West scotland 2 dayer recommendations

[BEN99W]

I'll be getting hitched in Gretna Green next april and we fancied a couple of days whizzing the MX5 turbo around the highlands after.

I've limited experience of Scotland, so wondered if anyone recommend a route or area to aim for bearing in mind we only have a couple of days to spare and might not want to spend all day in the car, and then we'll have to drive back home to essex.

I'd also welcome suggestions of places to stay for a newly married couple.

Thanks

Ben

[clunkbox]

How about this: https://goo.gl/maps/bTvCP

12:30 driving Gretna to Gretna, so roughly 6 hours each day, staying between Salen and Fort William. Only the first two and last two hours are on mediocre roads, the rest should be pretty enjoyable from a driving / scenery point of view, while avoiding repeating roads.

While it's many years since I've been on the Salen > Lochailort road so I can't vouch for that section, a quick look at street view suggests it is w worthwhile to avoid doing Lochailort > Fort William twice, and means you get half an hour to relax at the corran ferry.

10:42 version with less detours: https://goo.gl/maps/qIDD7

15 Hour version via Skye, probably too long: https://goo.gl/maps/K5IqL

[stevoknevo]

Bit different from me, and takes in a part of the west coast that people rarely venture to, and really miss out as it has fantastic scenery (when it's dry and clear, which it often is in April)

GG to Ardrossan via Dumfires; ferry from Ardrossan to Cambeltown; Campbeltown to Corran via Tarbert, Lochgilphead and Oban (A83/A816 Campbeltown to Oban is a cracking road; Corran ferry to Salen, Arisaig and Fort William; Fort William to Glencoe and a lap of the 'Leven Ring; Glencoe to Glasgow.

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?hl=en&h...

[GetCarter]

www.torridon.com

Sorted

[loskie]

head due west to The Mull Of Galloway, stay at Portpatrick. Up the Ayrshire coast via Culzean Castle hop over to Arran then back home. Or miss out Arran and finish up in a swanky hotel in Glasgow after a quick blast to Loch Lomond

EDIT

At Portpatrick for extravagance try Knockinaam Lodge or Fernhill hotel also good too.

Dont go all the way on the A75. Cut off at Crocketford and take the rural route via New Galloway to Newton Stewart. A lovely drive, last Clatteringshaws Loch, deer and wild goat park.

Edited by loskie on Monday 14th September 07:27

[clunkbox]

Arran would be pretty fun in a turbo MX5 as long as it isn't too stiff - the road surfaces aren't great. "Fun" Fact: Arran is bigger than Malta.

[dumfriesdave]

As an alternative to heading for the Highlands why not stay around the South of Scotland?

Leaving Gretna head to Dumfries then take the coastal roads where there are some nice driving roads, and many small local hotels or B+B's to choose from.

If you insist on going further up Scotland then try detouring to Dumfries, take A76 road towards Kilmarnock, and at a small village Carronbridge turn onto the A702. Known as Dalveen Pass this is a great drivers road with stunning scenery, and it ends back on the M74 motorway.
Google Dalveen Pass for images.

[BEN99W]

Thanks guys- that's some great information. It's good to know I don't need to go far north to encounter some nice driving roads and scenery.

Cheers

Ben

[ianrb]

As has been mentioned Dumfries & Galaway are close at hand, as are the Scottish borders, Northumberland, the North Pennines and The Lake District.
To be honest the Highland and back from Gretna is going to take the best part of your 2 days. It's fine if you like driving, but how will your new wife respond?

[SmilerFTM]

clunkbox said:

How about this: https://goo.gl/maps/bTvCP

12:30 driving Gretna to Gretna, so roughly 6 hours each day, staying between Salen and Fort William. Only the first two and last two hours are on mediocre roads, the rest should be pretty enjoyable from a driving / scenery point of view, while avoiding repeating roads.

While it's many years since I've been on the Salen > Lochailort road so I can't vouch for that section, a quick look at street view suggests it is w worthwhile to avoid doing Lochailort > Fort William twice, and means you get half an hour to relax at the corran ferry.

10:42 version with less detours: https://goo.gl/maps/qIDD7

15 Hour version via Skye, probably too long: https://goo.gl/maps/K5IqL

I'd maybe look at adding in the Dalveen pass and also Dukes pass somehow. Both superb driving roads

[plenty]

SmilerFTM said:

I'd maybe look at adding in the Dalveen pass and also Dukes pass somehow. Both superb driving roads

+1 The Highlands are incomparable but if pushed for time the Scottish Borders is a more than adequate option. In fact Gretna is also close to the Pennines which offers treasures such as the Hartside Pass.

[coppice]

Here's some advice;avoid Gretna it's ghastly, and (obviously ) barely even in Scotland. And whilst Dumfries and Galloway has some very good roads they don't even begin to compare with the North West. So check out getting hitched deals in Ullapool, Gareloch or Lochinver and enjoy a wonderful setting to be wed and divine driving roads too.

Oh yes- don't look at the map and think " Hmm.... Fort William is well located" as FW makes Gretna look like bloody Florence .

[loskie]

remember too that the drink drive laws changed in Scotland now less than England so beware the morning after.

https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/check-the-facts/alcoh...


Agree Gretna is a bit dismal. But the west of Dumfries part of Dumfries and Galloway is very beautiful. Some very good roads too.