Discussion
JM said:
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 Road to the Summer Isles past Stac Pollaidh (pictured several times on here) to Badnagyle then right to Inverkirkaig/Lochinver is very pretty.
JM said:
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!
Definitely the way to go if 'progress' is the name of the gameIf you stick to the main road I would recommend going on into Lochinver, especially if you fancy a pie!
JM said:
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.
Having done both sections just last month, I'm not convinced that the B869 is any better/wider. In fact I would say it's actually more challenging. There is one wickedly blind bend around a sheer rock face just after Clashnessie, and the section from Nedd to the A894 is like a roller coaster.
Patrick Bateman said:
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.
From Inverness to Perth I would avoid the A9 as much as possible. Head east via the B roads to Culloden, Croy, and Cawdor to the A939 which is utterly superb. Blairgowrie is best avoided, as is Perth, unless you have a specific reason to visit either or both. This can be accomplished by turning off the A93 before Bridge of Cally onto the B950 then the A924 to Pitlochry. Circumvent Pitlochry by leaving the A924 where it turns back on itself. Take the minor road past the Edradour distillery then General Wade's Military Road to the A9. Follow that as far as Broxden Junction then avoid any more average speed cameras by taking this route to Glasgow - https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=A9&daddr=Exi...Red Devil said:
From Inverness to Perth I would avoid the A9 as much as possible. Head east via the B roads to Culloden, Croy, and Cawdor to the A939 which is utterly superb. Blairgowrie is best avoided, as is Perth, unless you have a specific reason to visit either or both. This can be accomplished by turning off the A93 before Bridge of Cally onto the B950 then the A924 to Pitlochry. Circumvent Pitlochry by leaving the A924 where it turns back on itself. Take the minor road past the Edradour distillery then General Wade's Military Road to the A9. Follow that as far as Broxden Junction then avoid any more average speed cameras by taking this route to Glasgow - https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=A9&daddr=Exi...
Many thanks for this. I've driven through the Cairngorms a few times - bloody marvellous, but potentially too much temptation to lose your licence. I'd love to go down there again, but it just adds too much time. I think I just need to accept I need to take the quickest possible route down I can! What a pity...Is the A9 really that awful? Your route looks great but if I incorporate General Wade's Military Road, it take the driving time to night on 6.30 hours.
clunkbox said:
The a9 is perfectly fine for getting to and from Inverness, and I think you would be very hard pressed to make better time on an alternative route. But it's a busy, uninteresting road with Average Speed Cameras on it.
What he said. Unless you get stuck in the melee after one of the all too frequent accidents its a predictable but boring grind down to glasgow. 
Back up next weekend, can't wait!
In Fort William on saturday / sunday as I'm doing a charity climb of Ben Nevis early sunday morning.
Then Monday will be up to Applecross, tuesday to Ullapool, wednesday to Achmelvich Beach heading back south on thursday to Gairloch and finally to Broadford on Skye on friday. All NW coast really, hmm wonder if I can squeeze in a (massive!) detour up the Old Military Road
Then saturday I'm off doing a week with the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust on one of their surveys. It's going to be my biggest Highland adventure yet!
Now do I stick with the trusty Mk1 MX5 as per usual or do I pop my Mk2 fabia VRS's Highlands cherry. Fabia is quicker, MX5 is more fun!
In Fort William on saturday / sunday as I'm doing a charity climb of Ben Nevis early sunday morning.
Then Monday will be up to Applecross, tuesday to Ullapool, wednesday to Achmelvich Beach heading back south on thursday to Gairloch and finally to Broadford on Skye on friday. All NW coast really, hmm wonder if I can squeeze in a (massive!) detour up the Old Military Road
Then saturday I'm off doing a week with the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust on one of their surveys. It's going to be my biggest Highland adventure yet!
Now do I stick with the trusty Mk1 MX5 as per usual or do I pop my Mk2 fabia VRS's Highlands cherry. Fabia is quicker, MX5 is more fun!
Edited by vrsmxtb on Saturday 23 May 22:06
AdvocatusD said:
Red Devil said:
From Inverness to Perth I would avoid the A9 as much as possible. Head east via the B roads to Culloden, Croy, and Cawdor to the A939 which is utterly superb. Blairgowrie is best avoided, as is Perth, unless you have a specific reason to visit either or both. This can be accomplished by turning off the A93 before Bridge of Cally onto the B950 then the A924 to Pitlochry. Circumvent Pitlochry by leaving the A924 where it turns back on itself. Take the minor road past the Edradour distillery then General Wade's Military Road to the A9. Follow that as far as Broxden Junction then avoid any more average speed cameras by taking this route to Glasgow - https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=A9&daddr=Exi...
Many thanks for this. I've driven through the Cairngorms a few times - bloody marvellous, but potentially too much temptation to lose your licence. I'd love to go down there again, but it just adds too much time. I think I just need to accept I need to take the quickest possible route down I can! What a pity...
The last pic gives you an idea of scale: the lead car is ~ a mile and a half from where I'm standing.
AdvocatusD said:
Is the A9 really that awful?
Yes, imo (others may disagree). Too many LGVs and the d/c sections are too short for much traffic to get by. The result is a lot of really dodgy overtakes. Back in 2010 we encountered the aftermath of this - http://news.stv.tv/highlands-islands/170626-coach-...We were stuck on the preceding d/c section for well over 3 hours before any movement occurred. Eventually single line traffic was implemented so some progress was made but with long waits while southbound traffic received priority.
The overturned coach is behind and to the left of the blue sign - https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@56.856905,-4.246951...
I have only driven the A9 south of Perth since the average speed cams were implemented.
Whether they will make much difference other than to increase journey times between there and Inverness I don't know but I have my doubts,AdvocatusD said:
Your route looks great but if I incorporate General Wade's Military Road, it take the driving time to night on 6.30 hours.
The bit that is thus desciribed is this short section (in blue)- https://www.google.com/maps?saddr=General+Wades%27...The A939/B976/A93 is another old military road but it wasn't one of Wade's. It was constructed between 1748 and 1753, after the seminal Battle of Culloden. Wade retired in 1747 and it was his successor (previously his deputy) Major William Caulfeild who was in charge. It is ironic that Wade is quite well known (see the labelling on maps) but most people have never heard of Caulfeild who was responsible for building nearly four times the total mileage of his former chief.
Red Devil said:
Your call, but I would need to have a very compelling reason not to accept the time penalty. The Cairngorm route is so much more rewarding. These were taken 5 weeks ago a little way south of The Lecht ski centre.
I know how good the Cairngorms are which is why I'm trying to see if I can sneak us through there.... Will spend last night in Lairg now (instead of Tongue) to give us a little more time and let's see what the group wants to do.I've changed the routes around slightly above (as opposed to a new post, killing trees on the internet
) on Day 3.Try that, https://goo.gl/maps/9CG85 as an alternative that only goes part of the way on the A9 then cuts across country to the East.
Some great wee roads there some with interesting bends.
You could also alter it further to take in the Dukes Pass back to Glasgow. https://goo.gl/maps/HDgHg
Some great wee roads there some with interesting bends.
You could also alter it further to take in the Dukes Pass back to Glasgow. https://goo.gl/maps/HDgHg
bananachips said:
Bugger. Aye it is indeed, can hardly imagine you'd take your Lotus over it!
I fitted the black wheels just to give them a try out and almost every part of the road the the rears were rubbing on the arches.
Can't remember if I have went over it in my Lotus, but certainly have been in My Scooby. I fitted the black wheels just to give them a try out and almost every part of the road the the rears were rubbing on the arches.
Great wee bit of road.
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