Highlands

[akadk]

thanks for the kind words

no I am very much an amateur just trying to improve each vid at a time ... I do this purely as a hobby and for the love of cars and driving, and hopefully its light entertainment for a fellow petrol head planning a trip

[Craikeybaby]

pb450 said:

Loving this thread. Have read it all and found some excellent advice. Planning my own road trip but not until April/May 2017. (Yes, I know, forward planning but this is the first opportunity Mrs B and I will have without the needs of others.)

Like Red Devil, I live in Kent. So there's the 800 mile return slog to and from Edinburgh before we approach the main purpose of this trip. Luckily we have good friends there who we will spend some catch-up time with them at each end of the trip. This is an added bonus.

To the 'Highlands Massive' of PH, (for whom I have to thank for some excellent route tips AND how to create and save them on Google Maps ) I offer the following for consideration. It's a kind of North Coast 500 but takes in some stunning scenery and nice hotels without being a slave to the route. If anyone is bored enough to click on some or all of the links, I would really appreciate any feedback, comments or improvements, not only on my chosen route but on anything in general.

Day 1: Edinburgh – Oban: M9, A84, A85, A82, A85. https://goo.gl/maps/DH9xjVrjsrr 134 miles

Day 2: Oban – Uig (Skye): A828, A82, A87. https://goo.gl/maps/kGTkvxKGoEq 166 miles

Day 3: Uig – Torridon : A87, A890, A896, Bealach, etc. https://goo.gl/maps/CtRGGFw8L4L2 119 miles

Day 4: Torridon – Lochinver: A896, A832, A835, A837. https://goo.gl/maps/HCDXcr4M1rv 103 miles

Day 5: Lochinver – John O’Groats: A837, A894, A838, A836. https://goo.gl/maps/xpuDVSj8J6F2 143 miles

Day 6: John O’Groats – Nairn: A99, A9, A96. https://goo.gl/maps/2Uv9U8p35PE2 133 miles

Day 7: Nairn – Glencoe: A96, A82, https://goo.gl/maps/F5pQbz8RZ3u 98 miles

Day 8: Glencoe – Edinburgh: A82, A85, A84,M9. https://goo.gl/maps/UzSSZwFF1oF2 130 miles

Peter

PS. Oh yeah, this will all be done in our TVR Chimaera so obviously no speed or noise involved! The camera comes too (though hoping to avoid those by the roadside) so I will try to emulate Mr Carter's fantastic work - although I suspect, rather poorly! This is a bucket-list trip for me in such a car, so already quietly excited...
HAPY NEW YEAR to all.

Glencoe is nice, but there are some great roads between Nairn and Edinburgh - the A939 and A93 Old Military Road in particular.

[Patrick Bateman]

Craikeybaby said:

Glencoe is nice, but there are some great roads between Nairn and Edinburgh - the A939 and A93 Old Military Road in particular.

As a driving road, they st on the A82 from a great height.

[Red Devil]

pb450 said:

Like Red Devil, I live in Kent.

I suspect from your profile that we are in the same part of the county.

pb450 said:

So there's the 800 mile return slog to and from Edinburgh before we approach the main purpose of this trip.

When heading up the east side (I will be heading for Perth in April this year) try this detour - https://goo.gl/maps/qCHBpzUpjbB2
The downside of an increased journey time (leave earlier ) is that the previous boring 250 miles is well compensated for by much more interesting/fun roads with less traffic between Barnard Castle and Jedburgh. I usually stop for a comfort break/refreshment at the Tower Knowe Visitor Centre with its stunning setting on the shore of Kielder Water.

pb450 said:

Day 1: Edinburgh – Oban: M9, A84, A85, A82, A85. https://goo.gl/maps/DH9xjVrjsrr 134 miles

Unless you have a particular reason to visit Callender go via Aberfoyle.
It would be criminal to miss out the Dukes Pass as you're so close - https://goo.gl/maps/X5wqCwVngy72 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkUlYCtj-O8

pb450 said:

Day 2: Oban – Uig (Skye): A828, A82, A87. https://goo.gl/maps/kGTkvxKGoEq 166 miles

All good.

pb450 said:

Day 3: Uig – Torridon : A87, A890, A896, Bealach, etc. https://goo.gl/maps/CtRGGFw8L4L2 119 miles

What GC said.

pb450 said:

Day 4: Torridon – Lochinver: A896, A832, A835, A837. https://goo.gl/maps/HCDXcr4M1rv 103 miles

Ditto.

pb450 said:

