Discussion
I'll visit the Highlands for the first time in October and booked into the Torridon Inn for two nights, then move further south towards Oban. With the great info from this thread, I plotted out a number of driving adventures - there seems not much more to do than driving and eating. Heaven!
However, I have yet to decide not on the routes, but on the way to tackle them. The objective are the views and the driving excitement ;-).
1. Rest & be Thankful: from the east or from the west?
2. The Inveraray-Lochgilphead-Oban-Lochawe loop: clockwise or anti-clockwise and why?
3. The Glencoe loop: clockwise or anti-clockwise?
4. Duke's pass: clockwise or anti-clockwise?
Thanks!
However, I have yet to decide not on the routes, but on the way to tackle them. The objective are the views and the driving excitement ;-).
1. Rest & be Thankful: from the east or from the west?
2. The Inveraray-Lochgilphead-Oban-Lochawe loop: clockwise or anti-clockwise and why?
3. The Glencoe loop: clockwise or anti-clockwise?
4. Duke's pass: clockwise or anti-clockwise?
Thanks!
chalda said:
I'll visit the Highlands for the first time in October and booked into the Torridon Inn for two nights, then move further south towards Oban. With the great info from this thread, I plotted out a number of driving adventures - there seems not much more to do than driving and eating. Heaven!
However, I have yet to decide not on the routes, but on the way to tackle them. The objective are the views and the driving excitement ;-).
1. Rest & be Thankful: from the east or from the west?
2. The Inveraray-Lochgilphead-Oban-Lochawe loop: clockwise or anti-clockwise and why?
3. The Glencoe loop: clockwise or anti-clockwise?
4. Duke's pass: clockwise or anti-clockwise?
Thanks!
1. Rest & be Thankful: from the east or from the west?However, I have yet to decide not on the routes, but on the way to tackle them. The objective are the views and the driving excitement ;-).
1. Rest & be Thankful: from the east or from the west?
2. The Inveraray-Lochgilphead-Oban-Lochawe loop: clockwise or anti-clockwise and why?
3. The Glencoe loop: clockwise or anti-clockwise?
4. Duke's pass: clockwise or anti-clockwise?
Thanks!
My personal preference is east to west, driving up the rest, the approach from Arrochar can be a quick stretch of road. Although lay-bys/car parks between Arrochar and Ardgarten can be busy with walkers and divers.
2. The Inveraray-Lochgilphead-Oban-Lochawe loop: clockwise or anti-clockwise and why?
Anti-clockwise for me, the drive up the hill from Inveraray towards Loch Awe is a glorious section of road. The section from Inveraray to Lochgilphead has never really done much for me to be honest. Just watch for speed guns at Taynuilt.
3. The Glencoe loop: clockwise or anti-clockwise?
Anti-clockwise for me, Glencoe opens up to you from this direction (if you've not been before it should make sense when you do it) also include the loop at Kinlochleven.
4. Duke's pass: clockwise or anti-clockwise
Again personal preference is to approach from the Aberfolye end. Think I prefer driving uphill than down Loch Katrine is a nice spot to stop at too.
Cheers,
C
Thanks for your help! Two more, if I may:
And taking the Glenelg ferry over the Ratagan pass, better approach the pass from the the east or from the west (pass first or ferry first)? I want to throw in lunch at Glenelg. Thanks!
cat220 said:
the loop at Kinlochleven
I assume both directions (clockwise/anticlockwise) are equally great?And taking the Glenelg ferry over the Ratagan pass, better approach the pass from the the east or from the west (pass first or ferry first)? I want to throw in lunch at Glenelg. Thanks!
Okay, that will take some beating. I HAVE to go back.
A939 Old Military Road by Bryan Janes, on Flickr
Applecross Inn by Bryan Janes, on Flickr
Applecross Pass by Bryan Janes, on Flickr
Galactic Core over Dunvegan by Bryan Janes, on Flickr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p3DCOvU_tI
A939 Old Military Road by Bryan Janes, on Flickr
Applecross Inn by Bryan Janes, on Flickr
Applecross Pass by Bryan Janes, on Flickr
Galactic Core over Dunvegan by Bryan Janes, on Flickr
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p3DCOvU_tI
cat220 said:
1. Rest & be Thankful: from the east or from the west?
My personal preference is east to west, driving up the rest, the approach from Arrochar can be a quick stretch of road. Although lay-bys/car parks between Arrochar and Ardgarten can be busy with walkers and divers.
