Highlands

[clunkbox]

ant leigh said:

This year it's Loch Tummel for a couple of weeks, family and labs. Currently negotiating taking the Lotus as well
Don't know that area of Scotland well, any must do drives nearby?

This might be a decent run: https://goo.gl/maps/zUJ3w
I quite like the road to the A9 via Trinafour, although it is singletrack. After that a quick run up the A9, watching out for the Average Speed cameras (although if I recall correctly you'll only pass through one full zone). Dalwhinnie to Spean Bridge is a bloody brilliant road (I drove it earlier today!), and usually quite quiet, but watch out for HGVs on the tight sections. Spean Bridge to Fort William is a bit st, Fort William to Corran is great, but usually too busy for a clean run. A diversion to Kinlochleven is well recommended before driving through Glencoe. Past Killin the north Loch Tay road is good, as is the run over the hill from Kenmore to Tummel.

[Lancs Dave]

Been busy on Skye today, doing this

[mikey k]

I thought about you when I saw the weather forecast this morning!

[Lochaber]

clunkbox said:

This might be a decent run: https://goo.gl/maps/zUJ3w
I quite like the road to the A9 via Trinafour, although it is singletrack. After that a quick run up the A9, watching out for the Average Speed cameras (although if I recall correctly you'll only pass through one full zone). Dalwhinnie to Spean Bridge is a bloody brilliant road (I drove it earlier today!), and usually quite quiet, but watch out for HGVs on the tight sections. Spean Bridge to Fort William is a bit st, Fort William to Corran is great, but usually too busy for a clean run. A diversion to Kinlochleven is well recommended before driving through Glencoe. Past Killin the north Loch Tay road is good, as is the run over the hill from Kenmore to Tummel.

Totally agree with you, the Dalwhinnie to Spean bridge road is fantastic and was re surfaced a couple of years ago. Also the 10 miles from Dalwhinnie to Laggan is great some really good corners on it.

[Patrick Bateman]

Drove to Braemar at the start of the week and was that fked off with the traffic I did it again today and then onto Grantown but leaving at 6.30am this time. After passing a van around Bridge of Cally absolutely nothing else held me up until Tomintoul. Utter bliss.

Even the drive back didn't have much traffic, must have timed it right.

[Craikeybaby]

A few pictures from my recent trip:


MR2 on the Old Milirary Road by Lewis Craik, on Flickr


MR2 on the Old Milirary Road by Lewis Craik, on Flickr


MR2 Bealach na Ba by Lewis Craik, on Flickr


Highland Cows by Lewis Craik, on Flickr


MR2 at Sheildaig by Lewis Craik, on Flickr


MR2 Bealach na Ba by Lewis Craik, on Flickr


View from the Bealach na Ba by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

[Patrick Bateman]

You know the really long steep section before Glenshee, do you find it hard to feel like it's that steep when going up it?

The first time I did it I thought there was something wrong with the car, the surrounding landscape made it appear a slight incline at worst. Yet going down it looks every bit as steep as it feels.

[AdvocatusD]

So, the isle of Skye.

I haven't "done" it all before, but I am going to dedicate a half a day/a day to it starting in Broadford around 9.30am.

I was thinking of this?



Does this look ok? Google quotes a non stop time of 3/30 hours, but how long can you really expect it to take with a leisurely lunch ( an hour and half) and stopping for photos (maybe an hour all together) etc?

My route seems to take the "main", most obvious road. Are there little tiny offshoots that are must-drives and must-sees?

Edited by AdvocatusD on Thursday 21st May 16:53

[OvalOwl]

I think I'd cut across from Uig to Staffin rather than go round the Far North to get a close up view of The Needle and The Prison, cloud permitting of course!

Come to think about it I'd do a figure of eight, I reckon the Loch Harport road is best done south to north and the minor road by The Quiraing is better going up on the east side.

Broadford > Silgachan > Dunvegan > Portree > Staffin > Uig > Portree > Broadford

You could nip round the coast road from Loch Ainort to Sconser for a bit of variation, but watch out for the potholes!

Also watch out for the ferry traffic heading to or from Uig. The back end of an artic or caravan is not what you want to see.

[clunkbox]

For Skye, it's worth checking what time the Uist and Harris ferries get in, you don't want to be stuck behind that lot. Grab a coffee in Uig otherwise it'll be wacky races trying to overtake a whole ferry load of tourists and artics by Kyleakin.

