A82 or A9?

[ianrb]

Dyl said:

In October I'm going up to Nairn (from Glasgow) for a few nights away. I was looking at Google Maps which has me going via the A9. I really dislike the A9 so was planning to go north via the A82.

I know it will most likely take considerably longer, is it worth the extra time?

Either way, can anyone recommend somewhere to stop for lunch, leg stretch, etc. roughly half way (on either route)?

Thanks, Dylan

In October most of the tourist traffic will be gone. But I would still avoid the A9 as the SPECS cameras are due to go live around then.

So my preferred route for that trip would be: A82 to Fort William and on to Spean Bridge. Then turn right onto the A86 and stay on that road to Newtonmore and on to Kingussie, where rather than turning onto the A9 join the B9152, the old A9. Stay on that road until the far side of Aviemore where the road becomes the A95, follow that for a while but turn left onto the B9153 and go to Carrbridge where you turn right onto the A938. Stay on that road for a while until you reach the B9007 and from there you will see sign posts to Nairn. Alternatively you could go to Grantown on Spey and then head up the A939.

[Technomad]

Definitely avoid A9 at all costs. The lower end of the A82 (to the North end of Loch Lomond) is a pain - if you're stuck behind a caravan, you're going precisely nowhere. It's fine to brilliant after that. I'd suggest either:
- grit your teeth on the A82 as far as Tarbet, then onto the A83 to Rest and be Thankful - you can loop back to the A82 on the A819/A85 from Inverary, rejoining at Tyndrum, by the very excellent Green Welly.

- head out of Glasgow on the A81 to Aberfoyle then either over the Duke's Pass or past Port of Menteith, either way ending up at Callander, thence A84/A85.

Hope this helps!

Edited by Technomad on Friday 29th August 05:55

[Dyl]

Little update - I was up in Nairn over the weekend and took all of your suggestions on board.

On the way up I went A9 to Perth, then Blairgowrie, Braemar, lunch in Ballater, then on over The Lecht, Grantown on Spey and Nairn. Great roads, and the scenery amazing as expected.

I had the roof down most of the way, making good progress overtaking what little traffic I encountered. Really enjoyed getting a good flow on the many times I had the road to myself, with no comments from the OH (a win on its own). I was surprised at just how much I was stirring the 'box on the climbs to Glenshee and Lecht, the MX5 really lacks the easily accessible torque of my previous cars.

Came home today via A82 (Fort William, Glencoe, Crianlarich, west coast of Loch Lomond). Was a right PITA! Too much traffic, suicidal overtakers and loads of roadworks. Wish I had just gone home via the A9.

On the upside, that was my first time across Glencoe and Rannoch Moor. Very impressive, good to see a few helicopters flying around too.

No photos at all from the jouney(s) - battery died on the camera and I hadn't packed the charger.

Thanks again all for the input!

[FordMan1]

RedThree said:

Other option is to head for Perth then to Blairgowrie - Glenshee - Braemar - Corgarff - the Lecht - Tomintoul - Grantown on Spey - Nairn.
An awful lot fewer miles than the A82 but some proper driving roads.

Gratuitous recent photo just below the Pass of Glenshee;

Travelling to Nairn once a month for golf and a weekend away, this is the route I would recommend. It is unbeatable and I am normally doing it in an A6 barge!

[s2kjock]

FordMan1 said:

Travelling to Nairn once a month for golf and a weekend away, this is the route I would recommend. It is unbeatable and I am normally doing it in an A6 barge!

Take care in the winter months though - temperatures can fall very quickly high up, or in areas that don't get much sunlight. Gritting seems to be based on forecast temperatures which don't always end up being correct.

I wrote off a car a couple of years ago at the end of November at Glenshee after snowmelt running across the road on an otherwise dry and sunny day froze over in late afternoon as black ice. The road had not been gritted at all - it was not forecast to get below c 4 degrees c IIRC.

[bigblock]

As said above it is easy to get caught out in the winter months on the A93 with the rapid temperature drops in the evening.

It is also a major pain in the arse when you have driven 3hrs in moderate snow only to find that someone has decided to close the snow gates at Cockbridge when you are only 30 minutes from home and it is obvious that your granny with bald tyres could still drive up the hill.

Edited by bigblock on Wednesday 15th October 20:14