the A92 junction, and the first part if tricky. Walking for 45 minutes on a drainage ditch filled with chuckies, pushing a fully laden tourer in the face of speeding juggernauts was No Fun. But still saved at least an hour and a half over the NCR. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-72982 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:41:49 +0000 gembo 72982@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Some places till have 27 inch tyres and tubes and then there are 650 mm ones. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-72957 Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:25:59 +0000 Bhachgen 72957@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Not sure why shetlandic's surly has 26 in wheels on an extra large frame"</p> <p>Perhaps he purchased it with thoughts of a future trip to a more remote overseas location where 700c tyres and tubes are harder to come by... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-72860 Thu, 31 May 2012 20:27:21 +0000 gembo 72860@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I heard it was more like £13000 that Drummond and Cauty burnt on Jura? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-72756 Wed, 30 May 2012 22:08:37 +0000 chdot 72756@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>BD has a certain taste for threatening the extreme -</p> <p><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3558814/Bill-Drummond-pops-prankster-heads-for-destruction.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3558814/Bill-Drummond-pops-prankster-heads-for-destruction.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-72755 Wed, 30 May 2012 21:44:41 +0000 gembo 72755@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Read the article, he wants to interview barbers.i recommend sweary Jim of Dalry, just down from the mighty Ashton McCobb's Appellation Wines - the finest off licence ever to grace gorgie-Dalry. Jim is nine pounds for a good haircut which will include eyebrows if the mood takes him and one pound for the story.</p> <p>Not sure why shetlandic's surly has 26 in wheels on an extra large frame but it is a free country, looking forward to checking out more of the blog when the tour kicks off </p> <p>Bill Drummond once wrote a song Julian Cope Is Dead (I shot him in the head). Bill Drummond once tried to persuade JuliAn Cope to kill himself as it would help record sales (only one of these may be true, will get googling) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-72714 Wed, 30 May 2012 11:34:37 +0000 chdot 72714@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Not as bad as Bill Drummond's legendary Tour"</p> <p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/may/28/bill-drummond-creative-urge">He's still around</a>.</p> <p>Might be <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6358">working for Cycling Scotland</a>... </p> <p><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2012/5/28/1338220742733/Bill-Drummond-Penkiln-Bur-008.jpg"></p> <p>Bill Drummond standing in the Penkiln Burn, Minnigaff, Dumfries and Galloway, 2009. Photograph: Tracey Moberly </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-72711 Wed, 30 May 2012 11:29:45 +0000 DaveC 72711@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm looking fwd to seeing you in Edinburgh. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-72672 Tue, 29 May 2012 23:12:32 +0000 shetlandic 72672@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hey Genbo...no helicopters! Feel bad enough getting the boat from Aberdeen rather than via Orkney.</p> <p>Anyway, new bike stuff up on the<a href="http://mull2muckle.blogspot.com"> Mull2Muckle blog.</a></p> <p>Only non-linear-time aspect, completed Lerwick-Toft section in advance due to radio commmitments during midsummer week, and will try to cover Yell this weekend. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-69054 Sat, 05 May 2012 10:10:35 +0000 gembo 69054@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>just missing the bike breakfast in city chambers courtyard on 16.06.12 - which means rain of course. Jimmy McGregor used to do a lot of hill walking by helicopter. Now I am not suggesting Tom Morton would be doing this just that the route is a bit of a meander if it takes in bothe Edinburgh and Glasgow?. Not as bad as Bill Drummond's legendary Tour that he forced Echo and The Bunnymen to go on circa 1985 which led to them playing gigs only in towns or villages on ley lines. They played Stornoway to 18 people and a cat. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-69022 Sat, 05 May 2012 00:14:49 +0000 shetlandic 69022@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hi folks - now going via Edinburgh, and there will be a live gig aspect...<a href="http://mull2muckle.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/fairly-good-show-gigs-announced.html">The Fairly Good Show on 12 June:</a></p> <p><a href="http://tommortonedinburgh.eventbrite.com" rel="nofollow">http://tommortonedinburgh.eventbrite.com</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-64253 Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:31:49 +0000 chdot 64253@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>Tom Morton (@thebeatcroft)</p> <p>4/5/12 9:21 AM</p> <p>Right, preparing for trip south to @invernesswhisky Glasgow and recce for Mull2Muckle cycling trip. Unfold the Mezzo (bike)!</p> <p>" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-62905 Mon, 26 Mar 2012 23:11:46 +0000 wee folding bike 62905@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Leaving the A77 at Turnberry and hugging the coast lets you take in the Electric Brae at Croy. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-62904 Mon, 26 Mar 2012 22:38:52 +0000 shetlandic 62904@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Heading north, Roibeard, so good advice. Thinking might go to Newton Stewart after all and then go via GlenLuce to Girvan. </p> <p>Thanks for all the other thoughts. Alas, won't be at Zazou, but will wobbling about Glasgow for a week from the 8th on a Mezzo D9.</p> <p>Just saw two fully-loaded Brompton tourists in Shetland today, BTW. In Saharan conditions for these here parts. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-62822 Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:50:01 +0000 Roibeard 62822@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>From popping up and down the A77 to my parents (beyond Stranraer), the A77 might be hairy in places - there is some shared use pavement stretches between Stranraer and Cairnryan that might be useful (rural, not many junctions, few pedestrians), but some of the twisty sections would be onroad, without much room to pass safely. Oddly enough the straight sections, and the bits that could already be used for overtaking, have been improved and widened, but not the tricky corners...</p> <p>It might be worthwhile peeling off the A77 at Turnberry and falling the coast up into Ayr, rather than proceeding inland at that point, but the twisty bits are before that, north of Cairnryan, south of Ballantrae and south of Girvan.</p> <p>Ah, now not sure which direction you're going, so reverse the above if you're heading south!</p> <p>Robert </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-62746 Sun, 25 Mar 2012 23:05:54 +0000 DaveC 62746@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em> This site has all sorts of people - some a bit tooo shy to reveal themselves...</em></p> <p>Well a celeb who has enough confidence in themselves to openly identify themselves. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-62710 Sun, 25 Mar 2012 08:48:39 +0000 chdot 62710@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Anyway, for all I know Shetlandic may be, by strange happenchance down here on business"</p> <p>True, but more likely at Pacific Quay than Edinburgh Quay! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-62705 Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:43:59 +0000 Smudge 62705@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Long way from Shetland", true, but it is also a long haul trucker ;-). Anyway, for all I know Shetlandic may be, by strange happenchance down here on business, so I thought I'd ask, just in case :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-62698 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 23:09:43 +0000 chdot 62698@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Zazou next Friday"</p> <p>Long way from Shetland. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-62696 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 22:47:26 +0000 Smudge 62696@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Lol, good to see it with 'guards ;-) You must be a tall chap with that frame, looks totally different to mine (also 26" wheels).<br /> <img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5155/5817745900_e80c715f6a.jpg" alt="Douneray" /&gt;"><br /> Don't worry about the quick rider leaving you, just ensure large weights carried and get him on the hills using your lower gearing ;-)</p> <p>Good to see you on here though, hope you enjoy the forum and find it useful. Zazou next Friday?? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-62692 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 21:25:27 +0000 chdot 62692@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Wow our first celeb forum member"</p> <p>Define celeb.</p> <p>This site has all sorts of people - some a bit tooo shy to reveal themselves... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-62691 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 21:00:05 +0000 DaveC 62691@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Wow our first celeb forum member. Welcome Tom great to see you posting. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-62690 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 20:53:25 +0000 shetlandic 62690@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks folks. I may just go for it on the A77.<br /> Blog now updated with a current picture!</p> <p><a href="http://mull2muckle.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">http://mull2muckle.blogspot.com</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-62642 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 11:17:40 +0000 crowriver 62642@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@shetlandic, I'm hoping to cycle in those parts later this year, re-enacting Kirkpatrick Macmillan's journey to Govan. I've been advised by a Dumfries cyclist to contact the local branch of CTC: they know the roads around there and can advise on the more cycle-friendly options. Some of them may even come along for a section of your ride to keep you company.</p> <p><a href="http://www.dandgcycling.org.uk" rel="nofollow">http://www.dandgcycling.org.uk</a> - Jim Cowan, Chair, may be the person to contact initially.</p> <p>P.S.:- the only time I was on the ferry road was in the back of a car, we were running late for the boat and the driver was taking hellish risks and driving too fast. We had to shout at him to slow down. That's a while ago now but I daresay it still goes on. Maybe time your departure to avoid motorists rushing to catch the ferry? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-62632 Sat, 24 Mar 2012 07:25:08 +0000 wee folding bike 62632@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I used to cycle along the A77 going to school and as far south as Maybole regularly but that was in the '80s. It's not that bad and has the advantage of going along the coast with the prevailing southwesterly at your back. I'd be happy to use it but I might not be representative. It has average speed cameras on it but you don't want a Volvo truck to hit you even if it's following the limit.</p> <p>In north Ayrshire you can go via Irvine, Kilwinning, Beith, Lochwinnoch. There is even a safer signed cycle route there but I haven't used it for years. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=5836#post-62616 Fri, 23 Mar 2012 23:17:09 +0000 Smudge 62616@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@shetlandic (Tom?) Then the picture on the blog needs updating ;-)</p> <p><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B--lharzUBE/T2n_ZBw4a4I/AAAAAAAACfo/PNfrNwiOE8Q/s320/surly.jpg"> </p>