Day 5: Lochinver – John O’Groats: A837, A894, A838, A836. https://goo.gl/maps/xpuDVSj8J6F2 143 miles

Potential alternative route from Lochinver to Kylesku bridge via Drumbeg - https://goo.gl/maps/9zWB5TRZyyv
Much slower than the A roads though, as it's a twisty roller coaster single track with some dramatic elevation changes in places.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Lochinver,+Highl...

pb450 said:

Day 6: John O’Groats – Nairn: A99, A9, A96. https://goo.gl/maps/2Uv9U8p35PE2 133 miles

The A96 is the main road between the two main population centres, Inverness and Aberdeen.
For that reason I would stay well away from it and use the B roads - https://goo.gl/maps/q1cotnac5m82

pb450 said:

Day 7: Nairn – Glencoe: A96, A82, https://goo.gl/maps/F5pQbz8RZ3u 98 miles

Again avoid the A96, plus the A82 along Loch Ness is nothing special. Use the quiet B roads on the other side to Fort Augustus - https://goo.gl/maps/8zpKPiSEoMA2
If you are keen to have some glimpses of the Loch use the B852 from Dores via Foyers instead of the B862.

pb450 said:

Day 8: Glencoe – Edinburgh: A82, A85, A84,M9. https://goo.gl/maps/UzSSZwFF1oF2 130 miles

You're staying in Glencoe and missing out the Scotsburgring! - https://goo.gl/maps/jRdjUDWadkA2 - for shame.

Personally I would agree with the previous poster though.
The A939/A93 is by far the best way to reach Edinburgh drom Inverness - https://goo.gl/maps/V7BdGKLSFAr
Depending on timing you could detour to Ballater for lunch.

In 2014 our group arranged a visit to these guys - http://www.classicrestorations.co.uk/
We spent far longer than originally intended as there was so much to drool over.

[cb010]

akadk said:

hey guys

I did the Highlands on Tuesday and Wednesday ... 1,300 miles in 2 days

Was abit intense, but was amazing !

Definitely heading back in the Spring for a longer stay !

I have created a VLOG, so if you are interested please watch and stay tuned for day 2 !

https://youtu.be/FIq-d_x3oH8

Absolutely incredible video mate, I loaded it to the TV and watched in HD... can't decide what looked better; your Jag or the absolutely incredible scenery!

You mentioned in a subsequent post that you're just an amateur - that certainly didn't come across in the video. Looking forward to day two!

[Red Devil]

akadk said:

I have created a VLOG, so if you are interested please watch and stay tuned for day 2 !

https://youtu.be/FIq-d_x3oH8

The Bealach na Bà was busy.

I've been fortunate in getting some completely uninterrupted runs all the way from the A896 junction to here - https://goo.gl/maps/XTRMb5w7X8p
Nobody waiting in any of the passing places either.

[pb450]

Thanks to all (especially RD & GC) for some really useful input. I can't open the links on my phone but I'll investigat (and probably incorporate all later on.

Yeah, sarf east London born and bred, although north west Kent now. (Not much difference tbh!) location is great for so many things, EXCEPT heading up the country. It's either through London or the dreaded M25. Depending on time of day the Blackwall Tunnel (TVR benefit!) and M11 is the best option.

Thanks also for the gallery advice Lotte Glob is worth a visit - for the name alone!

Final thanks for the VERY inspirational video. Lovely piece of work in a lovely car sir.

[akadk]

thanks for the (too) kind words ...

I am just an amateur and only started doing some vlogs a few weeks ago.

I am just a petrolhead like the rest of us on here and love driving

anyhow, Day 2 is now live - let me know your thoughts and I've got lots more trips planned this year in the F !


https://youtu.be/yWR9q8YSfa4

[pb450]

Yay! Shall watch with interest later. At the MIL's with no wifi right now.

[mon the fish]

Sometimes I take for granted that the A93/A939 are on my doorstep, they are brilliant roads.

A word of warning though - the A93 has been washed away between Ballater and Braemar, not sure how long it's going to take to fix

[Red Devil]

akadk said:

anyhow, Day 2 is now live - let me know your thoughts and I've got lots more trips planned this year in the F !


https://youtu.be/yWR9q8YSfa4

Instantly recognised the beach at the start.

The problem is it gets so crowded...


Two of our party really struggled to find any space.


Outnumbered by the locals


"Flight 838 you are cleared for landing" (taken from inside the Sango Sands Oasis during lunch)


Just in case you're not sure how far to go afterwards.


