Discussion
quiraing said:
What's general PH opinion of Skye??
The road to Portree from Kyle is heaving in tourist season and poor quality.Out of season some lovely places and roads, especially down the west side of the island.
It wouldn't be high on my list for a driving hoon but I like visiting for other reasons.
quiraing said:
What's general PH opinion of Skye??
As said, go in the spring and you'll be fine. The road to Dunvegan is great for spirited progress - http://goo.gl/XNjbUUWe had it all to ourselves in April last year. Take the A850 back to the A87 then head up to Uig.
From there head over the mountain to Staffin. Given your username you have no choice! - http://goo.gl/PuV3t8
Also the B8083 to Elgol - http://goo.gl/09GGl2
The west coast has quite a few dead end roads to remote bay/headlands if you want some solitude.
Edited by Red Devil on Wednesday 11th February 23:07
ianrb said:
quiraing said:
What's general PH opinion of Skye??
Great place for both mountains and roads.Go in spring or autumn to avoid the crowds of tourists and midges.
Roads have improved greatly over the past 10 yrs. I particularly enjoy the road north from Portree up to Flodigarry. It's still largely single track with passing places. And sheep.
There's a single track between Ullinish and Portree which is a bit interesting at speed (the "rollercoaster").
Drive safely :-)
In May I'm coming up to Edinburgh to visit an old friend and had thought that while there I might take in the Highlands to see if they had improved.
Finding it difficult to find hotels with secure parking that were nothing short of extortionate, I have decided to abandon the idea and do a quick in and out of Scotland in the Pug instead.
Finding it difficult to find hotels with secure parking that were nothing short of extortionate, I have decided to abandon the idea and do a quick in and out of Scotland in the Pug instead.
Don't know if it's secure, but it's remote - http://www.kingshousehotel.co.uk/. BUT I can't comment on the access road. Last time I was there was in a van,over a different road to that shown on Google maps.
If you are going to the Highlands - especially North of the Great Glen , where the best roads are, I really wouldn't be remotely concerned about finding hotels with secure parking . I have travelled up there since the 80s and have never had any cause for concern about car security. It's not exactly crime city up there.
Theft is less of a worry for me. Vandalism is. There are always those sorts of knobs around wherever you are.
The problems are hotels with secure parking in Edinburgh and decent hotels in Scotland that are not rip off prices.
Two years ago we stayed in a hotel in Ft. William (£100 a night). The upholstery on some of the seating in the bar area was ripped. The carpet was badly stained. And the only wifi was in the immediate area of reception which became crammed.
On the same trip, we stayed at a hotel in Eyemouth in order to see the Jim Clark museum the next day. The carpet in the room was a trip hazard, the smoke detector was yellow and full of flies, the landing exit was partially blocked by a settee and the fire extinguishers were at the bottom of the stair case which was the central and only exit. We did complain - nothing was done. We asked for a reduction on the bill - they refused. I made a complaint to trading standards, the local council and the fire department. They were investigated, fined and forced to make changes.
What amazes me is that Scottish hotels seem to get away with charging outlandish prices for what at best is mediocre.
The problems are hotels with secure parking in Edinburgh and decent hotels in Scotland that are not rip off prices.
Two years ago we stayed in a hotel in Ft. William (£100 a night). The upholstery on some of the seating in the bar area was ripped. The carpet was badly stained. And the only wifi was in the immediate area of reception which became crammed.
On the same trip, we stayed at a hotel in Eyemouth in order to see the Jim Clark museum the next day. The carpet in the room was a trip hazard, the smoke detector was yellow and full of flies, the landing exit was partially blocked by a settee and the fire extinguishers were at the bottom of the stair case which was the central and only exit. We did complain - nothing was done. We asked for a reduction on the bill - they refused. I made a complaint to trading standards, the local council and the fire department. They were investigated, fined and forced to make changes.
What amazes me is that Scottish hotels seem to get away with charging outlandish prices for what at best is mediocre.
Zed 44 said:
Theft is less of a worry for me. Vandalism is. There are always those sorts of knobs around wherever you are.
The problems are hotels with secure parking in Edinburgh and decent hotels in Scotland that are not rip off prices.
