Highlands

[mini1380cc]

A few shots from the weekend past.

[LeighW]

GetCarter said:

LeighW said:

Currently on day 5 of a 9 day camping trip in my T5 camper - first time out in it. Staying at a site in Balmacara for 3 nights, planning to go up to Applecross and, time permitting, maybe as far as Torridon tomorrow. If anyone's up there tomorrow, and you're held up by me, apologies in advance... By the way, this is Scotland, so how come I got sunburnt today!?

Edited by LeighW on Thursday 26th June 19:34

Just FYI the Extreme Celtman Triathlon starts in Torridon (Shieldaig actually) 5 a.m. on Saturday. You might either want to be here to watch, or avoid if you don't want the traffic.

I'd recommend you come this far. It's proper lovely here and the weather looks fine :0)

Well that was fun, a couple of entertaining moments on the way up to Applecross - managed to meet a 4×4 at a really narrow spot. Still, I didn't go over the edge, and the sticky toffee pudding at the Applecross Inn was worth the drive by itself! Then the coast road round to Shieldaig and Torridon before heading back. Sadly, grey skies and choppy water didn't make for good photos, but a great drive out none the less. You were right about Torridon; lots of triathletes arriving. Nutters...

[cat220]

mini1380cc said:

A few shots from the weekend past.

Love the Legacy!

[GetCarter]

LeighW said:

You were right about Torridon; lots of triathletes arriving. Nutters...

Indeed. 04:50 this morning:

[Major Floater]

http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r517/majorfloa...
http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r517/majorfloa...
http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r517/majorfloa...
http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r517/majorfloa...
http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r517/majorfloa...
http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r517/majorfloa...
http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r517/majorfloa...

Some of the recent trip pics, I was lucky with the weather for the whole day from Braemar to Shieldaig, highlights were the A836 from Lairg to Tongue which although single track is plenty quick enough in places and feels totally remote and the early evening run from Gairloch to Kinlochewe on the A832 was also entertaining, closed to other traffic and speed limits removed it seemed before some excellent hospitality in Shieldaig (Thank you Steve, you were 100% accurate about Tommy's, thoroughly enjoyable/entertaining!) Managed a quick spin up the Bealach and back and stayed dry until Fort William where I paid the price for the previous day's weather with depressing drizzle all the way to Ayr, pleased I got the best bits done in the dry though and overall a brilliant trip with plenty of awesomeness, scenery, roads and bike.

[Red Devil]

Major Floater said:

http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r517/majorfloa...
http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r517/majorfloa...
http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r517/majorfloa...
http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r517/majorfloa...
http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r517/majorfloa...
http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r517/majorfloa...
http://i1169.photobucket.com/albums/r517/majorfloa...

All very familiar.

A93 Glenshee looking north towards The Cairnwell
A939 above Bridge of Brown looking east
A836 looking south towards Altnaharra
A838 Loch Eriboll looking south
A832 looking north west towards An Teallach
A896 Liathach in Glen Torridon
A87 Eilan Donan Castle Loch Duich

Major Floater said:

highlights were the A836 from Lairg to Tongue which although single track is plenty quick enough in places and feels totally remote

+1 - perfect Impreza/Evo territory.

This bit looks inviting but the bridge in the middle distance hides a trap for the unwary.
Take it too quickly and you'll get air at the exact moment you have to change direction.

Edited by Red Devil on Sunday 29th June 06:29

[static2010]

mini1380cc said:

A few shots from the weekend past.

You should see the dam with the flood gates open!
Awesome sight!

[R8Steve]

Hi GetCarter - do you have a google maps link for your best drive in the uk?

I'm going to do a 7-10 day tour of the highlands next week but couldn't quite make out the place names on your map.

I'm looking to do something like the following - http://goo.gl/maps/qAdZI

I've not given any thought where to stop/stay/eat and will mostly decide that along the way. I'd like to have your thoughts on any places i really shouldn't miss along this rough route though.

[GetCarter]

You don't really need my map.. Between A and Q it's pretty much what I'd do. When you reach 'H', turn right and drive up the hill and back - Glen Docherty). Well worth it. After Q, I'm out of my suggested comfort zone. Done them all but not enough to comment with experience.

Have fun!

[JM]

After T, (unless you have time constraints)turn left at Inverness and head to Nairn, then take the A939~A93 south to Perth.

There are a couple of options for getting to Nairn on nicer roads than the A96 heading via Cawdor (of Macbeth fame) would be my preference.

