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I'm a newbie on the forum and wondered if I could have any advice on a planned trip my brother and I are planning in June 2009. We took up cycling last year and now want to cycle from Balloch to Inverness (about 190 miles). 

We plan to ride about 50-60 miles each day and camp at various sites on the way. The proposed stops would be Callander, Kenmore, Pitlochry, Aviemore, and Inverness.

Can anyone recommend good sites at these stops? Would we need to book in advance?

Still to buy our tent so any recommendations for a relatively cheap 2 man tent and any other equipment suitable for carrying when cycling?

Any other advice greatly welcomed - many thanks

Hi Rayman and a warm welcome to UKCS. From your post I'm assuming you live in Balloch ?

I can't help with the info re sites but I am sure someone will be along soon.

Hi Rayman

We're going on sunday to Aviemore and staying in the High Range campsite on the edge of town, we stayed last year and found it very convienient for all the shops and pubs, see the reviews below.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=4244

Happy camping

Hi rayman.

               If you are cycle touring with camping gear, you will take far to much stuff on your first trip, everyone does this, I have been doing Manchester to Scotland each year, aprox 150 miles two overnights then B&B and get the train back to Manchester, first year 2004, I took 30Kilo (66lb) of kit, and failed to complete the journey these days I have got it down to 14Kilo (31lb), and that includes a tent twice the size as what I first took, the breakdown is rear panniers from Ortlieb each with 6Kilo (12lb) and front bar bag Ortlieb 2Kilo (7lb), I guess you have already got the bikes sorted, but you can have a peak at mine on www.spokewrench.com mine is the touring bike Andy from England, it may give you some ideas on back racks etc and choice of gearing, I use a different gear ratio set up each year, depending on route to be taken, as for tents, you can see the two I have used in my gallery. don't buy a cheap tent, go for as lightweight as you can get, also don't pre-book campsites as cycle touring never runs to plan, your target of 50/60 miles is very optimistic although quite dooable if the unexpected does not pay you a visit, I would aim for 45 miles max each day, always nice to have a little time to play with, especialy with all those very nice pubs you will be cycling past!. finaly you may not notice, but the Hilleberg tent in my gallery has got two touring bikes tucked away in the front porch, this certainley helps you sleep at night, knowing you bike is out of sight, out of mind.

Quote: Originally posted by Francais on 13/2/2009

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Hi rayman.

               If you are cycle touring with camping gear, you will take far to much stuff on your first trip, everyone does this, I have been doing Manchester to Scotland each year, aprox 150 miles two overnights then B&B and get the train back to Manchester, first year 2004, I took 30Kilo (66lb) of kit, and failed to complete the journey these days I have got it down to 14Kilo (31lb), and that includes a tent twice the size as what I first took, the breakdown is rear panniers from Ortlieb each with 6Kilo (12lb) and front bar bag Ortlieb 2Kilo (7lb), I guess you have already got the bikes sorted, but you can have a peak at mine on www.spokewrench.com mine is the touring bike Andy from England, it may give you some ideas on back racks etc and choice of gearing, I use a different gear ratio set up each year, depending on route to be taken, as for tents, you can see the two I have used in my gallery. don't buy a cheap tent, go for as lightweight as you can get, also don't pre-book campsites as cycle touring never runs to plan, your target of 50/60 miles is very optimistic although quite dooable if the unexpected does not pay you a visit, I would aim for 45 miles max each day, always nice to have a little time to play with, especialy with all those very nice pubs you will be cycling past!. finaly you may not notice, but the Hilleberg tent in my gallery has got two touring bikes tucked away in the front porch, this certainley helps you sleep at night, knowing you bike is out of sight, out of mind.

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Hi rayman.

               On my trip each year I meet a fair few doing the lejog, one chap had so much gear, that it caused his front forks to fall apart at Bridgwater, and when I met him in Kendal he was arranging to have his tent!, and other kit to be put on the train and shipped back home, whilst he continued cycling onto John O' Groats, I plan to do the lejog one day, but will start at John O Groats, my friends did it in 5 days!, they were on racing bikes, and had a man in a van as backup and B&B all the way, still quite an achievment but to much like hard work for my liking, my plan is to take around 3 weeks to do the journey.