trip too the highlands - advice needed
Discussion
hiya guys.
im planning a trip up too the highlands at the end of april too sample some of your awesome roads but wondered if someone could give me some pointers on where too go?
which area do i want too be in? wheres the best roads? any reccomendations on a place too stay thats in a decent location too the surrounding roads?
planning on staying up about 4 days for some intense driving.
any help much appreciated.
alex.
im planning a trip up too the highlands at the end of april too sample some of your awesome roads but wondered if someone could give me some pointers on where too go?
which area do i want too be in? wheres the best roads? any reccomendations on a place too stay thats in a decent location too the surrounding roads?
planning on staying up about 4 days for some intense driving.
any help much appreciated.
alex.
funny you should mention him actually as it was his pics that inspired me todo the trip.
http://www.stevecarter.com/picaday/roads.htm
ill investigate his site further.
thanks for the reply.
http://www.stevecarter.com/picaday/roads.htm
ill investigate his site further.
thanks for the reply.
).oh and by the way ive started a couple of threads over on my local forums too see if anyone from my usual crowd fancys it but anyone is welcome if they fancy it.
might be handy having someone whos knows where hes going (well more than me atleast)
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
might be handy having someone whos knows where hes going (well more than me atleast)
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Here's an itinerary that I suggested to another PHer who asked the same question on another forum.
I assume you are arriving in Scotland on the Monday and aiming to be in Edinburgh on the Friday. That leaves you 3 full days of driving.
My itinary would be:
Day 1 - Start from Stirling, which is a nice place to visit/stay. Take the A84 via Callander to Lochearnhead, where it joins the A85. Take the A85 to Crianlarich, where it joins the A82. You have a choice here. If you have the time I recommend taking the A82 south to Tarbet, then R onto the A83 to Lochgilphead via Inveraray. From Lochgilphead take the A816 to Oban and beyond to Connel Bridge. Take the A828 N to Ballachulish, where you join the A82. Take this road N thru Fort William to Spean Bridge. Just beyond Spean Bridge by the Commando Memorial you will find a turn to the left to Gairlochy. About 1/2 mile down this road on the R you will find a restaurant with rooms called the Old Pines. If you can get booked in I thoroughly recommend it for your 1st night.
www.oldpines.co.uk/
Day 2 - Continue along the A82 to just past Laggan. Turn L onto the A87 towards Kyle of Lochalsh. Just past Eilan Donan - the castle you see on all the calenders - watch out for a R turn onto the A890 to Strathcarron. Just past there take a L onto the A896. About a mile past Ardarroch look out for a minor road to Applecross. This is the famous Bealach na Ba - The Pass of the Cattle. From Applecross you can retrace your steps back to the A896 and continue N. Or you can continue on the single track road and rejoin the A896 at Shieldaig. This road affords wonderful views across the sea to Skye.
From Shieldaig continue on the A896 to Kinlochewe, where you turn L onto the A832. Stay on this road until you get to A835. Turn L towards Ullapool. You can get very good fish and chips in Ullapool. I reckon 4 -5 hours to Ullapool.
N of here you are definitely in the boonies. a lot of the roads are single track - even the A roads. The scenery is fabulous. Another great place to stay and eat is the Summer Isles Hotel at Achiltibuie, if you can get booked in.
www.summerisleshotel.co.uk/
Day 3 - Retrace your steps to Ullapool and take the A835 S towards Inverness. You join the A9 just before Inverness. Just S of Inverness take the A96 to Nairn, where you take the A939 S to Grantown-on-Spey. Here you will turn L and join the A95 for about a mile towards Aberlour. Just out of Grantown you take a R back onto the A939. Stay on this road thru Tomintoul and over the Lecht and down to Cock Bridge. Look out for road to your R. This is still the A939, but it is a turn to the R. It will be sign posted to Ballater.
From Ballater you have choice. You can turn R onto the A93 to Braemar and over Glenshee and onto Perth and Edinburgh. Or you can go into Ballater and over the bridge to the S Deeside road. Just over the bridge turn L onto the B976. Stay on this road until just past Finzean - pronounced Fingen - where you take a R onto the road over Cairn O'Mount. This will be sign posted to Fettercairn. If you miss this turn just continue to Strachan - pronounced Strawn. You can turn R there for Fettercairn over the Cairn O'Mount. From Fettercairn proceed onto the A90 and head for Edinburgh via Dundee and Perth.
