Solo 2 Day Road Trip - West Coast

[Mouse1903]

Hey guys, posted a thread a couple of years ago but never ended up doing this with my then gf http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a.... I got time off in September and being a single guy with free time and boring / skint friends I thought I'd do a solo trip.

I stay in Newtonhill just south of Aberdeen so my route would probably be full circle round the Cairngorms. Isle of Skye is one definite night stop over. A work colleague suggested Oban but not sure if there is much to do, plus the only decent cheapish hotel doesn't have a car park. I've posted a rough idea of what this would look like: http://goo.gl/maps/D7tpT

Any suggestions for a 2nd night stop over, with Isle of Skye being one of them? Criteria would be:

- No more than around 5 hours driving each day
- Couple of attractions / scenery as part of the drive
- Good roads
- No more than £55 / night for a hotel
- Hotel can be remote, as long as there is a decent bar for a few ales in the evening

Edited by Mouse1903 on Thursday 22 August 19:49

[Mouse1903]

Googling a bit more a rough plan looks like this:

Day 1: Depart Newtonhill early morning, day in Oban, evening in Fort William, overnight stay
Day 2: Morning in Fort William, drive up to Isle of Skye, spend afternoon and evening there, overnight stay
Day 3: Morning / early afternoon on Isle of Skye, drive back to Newtonhill

[SSC!]

Depending on when you are planning a few of us are leaving Inverness on the 21st sept heading for a camping trip to Durness.

[cat220]

I'd give the Oban and Fort William stage a miss and go straight to Skye, afternoon, evening in Skye,
Day 2: Early start, head north from Skye keeping to the coast, head over to Applecross via Bealach Ba
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bealach_na_B%C3%A0
Then stay with the coast road all the way to Ullapool. Overnight in Ullapool
Day 3: Ullapool - Home

[mak2503]

Reading through this thread made me laugh that the other replies username is Cat and you are Mouse.

I live in Laurencekirk so not far from you. I have been loads of times to Fort William and Oban and although they are nice places I have started to get a bit bored with the roads being so clogged up. Heading over towards Aviemore at least lets you get a bit of good driving on some great roads with excellent visibility.

Never had a chance to head across to Applecross yet but it is on my list of roads to head to.

Hopefully you will have nice weather for it. What car are you travelling in?

[mak2503]

Reading through this thread made me laugh that the other replies username is Cat and you are Mouse.

I live in Laurencekirk so not far from you. I have been loads of times to Fort William and Oban and although they are nice places I have started to get a bit bored with the roads being so clogged up. Heading over towards Aviemore at least lets you get a bit of good driving on some great roads with excellent visibility.

Never had a chance to head across to Applecross yet but it is on my list of roads to head to.

Hopefully you will have nice weather for it. What car are you travelling in?

[R1gtr]

As someone mentioned Durness area is nice and not too far from Sandwood bay which is the most amazing place to camp.
You can't go wrong with the roads to Ullapool, Gairloch and Skye if amazing roads are your preference.

[craig2003]

SSC! said:

Depending on when you are planning a few of us are leaving Inverness on the 21st sept heading for a camping trip to Durness.

I will hopefully be along with a new chariot! A little quicker than the last!
The Durness road has to be up there as one of the best up north, a must if you get a chance

[6C4GTS]

craig2003 said:

SSC! said:

Depending on when you are planning a few of us are leaving Inverness on the 21st sept heading for a camping trip to Durness.

I will hopefully be along with a new chariot! A little quicker than the last!
The Durness road has to be up there as one of the best up north, a must if you get a chance

Is this a mini HH - the HH is dead long live the HH........??

Still convinced Ave always timed HH so I couldn't go

[amccan10]

More than likely :-)

[Lefty]

Applecross, without a doubt. Head up to Aviemore over the Lecht. Down to Spean Brusge then Invergarry. Stay at the applecross Inn. Next day go round the peninsula then along the a832 to Inverness. Two days of great driving!

[craig2003]

6C4GTS said:

Is this a mini HH - the HH is dead long live the HH........??

Still convinced Ave always timed HH so I couldn't go

Yep going to be along the same lines

[jimmyone]

Check out my profile.
Topics
highland tour
photo speaks for its self
stayed at mallaig.
ferry to Skye.
down to Elgol
bridge back to fort william
Then return to Mallaig
Can give you a much more detailed itinery if you require

[checkmate91]

Or, if you're going around the top towards Applecross from Ullapool way, the Poolewe Hotel is cheap and cheerful.

Bealach na Ba is great!

IMG_2492 by AW_61, on Flickr

[Who me ?]

i see a lot of folks on about roads north of Fort William.but the roads in the Argyl pensisula are great. Try a trip to Ardumarchan light. Or a trip to lochaline area on the mainland ( there used to be a ferry from there to Mull-Kilchoan- Tobermory ) ,around Mull and back to Oban . I haven't driven the Kilchoan roads for a lot of years, but it's likely they're unchanged .

[1989]

Road to Kilchoan is single track for the majority of it still and mental first time I went I was a passenger and felt so car sick it was unreal but enjoyable..

[jimmyone]

CAR SICK ?????
Try the bit between Mallaig and Skye !!!

[SSC!]

6C4GTS said:

Is this a mini HH - the HH is dead long live the HH........??

Still convinced Ave always timed HH so I couldn't go

As if I would

This Durness run is a family friendly one if your interested Barry. I'm taking Elise and Craig is taking Ruben. Kiddies very welcome.

[craig2003]

SSC! said:

Ruben.

Close I will give you that!

[SSC!]

craig2003 said:

SSC! said:

Ruben.

Close I will give you that!

That's how you spell it ain't it?