I'm a novice tourer - what are your trip planning tips for distance/stopovers?

[potatan]

I'm contemplating a solo trip to ride around Scotland for a week or so next month (June). I've never really toured before other than a few days in Ireland stopping over with friends.


I'll be travelling alone so don't really need to consider anyone else's needs. What are your thoughts on distance / travel times per day? I'm not after any endurance awards, nor will I be trying to go over any mountain pass goat track, just a trip around some of the nice roads with stops for lunch and B&B / Hotels overnight.


I'm unsure how best to plan a route around the scenic routes so that
 
a) I don't have to push myself to reach the next destination,
or
b) I arrive at the next stop far too early
or
c) I end up starving miles away from civilisation / sandwiches


Would you recommend booking accommodations in advance?


Any other logistics tips for a novice solo tourer?


TIA

[David and Sally]

Wow, what a question.


Don't overestimate your mileage a day. Some riders will do hundreds. Some like a more docile day. In Scotland 100 a day would be a good target.


Don't drive past places to see just to make up the miles.


You may need to book accommodation. I use booking.com so cancellations are possible.


Enjoy the scenery. In my opinion the West coast and North coast are the best. Stunning.


There are plenty of sandwich stops. Just take a few bits with you just in case.


More likely you will need to plan fuel stops.


Enjoy your trip. You will meet bikers on the way and have a great time.

[potatan]

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm autistic and thus tend to be a bit too details-focused sometimes, but I'm definitely using this first trip as a learning exercise so I will understand myself and my bike better for future trips.

[David.]

A copy of the book, The Motorcyclist's Guide To Scotland might be useful, Buy the Motorcyclist's Guide to Scotland — Tarmap Press

Have a look at this thread for comments from folks who have a copy and have used it, BMW R1200RT / R1250RT forum - The BMW R1200RT/R1250RT forum

[Doctor T]

Do a search on the Scottish NC 500 for motorcycles. I did the NC500 a few years back. I did the route backward east to north. Loads on NC 500 on youtube with some good advice on where to stay. There is too many B&B/ pubs to list for overnight stops. One week is too short to see everything unless you rush about but that's not a holiday for me. Have fun

[potatan]

A copy of the book, The Motorcyclist's Guide To Scotland might be useful, Buy the Motorcyclist's Guide to Scotland — Tarmap Press

Thanks, that looks really great and will probably answer a lot of my questions! I've ordered a copy

[Doctor T]

Have a look at this. It's in 9 parts.
https://youtu.be/-8xIA71Km1k

[MikeS]

When I'm away on my own I book the first and sometimes the second night accomodation before I set off. After that I book accommodation as I go along, planning the next days route and researching hotels gives me something to do in the evenings.
Booking.com and hotels.com are useful but I have found that if I search for the hotels on the website/app and then ring them directly they may offer a better rate. Can be enough to pay for an evening meal.

[Steve398]

Booking.com and hotels.com are useful but I have found that if I search for the hotels on the website/app and then ring them directly they may offer a better rate. Can be enough to pay for an evening meal.

Especially as Booking.com charge up to 20% of the stay as commission.

[potatan]

When I'm away on my own I book the first and sometimes the second night accomodation before I set off. After that I book accommodation as I go along, planning the next days route and researching hotels gives me something to do in the evenings.

Great tip, thanks MikeS

[Doctor T]

Word of advice. Do not go on school holiday times. A week or two is best as the B&B are cheaper and the roads aint stuffed full of caravans

[BobM]

Hi,
    Despite having toured in Scotland loads of times I thought I`d take a punt on the book which David suggested. What a useful little purchase. Thanks David.