The roads up here are great for driving. Most of the time you will encounter very little traffic. You will be there during the tourist season, so you may encounter a few dawdlers. As someone has already pointed out there are cameras on the A9 and on the A90. Elsewhere you may come across mobile cameras. Some of the camera partnerships post their intended target roads on their websites. So you can check this out before you go.
www.nescamp.co.uk/
That said most of the roads in the Highlands have unrestricted visibility, so keep a keen eye on the road ahead and you should be OK.
Enjoy!
I assume you are arriving in Scotland on the Monday and aiming to be in Edinburgh on the Friday. That leaves you 3 full days of driving.
My itinary would be:
Day 1 - Start from Stirling, which is a nice place to visit/stay. Take the A84 via Callander to Lochearnhead, where it joins the A85. Take the A85 to Crianlarich, where it joins the A82. You have a choice here. If you have the time I recommend taking the A82 south to Tarbet, then R onto the A83 to Lochgilphead via Inveraray. From Lochgilphead take the A816 to Oban and beyond to Connel Bridge. Take the A828 N to Ballachulish, where you join the A82. Take this road N thru Fort William to Spean Bridge. Just beyond Spean Bridge by the Commando Memorial you will find a turn to the left to Gairlochy. About 1/2 mile down this road on the R you will find a restaurant with rooms called the Old Pines. If you can get booked in I thoroughly recommend it for your 1st night.
www.oldpines.co.uk/
Day 2 - Continue along the A82 to just past Laggan. Turn L onto the A87 towards Kyle of Lochalsh. Just past Eilan Donan - the castle you see on all the calenders - watch out for a R turn onto the A890 to Strathcarron. Just past there take a L onto the A896. About a mile past Ardarroch look out for a minor road to Applecross. This is the famous Bealach na Ba - The Pass of the Cattle. From Applecross you can retrace your steps back to the A896 and continue N. Or you can continue on the single track road and rejoin the A896 at Shieldaig. This road affords wonderful views across the sea to Skye.
From Shieldaig continue on the A896 to Kinlochewe, where you turn L onto the A832. Stay on this road until you get to A835. Turn L towards Ullapool. You can get very good fish and chips in Ullapool. I reckon 4 -5 hours to Ullapool.
N of here you are definitely in the boonies. a lot of the roads are single track - even the A roads. The scenery is fabulous. Another great place to stay and eat is the Summer Isles Hotel at Achiltibuie, if you can get booked in.
www.summerisleshotel.co.uk/
Day 3 - Retrace your steps to Ullapool and take the A835 S towards Inverness. You join the A9 just before Inverness. Just S of Inverness take the A96 to Nairn, where you take the A939 S to Grantown-on-Spey. Here you will turn L and join the A95 for about a mile towards Aberlour. Just out of Grantown you take a R back onto the A939. Stay on this road thru Tomintoul and over the Lecht and down to Cock Bridge. Look out for road to your R. This is still the A939, but it is a turn to the R. It will be sign posted to Ballater.
From Ballater you have choice. You can turn R onto the A93 to Braemar and over Glenshee and onto Perth and Edinburgh. Or you can go into Ballater and over the bridge to the S Deeside road. Just over the bridge turn L onto the B976. Stay on this road until just past Finzean - pronounced Fingen - where you take a R onto the road over Cairn O'Mount. This will be sign posted to Fettercairn. If you miss this turn just continue to Strachan - pronounced Strawn. You can turn R there for Fettercairn over the Cairn O'Mount. From Fettercairn proceed onto the A90 and head for Edinburgh via Dundee and Perth.
The roads up here are great for driving. Most of the time you will encounter very little traffic. You will be there during the tourist season, so you may encounter a few dawdlers. As someone has already pointed out there are cameras on the A9 and on the A90. Elsewhere you may come across mobile cameras. Some of the camera partnerships post their intended target roads on their websites. So you can check this out before you go.
www.nescamp.co.uk/
That said most of the roads in the Highlands have unrestricted visibility, so keep a keen eye on the road ahead and you should be OK.
Enjoy!
CharlesW said:
Here's an itinerary that I suggested to another PHer who asked the same question on another forum.
I assume you are arriving in Scotland on the Monday and aiming to be in Edinburgh on the Friday. That leaves you 3 full days of driving.