[JM]

Patrick Bateman said:

Drove to Braemar at the start of the week and was that fked off with the traffic I did it again today and then onto Grantown but leaving at 6.30am this time. After passing a van around Bridge of Cally absolutely nothing else held me up until Tomintoul. Utter bliss.

Even the drive back didn't have much traffic, must have timed it right.

Came south from Aberdeen yesterday afternoon.

Between Ballater and Braemar I overtook one car, and between Braemar and Bridge of Cally I overtook one car and was overtaken by a motorbike.

One dodgy moment between Braemar and Cairnwell with an oncoming van attempting an overtake, but I saw him early and backed out (before he saw me and backed off as well)

[AdvocatusD]

Thank you both. Like this?

[Patrick Bateman]

I've found it's hit and miss with people who let you past.

Earlier in the week it was some VW people carrier that was doing 70+ on the straights but holding me up in the corners. At least if they're consistent you can get past them without issue.

[Red Devil]

OvalOwl said:

I think I'd cut across from Uig to Staffin rather than go round the Far North to get a close up view of The Needle and The Prison, cloud permitting of course!

5 weeks ago. We had weather like this for 5 days on the bounce.





Rush hour

[AdvocatusD]

Thanks again. This will be my fourth trip up and already, I can't wait. Tentative itinerary looks like:

Day 1 - Saturday - http://tinyurl.com/qy4psvr - Glasgow to spend the night on Skye. (skipping Duke's pass as we'll be late morning and traffic will make it miserable)



Day 2 - Sunday - http://tinyurl.com/pykjttj - Tour of Skye and Applecross Peninsula.

|http://thumbsnap.com/bD3tX4vP[/url]

Day 3 - Monday - http://tinyurl.com/qxe3gvk - West Coast to Lairg.

|http://thumbsnap.com/0lqypSNb[/url]

Query: Is it worth doing the coastal loop from Drumnie to Lock Assynt via Strathan, or better to cut across to Loch Assynt via Elphin/Ledbeg?

Day 4 - Tuesday - http://tinyurl.com/odmv2a8 - Tongue to Glasgow (by early afternoon) and everyone heads back south.



Query: Is this the best route down? We would like to be in Glasgow by early/mid afternoo, so don't quite have the time to go through the Cairgorms.

Edited by AdvocatusD on Monday 25th May 20:06

[towser]

Query: Is this the best route down? We would like to be in Glasgow by early/mid afternoo, so don't quite have the time to go through the Cairgorms.

Probably not the best route down in terms of the driving experience. Once beyond the skiach services and onto the A9 its a real drag (the sooner they dual the A9 completely between Inverness and Perth the better). However, it's the most direct road down to Glasgow and despite the average speed cameras you should be able to make Glasgow in 5:30 - 6:00 hours.

[JM]

AdvocatusD said:

Query: Is it worth doing the coastal loop from Drumnie to Lock Assynt via Strathan, or better to cut across to Loch Assynt via Elphin/Ledbeg?

Answer is, it depends.

The road through Coigach and up the coast to Lochinver is a tight narrow single track.


Great scenery but not a good road to try and 'make progress' (if you don't know it!) a lovely drive though.

The A835/837 is in my opinion one of the great bits of tarmac I particularily enjoy the A837 between Ledmore and Skiag Bridge.

If you stick to the main road I would recommend going on into Lochinver, especially if you fancy a pie!
The other option would be the coast road north from Lochinver through Stoer and Drumbeg. The majority of it is a better quality/size of single track compared to the previous stretch mentioned, and again the views are great.

[Craikeybaby]

towser said:

Query: Is this the best route down? We would like to be in Glasgow by early/mid afternoo, so don't quite have the time to go through the Cairgorms.

Probably not the best route down in terms of the driving experience. Once beyond the skiach services and onto the A9 its a real drag (the sooner they dual the A9 completely between Inverness and Perth the better). However, it's the most direct road down to Glasgow and despite the average speed cameras you should be able to make Glasgow in 5:30 - 6:00 hours.

I'd agree with this, theatre time going through the Cairngorms is worth it though. If you haven't already, watch Henry Catchpole's Old Military Road Aston Martin video, you'll take the detour.

[Patrick Bateman]

Quite. I haven't driven on the A9 north of Perth but for all the difference in time it'd be rude to not go A939 > A93 instead of it.

Aforementioned video-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkAT82-R0S8

[JM]

Other option would be going on the A9 as far south as the end of the dual carriageway at Drummochter and heading cross country via Tummel Bridge, Kenmore (or Aberfeldy), Crieff to re-join the A9 just north of Dunblane.