Blat round Scotland
Discussion
Any suggestions for some particularly good driving roads around Scotland? I have a couple of days off, a Green Card from the Mrs and a need to exceed 40mph by a considerable margin (the rush hour driving is getting to me...).
Am taking the 993 (have small beard, enjoy a good polish (was following the other recent threads so am prepared for the backlash)) Cheers
Am taking the 993 (have small beard, enjoy a good polish (was following the other recent threads so am prepared for the backlash)) Cheers
My advice would be to get to Glasgow and head north on the A82 along Loch Lomand. Then you have the choice of taking the A85 across to Oban or diverting off and driving up Loch LOng - especially worthwhile at dawn.
the A82 and 85 can then take you up into the highlands through Glen Coe to Fort Augustus and along Loch Ness.
Scenery is stunning, and the last time I went there were no scameras at all, which cannot be said for the east coast or the central region up from perth - i have the points to prove it
the A82 and 85 can then take you up into the highlands through Glen Coe to Fort Augustus and along Loch Ness.
Scenery is stunning, and the last time I went there were no scameras at all, which cannot be said for the east coast or the central region up from perth - i have the points to prove it
Thanks Jamie and FM. Nice motors by the way. That link to the earlier discussion was brilliant. I've been to Scotland only twice before, both times crossing the border for a few hours (big hurry - Three Peaks Challenge - team driver. I got the best part of the deal, heh, heh). This trip has been a long time coming and it's great to have some good recommendations. I'll let you know how I get on - will be heading up overnight 22 November and back down on the 25th. Hope I don't bin it...
I followed Charles suggestions in the following.. Lots of mileage but great roads.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=285912
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=285912
If you are driving up from the South, and have a few days [I don't have the road names to hand, so this is from memory):
Drive to Braemar (from the South N.B. th road is a high pass, so note LA's advice above), and make your way over the hills near Ballater - basically making a big curve round to arive just north of Avemore... then drive towards Ullapool (on the West Coast) but turn off to take the coastal road back round to near to the bridge to the Isle of Sky (should be clear on the map) [drive via Torridon to Applecross and over the mountain pass to the East of Applecross if you have time]. Take the road towards Fort Augustus, then to Fort William, then through Glen Coe and back South.
All classic roads, should be a dream in a 911.
Drive to Braemar (from the South N.B. th road is a high pass, so note LA's advice above), and make your way over the hills near Ballater - basically making a big curve round to arive just north of Avemore... then drive towards Ullapool (on the West Coast) but turn off to take the coastal road back round to near to the bridge to the Isle of Sky (should be clear on the map) [drive via Torridon to Applecross and over the mountain pass to the East of Applecross if you have time]. Take the road towards Fort Augustus, then to Fort William, then through Glen Coe and back South.
All classic roads, should be a dream in a 911.
Can offer the following as a more entertaining route from south of the border up to glasgow?
starts at newcastleton, worth the detour! run from jedburgh or carter bar (border) down to newcastleton over B6357 is great too if you're coming from the east.
langholm to lockerbie is a particularily wonderful piece of tar IMHO - polis do use it for training too tho.
watch out for the tree poo this time of year, slippery as anything. Enjoy the scenery too!
newcastleton -> langholm (unclassified - signed golf course)
langholm -> lockerbie B7068
lockerbie -> dumfries A709 (bit dull but quick)
dumfries -> dalbeattie A710 (coast road)
dalbeattie -> castle douglas A745
castle douglas -> laurieston A713 / B795
laurieston -> gatehouse of fleet unclassified
gatehouse of fleet -> creetown B796 / unclassified
creetown -> newton stewart A75 (dull/plod infested)
newton stewart -> new galloway A712
new galloway -> ayr A762 / A713
ayr -> glasgow A77 / M77 (camera hell-avg spd ones)
p.s. plod in dumfries & galloway go nuts if they catch u at 100 plus - will do u for reckless.
enjoy!
starts at newcastleton, worth the detour! run from jedburgh or carter bar (border) down to newcastleton over B6357 is great too if you're coming from the east.
