Scottish Old Military Road (A939, A93)

[scott1205]

]Me and a couple of friends spent last weekend climbing Ben Nevis. These group of friends are all so very into cars. (Cars and hiking are two hobbies that go together very well as the best hikes seem to be only a couple of miles away from some of the best driving roads) Anyway a few weeks before booking up I seen a video, Evo magazine posted on youtube, about the Scottish Old Military Road.





With this being on the way home to Newcastle anyway we thought we would take a slight de-tour and try this road for ourselves.



If anyone is ever in the area I would strongly recommend this road, it’s the best driving road I have driven in the UK!

I have some Gopro Footage so I thought I would share.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snV5LMymtK0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3B7SA8PZJQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kOShoS0IlU



Thanks
Scott

[jamiem555]

They're great roads. Good to see an M3 being driven as it should be. I take the Glenshee road on my commute to Aberdeen sometimes. Usually at about half six in the morning. Great fun!

[MX5_Nutter]

Did the route in both directions last month on route to the highlands. Amazing super fast road! Best bit for me was near the start from Blairgowrie where the road twists and there's humps after humps - Super good fun with the pedal nailed

[Red Devil]

An alternative route from Inverness to Grantown-on-Spey - https://goo.gl/maps/5goFykhwrBx
Plus points. Some fun B roads: more of the excellent A939: avoids the camera infested A9.
Minus points. None (unless you count a little extra time needed).

What's not to like?

[PaulD86]

A great route that one. One of my favs, especially between Glenshee and Blairgowrie which is roller-coaster like in places. The camera makes the crest look better sited than they really are, some are pretty blind.

Did you hit the bird at about 8:12 in clip one? Was close!

[Chris944]

Oooh-er. This looks just great and a 2016 Spring trip is kind of forming itself in my head.

[Peanut Gallery]

Just to say that this pic



is from Mallorca, not here is Scotland, unless I am wrong!

"So, they got the latest model of the German company and went up the mountain Mallorca and specifically in the streets of Cap de Formentor and Sa Calobra. These two roads, constructed in 1932 by the engineer Antonio Parietti, with the natural landscape that surrounds them It is really beautiful and the road rejoice to the drive. Enjoy!"

Really good roads in that area though, Ballater through to Tomintoul has some epic scenery, and snow and ice when least expected....

Edit to add..
http://www.autoblog.gr/2014/08/05/des-poioi-einai-...
The vid is in English, drool worthy.

Edited by Peanut Gallery on Tuesday 17th November 09:15

[Patrick Bateman]

The twisty sections south of Glenshee are some of my favourite, there's a such a terrific flow through the corners when you get a clean run.

[gruffalo]

Are there any speed traps on the A93?

A group of us are heading up there late April and would like to enjoy the A93 if possible, nothing silly but not driving like my gran either.

[Patrick Bateman]

No.

There are sections that have signs for speed cameras but I've yet to see any on my travels.

[stevemiller]

I intend to do the 500 early next year and can see this being added both north and south, thanks enjoyed very much.

Steve

[vrsmxtb]

As much as I rave about the NW coast of Scotland for driving, this sequence of roads is really very special. I remember tagging onto the back of an enthusiastically driven Focus ST170 in my Mk1 MX5 one year for a big chunk of it and was definitely the most fun I've had on a UK road!!

[Clivew]

gruffalo said:

Are there any speed traps on the A93?

The road is regularly patrolled by an unmarked police bike fitted with video equipment.

[PaulD86]

gruffalo said:

Are there any speed traps on the A93?

It's not unusual to have unmarked cars on it either. I know this as I was done by one midway between Braemar and Glenshee.

[Patrick Bateman]

PaulD86 said:

It's not unusual to have unmarked cars on it either. I know this as I was done by one midway between Braemar and Glenshee.

How fast were you going?

[PaulD86]

Patrick Bateman said:

How fast were you going?

A moving average at 89 over 1/5 or 1/4 mile - I forget. They 'knew' I touched 100. Put 80 on the ticket as some apparent act of generosity or something. 3 points and £100 fine last May. There is more to the story, but I can't be bothered typing it all.

More importantly, the V6S F-type I was driving was great fun!

Edited by PaulD86 on Friday 18th December 10:08

[gruffalo]

Is there nowhere left for a bit of fun?!?!

Oh well I guess we will be in Miss Daisy mode then.

[Patrick Bateman]

gruffalo said:

Is there nowhere left for a bit of fun?!?!

Oh well I guess we will be in Miss Daisy mode then.

One instance does not mean it's full of unmarked cars. It can get busier in the better weather but it's still absolutely dead as far as A roads go, as such policing is always going to be less.

The last trip I did up to Grantown this way a month or so ago was absolutely dead. During an early morning trip back in the summer, the first thing to actually have held me up was at Tomintoul, and that's all the way from Bridge of Cally.

[PaulD86]

I still drive the road briskly, but I am more cautious over the section from Braemar to just south of Glenshee now as that's where I have seen or been aware of unmarked cars. There is a spot I've seen them a couple of times near where I got caught so I am particularly well behaved through that section. But it's an epic bit of tarmac so I'm not about to stop enjoying it altogether.

[Patrick Bateman]

I tend not to go mental, the twisty bits are the best bits anyway.