Sheene7
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Ayrshire tarmacI have just got back from spending a few days with my family at the cottage I will be staying at when working at Turnberry in a few weeks. On the local news they were saying that Ayrshire has the worst roads in the UK and I can`t disagree! Some of the potholes would wreck a wheel rim if hit at speed. I would definately not own a sportsbike if I lived there permanently as it seemed the only roads where they could be opened up had average speed cameras. I am thinking my XTZ660 should be perfect though. We explored loads of very minor roads through some stunning scenery and I am going to be spoilt for choice on routes between my cottage near Colmonell and work at Turnberry. The route through the wind farm via Dailly and Barr is just stunning.
My lad and I got in a couple of games of golf. On Sunday when the sun was out we played Girvan and on Tuesday we played at Cawder in Glasgow with a friend who is a member there. I reckon it was one of the nicest courses I have ever played.
All the time I was exploring I was wishing I was on my bike. We didn`t see that many bikes apart from a largish gathering by the seafront in Girvan on Sunday. Was it you lot? There was also a group of scooter riders in the town.
On the way down today there were plenty of bikes heading North and it seemed every other one was a BMW GS (I am not exagerating either!) I bet KTM are kicking themselves.
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SuziSteve
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I agree some of the roads around Ayrshire are bad for potholes, but you seem to have caught us just after Winter, when the potholes open up. Usually the roads are repaired, but not always to a good surface.
SSShhhh don't forget that average speed cameras only photograph from the front and are not usually any use at catching bikes, beware of mobile cameras though, some have rear looking cameras!!! On the whole, we have far less speed traps than down south.
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Wulliep
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If your looking for some good runs here`s a few routes that I like around Ayrshire and the Dumfries area.
1: Start Kilmarnock A77 to Ayr cut down past Alloway onto the A719 coast road past Dunure and Culzean and on to Turnberry(this means you miss most of the average speed cameras). Join the A77 again ride the coast all the way to Stranraer, on a good clear day the photo oppertunities with the bike in the fore ground are fantastic.
2: Now you are at Stranraer instead of coming home why not head for Dumfries A75 no speed cameras and roads are good. You will need to look out for the mad Irish as this is the main route for artics for the ferry.
3: When you reach Dumfries turn left onto the A76 this takes you all the way back up to Kilmarnock again road is generaly good with no cameras.
Now the one thing I ommited to say is that you can shorten this run down a bit if you turn off the A75 at Newton Stewart onto the A714, this cuts back up to Girvan and touches on the Galloway Forrest.
You can go further along the A75 and turn left onto the A713 at Castle Douglas, this road will take you all the way back to Ayr. Again it touches on the Galloway Forrest.
If you cut off onto the A714(Newton Stewart) you can then take the A712 which cuts right through the Galloway Forest and joins onto the A713(Castle Douglas) road.
These last routes need to be navigated with a bit of care as the roads are not much better at times than B-roads, however the scenery is fantastic and are best ridden at a slow pace. Mind you its not just the roads you need to watch out for the wild life can be deadly!
Hope this helps you decide on a run
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Sheene7
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Thanks Wulliep. I know most of the roads you mention as I have experimented with various Dumfries to Turnberry routes and we went via Newton Stewart/Pinwherry/Colmonnel to the cottage last week. On the way back I took a B road which runs from Barrhill parallel with the A road back to Newton Stewart and it was also lovely scenery.
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