Just got home from a 13 day bike trip taking in the lakes, western Highlands and a bit of Ireland. 2400 miles of mostly minor roads. My brother joined me with a BMW GS800 F, very interesting to compare with my Ten, but thats another story. SteveD mentioned to me that Dumfries were mostly ignored in the mad rush to Scotland. I am so glad I listened to this. We had the time of our life riding the A712 Newton Stewart to New Galloway and onto Crocketford. If you like lots of twisties, good road surface and stunning mountain scenery, you can do no better. An absolute hidden gem. This road is made for the XT and I now know my favourite ride. I did the Cat and Fiddle and Hardknott a few days before. Cat and Fiddle a huge disappointment, Hardknott much better but bad ripply road surfaces. Some stinking mountain passes in the Highlands with no cars. But this one much closer to home and well worth doing. You guys living in Manchester Liverpool don't know how lucky you are!

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2010 XT660Z Blue, Exan can, UFO high front fender, SW Motech baseplate, heated grips, 12v point, Kevs Fuel & O2 mod, DNA Stage 2 Filter and cover, Givi tall screen, Mefo mfe 99s, Kevs throttle mod, TT high seat and 'compass'

Shhhhhhh.

SW Scotland is absolutely fantastic - and yet you missed the best of it.... If only I'd known I'd have directed you over the Raiders Road, you actually passed each end of it, miles and miles of dirt road through scenery you'll never see, Red Kites, hidden locks....

Also, the Coast road from Dumfries to Kickudbright, and the route around Whitthorn (through the village the Mulberry Harbors were built) is totally unspoiled and traffic free (mostly).

The coast road up from Stranraer to Aye is fantastic, and it leads nicely onto a much nicer way to jump to the Highlands, a boat to either Arran then to the Kintyre peninsular or from Greenock to Dunoon.

I love the Highlands, I go up there at least twice a year, but it does only tak 1:30ish to get me up past Glasgow so it's OK. But it amazes me that folk spend hours and hours on the motorway and bypass D&G and the Borders. Still if they do that the roads stay clearand idiot free......

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

I did much more than above the road to Oban was lovely. We also did pretty much all the roads of Arran kintyre Ann's mull before doing the mainland bit onto fort william

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2010 XT660Z Blue, Exan can, UFO high front fender, SW Motech baseplate, heated grips, 12v point, Kevs Fuel & O2 mod, DNA Stage 2 Filter and cover, Givi tall screen, Mefo mfe 99s, Kevs throttle mod, TT high seat and 'compass'

Hi Gas-up, loved Arran and especially the B880 mountain road we did just after this picture. As you can see perfect day. Lovely beaches till this point (at Blackwaterfoot) before you turn inland and the mountain road to Brodick. Loved it.

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2010 XT660Z Blue, Exan can, UFO high front fender, SW Motech baseplate, heated grips, 12v point, Kevs Fuel & O2 mod, DNA Stage 2 Filter and cover, Givi tall screen, Mefo mfe 99s, Kevs throttle mod, TT high seat and 'compass'

Wow fantastic, mouth watering and envious!

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

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Now have a 2017 S1000XR Sport SE

2006 XT660X - Cat D write off due to someone pulling out on me - Pipewerx carbon fibre exhausts - Snorkel removed and airbox drilled - DNA stage 1 + 2 air filters - Kevs fuel controller mod - Scottoiler V system - Oxford heated grips - HEL braided brake hoses - Wilbers 540 rear shock - Brembo brake pads - AFAM chain and sprockets - Michelin Pilot Street Radial's - Denali DX Xtreme dual intensity spotlights

It's a great road for sure, I've actually had someone say to me that Arran sucks and the mountain road was rubbish..... I love Arran, and it's only a couple of hours for me.

Last year me and a mate rode up the east side of Scotland, then followed the coast as far as Skye (before running out of time), this year it's back to Skye and down the west coast through Mull and the Kintyre peninsular just to complete the coastal navigation. Maybe next year we'll venture south and go for a full coastal.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

Really nice Jacques, so much to see, so little time....

High Jac glad you enjoyed the trip to Scotland there is loads to see. And you even had once in a lifetime good weather!!

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XTz 660 tenere, adventure spec bash plate, main stand, skid marks tall screen, Oxford tail pack 36 litre. Kobra hand guards, Bigger cast footpegs, Zen overland luggage plate, USB power point, iridium spark plug, TKC80 f k60 R tyres, o2 and fuel Kev mods, DNA stage 2 filter. bark buster bar wieghts, Touratec side stand base and GPS mount. Led spot lights

Such a nice place to explore Dumfries and Galloway!..glad you had a safe journey!..