I don't know why but the weather has always been fantastic whenever we have been there, no matter what it has been like anywhere else.
Just one day of low cloud and rain in 7 years.

One from the way back machine (2009): Some PHers gatecrashed our meet at Kylesku Bridge.


@13:10 the Pier Cafe. Another of our regular stops: their cakes are properly scrumptious.

mon the fish said:

Sometimes I take for granted that the A93/A939 are on my doorstep, they are brilliant roads.

A word of warning though - the A93 has been washed away between Ballater and Braemar, not sure how long it's going to take to fix

With that amount of damage I doubt it will be soon - https://twitter.com/a93_scotland
The Invercauld Bridge - https://goo.gl/maps/hSSrTj6zBmp - has taken a battering too.
Currently closed to traffic as one of the cutwaters has been partially washed away.

[mikey k]

Hopefully they will fix those before Easter

[Red Devil]

That would be a few days short of 3 months.
I can't envisage a major A road being closed for that long.
There is no alternative route between Braemar and Crathie

[Lancs Dave]

All hotels are sorted for my trip this year. 5 days, 4 nights, 6/7 cars, staying in Roy Bridge, Tongue, Kylesku, and Portree. Can't wait!

[mikey k]

Lancs Dave said:

All hotels are sorted for my trip this year. 5 days, 4 nights, 6/7 cars, staying in Roy Bridge, Tongue, Kylesku, and Portree. Can't wait!

Dave
Hows things?
When are you going up?
I've got the McLaren up there over Easter

[Red Devil]

Lancs Dave said:

All hotels are sorted for my trip this year. 5 days, 4 nights, 6/7 cars, staying in Roy Bridge, Tongue, Kylesku, and Portree. Can't wait!

What dates? Maybe our paths will cross again. I'm 99.99% sure that was your red Z4 in the Kylesku Bridge pic.

[pb450]

pb450 said:

Day 6: John O’Groats – Nairn: A99, A9, A96. https://goo.gl/maps/2Uv9U8p35PE2 133 miles

The A96 is the main road between the two main population centres, Inverness and Aberdeen.
For that reason I would stay well away from it and use the B roads - https://goo.gl/maps/q1cotnac5m82

Thanks for your comprehensive response Anthony. I'm working through it on this dreary afternoon and I like pretty much all of the suggestions. Small point though, I cant really see any difference on the day 6 B road proposal in your map from my map. Maybe it's me.....

[JM]

pb450 said:

Thanks for your comprehensive response Anthony. I'm working through it on this dreary afternoon and I like pretty much all of the suggestions. Small point though, I cant really see any difference on the day 6 B road proposal in your map from my map. Maybe it's me.....

Difference is the last section from Inverness to Nairn.

To avoid one of the more tedious sections of the A9 (Tain) I'd suggest a slight detour to take on The Struie (B9176) and if feeling adventurous add in the narrow single track from The Mound to Bonar Bridge.
(Probably not suitable for some cars or a large group)

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/57.9514319,-4.08...

Edited by JM on Sunday 3rd January 19:26

[Red Devil]

JM said:

pb450 said:

Thanks for your comprehensive response Anthony. I'm working through it on this dreary afternoon and I like pretty much all of the suggestions. Small point though, I cant really see any difference on the day 6 B road proposal in your map from my map. Maybe it's me.....

Difference is the last section from Inverness to Nairn.

JM said:

To avoid one of the more tedious sections of the A9 (Tain) I'd suggest a slight detour to take on The Struie (B9176) and if feeling adventurous add in the narrow single track from The Mound to Bonar Bridge.
(Probably not suitable for some cars or a large group)

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/57.9514319,-4.08...

Good call.

I have always found the A9 between the Dornoch Firth causeway and the A835 junction at the Tore roundabout a real drag. Get to the Longman roundabout at the wrong time and that can be a PITA too. Using the A96 you're very soon back on a two lane blacktop again. That means a greater chance of being in a camel train dictated by the pace of the lead vehicle. It's also the sort of road where dodgy overtakes happen (pb450, 'drive' it in Streetview and you'll see what I mean). Otoh at times when it's reasonably clear there is a good chance of getting pinged by the BiB if you get over enthusiastic.

Hence my suggestion of taking to the B roads: they offer some respite as well as options. Plenty of fun at the NSL or you can just chill out and potter along without the risk of a HGV up your chuff.

[akadk]

hey guys

I did the Scotsburgring on Friday.

In short, it totally surpassed any expectations I had, it was unreal.

Full video coming soon

Edited by akadk on Thursday 21st January 19:09