My itinary would be:
Day 1 - Start from Stirling, which is a nice place to visit/stay. Take the A84 via Callander to Lochearnhead, where it joins the A85. Take the A85 to Crianlarich, where it joins the A82. You have a choice here. If you have the time I recommend taking the A82 south to Tarbet, then R onto the A83 to Lochgilphead via Inveraray. From Lochgilphead take the A816 to Oban and beyond to Connel Bridge. Take the A828 N to Ballachulish, where you join the A82. Take this road N thru Fort William to Spean Bridge. Just beyond Spean Bridge by the Commando Memorial you will find a turn to the left to Gairlochy. About 1/2 mile down this road on the R you will find a restaurant with rooms called the Old Pines. If you can get booked in I thoroughly recommend it for your 1st night.
www.oldpines.co.uk/
Day 2 - Continue along the A82 to just past Laggan. Turn L onto the A87 towards Kyle of Lochalsh. Just past Eilan Donan - the castle you see on all the calenders - watch out for a R turn onto the A890 to Strathcarron. Just past there take a L onto the A896. About a mile past Ardarroch look out for a minor road to Applecross. This is the famous Bealach na Ba - The Pass of the Cattle. From Applecross you can retrace your steps back to the A896 and continue N. Or you can continue on the single track road and rejoin the A896 at Shieldaig. This road affords wonderful views across the sea to Skye.
From Shieldaig continue on the A896 to Kinlochewe, where you turn L onto the A832. Stay on this road until you get to A835. Turn L towards Ullapool. You can get very good fish and chips in Ullapool. I reckon 4 -5 hours to Ullapool.
N of here you are definitely in the boonies. a lot of the roads are single track - even the A roads. The scenery is fabulous. Another great place to stay and eat is the Summer Isles Hotel at Achiltibuie, if you can get booked in.
www.summerisleshotel.co.uk/
Day 3 - Retrace your steps to Ullapool and take the A835 S towards Inverness. You join the A9 just before Inverness. Just S of Inverness take the A96 to Nairn, where you take the A939 S to Grantown-on-Spey. Here you will turn L and join the A95 for about a mile towards Aberlour. Just out of Grantown you take a R back onto the A939. Stay on this road thru Tomintoul and over the Lecht and down to Cock Bridge. Look out for road to your R. This is still the A939, but it is a turn to the R. It will be sign posted to Ballater.
From Ballater you have choice. You can turn R onto the A93 to Braemar and over Glenshee and onto Perth and Edinburgh. Or you can go into Ballater and over the bridge to the S Deeside road. Just over the bridge turn L onto the B976. Stay on this road until just past Finzean - pronounced Fingen - where you take a R onto the road over Cairn O'Mount. This will be sign posted to Fettercairn. If you miss this turn just continue to Strachan - pronounced Strawn. You can turn R there for Fettercairn over the Cairn O'Mount. From Fettercairn proceed onto the A90 and head for Edinburgh via Dundee and Perth.
The roads up here are great for driving. Most of the time you will encounter very little traffic. You will be there during the tourist season, so you may encounter a few dawdlers. As someone has already pointed out there are cameras on the A9 and on the A90. Elsewhere you may come across mobile cameras. Some of the camera partnerships post their intended target roads on their websites. So you can check this out before you go.
www.nescamp.co.uk/
That said most of the roads in the Highlands have unrestricted visibility, so keep a keen eye on the road ahead and you should be OK.
Enjoy!
An excellant route, takes in all the bet bits, The last bit over the Cairn O'Mount is my route to work. I assume you are arriving in Scotland on the Monday and aiming to be in Edinburgh on the Friday. That leaves you 3 full days of driving.
