Best (Quickest) Route - Dyce to Fort William

[jock mcsporran]

I have a need to get from Dyce to Fort William after work at some point in the next month or so.
Route Planner says go south towards Perth and then across and join A82 at Crianlarich. That would be fine as the A82 north of Crianlarich is one of my favourite roads, especially in the evening when it's a bit quieter.
However, I'm conscious of the tales about Aberdeen traffic at rush hour. I would be leaving Dyce at 5pm. Would it be quicker to go North and cut across to Grantown-on-Spey - Dalwhinnie - Spean Bridge or is the traffic not as bad as I'm led to believe?

Cheers

[chrisj_abz]

Thats the route i would go, A96 to huntly then Dufftown to Grantown via Aberlour, down to Dalwhinnie and across to Spean Bridge.

Nice drive as well (apart from the A96 bit..)

[jock mcsporran]

Cheers. Does the A96 get busy at that time of day or is it just rubbish?

[sjabrown]

I would go west along the A96 leaving on the Dofftown road after Huntly and cutting across to Grantown, A9, Laggan, Spean Bridge. If quiet some of the best roads in the country, but watch for corners tightening up especially between Laggan and Roybridge. Seen plenty of mess from that road over the years.

[JM]

Head to the A944 then west on the A97-A944 to Cockbirdge on the A939, north to Grantown on Spey, then head to A95-A9 south to Kingussie, then A86 to Spean Bridge.

[chrisj_abz]

jock mcsporran said:

Cheers. Does the A96 get busy at that time of day or is it just rubbish?

Na its not too bad, you normally sit about 50ish most of the way and you will likely see some crazy overtakes!

once you get off the A96 it'll be a lot quieter.