langholm to lockerbie is a particularily wonderful piece of tar IMHO - polis do use it for training too tho.
watch out for the tree poo this time of year, slippery as anything. Enjoy the scenery too!
newcastleton -> langholm (unclassified - signed golf course)
langholm -> lockerbie B7068
lockerbie -> dumfries A709 (bit dull but quick)
dumfries -> dalbeattie A710 (coast road)
dalbeattie -> castle douglas A745
castle douglas -> laurieston A713 / B795
laurieston -> gatehouse of fleet unclassified
gatehouse of fleet -> creetown B796 / unclassified
creetown -> newton stewart A75 (dull/plod infested)
newton stewart -> new galloway A712
new galloway -> ayr A762 / A713
ayr -> glasgow A77 / M77 (camera hell-avg spd ones)
p.s. plod in dumfries & galloway go nuts if they catch u at 100 plus - will do u for reckless.
enjoy!
Thanks guys. Am spoilt for choice now but an abundance of options is great. I just need to track down some suitable B&B's that will erect armed guard post around my car - I know I'm too protective but can't help myself... Bloody shopping trolleys seem to defy gravity and roll uphill towards my car wherever it's parked...
Well Craig old buddy, I hope you dont bin it too, particularly if I'm coming the other way which is totally possible if you come up the A83 by Loch Long and the Rest and be Thankful pass. The man who said that you are coming at the wrong time is spot on. The roads will be damp, covered in leaves and with frosty patches from now on. I think that you are mental, to be honest.
Some of the roads to which you have been recommended are lethal in every sense of the word. The Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary are shit hot and brother they will have your ass no worries and for very good reasons. I wouldnt even dream of going down there for the purpose you have in mind.
The Loch Lomond road (A82) is dangerous. it is busy, fast, with every straight too short for safe overtaking. There are a lot of holiday/foreign drivers and plenty of motorcyclists. Accidents all the time which means I have to sit in a traffic jam while they scrape you off the road, which is a bore. For that reason theres also plenty of Old Bill. The person who suggested that you use it for a hoon is a wanker. I can only imagine he wants you to inflict death and destruction in someone else's part of the country. There is a 30 limit almost all the way from Tarbet to Arrochar on Loch Long, and more often than not guys with hand held cameras out to enforce it.
The road from Lochgilphead south to Campbeltown is good open fast and long, but you are likely to run over children because there are a lot of houses right by the edge of the road.
Far better and quieter is the road up past Crianlarich towards Rannoch Moor and Glencoe, where it is open, deserted, you can see what is coming but you want to be going on an early morning in the late spring when conditions are good. At this time of year I predict that you will land upside down in a ditch where you will perish from your injuries with a sheep gnawing at your entrails before the emergency services even realise you are there. And we will all be a lot safer.
Whatever you hear on Top Gear, Scotland is not a fun park where you can come and drive like a maniac without the inevitable consequences. I get the the impression that you should be on a private track day or a lunatic asylum.
Some of the roads to which you have been recommended are lethal in every sense of the word. The Dumfries & Galloway Constabulary are shit hot and brother they will have your ass no worries and for very good reasons. I wouldnt even dream of going down there for the purpose you have in mind.
The Loch Lomond road (A82) is dangerous. it is busy, fast, with every straight too short for safe overtaking. There are a lot of holiday/foreign drivers and plenty of motorcyclists. Accidents all the time which means I have to sit in a traffic jam while they scrape you off the road, which is a bore. For that reason theres also plenty of Old Bill. The person who suggested that you use it for a hoon is a wanker. I can only imagine he wants you to inflict death and destruction in someone else's part of the country. There is a 30 limit almost all the way from Tarbet to Arrochar on Loch Long, and more often than not guys with hand held cameras out to enforce it.
The road from Lochgilphead south to Campbeltown is good open fast and long, but you are likely to run over children because there are a lot of houses right by the edge of the road.
Far better and quieter is the road up past Crianlarich towards Rannoch Moor and Glencoe, where it is open, deserted, you can see what is coming but you want to be going on an early morning in the late spring when conditions are good. At this time of year I predict that you will land upside down in a ditch where you will perish from your injuries with a sheep gnawing at your entrails before the emergency services even realise you are there. And we will all be a lot safer.
Whatever you hear on Top Gear, Scotland is not a fun park where you can come and drive like a maniac without the inevitable consequences. I get the the impression that you should be on a private track day or a lunatic asylum.
Thanks David. Definitely not my intention to inflict misery on anyone in any locality, or indeed to be sheep snack myself. I appreciate the warning about the state of the roads and I'm not careless about surrounding conditions - 23 years with a licence, no accidents, no claims, average 35K miles per year and a clean licence throughout. Speed is not the be all and end all, but also to enjoy the country aswell in a lower traffic density than I have to put up with down here. If the weather forecasts aren't favourable nearer the time, we'll stay further south. Can't stand rain anyway. Cheers
Edited by v8craig on Tuesday 24th October 21:40
I should never have suspected ill of a 993 owner!
Not that I am trying to entice you away from Scotland but another excellent road is the Schwarzwalder Hochstrasse from Achern just east of Strasbourg, to Freudenstadt in the Black forest. Again, its a fast twisty road but it runs on top of a ridge so you can see for miles in each direction.
Sorry if I over reacted but the advice on the roads was good anyway. Generally the further north you go the quieter and more open the roads and Rannoch Moor early on a summers morning is hard to beat. Further up, some of the roads crossing from the west coast to the east are good quality quiet and spectacular - like the A86 from Fort William to Kingussie the A87 from Kyle of Lochalsh to Invernarry at the top of Loch Lochy, and the A835 from Inverness to Ullapool - you could zig zag across Scotland and take in some truly fabulous scenery.
I really would nt cross swords with the D&G Police. In the south eastern Borders and up the East coast and up the A9 they are pretty hot too. Lot of unmarked cars.
Not that I am trying to entice you away from Scotland but another excellent road is the Schwarzwalder Hochstrasse from Achern just east of Strasbourg, to Freudenstadt in the Black forest. Again, its a fast twisty road but it runs on top of a ridge so you can see for miles in each direction.
Sorry if I over reacted but the advice on the roads was good anyway. Generally the further north you go the quieter and more open the roads and Rannoch Moor early on a summers morning is hard to beat. Further up, some of the roads crossing from the west coast to the east are good quality quiet and spectacular - like the A86 from Fort William to Kingussie the A87 from Kyle of Lochalsh to Invernarry at the top of Loch Lochy, and the A835 from Inverness to Ullapool - you could zig zag across Scotland and take in some truly fabulous scenery.
I really would nt cross swords with the D&G Police. In the south eastern Borders and up the East coast and up the A9 they are pretty hot too. Lot of unmarked cars.
I'm going to do a very similar trip the weekend after next (4th/5th Nov) in the GT3.
Planning on heading up from Newcastle to Loch Lomond area, staying in a b+b up there overnight, then heading up to glencoe, and back down to Ncl over the course of sunday.
HAve any of you who have obviously done this trip or similar before got any recommendations for a B+B around Loch Lomond? (Ncl to there is about as far as I want to have to drive on a Friday setting off after lunch)
Need to buy a good map to work out where all the great roads you all suggest actually are!
Planning on heading up from Newcastle to Loch Lomond area, staying in a b+b up there overnight, then heading up to glencoe, and back down to Ncl over the course of sunday.
HAve any of you who have obviously done this trip or similar before got any recommendations for a B+B around Loch Lomond? (Ncl to there is about as far as I want to have to drive on a Friday setting off after lunch)
Need to buy a good map to work out where all the great roads you all suggest actually are!
Thinking about that last question but no immediate suggestions because its not a place I'm often looking for accommodation. I would'nt want to recommend a fleapit. You could stay in Glasgow because it wont take you long to get out to Loch Lomond first thing in the morning. If so leave your car in a managed Car Park like the Glasshouse so some ned doesnt get it.
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