Two years ago we stayed in a hotel in Ft. William (£100 a night). The upholstery on some of the seating in the bar area was ripped. The carpet was badly stained. And the only wifi was in the immediate area of reception which became crammed.
On the same trip, we stayed at a hotel in Eyemouth in order to see the Jim Clark museum the next day. The carpet in the room was a trip hazard, the smoke detector was yellow and full of flies, the landing exit was partially blocked by a settee and the fire extinguishers were at the bottom of the stair case which was the central and only exit. We did complain - nothing was done. We asked for a reduction on the bill - they refused. I made a complaint to trading standards, the local council and the fire department. They were investigated, fined and forced to make changes.
What amazes me is that Scottish hotels seem to get away with charging outlandish prices for what at best is mediocre.
It's true there are some real dogs in the Highlands. We have two locally, one is utter rubbish, the other was voted 13th best in the world by The Times last year, beating everything in England. It's currently doing dinner bed and breakfast for £99 per person. That's seven course fine dining.... here:The problems are hotels with secure parking in Edinburgh and decent hotels in Scotland that are not rip off prices.
Two years ago we stayed in a hotel in Ft. William (£100 a night). The upholstery on some of the seating in the bar area was ripped. The carpet was badly stained. And the only wifi was in the immediate area of reception which became crammed.
On the same trip, we stayed at a hotel in Eyemouth in order to see the Jim Clark museum the next day. The carpet in the room was a trip hazard, the smoke detector was yellow and full of flies, the landing exit was partially blocked by a settee and the fire extinguishers were at the bottom of the stair case which was the central and only exit. We did complain - nothing was done. We asked for a reduction on the bill - they refused. I made a complaint to trading standards, the local council and the fire department. They were investigated, fined and forced to make changes.
What amazes me is that Scottish hotels seem to get away with charging outlandish prices for what at best is mediocre.
I'm in London next week. Same price for a box and no evening meal.
As for vandelism... can't speak for Ft William - but never have any here. Plenty of drink driving mind!
Some Highland hotels are ..ermm..idiosyncratic and if you expect big city standards you won't always get them . But some are superb - Eddrachilles up in Sutherland is a recent favourite and the Altnaharra Hotel an old one. And don't fret about vandalism - it really is a very different place up there to anywhere else in UK .I have never heard of anybody experiencing anything unpleasant at all in the Highlands of that nature.
With reference to vandalism, I was thinking more of Edinburgh. The £99 deal does sound good but it is February.
Here is a link to a hotel I booked in June.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/parador-de-turismo...
Most of the 12 other hotels I booked on the trip are in the £40 to £60 range and are very nice. It's quite easy to find decent comfortable no frills hotels for as little as £20 odd. Compared to rates I've seen in Scotland, I could practically pay for the ferry with the savings.
Here is a link to a hotel I booked in June.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/parador-de-turismo...
Most of the 12 other hotels I booked on the trip are in the £40 to £60 range and are very nice. It's quite easy to find decent comfortable no frills hotels for as little as £20 odd. Compared to rates I've seen in Scotland, I could practically pay for the ferry with the savings.
Zed 44 said:
With reference to vandalism, I was thinking more of Edinburgh. The £99 deal does sound good but it is February.
Here is a link to a hotel I booked in June.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/parador-de-turismo...
Most of the 12 other hotels I booked on the trip are in the £40 to £60 range and are very nice. It's quite easy to find decent comfortable no frills hotels for as little as £20 odd. Compared to rates I've seen in Scotland, I could practically pay for the ferry with the savings.
To be fair that's not specific to Scotland, that's the case across the UK.Here is a link to a hotel I booked in June.
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/parador-de-turismo...
Most of the 12 other hotels I booked on the trip are in the £40 to £60 range and are very nice. It's quite easy to find decent comfortable no frills hotels for as little as £20 odd. Compared to rates I've seen in Scotland, I could practically pay for the ferry with the savings.
GetCarter said:
As for vandelism... can't speak for Ft William - but never have any here. Plenty of drink driving mind!
Fort William has never struck me as representative of the Highlands.It's the only place up there where I have ever encountered a traffic jam.
