Scottish Roads - Current Conditions for Road Trip

[stewey]

A few of us are doing a road trip around Scotland starting on Thursday. Can anyone please give us some info on current conditions up there? We will be coming from Carlisle to Inverness, trying to do a slightly off road route other than the A9. Then doing the North West roads around Lairg, Tongue, Ullapool,Dornie, Applecross. Could do with some info before we set off to know if its worth avoiding some of the higher roads. Any info / tips would be a great help. Thanks guys.

[sjabrown]

If heading north the roads to the west of the A9 are fine i.e A82, A85, A86. Worth looking at traffic scotland live cameras for the trunk roads. They don't cover the minor roads, or way out west. Best person to ask for conditions on the Applecross loop is GetCarter on here as he lives near Shieldaig.

[GetCarter]

Absolutely fine here. Can't comment south of here

ETA went as far south as Kyle this morning. No snow.... Dry roads

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 26th March 18:51

[st4]

stewey said:

A few of us are doing a road trip around Scotland starting on Thursday. Can anyone please give us some info on current conditions up there? We will be coming from Carlisle to Inverness, trying to do a slightly off road route other than the A9. Then doing the North West roads around Lairg, Tongue, Ullapool,Dornie, Applecross. Could do with some info before we set off to know if its worth avoiding some of the higher roads. Any info / tips would be a great help. Thanks guys.

Don't go that way

Weather was ok a few days back

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Follow this.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Castle+Dougla...

Trust me

[Lancs Dave]

Was up there last weekend with my roadtrip buddies. No problems at all in 1300 miles :-)

[stewey]

st4 said:

Don't go that way

Weather was ok a few days back

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Follow this.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Castle+Dougla...

Trust me

Thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like our routes should be fine. I was getting a little concerned earlier today when 'Sally Traffic' on Radio 2 said there was loads of snow on the roads around Braemar / Ballater. The route we are taking is very similar to your route ST4...i was just mentioning the general area and roads we are going to take. The only difference is we are cutting out Inverness to John o Groats and cutting across to Lairg and up to to Tongue. It looks awesome and your thread and photos of your Skye trip is fantastic. I was also inspired by 'Get Carters' web site and his tips and recommended routes to take in particular. The 'Highlands' thread was also a great source for planning the trip. Can't wait now...thanks again.

[GetCarter]

This is today's conditions at Torridon:

[Halmyre]

GetCarter said:

This is today's conditions at Torridon:

I could weep with joy at the beauty of that.

Off to Skye next week, here's hoping for at least a few good days.

[Lancs Dave]

Got a last minute booking at the Inn, will be there Sat & Sun :-)

[GetCarter]

Lancs Dave said:

Got a last minute booking at the Inn, will be there Sat & Sun :-)

Weather is perfect here... and will be at the weekend too, they say.

ETA: What will you be driving?, I'll look out for you and wave!

Edited by GetCarter on Friday 29th March 11:33

[Lancs Dave]

Just an old white 3 series :-)

[11110111]

Isle of arran is stunning! So little traffic too!

[stewey]

[GetCarter]

Busy then?

[stewey]

Oops..! uploaded that photo and spent 15 minutes describing the trip.. then somehow managed to post just the photo with no text, close internet explorer down and lose all the text! Nevermind. All my photo's are at work so i will try and post a couple more photo's and a description tomorrow. It was bloody awesome though!

[GetCarter]

Pic says it all really

[stewey]

GetCarter said:

Pic says it all really

Yes it certainly does....this was taken on the A832 heading towards Poolewe, just after turning off the A835 from Ullapool. Amazing...To be honest the route we did was basically using your 'best road in Britain' with bits added for out timescales. I must say your posts on the 'Highlands' part of this Forum have been a great inspiration and help in planning where to go and not to go. Easily the best mix of roads i've ever driven on. Virtually traffic free, amazing scenery, saw 1 police car on the touristy part of Glencoe on the A82. a You are VERY lucky to have these roads on your doorstep. I notice you used to own an x50 seal grey 996 turbo..by coincidence i've bought a 2003 one 6 weeks ago..! I' am loving it but for the first road trip i did not use it this time. I think next time i will, but avoid some of the more single track stuff. The faster flowing A roads would be awesome in it though, i suppose you just need a little restraint with the right foot!

I think my favourite roads were doing the Applcross cattle pass and the A894 from Durness down to Ullapool...truly amazing.



Top of Applecross Pass.



A894 at Kylesku bridge.

Definately doing similar next year.

[11110111]

@GetCarter - we are going to do your "Finsest Drive" route over the next couple of days but need help deciding which day - do you think Sunday or Monday will be quieter?

[GetCarter]

Sunday - you'll have the tourists leaving (end of Easter week). Monday will be quieter, but busy* between 7 a.m. and 8.30 am with the trades on the road.

• when I say busy, I mean a car every mile. After 9 am it'll be a car every 5 miles...

Schools go back at the end of next week... that's when it gets really quiet again.

[GetCarter]

stewey said:

I notice you used to own an x50 seal grey 996 turbo..by coincidence i've bought a 2003 one 6 weeks ago..!

Great car - so much better than I am a driver! I rented Bruntingthourpe for 3 hours when I got mine to see what it could do. Having that place to oneself is really good fun (4 new tyres mind).