Highlands

[enioldjoe]

Glen Etive

http://tinyurl.com/8p97r5s

[sjabrown]

ChrisBMW said:

Has anyone seen skyfall yet? They head up to Scotland and I was wondering if anyone knew which roads they were on.

Almost entirely the Glen Etive road. I was providing some cover when they were filming. Got to see nothing, and had one of the most boring days of my life sitting in a car as the radio reception and mobile reception is poor there. Still, it was a job.

[ChrisBMW]

Thanks for the info guys, must include this on my next trip

[Mostro]

Fantastic thread, my dream route of the Highlands is almost complete. One section I can't decide on though: Glencoe to Portree...

a) A82 to Loch Lochy and then the A87 past the five sisters to Eilean Donan and the Kyle of Lochalsh

b) A82 to Fort William and then the A830 via Glenfinnan to Mallaig, and up from the south of Skye

c) The Corran ferry and the A815 round the south of Loch Shiel, joining up with the A830 to Mallaig

Anyone have any preferences? Which am I going to miss out on most if I don't take it?

[mv6]

a or c. Last did a in August,and last did c 2 weeks ago! No single track with a,but quite a bit with c.

[sjabrown]

Mostro said:

Fantastic thread, my dream route of the Highlands is almost complete. One section I can't decide on though: Glencoe to Portree...

a) A82 to Loch Lochy and then the A87 past the five sisters to Eilean Donan and the Kyle of Lochalsh

b) A82 to Fort William and then the A830 via Glenfinnan to Mallaig, and up from the south of Skye

c) The Corran ferry and the A815 round the south of Loch Shiel, joining up with the A830 to Mallaig

Anyone have any preferences? Which am I going to miss out on most if I don't take it?

Depends on how much of a 'drive' you're planning: Pushing on on route A will have you going at silly speeds in places as the road is generally quite wide and apart from Ballachulish to Invergarry is quiet. Route C has a lot of single track, and the surface is poor in places but I'd argue the scenery is better. Just a personal thing but the A830 to Mallaig I don't like, too many tourists and I've seen the results of too many bad accidents from it over the years

[Mostro]

sjabrown said:

Depends on how much of a 'drive' you're planning: Pushing on on route A will have you going at silly speeds in places as the road is generally quite wide and apart from Ballachulish to Invergarry is quiet. Route C has a lot of single track, and the surface is poor in places but I'd argue the scenery is better. Just a personal thing but the A830 to Mallaig I don't like, too many tourists and I've seen the results of too many bad accidents from it over the years

I'd originally planned b) to Mallaig, but on reviewing Streetmap I reckon the A87 is unmissable particularly up through the five sisters section. I'm going to add an extra twist and take the mountain pass over to the Glenelg ferry instead.

I reckon the rest of the trip will contain enough single track and stunning scenery that I cn afford to give the A815 a miss and save some time. Not going to next Spring, so plenty of time to change my mind yet!

[GordonL]

Ft Wm to Kyle is my once weekly commute. the run from Invergarry over to Kintale is pretty awesome even when you do it every week.

It's better in the Winter when the tourists are gone and the scenery is nicer in the Autumn.

[Craikeybaby]

Mostro said:

Fantastic thread, my dream route of the Highlands is almost complete. One section I can't decide on though: Glencoe to Portree...

a) A82 to Loch Lochy and then the A87 past the five sisters to Eilean Donan and the Kyle of Lochalsh

b) A82 to Fort William and then the A830 via Glenfinnan to Mallaig, and up from the south of Skye

c) The Corran ferry and the A815 round the south of Loch Shiel, joining up with the A830 to Mallaig

Anyone have any preferences? Which am I going to miss out on most if I don't take it?

I went the opposite way this summer, Portree to Fort William and took option b, the ferry had already been paid for as part of an island hopper deal and as it was in the evening we weren't sure if the Corran ferry would still be running when we got there. I thought the A830 was one of the best drives of the week and would ccertainly do it again!

[Red Devil]

Mostro said:

I'd originally planned b) to Mallaig, but on reviewing Streetmap I reckon the A87 is unmissable particularly up through the five sisters section. I'm going to add an extra twist and take the mountain pass over to the Glenelg ferry instead.

^^This^^

The section from the Cluanie Inn to Shiel Bridge is stunning.
However there is a plan in the pipeline which will make it a little less ejoyable.
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/road/safety/Sp...

The 1100 ft Mam Ratagan pass is by far the best way to get to Skye.
Kintail & Loch Duich
Towards Glenelg

[JM]

Red Devil said:

^^This^^

The section from the Cluanie Inn to Shiel Bridge is stunning.
However there is a plan in the pipeline which will make it a little less ejoyable.
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/road/safety/Sp...

But there is no proposal to change the limit between Cluanie and Shiel Bridge.

And of the 36 sections, there is one proposal to reduce the limit from 60 to 50, yet three proposals to raise the limits from 40 to 50 mph.

How will that make it "less enjoyable"?

[Red Devil]

JM said:

Red Devil said:

^^This^^

The section from the Cluanie Inn to Shiel Bridge is stunning.
However there is a plan in the pipeline which will make it a little less ejoyable.
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/road/safety/Sp...

But there is no proposal to change the limit between Cluanie and Shiel Bridge.

True. I wasn't clear enough. I didn't mean that bit.

JM said:

And of the 36 sections, there is one proposal to reduce the limit from 60 to 50, yet three proposals to raise the limits from 40 to 50 mph.

They are not proposing to act on any of the increases. However what's the betting they will with the reduction over the first 6 miles from Invergarry to the Glengarry viewpoint?

JM said:

How will that make it "less enjoyable"?

That introductory section sets the scene with plenty of nice fast flowing bends especially alongside the loch. I can't see the need for the reduction and it will make all those bits where an overtake is possible null and void. It's like wood rot. Once established, unless treated it will inexorably begin to creep further.

[Mostro]

Red Devil said:

^^This^^

The section from the Cluanie Inn to Shiel Bridge is stunning.
However there is a plan in the pipeline which will make it a little less ejoyable.
http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/road/safety/Sp...

The 1100 ft Mam Ratagan pass is by far the best way to get to Skye.

Excellent, that's that decided then.

Next question, on Skye the A850/A863 loop around to Dunvegan looks like a decently twistly two-lane road on Streetview. Is it worth the 25 mile detour from the A87?

[320touring]

Mostro said:

Excellent, that's that decided then.

Next question, on Skye the A850/A863 loop around to Dunvegan looks like a decently twistly two-lane road on Streetview. Is it worth the 25 mile detour from the A87?

YES.

Just mind and obey the 30 sections through the villages

[Red Devil]

Mostro said:

Excellent, that's that decided then.

I should have added - provided you don't have time contraints. It will take a fair bit longer to get to Broadford than by going via Kyle of Lochalsh and over the bridge!

[Mostro]

No worries, have brought forward day 1's destination to take in this and the Trossachs detours

[alangla]

Mostro said:

No worries, have brought forward day 1's destination to take in this and the Trossachs detours

Be aware that the Dukes Pass is now closed & probably will remain so until it gets a bit milder - definitely worth keeping an eye on http://trafficscotland.org/ if you're coming up any time soon.

[quiraing]

If you're going to Skye take the east-coast north road between Portree and Flodigarry. Absolutely stunning. Check out Old Man Of Storr and the Quiraing. (look them up on the interweb). Can have refreshment at Flodigarry hotel too, sitting outside with a gorgeous view. Hope you have time to try this one.

[Mostro]

quiraing said:

If you're going to Skye take the east-coast north road between Portree and Flodigarry. Absolutely stunning. Check out Old Man Of Storr and the Quiraing. (look them up on the interweb). Can have refreshment at Flodigarry hotel too, sitting outside with a gorgeous view. Hope you have time to try this one.

Yep, planning a double loop of Skye, southwest via Dunvegan, then to Uig and via the Quiraing (how do you pronounce that?!) to Staffin and down to Portree....

Not till Spring/early summer though.

[GetCarter]

Jackal's latest vid, WELL worth a watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMafgPR7XXg&hd=...