My itinary would be:
Day 1 - Start from Stirling, which is a nice place to visit/stay. Take the A84 via Callander to Lochearnhead, where it joins the A85. Take the A85 to Crianlarich, where it joins the A82. You have a choice here. If you have the time I recommend taking the A82 south to Tarbet, then R onto the A83 to Lochgilphead via Inveraray. From Lochgilphead take the A816 to Oban and beyond to Connel Bridge. Take the A828 N to Ballachulish, where you join the A82. Take this road N thru Fort William to Spean Bridge. Just beyond Spean Bridge by the Commando Memorial you will find a turn to the left to Gairlochy. About 1/2 mile down this road on the R you will find a restaurant with rooms called the Old Pines. If you can get booked in I thoroughly recommend it for your 1st night.
www.oldpines.co.uk/
Day 2 - Continue along the A82 to just past Laggan. Turn L onto the A87 towards Kyle of Lochalsh. Just past Eilan Donan - the castle you see on all the calenders - watch out for a R turn onto the A890 to Strathcarron. Just past there take a L onto the A896. About a mile past Ardarroch look out for a minor road to Applecross. This is the famous Bealach na Ba - The Pass of the Cattle. From Applecross you can retrace your steps back to the A896 and continue N. Or you can continue on the single track road and rejoin the A896 at Shieldaig. This road affords wonderful views across the sea to Skye.
From Shieldaig continue on the A896 to Kinlochewe, where you turn L onto the A832. Stay on this road until you get to A835. Turn L towards Ullapool. You can get very good fish and chips in Ullapool. I reckon 4 -5 hours to Ullapool.
N of here you are definitely in the boonies. a lot of the roads are single track - even the A roads. The scenery is fabulous. Another great place to stay and eat is the Summer Isles Hotel at Achiltibuie, if you can get booked in.
www.summerisleshotel.co.uk/
Day 3 - Retrace your steps to Ullapool and take the A835 S towards Inverness. You join the A9 just before Inverness. Just S of Inverness take the A96 to Nairn, where you take the A939 S to Grantown-on-Spey. Here you will turn L and join the A95 for about a mile towards Aberlour. Just out of Grantown you take a R back onto the A939. Stay on this road thru Tomintoul and over the Lecht and down to Cock Bridge. Look out for road to your R. This is still the A939, but it is a turn to the R. It will be sign posted to Ballater.
From Ballater you have choice. You can turn R onto the A93 to Braemar and over Glenshee and onto Perth and Edinburgh. Or you can go into Ballater and over the bridge to the S Deeside road. Just over the bridge turn L onto the B976. Stay on this road until just past Finzean - pronounced Fingen - where you take a R onto the road over Cairn O'Mount. This will be sign posted to Fettercairn. If you miss this turn just continue to Strachan - pronounced Strawn. You can turn R there for Fettercairn over the Cairn O'Mount. From Fettercairn proceed onto the A90 and head for Edinburgh via Dundee and Perth.
The roads up here are great for driving. Most of the time you will encounter very little traffic. You will be there during the tourist season, so you may encounter a few dawdlers. As someone has already pointed out there are cameras on the A9 and on the A90. Elsewhere you may come across mobile cameras. Some of the camera partnerships post their intended target roads on their websites. So you can check this out before you go.
www.nescamp.co.uk/
That said most of the roads in the Highlands have unrestricted visibility, so keep a keen eye on the road ahead and you should be OK.
Enjoy!
Edited to add
In terms of how far North to go past Ullapool I would go up to Kylesku bridge and turn round in the layby just to the North, Peugot used in in an advert a few years ago, just imagine a car crossing it going woohoo or wheee or something.
Edited by Pooh on Wednesday 24th October 07:20
fantastic stuff there mate,
thanks for taking the time out too reply.
im planning on heading up friday morning and do the biggest slog in one day hopefully arriving at my first stop off in the evening.
the original plan was too have one place too stay then go from there each day but looks like the best way too get the most out of the trip is too move from place too place.
need too look into this further and figure out exactly what im doing.
kind regards
alex.
thanks for taking the time out too reply.
im planning on heading up friday morning and do the biggest slog in one day hopefully arriving at my first stop off in the evening.
the original plan was too have one place too stay then go from there each day but looks like the best way too get the most out of the trip is too move from place too place.
need too look into this further and figure out exactly what im doing.
kind regards
alex.
Hi,
I am from and live in inverness,so i come arcoss theses roads every weekend. One of the best places to go when out on west coast is applecross, Dont go the costal route,thats rubbish,there will be a turning right just past lochcarron and that will be you onto one of the best roads in highlands,if not scotland.
Anymore advice wanted people,give me a shout
I am from and live in inverness,so i come arcoss theses roads every weekend. One of the best places to go when out on west coast is applecross, Dont go the costal route,thats rubbish,there will be a turning right just past lochcarron and that will be you onto one of the best roads in highlands,if not scotland.
Anymore advice wanted people,give me a shout
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