Advice on trip to the NW

Advice on trip to the NW

Author
Discussion

ryanthescot

Original Poster:

287 posts

153 months

Thursday 31st July 2014
quotequote all
My partner and I are heading up to the north of Scotland next weekend, staying in Aviemore for a few nights then heading west for a night before returning to Aviemore. I'd like to take in some good roads while up there, but I don't know the area so looking for any advice in to where I should be heading or avoiding.

So far I've come up with a 540 mile round trip that on the first day takes us from Aviemore out to Applecross then up to Torridon (where we will stop at a hotel for the night). For the next day I've plotted a route that ends up in Durness via Ullapool and then back down to Aviemore. This section is 286 miles and Google maps is suggesting it will take nearly 8 hours to drive so might look at making this a bit shorter.

This map shows the plan for day 1 to Torridon:
http://goo.gl/maps/QTTvM

And this one is day 2:
http://goo.gl/maps/vxPFs

Any input on these routes (like if I'm missing any good roads or hitting particularly bad ones) or anything worth doing while up there would be appreciated.

Cheers

Catz

4,812 posts

210 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
Looks a good route!
I've driven Day 2's route a few times as a car club I was a member of used to do a weekender where we'd drive to Durness for an overnight stay.
Day 2, as you say, is a lot of driving so you might want to extend Day 1 and stop in Ullapool for the night. Have you sorted accommodation already?

As for things to do just take in the fabulous scenery! Here's hoping you get good weather.

thewhangie

237 posts

162 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
All roads are pretty good over this way, but make sure you've booked somewhere to stay. I'm in Gairloch for the week and it's pretty busy.

Nicholas Blair

4,096 posts

283 months

Friday 1st August 2014
quotequote all
Bear in mind single track on a bit of the second run up to Durness and back and over to Lairg, loads of camper vans about tooeek

Great trip BTW :-)

jet_noise

5,631 posts

181 months

Saturday 2nd August 2014
quotequote all
Dear rts,

rather than going to Applecross and back by the cattle pass (fabulous though it is to do it both ways) I'd recommend going (or, er, coming) to Applecross over the pass and carrying on round the coast road to Shieldaig. It is slow but spectacular with views to Raasey, Rhona & Skye to the west most of the way,

regards,
Jet

ryanthescot

Original Poster:

287 posts

153 months

Monday 4th August 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies.

Accommodation has already been booked in Torridon so I think we'll just cut the journey on the 2nd day down a bit. Shame not to go all the way up to Durness but we can do that another time.

Jet, thanks for that I'll take the coast road to Shieldaig.

Car goes in for a service mid week and then should be ready to go. Looking forward to it!

Cheers.

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Monday 4th August 2014
quotequote all
ryanthescot said:
Thanks for the replies.

Accommodation has already been booked in Torridon so I think we'll just cut the journey on the 2nd day down a bit. Shame not to go all the way up to Durness but we can do that another time.

Jet, thanks for that I'll take the coast road to Shieldaig.

Car goes in for a service mid week and then should be ready to go. Looking forward to it!

Cheers.
Good call re the coast road. Watch out for daft foriegners, there are bunch here at the moment who have no idea how to drive on single track roads. Torridon is on top form at the moment, so have fun smile Shout if you need any local info (I live here and run the website)


Edited by GetCarter on Monday 4th August 19:48

ryanthescot

Original Poster:

287 posts

153 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
quotequote all
I remember the foreigners in hire cars from a couple of years ago when we went over to Skye for the day. They would crawl along the road taking in the scenery (which is fair enough) but refuse to pull over in the passing places to let me by. I think most of the time they were not concentrating on driving and checking their mirrors as they were too occupied with looking out the windows.

Steve - I've come across your site in my searches, looks like my route is very similar to the one on your 'Best drive in the Uk' page! Can you tell me where the image of the empty road is taken? (the one that's used on the contact page of the Torridon hotel website)

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
quotequote all
I assume you mean this:



That is Glen Docherty, between Achnasheen and Kinlochewe. If you want a good short (2ish hr) blat from the torridon...

Torridon, Kilochewe, Achnasheen, Lochcarron, Applecross, Shieldaig, Torridon.

eta: Do it before breakfast and it'll be pretty empty. You can make it last all day if you take in the beaches and the Inns smile

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 5th August 12:16

mazdajason

1,113 posts

171 months

Tuesday 5th August 2014
quotequote all
Sure is a great location and road.

Agree with the drive from Applecross to Shieldag instead of back over the applecross road. Watch out for the sheep that don't give a toss either!

obligatroy pic from last Saturday smile