Scottish roads

[magpies]

Dalwhinnie to Spean Bridge then north on the A82 then west from Invergarry to A890 and on to Applecross - brilliant as long as you dont catch many campervans.

[hope2421]

Just returned from a 1300 mile £459 of fuel road trip around the Highlands, fantastic! more pics to follow :-)


Scotland 2012 174 by hope2421, on Flickr

Edited by hope2421 on Monday 12th March 18:12

[Nurburgsingh]

The timeliness of this thread is perfect, a friend of mine has just pointed out that he's covered 16km between his current and last MOT's !!

So in order to rectify this we're planning a trip to Scotland to put some miles on the cars.

The lose plan as it stands is to leave the midlands early doors and punt up the motorway to arrive in Scotland for breakfast on Friday.
Spend Friday driving around and head back not Glasgow for the evening.
Repeat the early start for driving around on Saturday and head towards (where??) for Saturday night,
So some early doors driving on Sunday take in some lunch somewhere nice
Drive home Sunday pm.

So the questions for you more knowledgeable on the north...

Does starting and finishing day 1 in Glasgow make sense? - there's some method in my madness, I'm taking the guys to Mr Singhs for a curry.

Where's good to stay in/around Glasgow with parking? I normally stay at citizen M when I go for work.
I think we might take in a whiskey tour at some point too...

Where is a good place to make base on Saturday night that allows access to good roads Sunday morning.

Any recommendations for a lunch stop on Sunday?.

How much road are we likely to cover in a weekend? We'll be travelling with a magazine photographer too so if anyone can suggest some particularly picturesque backdrops to capture the cars in that would also be great.

[Great Pretender]

GetCarter said:

Just returned from 120 mile Tesco trip and didn't happen upon a single car on my side of the road (the middle).

Bliss:

I seem to recall knocking vmaxing the GT3 on that stretch of road.

Good times.

[danyeates]

Hello,

Hoping Ill get a response in here, although Ive not ventured in here before!

Im off to Scotland tomorrow, all the way from Hampshire! Were flying up and hiring a boring hire car for the week. However, for just one day, Ive hired a Caterham! Oh yes! A real life Caterham to blast about in the Scottish Highlands for a whole day! I cannot wait! Its from these guys: http://www.highlandcaterhamhire.co.uk/

I want to make the most out of it, so where do I go? I have a 120 mile limit and I have the car for the whole day. I can go over the 120 miles, but its 0.60 per mile, so it will soon add up. Id like to within 200 miles ideally.

These are the routes that have been recommended to me, or that Ive put together myself on Google:

http://g.co/maps/rgt5p - 348 miles = 228 miles over the allowance = 136.80 (ouch!)

http://g.co/maps/6ep74 - 242 miles = 122 miles over the allowance = 73.20 (apparently this road is amazing!)

http://g.co/maps/qn7w9 - 197 miles = 77 miles over the allowance = 46.20

http://g.co/maps/egu2a - 154 miles = 34 miles over the allowance = 20.40

http://g.co/maps/qgwn8 - bang on 120 miles

So what are your thoughts? Where would you go? As we have a hire car for the rest of the trip, I can do the Loch Ness circuit another day and spend a bit more time out with my camera and things. Im thinking the Cairngorms might be the best all round trip. Its got some big hills and tight twisty roads and some open straight roads. Id love to do Skye or Applecross, but I think its going to be too far realisticly.

Thanks,

Dan

[GetCarter]

Sorry to be boring, it really depends on the weather. If it's pissing down and low clouds, there is little point going to Applecross in a Seven... if it's dry however!

Here's the road to Applecross in good weather in one of my Caterhams...

http://www.stevecarter.com/R5005.wmv

[danyeates]

GetCarter said:

Sorry to be boring, it really depends on the weather. If it's pissing down and low clouds, there is little point going to Applecross in a Seven... if it's dry however!

Here's the road to Applecross in good weather in one of my Caterhams...

http://www.stevecarter.com/R5005.wmv

Thanks. All I can saw is wow! Your photos are incredible. Especially of the Highlands. Can't wait to get up there and start taking some photos.

[Lancs Dave]

How are the repairs progressing to the road at Stromeferry?

I'm up there next month and if it's not open it will scupper my plans.

[GetCarter]

Lancs Dave said:

How are the repairs progressing to the road at Stromeferry?

I'm up there next month and if it's not open it will scupper my plans.

Ongoing is the word. If you're in a 'normal' car, you can get the free ferry (adds 30 mins - and actually is quite fun), but anything low slung will ground.

They *say* they are going to have the road open by Easter. Local pressure might force that. I'll post asap any info.

[Lancs Dave]

Many thanks, I'd appreciate that. The ferry is not an option for he cars coming with me. If it's open by Easter we'll be ok

[GetCarter]

Personally I doubt they'll finish by Easter - This is what they're up to > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlHO1qqH_sI

I'll post here when I know.

[a11y_m]

Steve, can you share any advice about the suitability of the "replacement road" along the railtracks for low-slung cars? I've got a trip coming up but not for a few weeks yet, just hoping we can manage that section otherwise it's a complete change of route to get to Applecross...

[GetCarter]

I've written to the chap that is organising this, but haven't heard back. They tried the rail thing about a month ago, but only for an hour a.m. and p.m.

Once he gets back, I'll let you know, and I'll also take the R8 down and see if the rail thing will take 'proper' cars.

[a11y_m]

GetCarter said:

I've written to the chap that is organising this, but haven't heard back. They tried the rail thing about a month ago, but only for an hour a.m. and p.m.

Once he gets back, I'll let you know, and I'll also take the R8 down and see if the rail thing will take 'proper' cars.

Thanks.

The BBC website today makes it sound like they're using the rails as a "proper" option at the moment: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-is...

[GetCarter]

a11y_m said:

GetCarter said:

I've written to the chap that is organising this, but haven't heard back. They tried the rail thing about a month ago, but only for an hour a.m. and p.m.

Once he gets back, I'll let you know, and I'll also take the R8 down and see if the rail thing will take 'proper' cars.

Thanks.

The BBC website today makes it sound like they're using the rails as a "proper" option at the moment: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-is...

Yep - they started today... apparently 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (then the work starts again at night). I know the loaned ferry has to go back to Fort William next week, so that can't continue.

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 19th March 16:22

[Red Devil]

Exactly one month to go for me. Won't be troubled by the A890 rockfall problem as we're not going to Kyle or Skye this year. Applecross will be reached from the east via A832/A890/A896. Then out via the coast road and GetCarter's home turf.

[Lancs Dave]

We leave on the 20th April and I'm leading a 10 car tour. I'll be disappointed if the road is closed as it will rule out a trip to Applecross for us. Sorting an alternative route wont be a problem though.

Whats your plans?

[Red Devil]

Lancs Dave said:

We leave on the 20th April and I'm leading a 10 car tour. I'll be disappointed if the road is closed as it will rule out a trip to Applecross for us. Sorting an alternative route wont be a problem though.

Whats your plans?

19th. Driving up to Dumbarton: meet up with the Scottish and Irish crews bringing the total to 16 cars.

20th. Dumbarton-Ullapool via Garelochhead, Inverary, Tyndrum, Fort William. Fort Augustus, Muir of Ord, Ullapool.

21st. Ullapool-Ullapool via Ledmore Junction, Lairg, Altnaharra, Eriboll, Durness, Kylesku, Drumbeg, Clachtoll, Inchnadamph, Ledmore, Ullapool.

22nd. Ullapool-Ullapool via Garve, Achnasheen, Tornapress, Applecross, Sheildaig, Kinlochewe, Gairloch, Gruinard, Braemore Junction, Ullapool.

23rd. Ullapool-Perth via Bonar Bridge, Culloden, Grantown, Tomintoul, The Cairnwell, Ballater, Braemar, Glenshee, Blairgowrie, Dunkeld, Perth.

24th. Driving back to the roads again.

What's your recipe?

[GetCarter]

LATEST

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Stromeferry bypass timetable amended to recognise withdrawal of early morning train to Kyle

From Monday 26 March, the early morning opening hours of the A 890 Lochcarron – Kyle road on the Stromeferry Bypass will be extended. This takes account of the pre-planned withdrawal of the early morning train between Strathcarron – Kyle, which was introduced last month to take pupils from Applecross, Kishorn and Lochcarron to Plockton High School in time for the start of the school day.

The road, which has been closed since 22 December following a landslide, will now be open under traffic lights, barrier, and convoy control between 7.10am until 10.30 am. Monday – Friday, This will allow pupils to travel to and from school by bus and road, instead of train, bus and passenger ferry.

The car and passenger ferries which have been providing emergency transport between Lochcarron and Stromeferry across the Strome narrows since early in January are being withdrawn after the last evening sailing on Friday 23 March.

The partial opening of the A 890 has been possible because of modification works to the railway track which allow road vehicles to share the railway track with trains under a traffic management system. This has allowed vehicles to be diverted on to the railway line at the location of the rockface stabilisation works. The diversion is designed for local traffic only and a 7.5 tonne weight restriction is being applied strictly.

The revised timetable when the road diversion will be open to vehicles is now as follows:-
Monday to Friday (0710 to 1030; 1135 to 1155; 1340 to 1420; 1610 to 1700; 1810 to 1900)
Saturday (0710 to 1030; 1340 to 1420; 1610 to 1700; 1810 to 1900)
Sunday (0710 to 1245; 1400 to 1505; 1615 to 1900).

[Lancs Dave]

Red Devil - we leave on Friday 20th staying in Pitlochry. Then Skye on Sat, Ullapool on Sunday (we might see you lot there). Ft Will Monday then home Tuesday. Our route will be affected if the road is still closed tho, but I have lots of other options being a regular visitor to the area.

Our cars are: M3 (me), Murcielago, F360, Boxster S, 911 C4S, Z4, Elise, R32 Skyline, VX220, S2000.

What you got?

Edited by Lancs Dave on Friday 23 March 18:06