Highlands

[Red Devil]

JM said:

bananachips said:

A hidden gem of a road near me.

Glen Kyllachy?

.
http://goo.gl/maps/EmEzc

bananachips said:

cold thursday said:

Ptarmigan ?

Grouse I'd say.

Red Grouse



Ptarmigan has a white belly and wings



Both from the same family - Tetraonidae

[bananachips]

Not so hidden after all, just wish it was longer is my only gripe.

[sjabrown]

JM said:

bananachips said:

A hidden gem of a road near me.

Glen Kyllachy?

One of my favourite roads, though the surface has deteriorated somewhat over the last decade (from the cattlegrid on the Farr side, to the gate abover the forestry at the Tomatin end).

[OvalOwl]

Red Devil said:

Red Grouse

Ptarmigan has a white belly and wings

Same family though - Tetraonidae

Red grouse stay red all year. Ptarmigan go through several different phases from pure white in winter to mottled in summer. The thing that usually gives away a ptarmigan is their creaking cry; they are nearly invisible until they move. Several times, when walking in the mountains, I have nearly stepped on a hen sitting tight on a nest.

Not just the same family, but the same genus. Red grouse: Lagopus lagopus, ptarmigan: Lagopus mutus

[vrsmxtb]

Calling Mr Carter! Best breakfast on the Applecross loop?
Making my way up to Ullapool from Applecross tomorrow.

[GetCarter]

vrsmxtb said:

Calling Mr Carter! Best breakfast on the Applecross loop?
Making my way up to Ullapool from Applecross tomorrow.

I assume you don't mean B&B... just breakfast? If so, Jo's cafe in Torridon does decent bacon butty stuff. Opens at 10.00 a.m. (turn left at the Countryside Centre - 800 yards). Whistlestop Cafe in Kinlochewe similar.

If it IS B&B you're after... here's some: http://www.stevecarter.com/ansh/ansh7.htm

[vrsmxtb]

Yep a good bacon butty sounds good, will give Jo's a try. Oh and if I see a white Evoque bearing down on me I'll certainly "allow overtaking!"

[vrsmxtb]

Torridon stores website says weds-sat? I know it's a different way of life up here, but it's not open tomorrow then?

[GetCarter]

vrsmxtb said:

Torridon stores website says weds-sat? I know it's a different way of life up here, but it's not open tomorrow then?

No.... You're okay - It's open... That's winter hours.

ETA you have mail

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 2nd June 07:08

[vrsmxtb]

Guessing he doesn't use his city cars up here?!

I was hungry so went to the Potting Shed round the corner in the end!

[vrsmxtb]

Anyone in the area own a Ferrari? Met one going south down towards Applecross.

[ant leigh]

A great day out today through Pitlochry, Braemar, Tomintoul and back. Very light traffic and just a great day to get the top off. The B970 back road from Speybridge to Kingussie via Nethy Bridge and Coylumbridge was a surprisingly good driving road.

[pb450]

Brilliant thread, read every word over a period of weeks. It will act as a bible for my road trip in the TVR in May 2017. Yes, I know it's a long way off but family life decrees this is the best timing. Last similar trip was in 1995 in an MGB V8 and I recall how awesome the Highlands are. As before, we will stop over with friends in Edinburgh on the way there and back (live in Kent so the slog up and down the country has to be included) but the main event is the Highlands.

GetCarter is the font of all knowledge, living up there, together with Red Devil and a few others. I hope you're both still around in 18 months time as I will start the serious planning then. Questions will follow.

I'll give it a quick recce from the air tomorrow as I fly up to Aberdeen and onwards to Lerwick on business. I then spend the following 10 days or so 30 miles offshore from Scalloway for my sins. Some preliminary planning for THE ROAD TRIP may be in order!

[jamoor]

TheFive said:

PH Gents,

Long time lurker but only very occasional poster here

First of all a big thanks to all the contributors, especially GetCarter as this is a true gold mine of information and inspiration!

