Highlands

[Stevenr]

Drove along that road on Sunday after a nice lunch in the Applecross Inn,heading back again camping tomorrow.

We had a good run,lots of tourists though,hoping for a quieter road this weekend but doubt it will be.

[GetCarter]

Stevenr said:

Drove along that road on Sunday after a nice lunch in the Applecross Inn,heading back again camping tomorrow.

We had a good run,lots of tourists though,hoping for a quieter road this weekend but doubt it will be.

It's the Shieldaig fete from 2 pm, so it'll be busy. (I'm the old git with too many cameras if you turn up)

[rmaurer]

GetCarter said:

FYI people, Applecross coast road currently closed and blocked due to broken down lorry. In my experience this will take 5 - 6 hours to clear.

I wish I had known this on Thursday... We were in the Applecross Inn having lunch before heading out on the coastal road but they had a power outage so no wifi or mobile reception. We had to detour back over the pass to get up to Ullapool, took a bit longer than planned.

[Zed 44]

Couple of us are heading up on Wednesday the 6th for a week.

[Yorkshire Tea]

I am heading up from Leeds tomorrow morning, stopping near Ullapool till Monday, I have no idea where we will go just going to point the car and see where we go.

Want to get to the Isle of Skye and a few of the roads I have seen here but its mainly going to be exploring unless anyone has any tips for roads/places not to miss

[GetCarter]

Yorkshire Tea said:

I am heading up from Leeds tomorrow morning, stopping near Ullapool till Monday, I have no idea where we will go just going to point the car and see where we go.

Want to get to the Isle of Skye and a few of the roads I have seen here but its mainly going to be exploring unless anyone has any tips for roads/places not to miss

To the south, take the coast road (Via Gairloch/Kinlochewe) to Torridon & Applecross, (Both have good Inns). From there you can drive 40 mins further south to Skye. (Take the quick way back via Garve). Unless you want serious time on Skye, turn left to Elgol.

(You might consider splitting this trip into two)

To the north, the road to the Summer Isles, then the tiny road via Inverkirkaig to Lochinver, and via the coast road and lunch at Kylesku.

...then/or all the way up to Durness.

These trips will IMHO give you the best roads/views in the NW Highlands.

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 6th August 13:35

[Yorkshire Tea]

Thank you, better go get some sleep, long drive tomorrow.

[Zed 44]

Quick question for GetCarter or whoever. We're in Crianlarich at the moment 7th August and tomorrow our plans are to go to Lochgiliphead via Iverrary on the A819 and A83. What is the B840 like? It looks disastrously narrow and uninviting especially for a GTR.

Answers this evening if possible please!!

Thanks

[cat220]

Zed 44 said:

Quick question for GetCarter or whoever. We're in Crianlarich at the moment 7th August and tomorrow our plans are to go to Lochgiliphead via Iverrary on the A819 and A83. What is the B840 like? It looks disastrously narrow and uninviting especially for a GTR.

Answers this evening if possible please!!

Thanks

Single track along the side of Loch Awe, you won't be driving fast on that. Far better staying on the main A819 down to Inveraray and then onto the A83. The A819 is a great stretch of road. The other alternative is the a85 to Oban and south from Oban on the A816, both great routes.

[Zed 44]

Big mistake. Going anywhere in school holidays. Don't think we got anywhere near 60mph except for a very few times. Avoid it.

[GetCarter]

Zed 44 said:

Big mistake. Going anywhere in school holidays. Don't think we got anywhere near 60mph except for a very few times. Avoid it.

As I say (a LOT). Don't drive here in August between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m..

I was out early and drove 46 miles and saw one car. It's not about where, but about when.

[Red Devil]

cat220 said:

Zed 44 said:

What is the B840 like? It looks disastrously narrow and uninviting especially for a GTR.

Single track along the side of Loch Awe, you won't be driving fast on that.

There is also far too much vegetation in summer to get any views of the loch.
You can count on the fingers of one hand the places where you can do so, such as here.

cat220 said:

Far better staying on the main A819 down to Inveraray and then onto the A83. The A819 is a great stretch of road. The other alternative is the a85 to Oban and south from Oban on the A816, both great routes.

Otoh using the B840 may mean fewer tourists and less traffic than the A roads.
I might well go that way unless I had a reason to visit Inveraray (e.g. for lunch).
Going fast isn't all that. Sometimes less is more.

[cat220]

Red Devil said:

Otoh using the B840 may mean fewer tourists and less traffic than the A roads.
I might well go that way unless I had a reason to visit Inveraray (e.g. for lunch).
Going fast isn't all that. Sometimes less is more.

Don't bet on that, lots of holiday chalets around Portsonachan. Many tourist lack the single track road etiquette that you get from locals, so you could find yourself stuck for some time.

[z4goon]

I was up there in May (will get some photos up when I get a min), and enjoyed it so much I'm going again the first week in September.

I'm hoping that say once north of Fort William, I'll be rid of the majority of the tourist traffic? I think the Scottish schools go back mid August too.

[GetCarter]

z4goon said:

I was up there in May (will get some photos up when I get a min), and enjoyed it so much I'm going again the first week in September.

I'm hoping that say once north of Fort William, I'll be rid of the majority of the tourist traffic? I think the Scottish schools go back mid August too.

It's still quite busy in Sept (though much less than July/Aug). However the further north you go, the less traffic you'll see. North of Fort William is still quite busy as it's the route most take to the Isle of Slye. Once you turn right towards Lochcarron traffic drps off, and North of Ullapool it's quiet. North of Kylesku it's almost empty.

It's all about when you drive though. I went for a drive and to my fave beach the other day. Was out for three hours. Saw one car. but I did the journey between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. If I had done same between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m at this time of year I would have seen 100+

Beach was empty too

[Zed 44]

Think I'll go back to Spain in September. As far as roads go, it is God's own country.

[Spitfire2]

Some guy on Facebook was trying to argue that the roads in Wales are better than the roads in Scotland.

I took pity on the poor chap and didn't point him at this thread

[Zed 44]

Spitfire2 said:

Some guy on Facebook was trying to argue that the roads in Wales are better than the roads in Scotland.

I took pity on the poor chap and didn't point him at this thread

I wouldn't argue one way or the other. We found some great roads just to the northwest of the Brecon Beacons in May.

[plenty]

Spitfire2 said:

Some guy on Facebook was trying to argue that the roads in Wales are better than the roads in Scotland.

I took pity on the poor chap and didn't point him at this thread

Having explored quite a bit in both countries I'd say there's not that much in it. I do prefer Scotland for the variety and the sheer scale of the place, but Wales contains many jewels and if you live in the south is obviously within easier reach.

[Olivera]

From a recent highlands trip:



Not very difficult to guess the location