2. The Inveraray-Lochgilphead-Oban-Lochawe loop: clockwise or anti-clockwise and why?
Anti-clockwise for me, the drive up the hill from Inveraray towards Loch Awe is a glorious section of road. The section from Inveraray to Lochgilphead has never really done much for me to be honest. Just watch for speed guns at Taynuilt.
3. The Glencoe loop: clockwise or anti-clockwise?
Anti-clockwise for me, Glencoe opens up to you from this direction (if you've not been before it should make sense when you do it) also include the loop at Kinlochleven.
4. Duke's pass: clockwise or anti-clockwise
Again personal preference is to approach from the Aberfolye end. Think I prefer driving uphill than down Loch Katrine is a nice spot to stop at too.
1. Yes.My personal preference is east to west, driving up the rest, the approach from Arrochar can be a quick stretch of road. Although lay-bys/car parks between Arrochar and Ardgarten can be busy with walkers and divers.
2. The Inveraray-Lochgilphead-Oban-Lochawe loop: clockwise or anti-clockwise and why?
Anti-clockwise for me, the drive up the hill from Inveraray towards Loch Awe is a glorious section of road. The section from Inveraray to Lochgilphead has never really done much for me to be honest. Just watch for speed guns at Taynuilt.
3. The Glencoe loop: clockwise or anti-clockwise?
Anti-clockwise for me, Glencoe opens up to you from this direction (if you've not been before it should make sense when you do it) also include the loop at Kinlochleven.
4. Duke's pass: clockwise or anti-clockwise
Again personal preference is to approach from the Aberfolye end. Think I prefer driving uphill than down Loch Katrine is a nice spot to stop at too.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
4. If you prefer driving uphill you'll spend more time doing so north->south though.
@ chalda, there are plenty of videos on youtube from which to get an idea of which direction you might prefer. It's only 6 miles from Aberfoyle to Loch Achray (the turn off to Loch Katrine) but it's such a good drive that I usually arrange my route to/from Scotland to incorporate it both ways.
chalda said:
Thanks for your help! Two more, if I may:
And taking the Glenelg ferry over the Ratagan pass, better approach the pass from the the east or from the west (pass first or ferry first)? I want to throw in lunch at Glenelg. Thanks!
The 'Scotsburgring' is great either way: I prefer it clockwise (the views are better imo) but it's a close call. Again, have a look at youtube vids.cat220 said:
the loop at Kinlochleven
I assume both directions (clockwise/anticlockwise) are equally great?And taking the Glenelg ferry over the Ratagan pass, better approach the pass from the the east or from the west (pass first or ferry first)? I want to throw in lunch at Glenelg. Thanks!
Ratagan pass. The best views on the mainland side are definitely heading east towards Shiel Bridge, whereas on Skye it's quite the opposite, i.e. heading west from Kylerhea. Overall, west->east would be my choice.
chalda said:
I assume both directions (clockwise/anticlockwise) are equally great?
And taking the Glenelg ferry over the Ratagan pass, better approach the pass from the the east or from the west (pass first or ferry first)? I want to throw in lunch at Glenelg. Thanks!
Kinlochleven is good both directions, though I prefer clockwise. Corners on the "low" road seem to flow better that way.And taking the Glenelg ferry over the Ratagan pass, better approach the pass from the the east or from the west (pass first or ferry first)? I want to throw in lunch at Glenelg. Thanks!
My Scotland trip starting this Saturday. It has been in the making now for a few weeks. Hoping for some decent weather.
The idea of the trip is to see some of Scotland's beautiful scenery, drive some great roads, experience some remoteness that we can never get here in the south east. I am also covering some of the East side of the NC500.
Any tips or detours on this trip would be much appreciated.
Let me know what you think of it;
Day 1 – Oxford to Inveraray
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Plane+Tree+Way,+Wo...
Day 2 – Inveraray to Mallaig taking in the Glencoe route or the Sky Fall road as some call it. This will include Fort William and a drive past Ben Nevis
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/The+Inveraray+Inn,...
