Glasgow starts the A82 journey, and it is a city that deserves a look before you leave. The Clyde, which built the city's wealth through shipbuilding, runs through the south, and the cathedral and Necropolis, a Victorian cemetery on a hill, lie to the east.
The ride north starts with an urban crawl and then, quite quickly, the world opens. The A82 follows the western shore of Loch Lomond, a narrow, winding road with bends and rock walls and slow traffic in summer, then climbs to Crianlarich and Tyndrum, crosses the bleak expanse of Rannoch Moor and drops into Glencoe, one of the grandest valleys in Scotland. The surface is mostly good, but wet weather is frequent, and the road can be busy with coaches and caravans. Early starts are the key.
Glasgow itself is a friendly, direct city with a lively music scene and a long industrial past. The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, a red sandstone building in the west end, is one of the finest collections in Britain, and its free entry makes it a good stop. The city's food has improved greatly, and the old curry houses of the Pollokshields area are famous.
Fuel is no problem in the city, with stations on every major road, and it is wise to fill the tank before leaving, as stations become scarcer north of Loch Lomond. Tarbet, Crianlarich and Tyndrum have fuel and food, but the long section across Rannoch Moor has none.
Have a proper breakfast before setting off. A Glasgow breakfast, with square sausage and tattie scones, is worth the extra time, and the road will wait. Rain is likely at some point on this road, so a dry layer in the top box is better than hope, and Glencoe in mist can be as moving as in sun.