Great Cycleways III

John from Swansea sent a mail and ask, whether it is risky or danger to cycle on roads in Scotland. Sorry, I have only been once to Wales, so I am not sure about ur standard.

You will find a network of great cycleways in Scotland and England. Furthermore there is a huge number of small roads you might use for riding. NSCR guides you along there.

England is well known for hedges and walls, planted along all streets. At least they remind tourists, they are staying in England and to use roads careful.

No walls or hedges in Scotland, as I remember. And no trees in northern Scotland or on the Orkney Islands. The only huge traffic I have seen on Orkney Islands was at the Lidl supermarket carpark in Kirkwell.

Mostly streets are comfortable and empty as B9055 between Loch of Array and Loch of Stennes shown on the pic. B9055 is part of NSCR, connecting the famous stonescircles to surrounding world. Ring of Stennes on the right side and ring of Brodgar somewhere left uphill.

Hei John, no thiefs, no robbers, no warlords by the way.

Great Cycleways II

My favorit cycleway: bike tourist, who are staying in Whitby are being asked to ride this route to Robin Hood Bay - the former railway, known in the old times as the most lovily trainroute all over Britain. Standing on the bridge crossing the Esk 1 understands how romantic things can become, if constructed by english engineers. Please find Cathedral, St. Mary and Northsea in the distance. I understand this cycleway is part of North Sea Cycle Route.

As always the nice things are hard to search for: Whitby townmap might not give you a clue how to enter the cycleway. So please let me give you a hint. Cycleway starts at the former station to Robin's Bay, which does not longer exist. Station were near todays Whitby Mainstation, or somewhere here, or round the corner, who can remember I donnot know. Cycleway climbs up steedily onto the hills and the Esk bridge.

Great Cycleways I

Scotland is covered with a network of great cycleways. A number of them are dismanteld railways, which are now used for cycling or walking.

You travel the countrysite as train did in old times: Riding not over the mountains, but through them. There are a limited number of street crossings and no cars to be seen in 20 kilometer distance. As I understand, the most famous and most beautyful cycleway is north of Aberdeen, leeding into the Highlands. The cycleway on this pic as a little offsite the NSCR - connecting Glasgow with the Irish Sea.