Day 3 – Mallaig, on the ferry over to Skye, a drive through the south of the island, over the Skye Bridge, to Eileen Castle and then onto Strathcarron to start the NC 500
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Armadale,+Isle+o...
Day 4 – Strathcarron to Apple Cross and along the coast road to Ullapool
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Kelso+Lodge+Cott...
Day 5 – Ullapool to Inverness - Drive from Ullapool to Inverness via Unapool and the famous Evo Bridge onto north Laxford Bridge and then down the A838 through the mountains
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Ullapool,+UK/Una...
Day 6 - Leave Inverness then drive through the Cairgorms using the Military Road down to Ballater then down past Balmoral to Glenshee then over Kinloch Rannoch lake
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Inverness,+UK/Na...
Day 7 – Over to Glasgow area
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Macdonald+Loch+R...
Day 8 – Back down to Oxford
The idea of the trip is to see some of Scotland's beautiful scenery, drive some great roads, experience some remoteness that we can never get here in the south east. I am also covering some of the East side of the NC500.
Any tips or detours on this trip would be much appreciated.
Let me know what you think of it;
Day 1 – Oxford to Inveraray
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Plane+Tree+Way,+Wo...
Day 2 – Inveraray to Mallaig taking in the Glencoe route or the Sky Fall road as some call it. This will include Fort William and a drive past Ben Nevis
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/The+Inveraray+Inn,...
Day 3 – Mallaig, on the ferry over to Skye, a drive through the south of the island, over the Skye Bridge, to Eileen Castle and then onto Strathcarron to start the NC 500
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Armadale,+Isle+o...
Day 4 – Strathcarron to Apple Cross and along the coast road to Ullapool
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Kelso+Lodge+Cott...
Day 5 – Ullapool to Inverness - Drive from Ullapool to Inverness via Unapool and the famous Evo Bridge onto north Laxford Bridge and then down the A838 through the mountains
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Ullapool,+UK/Una...
Day 6 - Leave Inverness then drive through the Cairgorms using the Military Road down to Ballater then down past Balmoral to Glenshee then over Kinloch Rannoch lake
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Inverness,+UK/Na...
Day 7 – Over to Glasgow area
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Macdonald+Loch+R...
Day 8 – Back down to Oxford
Edited by Blakes003 on Tuesday 30th August 13:35
Blakes003 said:
Day 2 – Inveraray to Mallaig taking in the Glencoe route or the Sky Fall road as some call it. This will include Fort William and a drive past Ben Nevis
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/The+Inveraray+Inn,...
We did exactly this route 10 days ago...https://www.google.com/maps/dir/The+Inveraray+Inn,...
Inveraray:
Over Rannoch Moor:
Then into Glen Coe:
Look out for "The Jacobite" steam engine (a.k.a. The Harry Potter Express) - we were lucky enough for it to come alongside us:
Heading into Mallaig:
On the ferry:
Out the other side with a Scottish Flag in the sky(e) to welcome us:
Just in time for a wee dram:
Patrick Bateman said:
A82 and you can add in a load of dawdlers and caravans to that photo just now.
We were hoping to go up the A828 coast road but there were loads of roadworks and tailbacks showing on Google maps, hence taking the Glencoe route instead. But it was surprisingly quiet which made up for it. Plus the A85 from Dalmally to Clifton was astoundlingly excellent. GetCarter said:
Your photographs make mine look like the've been scribbled badly by a child with rubbish crayons. My Inveraray shot looked fantastic in real life and looks a mess on the internet. Here's one of the Plockton lighthouse, which was taken on my iPhone, which no doubt you would take to another level.
Maybe I just need a nice DSLR... or Photoshop :
Jacobyte said:
GetCarter said:
Your photographs make mine look like the've been scribbled badly by a child with rubbish crayons. My Inveraray shot looked fantastic in real life and looks a mess on the internet. Here's one of the Plockton lighthouse, which was taken on my iPhone, which no doubt you would take to another level.
Maybe I just need a nice DSLR... or Photoshop :
ETA - 'twas ever thus, back in the dark room ages when I used to develop wet film, things were no different...and all you need these days is to shoot RAW and open in Lightroom and watch a youtube tutorial, then you'll be sorted.
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 30th August 17:06
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