OK, due to still having some annual leave that I need to use before the end of the year, and having it been signed off by the missus (her, run-flats and very long journeys don't mix), it looks like I should be on for a Scotland epic!

Timing wise I'm looking at early October, and I know that weather wise it's a bit risky but it's that or nothing as we have a full program next year which means I probably won't have time to do it in the spring. Besides which, life's too short to wait for the weather.

So, if anyone with 'the knowledge' would be prepared to take five minutes to look over my route proposal then it would be very much appreciated. It is a bit tight for time, I have a max of five full days including driving up and back from the south east. On the plus side the only stops will be for photos and there is no requirement to keep the missus happy given that she won't be coming. I'll be travelling up with a passenger but he's OK with it being an endurance run. Wheels are a Z4 coupe 3.0si so it doesn't have to be sunny. But, if at the last minute the forecast is for wall-to-wall rain then we might can it or move it...


So, over to the panel:

Day 1 Brentwood to Fort William: 510miles, 9hr 41 mins
http://goo.gl/maps/iLhK0

Day 2
Fort William to Ullapool via Applecross: 220miles, 5hr 53 mins

http://goo.gl/maps/xl8yI

Day 3
Ullapool Durness loop: 179 miles, 4hrs 39 mins

http://goo.gl/maps/nYYNF

Day 4
Ullapool to Edingburgh: 226miles, 5hr 55 mins

http://goo.gl/maps/GxkbI

Day 5
Edinburgh to Brentwood: 384 miles, 7hr 21 mins

http://goo.gl/maps/dLte7

So, what do we think? A tad ambitious? Are the shorter days likely to spoil the trip? And is it possible to predict the Scottish weather with half reasonable accuracy a few days in ahead?

Thanks in advance, TheFive

Edited by TheFive on Friday 14th September 21:13

I'm planning on doing this but without the loop, any other recommendations?

[Red Devil]

pb450 said:

...my road trip in the TVR in May 2017.

More than likely I will have been there the previous month.

pb450 said:

As before, we will stop over with friends in Edinburgh on the way there and back (live in Kent so the slog up and down the country has to be included) but the main event is the Highlands.

GetCarter is the font of all knowledge, living up there, together with Red Devil and a few others. I hope you're both still around in 18 months time as I will start the serious planning then. Questions will follow.

I'm not planning on leaving.

Us Kent folk have a long drag to/from Scotland, so if you fancy some fun roads to get you in the mood and prevent early withdrawal symptoms afterwards, let me know nearer the time.

[JM]

A few pics of the congested Highland roads on Friday afternoon.

[Slippydiff]

Heading up there on Saturday. Onich Saturday night, Gairloch Sunday night, Onich again Monday night and Crinan on Tuesday before heading home on Wednesday.
Whats the forecast like for the next six days Steve ?
Any recommendations for good routes/roads down to Crinan ?

[JM]

Slippydiff said:

Any recommendations for good routes/roads down to Crinan ?

From Onich;

B863, A82 West, A828 South, maybe with a wee detour round to Port Appin, then A85 to Oban.
South from Oban on the A816, maybe a wee detour to Isle of Seil, over the 'Bridge over the Atlantic'. Then back on A816 to the B8025 across to the B841 to Crinan.

Or, B863, A82 East, A85, A819, A83, A816, B841. For a more 'cross country' route on higher speed (possible) roads.

[GetCarter]

Slippydiff said:

Whats the forecast like for the next six days Steve ?

Looks good here until Tuesday >> http://xcweather.co.uk/forecast/shieldaig

Lovely sunsets at the moment. Last night:

[pb450]

Red Devil said:

I'm not planning on leaving.

Us Kent folk have a long drag to/from Scotland, so if you fancy some fun roads to get you in the mood and prevent early withdrawal symptoms afterwards, let me know nearer the time.

Will do matey, sounds good! Where are you based? I'm in Bromley but currently in the Shetlands, heading for the North Sea for the next couple of weeks.