Not really related to CH by itself, I seek advise from English-Forum member-cyclists about the UK.

I would like a week's cycling vacation in the UK, sometime in late October-early November. Agreed, not the best time, but is it feasible at all? My British hosts were horrified with the idea, but then they are not cyclists.

Some things I am toying with:
1. Scotland (http://www.cyclescotland.co.uk/1where.htm)
2. One of the many Sustrans routes (3-4 days)

Being used to cycling here, elevations should not be a problem, but I have no firsthand experience of the (in)famous British weather. So, is Scotland a terribly silly idea? What would you recommend for a 4-5 day cycle tour?

Thank you very much for all your pointers

Two problems (minor inconveniences) for that time of year is that firstly, it gets dark very early and secondly it can get quite windy which can be quite a shock if you're not used to cycling into a strong headwind for a few hours.

Are you camping or staying in other accommodation?

Not camping -- with the strong Swiss Franc, one can afford an organized trip -- but I can't trust the tour organizer to tell me about what weather conditions to expect, can I?

The organisers would probably say you need waterproof clothing etc. but whether that is enough to make a holiday enjoyable for someone unused to the climate is another question altogether. My niece ran around bare-armed, bare-legged in Edinburgh while I still had a jacket over my long-sleeved shirt.

I prefer the, unfortunately all-too-accurate, lines of Flanders and Swann on the subject of British weather.

Bleak September's mist and mud,
Is enough to chill the blood.
Then October adds a gale
Wind and slush and rain and hail.
Dark November brings the fog,
Should not do it to a dog

It rained and rained and rained and rained,
The average was well maintained;
And when our fields were simply bogs,
It started raining cats and dogs.
After a drought of half an hour,
There came a most refreshing shower;
And then the queerest thing of all,
A gentle rain began to fall.


Next day 'twas pretty fairly dry,
Save for a deluge from the sky.
This wetted people to the skin,
But after that the rain set in.
We wondered what's the next we'd get,
As sure as fate we got more wet.
But soon we'll have a change again,
And we shall have..... A drop of rain.



Joking aside, I'd echo Tom1234's comments: rainfall certainly not significantly higher in Scotland in Oct/Nov than it would be in Aug/Sept, but what would be a spoiler are the potentially high winds and lack of daylight hours.

How about Wales? Slightly milder weather (although it can be very wet!) but equally beautiful scenery. http://www.cycling.visitwales.com/index.php

Now why on earth did I, in a moment of idiotic over-enthusiastic modding, move this Thread from Sports/Activities where I could have put a THANKS on weejeem's post, to rotten old Off-Topic, where I can't?

Unfortunately it is now in the right place...

are you moving it back to the "Sports" section?

You are really mad to think of cycling in Scotland.

Think of the weather, think of the bad road surfaces, think of securing your bike at night, think of drivers not expecting a cyclist to be there...

Then think of going to Holland on a slow train, where the whole country is built around the cyclist! Cycle paths everywhere, cages to securely lock bikes up in, cycle repair shops in every village....

Take a look at Amersfoort, Niederlande, a lovely old town,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amersfoort http://maps.google.ch/maps?hl=de&tab=wl