[AdvocatusD]

I'm debating between two possible routes which I have attached below.

Are there any views on which the "better" route is? Pros and cons of both would be great! Essentially, the difference between the two is the route between the Dornie Hotel and Ulapool, with one hugging the coast all the way.

Thanks!

[GetCarter]

The bottom route adds about 90 mins. I'd do the top route but add Applercross in (same time as top route) ... or the bottom route adding Applecross if you have time.

[Red Devil]

JM said:

After T, (unless you have time constraints)turn left at Inverness and head to Nairn, then take the A939~A93 south to Perth.

There are a couple of options for getting to Nairn on nicer roads than the A96 heading via Cawdor (of Macbeth fame) would be my preference.

^^This^^

Definitely via Cawdor rather than Nairn - B9006/B9091/B9090/B9101 to the A939.
Then A93/B950/A924 to Pitlochry.

An alternative would be to divert from the A939 south of Grantown-on-Spey onto the B970
Follow it all the way (to Kingussie). Then A86/A889/A9/B8079/B8019/A924 to Pitlochry.
I suggested the B970 to a previous poster who found it to their liking.

The point being to stay away from the A9 south of Inverness as much as possible.
As said above, unless time is a factor there is very little to recommend it.

GetCarter said:

The bottom route adds about 90 mins. I'd do the top route but add Applercross in (same time as top route) ... or the bottom route adding Applecross if you have time.

I would use the route that R8Steve posted.
Not forgetting the short detour up to the Glen Docherty viewpoint.
Turn right in Kinlochewe (waypoint H).

[AdvocatusD]

Red Devil said:

I would use the route that R8Steve posted.
Not forgetting the short detour up to the Glen Docherty viewpoint.
Turn right in Kinlochewe (waypoint H).

Thanks for this.

Are these roads "quick" roads with decent road surfaces and visibility? Streetview seems to indicate they are quite narrow?

Is the main reason for doing the Applecross peninsula the views?

[GetCarter]

Top pic is road to Applecross (as are several others - snow ones) http://www.stevecarter.com/picaday/roads.htm

Some of the roads are narrow, single track, others are VERY fast.

Vid going up the road to applecross: http://SteveCarter.com/r5005.wmv (2300 feet climb in a few miles)

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 1st July 13:40

[AdvocatusD]

Hi Steve, what I've done in the past is the route to Applecross and then turned around and come back. Those roads were fun, but badly surfaced and not quite what we'd call quick. Do you agree or have things changed?

If it gets better after Applecross itself, I'm happy to give it a pop!

[GetCarter]

AdvocatusD said:

Hi Steve, what I've done in the past is the route to Applecross and then turned around and come back. Those roads were fun, but badly surfaced and not quite what we'd call quick. Do you agree or have things changed?

If it gets better after Applecross itself, I'm happy to give it a pop!

It's only quick if you do it at 5 am on a sunday... and even then you'd have trouble reaching the NSL. If its speed you're after your route via Garve is the one to go for. It is proper quick.

This taken on Saturday (Triathlon) between Lochcarron and Achnasheen.

[Red Devil]

GetCarter said:

...between Lochcarron and Achnasheen.

From here to here probably the fastest stretch of two lane blacktop in the entire Highlands. So I'm told.

Closely followed by the section from that roundabout to here.

Rannoch Moor comes close but has much more traffic. A couple of HGVs and you end up at the a**e end of a camel train.

[AdvocatusD]

Red Devil said:

GetCarter said:

...between Lochcarron and Achnasheen.

From here to here probably the fastest stretch of two lane blacktop in the entire Highlands. So I'm told.

Closely followed by the section from that roundabout to here.

Rannoch Moor comes close but has much more traffic. A couple of HGVs and you end up at the a**e end of a camel train.

Thanks both. I'm not looking to do massive speeds. It's just that the Applecross road from memory had to be done at 20 - 30 mph a lot of time due to the quality of the roads/narrowness and traffic. That wasn't fun unless it is just the scenery you're after. We're really just looking enjoy fun roads that can be enjoyed at the NSL and some nice twisties. A long straight line doesn't pose much of a challenge and can be licence endangering!

Edited by AdvocatusD on Tuesday 1st July 15:40

[GetCarter]

Glen Docherty is fun, though you can't do it at NSL I'm afraid. It's against common sense. Between Achnasheen and Kinlochewe: