Discussion
sjabrown said:
The Loch Shiel road is generally very good gravel but with some large potholes. I drove it (had access and a reason to drive it) about 5 years ago. 15mph was plenty fast enough. The gate at the north end is indeed once the Callop is crossed. There is a generous parking area nearby for those wanting to head into the hills.
The gate has been moved back and a parking area created since I looked at it last ( out of curiosity to see if it was possible to get down to Strontian ) , possibly to give the walkers some sort of access. Like sja I had occasion to drive it bothways once and the surface was as I mentioned ,but I wouldn't have liked to do more than 15 mph. But that was pre 1971 and I was driving one of the Green Morris J2 GPO derv vans which wouldn't pull the skin of a rice pudding. Looking at google to refresh my memory, I'd put the road approx 300 yds north from the 4.1M rail bridge, where the road narrows from two lanes to a single lane under the bridge.
Edited by Who me ? on Tuesday 8th September 20:44
Who me said:
Looking at google to refresh my memory, I'd put the road approx 300 yds north from the 4.1M rail bridge, where the road narrows from two lanes to a single lane under the bridge.
Wrong way round. 
The Callop gate road branches off the A830 south of the railway.You may have missed it: here is the link I posted on the previous page.
The Glenfinnan end - https://goo.gl/maps/Ljz8M
Rotate the image to the left and travel east about a quarter of a mile.
Thinking my memory was playing tricks, I had a look at your (RD)location. South ( Fort William side) of he bridge, no sign of a side road on satellite view, and indeed if the road position had changed, (which is not shown on google) the dirt road would have to cross under/over the rail line . Which if on the north(Glenfinnan side ) it doesn't have to ,as the rail line has crossed over the low rail bridge,to put the railway on the other side of the A830. 
Slippydiff said:
ORD said:
Are the road surfaces as bad as they look? Look pretty rough to me.
Shandy drinking Southerner ? .....If IIRC N.Wales was a "bit far" for you ? If so you've no chance of making it to Scotland. But yes the road are awful, the midges appalling and you can't understand a word the locals say. Avoid the place like the plague.
I suppose you're happy to drive that far to get to good roads because your gearbox and engine take that long to get 'on song' rather than being useless scrap...
[quote=Who me ?]Thinking my memory was playing tricks, I had a look at your (RD)location. South ( Fort William side) of he bridge, no sign of a side road on satellite view, and indeed if the road position had changed, (which is not shown on google) the dirt road would have to cross under/over the rail line . Which if on the north(Glenfinnan side ) it doesn't have to ,as the rail line has crossed over the low rail bridge,to put the railway on the other side of the A830.
[/quote]
Start of the track in the photo here: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4203923
Trees tend to cover the track at the Glenfinnan end ?shielding it from satellite view.
[/quote]
Start of the track in the photo here: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4203923
Trees tend to cover the track at the Glenfinnan end ?shielding it from satellite view.
sjabrown said:
Start of the track in the photo here: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4203923
Trees tend to cover the track at the Glenfinnan end ?shielding it from satellite view.
Thanks, sja- restored my sanity. I was thinking I needed a term in the place near the golf course in Inverness. Trees tend to cover the track at the Glenfinnan end ?shielding it from satellite view.
your link clearly shows the track starting on the Glenfinnan side of the rail bridge.
Planning to come back to West Coast again.
2 years ago it was a bit extreme with 730 miles crammed into 2 days of driving (write up is here in this thread towards beginning).
This year I would love to go back to North West, but don't want to repeat the extreme tiredness from 2 years ago.
One option is to drive to Skye, spend the night there then some sight seeing, photo takings and slowly back home.
The other option is to go back to North, Ullapool and further, but I only have 2 days (same as last time).
2 years ago it was a bit extreme with 730 miles crammed into 2 days of driving (write up is here in this thread towards beginning).
This year I would love to go back to North West, but don't want to repeat the extreme tiredness from 2 years ago.
One option is to drive to Skye, spend the night there then some sight seeing, photo takings and slowly back home.
The other option is to go back to North, Ullapool and further, but I only have 2 days (same as last time).
AdvocatusD said:
What would our resident locals suggest is the most reliable website(s) for weather in Scotland?
We're two weeks away from our trip and I want to start torturing myself about the weather!
Local fishermen use this: http://www.xcweather.co.uk/forecast/shieldaigWe're two weeks away from our trip and I want to start torturing myself about the weather!
It's pretty good to 4 days out... then the weather is generally right, but the timings slip.
[quote=Who me ?]Looking at the BBC weather for Scotland ( out of interest etc, I keep tabs on the NW coast),and from a post by sja, can you believe any forecast, apart from the old locals. 
,or the old Highland one about seeing Skye.
[/quote]
Yea, we just had 5 fab days (see below). What get's me about the BBC is when the do the slightly longer forecast they just show Edinburgh - like that sorts out Scotland! Edinburgh to here is like London to York.
Anyway it's blowing a gale here today and there is a kids bike race over the bealach. I expect to see airborne 8 year olds.
,or the old Highland one about seeing Skye. [/quote]
Yea, we just had 5 fab days (see below). What get's me about the BBC is when the do the slightly longer forecast they just show Edinburgh - like that sorts out Scotland! Edinburgh to here is like London to York.
Anyway it's blowing a gale here today and there is a kids bike race over the bealach. I expect to see airborne 8 year olds.
Plowing manfully through this excellent thread!
I have a 5 day break starting on the 21st September around the Argyll and Bute region,based in Arrocar.I'm taking the TVR obviously and doing the touristy things,sea trips, distilleries, seafood, fin dinging etc
Any must do roads or attractions? Anything I wont find on trip advisor and the like?
I have a 5 day break starting on the 21st September around the Argyll and Bute region,based in Arrocar.I'm taking the TVR obviously and doing the touristy things,sea trips, distilleries, seafood, fin dinging etc
Any must do roads or attractions? Anything I wont find on trip advisor and the like?
Here's some pictures from my trip last week, beautiful day and a few more miles than planned after getting carried away.
Some of you may recall this was a single days trip while back in Scotland for business; Edinburgh, Fort William, Kyle of Lochalsh, Inverness, Braemar, Edinburgh.
The A93 following the Dee is my favourite piece of road, I think the transition from coast to mountain showcases so much of what Scotland has to offer and a little different to the coastal views of the west coast.
Some of you may recall this was a single days trip while back in Scotland for business; Edinburgh, Fort William, Kyle of Lochalsh, Inverness, Braemar, Edinburgh.
The A93 following the Dee is my favourite piece of road, I think the transition from coast to mountain showcases so much of what Scotland has to offer and a little different to the coastal views of the west coast.
NWTony said:
Plowing manfully through this excellent thread!
I have a 5 day break starting on the 21st September around the Argyll and Bute region,based in Arrocar.I'm taking the TVR obviously and doing the touristy things,sea trips, distilleries, seafood, fin dinging etc
Any must do roads or attractions? Anything I wont find on trip advisor and the like?
From Arrochar, most of the roads are pretty decent. But due to close proximity to Glasgow they can be quite heavily policed...I have a 5 day break starting on the 21st September around the Argyll and Bute region,based in Arrocar.I'm taking the TVR obviously and doing the touristy things,sea trips, distilleries, seafood, fin dinging etc
Any must do roads or attractions? Anything I wont find on trip advisor and the like?
But;
A814-A817-A82-A83, would be a nice wee loop.
A83-A819-A85-A82-A83 in either direction.
A83 to Campbeltown is as far as I know a good road all the way.
The Dukes Pass A821, Aberfoyle to Callander, isn't far away and could be added into a round trip to Crianlarich via the A84.
Police most commonly found on A82 Loch Lomond side. An A83 between the Rest and Be Thankful and Inverary.
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