Everywhere else, I seldom see more than a handful of cars and the occasional postie's van.
Of course it helps that I deliberately time my visits to avoid any tourists and the midges!
As a change from Skye, (although doing camping/munros/Skye driving in april or may), we're planning on visiting Orkney this year. First time visit and tour, probably ferry from abdn with our own car.
Looking forward to visit and to meeting Orcadians.
Appreciate this may be posted in wrong site but can any PH-Orkney-clan or PHers with experience of Orkney recommend accomodation, alternative ferrys, essential places to visit,etc. Thx.
Looking forward to visit and to meeting Orcadians.
Appreciate this may be posted in wrong site but can any PH-Orkney-clan or PHers with experience of Orkney recommend accomodation, alternative ferrys, essential places to visit,etc. Thx.
Hi everyone. So after a few evenings of quite enjoyable road research, a lot through this thread, I've come up with a very grand tour of the highlands I hope. I'd be really interested to know what the wealth of knowledge of some of the local guys on here think about it.
I'm probably already at the top end for driving time (I've got 5 days including travel from the midlands, but comfortable with 8 hours driving a day as have done it before), so could probably do with trimming it a little to give us more chance to get out absorb the beauty, not just look through the windows.
Any comments on anything I've missed, or which bits I could cut, or definitely should keep? I'll probably be doing this in my 350Z, or if I'm lucky I may borrow something even quicker (but lower), so I'm wondering if some of the single track roads may be a tad too bumpy to enjoy?
I've planned it all on Furkot, which is great for allowing me loads of points, but a bit useless for showing you guys, so I'm hoping the picture attached is clear enough!
Thanks in advance!!
I'm probably already at the top end for driving time (I've got 5 days including travel from the midlands, but comfortable with 8 hours driving a day as have done it before), so could probably do with trimming it a little to give us more chance to get out absorb the beauty, not just look through the windows.
Any comments on anything I've missed, or which bits I could cut, or definitely should keep? I'll probably be doing this in my 350Z, or if I'm lucky I may borrow something even quicker (but lower), so I'm wondering if some of the single track roads may be a tad too bumpy to enjoy?
I've planned it all on Furkot, which is great for allowing me loads of points, but a bit useless for showing you guys, so I'm hoping the picture attached is clear enough!
Thanks in advance!!
danpollard said:
Hi everyone. So after a few evenings of quite enjoyable road research, a lot through this thread, I've come up with a very grand tour of the highlands I hope. I'd be really interested to know what the wealth of knowledge of some of the local guys on here think about it.
I'm probably already at the top end for driving time (I've got 5 days including travel from the midlands, but comfortable with 8 hours driving a day as have done it before), so could probably do with trimming it a little to give us more chance to get out absorb the beauty, not just look through the windows.
Any comments on anything I've missed, or which bits I could cut, or definitely should keep? I'll probably be doing this in my 350Z, or if I'm lucky I may borrow something even quicker (but lower), so I'm wondering if some of the single track roads may be a tad too bumpy to enjoy?
I've planned it all on Furkot, which is great for allowing me loads of points, but a bit useless for showing you guys, so I'm hoping the picture attached is clear enough!
Thanks in advance!!
6 posts 104 months, wow! Top lurking!I'm probably already at the top end for driving time (I've got 5 days including travel from the midlands, but comfortable with 8 hours driving a day as have done it before), so could probably do with trimming it a little to give us more chance to get out absorb the beauty, not just look through the windows.
Any comments on anything I've missed, or which bits I could cut, or definitely should keep? I'll probably be doing this in my 350Z, or if I'm lucky I may borrow something even quicker (but lower), so I'm wondering if some of the single track roads may be a tad too bumpy to enjoy?
I've planned it all on Furkot, which is great for allowing me loads of points, but a bit useless for showing you guys, so I'm hoping the picture attached is clear enough!
Thanks in advance!!
Anyway, you are hitting some fabulous roads there, with utterly varying scenery and conditions. Watch out for sheep and spirals - those corners that tighten as you get further in to them, we have a few that can take you by surprise.
Take a video and stills camera as you're in for some real treats!
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