Discussion
Spent the last 5 days or so in and around Inverness visiting family, managed to squeeze in a day's drive thankfully. No Lotus unlike a couple of years ago, had to settle for a gutless 1.6 Astra hire car (contrary to popular belief hire cars are not the fastest vehicles on the planet 
) and I managed to drive a couple of roads I didn't get around to previously, the A836 and the A897. Both single-track not that you'd guess by the names!
Here's a few shots from the A836, preferred that road over the A897.
) and I managed to drive a couple of roads I didn't get around to previously, the A836 and the A897. Both single-track not that you'd guess by the names!Here's a few shots from the A836, preferred that road over the A897.
I've been reading through this post and others. My rough itinerary so far for trip. Any suggestions on POI or things I'm missing out?
Day 1
Drive to Glecoe stay locally. Don’t go to THAT bar again in Fort William.
Day 2
Drive to Torridon + Bealach na ba pass. Don’t fall off.
Day 3
Get in Kayak at Torridon. Try not to drown.
Drive to Ullapool – stay locally
Day 4
Drive to Durness
Smoo Cave – Get in boat, look at cave.
Day 5
Drive to Thurso/John 0’groates. Take obligatory photo. Perhaps don cycle gear and pretend I’ve completed Lejog. Post to facebook, raising money for charity in the process.
Day 6
Chill somewhere in the area, work way south a bit? - Helmsdale?
Day 7
Leave for Dunfermline. Stay with relatives overnight.
Day 8
Bugger off home.
Day 1
Drive to Glecoe stay locally. Don’t go to THAT bar again in Fort William.
Day 2
Drive to Torridon + Bealach na ba pass. Don’t fall off.
Day 3
Get in Kayak at Torridon. Try not to drown.
Drive to Ullapool – stay locally
Day 4
Drive to Durness
Smoo Cave – Get in boat, look at cave.
Day 5
Drive to Thurso/John 0’groates. Take obligatory photo. Perhaps don cycle gear and pretend I’ve completed Lejog. Post to facebook, raising money for charity in the process.
Day 6
Chill somewhere in the area, work way south a bit? - Helmsdale?
Day 7
Leave for Dunfermline. Stay with relatives overnight.
Day 8
Bugger off home.
Day 3- suggest drive to Keoldale (a mile WSW of Durness) and get boat and then minibus to Cape Wrath; the loneliest road in the wildest part of the UK I have ever been . One vehicle uses it - the minibus. Scenery awe inspiring- as I will remind myself in two days time . I'm the old git in the Seven.
Edited by coppice on Wednesday 21st May 20:10
Who me said:
RD- I'd no doubt once I'd seen it. I can almost visualise the scenary both side of the road, and if memory serves, there's a dirt road leading into a field and possibly a bridge over the river. The road is at least 50% wider than when I first drove it.
Here? The river is only a tiny tributary of the Nevis though. That's further down beyond the line of trees.Red Devil said:
Who me said:
RD- I'd no doubt once I'd seen it. I can almost visualise the scenary both side of the road, and if memory serves, there's a dirt road leading into a field and possibly a bridge over the river. The road is at least 50% wider than when I first drove it.
Here? The river is only a tiny tributary of the Nevis though. That's further down beyond the line of trees.CraigFG said:
I've been reading through this post and others. My rough itinerary so far for trip. Any suggestions on POI or things I'm missing out?
Day 1
Drive to Glecoe stay locally. Dont go to THAT bar again in Fort William.
Go to the Clachaig Inn. Best keep away from the top shelf; more than 100 malts!Day 1
Drive to Glecoe stay locally. Dont go to THAT bar again in Fort William.
CraigFG said:
Day 2
Drive to Torridon + Bealach na ba pass. Dont fall off.
Day 5
Drive to Thurso/John 0groates.
Go to Duncansby Head for the true farthest North experience.Drive to Torridon + Bealach na ba pass. Dont fall off.
Day 5
Drive to Thurso/John 0groates.
Who me said:
Nevis has a tributary ?-pray tell. it's not at any point the widest of rivers, or the deepest.
I was using the dictionary definition. 
Tributary = a stream that flows to a larger stream or other body of water.
That's any stream btw. Size is irrelevant. The Nevis, like most Highland rivers has a great many (over 50: most of them quite short) as a look at the map will confirm.
Who me said:
Nevis has a tributary ?-pray tell. it's not at any point the widest of rivers, or the deepest.
It's not particularly long either but if you catch it in the right mood full of spring snow melt or after rain it is pretty fearsome especially in the upper gorge.The major tributaries of The water of Nevis are beyond the road end. The most spectacular being Allt Coire a Mhail with the waterfall where the walkers and climbers go to play on the three-wire "Bridge of Doom" at Steall.
Edited by OvalOwl on Saturday 24th May 09:05
[quote=Who me ?] Nevis has a tributary ?-pray tell. it's not at any point the widest of rivers, or the deepest. There is one large pool opposite Claggan, close to the old road bridge, where half the kids in Claggan used to go to jump in off the trees. (And no doubt still do ).
The gravel track off the road in the goole maps pic is mainly used by mountain rescue - a field where they can land the helicopter.Red Devil said:
Who me said:
RD- I'd no doubt once I'd seen it. I can almost visualise the scenary both side of the road, and if memory serves, there's a dirt road leading into a field and possibly a bridge over the river. The road is at least 50% wider than when I first drove it.
Here? The river is only a tiny tributary of the Nevis though. That's further down beyond the line of trees.River Nevis - also famous for a raft race each summer that usually is mayhem.
you could try the other end of Fort William ,though I'd doubt if you will get much speed up ( lundravra- Blarmafoldach). There's also the Banavie -Gairloch - Spean road, and the B roads from Fort Augustus to Inverness. Lochailort - Glenfinnan is fun, as it was designed as a 40 two lane in the 50's and has a lot of nasty cambers ,tight curves and undulating surface. Far side of loch Linnhe , and on to STRONTIAN and up to meet the newer section of the A861 to end up in Lochailort . First two bit is not much better than single, though Corran to Strontian is a nice bit of road, Salen to Kinlochmoidart is not much more than single ,but the last bit is sweeping curves etc. and if the tide is right, a tidal island, Eilan Shona to visit- I've been there once and it's stunning scenery.But the creme de la creme is out of bounds, Strontian - Scotstown - almost Glenfinnan. A forestry track ,with views of Loch Shiel to kill for , but the gate at the Kinlochiel end is locked. But it's only 15 mile .Again , if you like a challenge there's lots of bits of the old A830 ( now B8008) looping in and out of the A830. You could try these and wonder how in the 60's with cross plys /RWD and BMC A series engines, some of us could do 48 miles of this in about an hour. Then again- there's a lot of testing roads just past Corran ferry,on the ARGYLL peninsular. I've driven most of them -in my past life as yer PO Telephone engineer, coming ( with my installer hat on ) to install your phone, or ( with my faultsman hat on ) to fix the fault or (with my multi radio services hat on ) to keep tabs on the Argyl - Mull- Lochaber radio coms links.
GetCarter said:
Don't know where that is, but there are dozens like it round here. As for twisties... depends how twisty you want. Very hard to get to the NSL on the Applecross 'ring'
If you want to do this, best do it at 5 a.m. (Empty)... though watch out for deer and sheep.
Whit a stoater o a pichter mannie.If you want to do this, best do it at 5 a.m. (Empty)... though watch out for deer and sheep.
New Cafe just opened in Diabaig if you're up this way: http://stevecarter.com/random/GB.htm
Good road to it too:
Good road to it too:
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