Discussion
birdcage said:
Hi all,
Last August I drove to opposite Skye and then around Scotland (From london)
Planning to do the same in Dec/Jan in a 911 GT3. Would thsi be folly with the roads and would I even be able to get around the more remote parts due to temp/weather?
Thanks,
It is entirely weather dependant. If we have the predicted cold winter, then you will find a lot of snow and ice. Also, the daylight hours are about 1 hour shorter than London overall. Whilst the Highlands can be stunningly beautiful in winter, I wouldn't plan a road trip in such a car, without winter tyres. Also a lot of places close off season, so your options may be more limited. Last August I drove to opposite Skye and then around Scotland (From london)
Planning to do the same in Dec/Jan in a 911 GT3. Would thsi be folly with the roads and would I even be able to get around the more remote parts due to temp/weather?
Thanks,
I know Scottish people are the best at everything, but do you really think we can anticipate the weather a couple of months in advance???????
Your right, we can - Cold fronts, many roads gathering black ice, with an 80% chance of heavy snow fall. But at the end of the day mother nature can change the weather in a heart beat. The best thing to do is be prepared to set off should the weather be looking ok closer to the time you are due to depart, but also be prepared to call it off should the weather be too bad. There is no point in risking your safety for the pleasure of driving, and the last thing the Emergency Services want to be doing is picking up your remains out of a crushed Porsche because you have been caught out by a patch of black ice.
Visit the Police Scotland website, If an area/road becomes dangerous to drive due to the weather conditions, they will post it on their website. They also have some valuable information about getting around Scotland safely in the icy conditions - Me, being a Roads Policing Officer in Scotland and a highly qualified driver the last thing I would want to be doing is going up north on the back roads for a drive especially in a Porsche, all to their own though I guess. If you want any more advice/help drop me a Mail.
Mark
Your right, we can - Cold fronts, many roads gathering black ice, with an 80% chance of heavy snow fall. But at the end of the day mother nature can change the weather in a heart beat. The best thing to do is be prepared to set off should the weather be looking ok closer to the time you are due to depart, but also be prepared to call it off should the weather be too bad. There is no point in risking your safety for the pleasure of driving, and the last thing the Emergency Services want to be doing is picking up your remains out of a crushed Porsche because you have been caught out by a patch of black ice.
Visit the Police Scotland website, If an area/road becomes dangerous to drive due to the weather conditions, they will post it on their website. They also have some valuable information about getting around Scotland safely in the icy conditions - Me, being a Roads Policing Officer in Scotland and a highly qualified driver the last thing I would want to be doing is going up north on the back roads for a drive especially in a Porsche, all to their own though I guess. If you want any more advice/help drop me a Mail.
Mark
Edited by TrafficRat on Wednesday 27th November 11:50
As said before, the weather is the thing. There have been reports in the newspapers about how we are going to have this terrible winter, but (and I have been looking) I am yet to find any met office data that supports this notion and as the met office are the only organisation in this country that does the sort of climate analysis required for forecasting, I suspect the evidence for this really bad winter is little more than speculation based upon previous weather patterns. These are notoriously unpredictable in Scotland and actually have in more recent years all been almost entirely wrong. When it comes to the weather in Scotland only the very short term forecasts are ever useably accurate. That said, I hope the weather is decent enough that you get a trip up here - we have some awesome roads and scenery. Just watch for speed cameras, particularly on our dual carriageways - camera vans are becoming an ever more common sight.
All good advice above. I'd decide the day before you come (having watched the weather forecast). The bad news about most hotels being closed is offset by everywhere else having LOTS of vacancies, so you needn't book in advance and have to cancel.
I've owned three Caterhams in the NW Highlands and Jan is generally one week good, three weeks bad.
I've owned three Caterhams in the NW Highlands and Jan is generally one week good, three weeks bad.
Update from the Highlands today: decent amounts of snow on the tops, freezing to merely damp in the Glens, roads currently fine. I've had the winters put on the 911 this week so would be quite happy to make such a trip. In fact, I'm thinking of doing just that. OP, if your GT3 is on Pilot Sport Cups, get winters on first. If it's on PS2s or PSSs you'd be fine unless there was a decent snowfall.
The amount of snow on the roads will depend to a large extent on what your route is.
If you are following the coast then you shouldn't find too much trouble, but if heading to Aviemore or the A93-939 etc then be prepared for the possibility of some closures.
Even if there is a heavy snowfall a lot of the roads in the more north and western parts are the only road so they are going to be ploughed/treated reasonably well/quickly.
If you are following the coast then you shouldn't find too much trouble, but if heading to Aviemore or the A93-939 etc then be prepared for the possibility of some closures.
Even if there is a heavy snowfall a lot of the roads in the more north and western parts are the only road so they are going to be ploughed/treated reasonably well/quickly.
Gassing Station | Scotland | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff