Isle of Skye/West Coast - best hidden sights?

[v15ben]

I'm heading up the West Coast of Scotland and over to Skye for a few days in about 4 weeks time. I'm just researching the more touristy bits of the trip having worked out some of the amazing driving routes I want to follow! Question is where should I definitely see that is a bit out of the ordinary - the amazing views that seem to come up every week in the Photography forum?

I'm keen on visiting a few castles, little villages and photographing some stunning mountains/lochs - the type of stuff that makes this part of the world so enchanting!

So where should I aim for that is off the beaten track a little? The places the average tour company might miss? I'm heading through Glencoe to Fort William then up the coast to Skye and further north to Ullapool before heading east! Any suggestions would be great and I can't wait

[TUS64N]

lochcarron to applecross is special, also the tongue to altnaharra road spectacular scenery, did the road round to kinlochleven which takes you out at glencoe yesterday stunning weather stunning scenery didnt see a single tvr til i was going through comrie, a squillion bikes tho

[Taffer]

It'd probably be worth PMing GetCarter, or somehow summoning his expertise. He's up that neck of the woods (Torridon IIRC) and produces some great photos, so I'm sure he could give you a few places to seek out.

I was up in Skye/Applecross/Ullapool on the motorbike last year - only had a compact camera so no super shots, and some of the roads that were fun on a bike might have been a bit marginal for spirited driving - didn't really take a note of where I went, so can't help with place names, etc. ( I really should get a GPS tagger for my camera). I did get to see the EVO photoshoot they were doing on Skye at the time - passed by an AM V12 Vantage and a 911 of some sort surrounded by photographers, and a few minutes later had an Artega GT rip past me! They were doing the shooting in the N/NE of Skye - great scenery but some patchy roads. Enjoy your trip!

[VetteG]

Have a look on Steve's website here: http://www.stevecarter.com/latest/latesttorridon.h...

G

[whirligig]

Generally I prefer the South of Skye (Sleat peninsula) - do the "loop" to take in Ord and Tarskavaig to get off the beaten track. Also, Neist point lighthouse near Glendale is a lovely wild part of Skye.

Village wise, Plockton and Lochcarron, Shieldaig and "The Street" in Applecross are all picturesque and not forgetting Eilean Donan castle at Dornie of course! Really, sometimes you'll just come round a corner and see a stonking vista that will just make you stop (one of the best near Cuaig on the Applex peninsula looking over to Raasay and Rona) for example.

Generally bimble along, enjoy the views and pull over whenever takes your fancy (but always make sure you're not a blind corner or have pulled into the wrong side of the road into a passing place - always AMAZED at where folk will stop!)

Enjoy.

[GetCarter]

whirligig said:

bimble

[Who me ?]

GetCarter said:

whirligig said:

bimble

Agreed - STOP & pull over to take in the scenery( and make that place a safe one) -don't be a "scenic gourmet " - i.e drive under the influence of nice views .Don't forget that the locals will respect someone who pulls into a laybye ( on single track toads ) to let them past -because your fast will be their bimble .

Then ,can I recommend a trip to Ardmurchan light - it's a single road ,no choice of routes -but if the weather is kind - the views are stunning .The road is not too bad now - did the trip last year ,to show mrs some of the beauties of the west coast .There's even a cafe at the end .

[v15ben]

Thanks for the replies folks. Some really good advice and definitely a spot of bimbling to be done
Only a month to go now