Three Day Scottish Road Trip
Discussion
We are planning a 3 day trip from Lancaster in mid September.
Day 1 past Loch Lomond then A83 to Lochgilphead then A816 to Oban stay somewhere overnight that has good parking.
Day 2 pick up the A828 A82 to Invergarry then A87 to the A890 to the A896 to Torridon for lunch. This looks to be about 4 hours is that realistic. Where would you suggest for a lunch stop.
Then cross country to Grantown on Spey to night stop . Any suggestions for a good place appreciated.
Day 3 Old Military Road down to Braemar for brunch then back through Blairgowrie and home.
Is this realistic or too much driving? Many thanks
Day 1 past Loch Lomond then A83 to Lochgilphead then A816 to Oban stay somewhere overnight that has good parking.
Day 2 pick up the A828 A82 to Invergarry then A87 to the A890 to the A896 to Torridon for lunch. This looks to be about 4 hours is that realistic. Where would you suggest for a lunch stop.
Then cross country to Grantown on Spey to night stop . Any suggestions for a good place appreciated.
Day 3 Old Military Road down to Braemar for brunch then back through Blairgowrie and home.
Is this realistic or too much driving? Many thanks
You could do it but I'd question how enjoyable it would be. Better to either take more time or just choose to do the West Coast and then do the Cairngorms at a later date. Perhaps even split Oban from Torridon and treat the West Coast as two separate areas.
Take your time, look at the scenery, if you enjoy a bit of road - turn round and drive it again, spend money in the local area.
The Highlands are the automotive equivalent of fine dining. Why rush? Savour the experience.
I once did Geneva to Monza in a day and I very much regret rushing when I should have lingered....
Take your time, look at the scenery, if you enjoy a bit of road - turn round and drive it again, spend money in the local area.
The Highlands are the automotive equivalent of fine dining. Why rush? Savour the experience.
I once did Geneva to Monza in a day and I very much regret rushing when I should have lingered....
That does seem rather a lot of driving but by mid-September hopefully better progress can be made than at the moment where average speeds can be abysmal. As an example it took me 1hr 10mins to get from the Ballachulish bridge to the Lochy Bridge roundabout on the northern edge of Fort William... 16 miles and no delays due to accidents, just lots and lots of traffic.
I would think Day 1 is sensible. If you are up to Oban early there is plenty to wander around and see.
Day 2 A828, A82, A87, A890, A896 to Torridon is 4 hours if you are going continually and fairly quickly. I'd allow 6 hours if you're stopping off occasionally and enjoying the scenery of which there is plenty to enjoy on that route. It covers some of the best of the west coast, excepting Fort William which is a bit of a manky scab to drive through. Torridon to Grantown not so bad, but to go Oban to Torridon to Grantown seems a long day for me.
Day 3 is more reasonable.
If possible I would look to do same route but stretch it - make day 2 stopover at/near Torridon and have day 3 as a wander across a slightly more windy route to Grantown, perhaps Torridon-Achnasheen-Contin-Cannich-Drumnadrochit then Inverness to Cawdor to Ferness to Grantown.
I would think Day 1 is sensible. If you are up to Oban early there is plenty to wander around and see.
Day 2 A828, A82, A87, A890, A896 to Torridon is 4 hours if you are going continually and fairly quickly. I'd allow 6 hours if you're stopping off occasionally and enjoying the scenery of which there is plenty to enjoy on that route. It covers some of the best of the west coast, excepting Fort William which is a bit of a manky scab to drive through. Torridon to Grantown not so bad, but to go Oban to Torridon to Grantown seems a long day for me.
Day 3 is more reasonable.
If possible I would look to do same route but stretch it - make day 2 stopover at/near Torridon and have day 3 as a wander across a slightly more windy route to Grantown, perhaps Torridon-Achnasheen-Contin-Cannich-Drumnadrochit then Inverness to Cawdor to Ferness to Grantown.
bentley01 said:
We are planning a 3 day trip from Lancaster in mid September.
Day 1 past Loch Lomond then A83 to Lochgilphead then A816 to Oban stay somewhere overnight that has good parking.
Day 2 pick up the A828 A82 to Invergarry then A87 to the A890 to the A896 to Torridon for lunch. This looks to be about 4 hours is that realistic. Where would you suggest for a lunch stop.
Then cross country to Grantown on Spey to night stop . Any suggestions for a good place appreciated.
Day 3 Old Military Road down to Braemar for brunch then back through Blairgowrie and home.
Is this realistic or too much driving? Many thanks
Some alternatives:Day 1 past Loch Lomond then A83 to Lochgilphead then A816 to Oban stay somewhere overnight that has good parking.
Day 2 pick up the A828 A82 to Invergarry then A87 to the A890 to the A896 to Torridon for lunch. This looks to be about 4 hours is that realistic. Where would you suggest for a lunch stop.
Then cross country to Grantown on Spey to night stop . Any suggestions for a good place appreciated.
Day 3 Old Military Road down to Braemar for brunch then back through Blairgowrie and home.
Is this realistic or too much driving? Many thanks
Day 1 - Drive to Gourock west of Glasgow, get the ferry to Hunters point then up any of the various roads and approach Oban from the south.
Day 2 - Up A82 to Fort Augustus & then turn onto B862, then follow that of B852 yp the east side of Loch Ness.
Thanks everyone for your contributions. So having taken it onboard I think we will add another night and stay near Torridon. Does anyone have any ideas for either Oban or the Torridon area to stay. I will look at the roads suggested and work out a plan. Ideally not too many single track roads . Thanks again
bentley01 said:
What is the A832 like as a road. Perhaps a circular route day 3 before heading back down to Grantown on Spey
A832 from Kinlochewe towards Gairloch is one of the OMG IS THIS FOR REAL roads. Stunning views over Loch Maree. Mostly flowing two lane A road but the last section dropping down to Gairloch is single track. Gairloch and loop North to Ullapool is slow but stunning scenery. Ullapool back to Inverness is relatively swift.Doesn't sound like you are in to mountains, but the Torridonian range and outliers like Slioch and An Teallach are some of the most epic hills in the UK. Loch Maree is possibly the most beautiful Loch in Scotland. You can tell my bias here!
bentley01 said:
What is the A832 like as a road. Perhaps a circular route day 3 before heading back down to Grantown on Spey
The A832 is generally pretty good. Takes you past Loch Maree which is beautiful and there are some nice beaches and bays on that loop.Re Accom in Oban - it's a bit of a mixed bag. If I were you I'd look for a B&B within wlaking distance of the front/harbour rather than a hotel and eat out. NO shortage of reasonable places for grub.
TVRBRZ said:
A832 from Kinlochewe towards Gairloch is one of the OMG IS THIS FOR REAL roads. Stunning views over Loch Maree. Mostly flowing two lane A road but the last section dropping down to Gairloch is single track. Gairloch and loop North to Ullapool is slow but stunning scenery. Ullapool back to Inverness is relatively swift.
Doesn't sound like you are in to mountains, but the Torridonian range and outliers like Slioch and An Teallach are some of the most epic hills in the UK. Loch Maree is possibly the most beautiful Loch in Scotland. You can tell my bias here!
Thanks a lot I will ensure that we include this Doesn't sound like you are in to mountains, but the Torridonian range and outliers like Slioch and An Teallach are some of the most epic hills in the UK. Loch Maree is possibly the most beautiful Loch in Scotland. You can tell my bias here!
sjabrown said:
The A832 is generally pretty good. Takes you past Loch Maree which is beautiful and there are some nice beaches and bays on that loop.
Re Accom in Oban - it's a bit of a mixed bag. If I were you I'd look for a B&B within wlaking distance of the front/harbour rather than a hotel and eat out. NO shortage of reasonable places for grub.
B&B is a good shout I will have a look at availability cheers Re Accom in Oban - it's a bit of a mixed bag. If I were you I'd look for a B&B within wlaking distance of the front/harbour rather than a hotel and eat out. NO shortage of reasonable places for grub.
Vasco said:
Presumably not planning to enjoy the wonderful scenery very much - shame, it's a beautiful area.
Accommodation in Oban can be difficult and expensive, depends on your budget.
I love Scotland and this will be my third trip this year but without the family I only have a 4 day pass. We don’t drive quickly too much to see and I agree it is stunning.Accommodation in Oban can be difficult and expensive, depends on your budget.
If you're doing the A83 you'd be as well going all the way to Campbeltown rather than turning off at Lochgilphead - the road between Lochgilphead and Tarbert skirts the edge of Loch Fyne and is very enjoyable to drive, then after Tarbert you approach West Loch and have absolutely stunning views, then after Clachan you skirt the edge of the Kintyre peninsula all the way to Campbeltown pretty much - it's one of my favourite stretches of road anywhere.
Nico Adie said:
If you're doing the A83 you'd be as well going all the way to Campbeltown rather than turning off at Lochgilphead - the road between Lochgilphead and Tarbert skirts the edge of Loch Fyne and is very enjoyable to drive, then after Tarbert you approach West Loch and have absolutely stunning views, then after Clachan you skirt the edge of the Kintyre peninsula all the way to Campbeltown pretty much - it's one of my favourite stretches of road anywhere.
Thanks for this we are definitely going to follow your advice.
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