Highlands for a week in April - what to do and where to stay

[Col 666]

Dont bother with John'o'Groats...its crap.

[whirligig]

Well, after staying your initial night in Inverness I would be very tempted to head west. You mention Fort William and Kyle (of Lochalsh) but for me these are two places that I would not want to be based - although the surrounding scenery is great. Much nicer by far are Ullapool, Gairloch, Lochcarron or Plockton - the latter 2 a good base if you want to include the Isle of Skye in your itinerary.

Things to suggest to do as a couple has me scratching my head a bit - my family is all up there so my heading to the Highlands is done from a different angle - but generally I would say just to enjoy the views, the slow pace and certainly the odd walk. You can generally park up anywhere and go where you fancy.

I know you are not on a driving holiday as such but even in a hire car you will appreciate the empty roads (check out Getcarter's profile for more info and phots on this) which are generally in good nick. There are plenty holiday cottages around and The Torridon Hotel, Three Chimneys (in Skye) and Applecross Inn are all nice for a night. April is a good time to visit as the weather can be good (but very unpredictable) and more importantly, before the dreaded midgies appear!

Oh - and don't bother with J O'Groats - massive disappointment.

[mcgus]

whirligig said:

Well, after staying your initial night in Inverness I would be very tempted to head west. You mention Fort William and Kyle (of Lochalsh) but for me these are two places that I would not want to be based - although the surrounding scenery is great. Much nicer by far are Ullapool, Gairloch, Lochcarron or Plockton - the latter 2 a good base if you want to include the Isle of Skye in your itinerary.

Things to suggest to do as a couple has me scratching my head a bit - my family is all up there so my heading to the Highlands is done from a different angle - but generally I would say just to enjoy the views, the slow pace and certainly the odd walk. You can generally park up anywhere and go where you fancy.

I know you are not on a driving holiday as such but even in a hire car you will appreciate the empty roads (check out Getcarter's profile for more info and phots on this) which are generally in good nick. There are plenty holiday cottages around and The Torridon Hotel, Three Chimneys (in Skye) and Applecross Inn are all nice for a night. April is a good time to visit as the weather can be good (but very unpredictable) and more importantly, before the dreaded midgies appear!

Oh - and don't bother with J O'Groats - massive disappointment.

the man speaks sense

NOt much to add to this. He has hit the nail on the proverbial if you are intending to fly into Inverness. Head up from Lochcarron over the Bealach na Ba to Applecross, on to Sheildaig, Ullapool and see how you are doing.

[joncastle]

Hmm, John O'Groats - tourist trap. But... ..the drive up us pretty good, especially if you take the detour over Struie Hill instead of through Evanton. And when you do get to J O'G turn right instead of left, and go out to Duncansby Head, the real 'top right hand corner' of Scotland. Here, the Pentland Firth meets the North Sea, and it can be tumultuous. Look south and you'll see the Stacks of Duncansby, truly spectacular on a windy day.

Now head west, and take the road to Dunnet Head, the true northernmost point on the British mainland. Again, spectacular sea cliffs, and on a good day you can see clear across to Cape Wrath.

Keep going West - once you get past Reay and into Sutherland the roads will make even the humblest hire car more interesting. Still some single track with passing places, and a lovely succession of small villages. Beyond Tongue the scenery is awesome and very sparsely populated, so press on until you get to Lochinver. Plenty of good, friendly and inexp B&Bs, but not many hotels. Petrol is eyewatering. Turn left at Cape Wrath.

Now you're going South and into GetCarter country.

Basically anywhere north and west of Inverness is worth a look - it's the last true wilderness in the UK, and an awesome place to explore. Enjoy!

Jon

[VetteG]

joncastle said:

Hmm, John O'Groats - tourist trap. But... ..the drive up us pretty good, especially if you take the detour over Struie Hill instead of through Evanton. And when you do get to J O'G turn right instead of left, and go out to Duncansby Head, the real 'top right hand corner' of Scotland. Here, the Pentland Firth meets the North Sea, and it can be tumultuous. Look south and you'll see the Stacks of Duncansby, truly spectacular on a windy day.

Now head west, and take the road to Dunnet Head, the true northernmost point on the British mainland. Again, spectacular sea cliffs, and on a good day you can see clear across to Cape Wrath.

Keep going West - once you get past Reay and into Sutherland the roads will make even the humblest hire car more interesting. Still some single track with passing places, and a lovely succession of small villages. Beyond Tongue the scenery is awesome and very sparsely populated, so press on until you get to Lochinver. Plenty of good, friendly and inexp B&Bs, but not many hotels. Petrol is eyewatering. Turn left at Cape Wrath.

Now you're going South and into GetCarter country.

Basically anywhere north and west of Inverness is worth a look - it's the last true wilderness in the UK, and an awesome place to explore. Enjoy!

Jon

I agree,
The road Noth from Inverness is one of my favourites, Detween Helmsdale and Wich you have the spectacular Berridale Brae's, going west from Rae and Melvich (Melvich Hotel) you have the spectacular Smoo cave as well which is worth a visit. The county side south of Cape Wrath is some of the best in UK.

G

[Stang]

This will be coming up on either the 12th or 19th of April if you are interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLfTM4zzpBE

If you wanted something a bit different to hire then try this place. They used to have Boxters but were having a change out of fleet recently

http://www.focusvehiclerental.co.uk/fleet.php

Would you rather hotel or rent a place yourslef? Friend has holiday home's in Inverness http://www.blackpark.co.uk/ or if you are looking for somewhere smaller a know of a 2 bedroom holiday home right next door to me. Website VERY easy to find That's if it's not full of revellers from the highland hoon

Hope this helps
Avril

[naetype]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Why not fly up to Glasgow instead and take the train along the West Highland Line, and you'll then see what your dad was so taken with, up to Fort William. I would suggest going all the way on the train to Mallaig but I'd be surprised if you could get a rental car there. However if you do go this way just use Fort Bill as a stopover; it really is a carbuncle on the face of the Highlands.

From there if you want to still head up to Inverness then head out to Spean Bridge and turn right across Laggan over to Kingussie and up the A9. Lovely drive so make sure you don't forget your camera. There is a beach there that on a sunny day wouldn't look out of place in the Caribbean.

The rest is as they say; any part of the Highlands can take your breath away at any time of year. Have a look at GetCarter's website for some inspiration.

Edited by naetype on Wednesday 13th February 10:14

[joncastle]

naetype said:

Why not fly up to Glasgow instead and take the train along the West Highland Line, and you'll then see what your dad was so taken with, up to Fort William. I would suggest going all the way on the train to Mallaig but I'd be surprised if you could get a rental car there. However if you do go this way just use Fort Bill as a stopover; it really is a carbuncle on the face of the Highlands. From there if you want to still head up to Inverness then head out to Spean Bridge and turn right across Laggan over to Kingussie and up the A9. Lovely drive so make sure you don't forget your camera. There is a beach there that on a sunny day wouldn't look out of place in the Caribbean. The rest is as they say; any part of the Highlands can take your breath away at any time of year. Have a look at GetCarter's website for some inspiration.

Ahh well, if you're going that way...

Eating out near Inverness? One of Scotland's truly great hotels is Auchendean Lodge, at Nethy Bridge just north of Aviemore - it's a small, Edwardian hunting lodge and the food is just amazing, Also heard good reports of The Dower House at Muir of Ord. On the other side, The Pierhouse at Port Appin (just north of Oban) is a personal favourite. Avoid the more famous Airds Hotel at all costs. Mallaig is fun (and a great road from Fort William too), and there's Arisaig House (v. posh) and the Arisaig Inn on the way. Ardnamurchan's worth a drive, to the westmost point on the mainland while you're there. The Old Inn at Gairloch is nice, and there are plenty of others on the west coast. Good food and good fun - The Ceilidh Place in Ullapool.

Jon

Edited by joncastle on Wednesday 13th February 10:33

[VetteG]

joncastle said:

Good food and good fun - The Ceilidh Place in Ullapool.

Jon

I can vouch for here, stayed several times over the years. Run by Jean Urqhart and her daughters, Jeans husband was the Actor Robert Urqhart, sadly now deceased. It s very different kind of place, as Jon says great fun and great food!

G

[Reidy10_0]

The west coast is the wetest but the most stunning coast.
Head south from Inverness along loch ness through drumnadrochet (lochness visitor centre) to fort Augustus and on to fort William.
In fort William you should eat at the Cranog restraunt, it is easy to spot it as it is on stilts in the sea loch.
I would then head back towards Inverness but cut off for Skye for the day.
Eilean donan castle is well worth the diversion.

lots of B&B's all over the place.

http://www.eileandonancastle.com/

[GetCarter]

As mentioned above... West Coast - anywhere between Oban in the south and Durness up top.

This is where I live: www.Torridon.org (about half way between those two). I highly recommend www.Torridon.com (hotel) for your posh night - keeps winning best hotel in the Highlands - food is stunning, veiws equally so.

Steve

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 14th February 15:20

[RainerM]

Evening everybody,

We migth do a similar trip later this year, for me personally there are great souvenirs, as I used more or less one set of tyres per trip in my (then)
Sierra 4x4 and Cossie 4x4, the problem is when I am reading the Forum,
I am rather shocked by all the cameras in the UK,(despite being in Norfolk
last year), Scotland, fond memories, personally the Hebrides were top,nice weather,lots of midgets,lots of drunken people in Stornoway on a Friday...
and a dead island on a Sunday, the hit was meeting the only chap owning
a Sierra 4x4 around Stornoway,

...Scotland here we come (again :-))))

Rainer-CH and Dot

[cj_eds]

100% agree with joncastle - go up the A9 North just to do the Berriedale Braes if nothing else! See here:
http://www.alanmoar.flyer.co.uk/Caithness/Berrieda...
to put them in perspective, those hairpins are on a 1 in 7 gradient. The road out of Inverness up to Tain is pretty boring. Around Helmsdale, Brora, Golspie and Portgower there's some good fun twisty sections that you don't need to be going fast for to enjoy.

See the Stacks of Duncansby too (spoiler photo! http://www.alanmoar.flyer.co.uk/Caithness/Duncansb...

Caithness is pretty flat, really good scenery is in Sutherland and Ross & Cromarty. If you can, get the train/flight to Glasgow or Edinburgh. If you don't fancy northo's prestige car hire (Livingston) then hire a car from there and drive up the A82, taking in the best easily accessible scenery Scotland has to offer.

Trains North of Inverness are few and far between too, every 3 or 4 hours I think, because they take 3-4 hours to do whats a 2hr drive to Thurso/Wick.

[Reidy10_0]

The Berriedale Braes?
Is that the road to caithness where they put gravel bed run out areas for the lorries?
I have driven past a couple of times, i would not get to excited about that, but each to there own.

[cj_eds]

Reidy10_0 said:

The Berriedale Braes?
Is that the road to caithness where they put gravel bed run out areas for the lorries?
I have driven past a couple of times, i would not get to excited about that, but each to there own.

All depends whether you're used to driving interesting roads all year round, or driving crappy boring congested dual carriageways and straight old Roman roads...

If its the latter (like me) then it makes Berriedale an interesting series of bends.

[naetype]

Reidy10_0 said:

........
In fort William you should eat at the Cranog restraunt, it is easy to spotavoid it as it is on stilts in the sea loch.
...........

ETA

There's a very short section of d/c passing by there. Make use of it.

BTW Given the mild winter we've had then the midgies may make an early appearance en masse. The best protection is Avon's Skin-So-Soft, it's the only thing to keep them at bay. Honestly.

There are a coupe of deet, and similar, based products but they all turn bits of you numb if you don't apply them carefully and I have deep reservations about the chemicals used.

[stevenr]

there is nothing special about the berriedale braes.at best you get stuck behind a lorry at crawling speeds.great fun!however,i grew up in brora and can honestly say its a beautiful part of the country(if you're into hills and sheep)
i grew up here though so dont really appreciate whats on my doorstep i suppose.
east or west im sure you'll enjoy yourself.

[duka]

joncastle said:

Basically anywhere north and west of Inverness is worth a look - it's the last true wilderness in the UK, and an awesome place to explore. Enjoy!
Jon

100% agree

Visit Falls of Shin; Dunrobin Castle, Dornoch, view from top of the hill at Nigg etc etc

good photos of some great places http://www.northernsights.net/about-fs.html

[cj_eds]

duka said:

Falls of Shin

Yip, you can impress your lady by buying her stuff from the Harrod's there!

[getitupya]

If your looking for places to eat in Inverness, try "the River cafe and Restaurant" on Bank Street, or Cafe 1 opposite the Castle on Castle Street. A good pub just 50 yard from Cafe 1 is the Castle Tavern.

Lots of pretensious restaurants have opened up on the riverside, Peat by the Bridge, overrated and priced, The Kitchen...fine if you like getting jammed in like sardines,and listening to loud obnoxious patrons, The Mustard Seed, ok, but staff can be a bit up there own backsides. Rockpool, nice, but get ready for a good wallet bashing.

Just my opinions, but I do eat out a lot in Inverness...

Agree with all the comments about the roads! My fav route is south on A82 to Invermorriston, head out the Skye road A887, take the left to Invergarry A87, right onto A82 at Invergarry, left at Spean Bridge to Newtonmore A86, then if your mnd is frazzled with the last 100 miles of bendy roads, back up the A9 to Inverness. If your wanting more follow the whiskey trail through Speyside and back along the A96 to Inverness.