Fort William to Aboyne
Discussion
Am off to Scotland for a mini road trip next week and am looking for some advice on the best roads.
The first day of our journey is Fort William to Aboyne.
I've never seen Loch Ness so want to take this in so am looking to go to Fort Augustus first, from there though I'm not sure, if we take the northern route along the A82 all the way to Inverness it seems a long way round but yet is only 15 mins more than if we go via the B862/B851. These B roads look horrendous, single track with passing places for miles and miles, they don't even look that 'interesting'
but thats only through a quick scout on Google maps so maybe I'm wrong.
Whatever route we take we'd then join up the A9 down to Carrbridge and then the A939 Old Military Road down through the eastern side of the Cairngorms and finally on to Aboyne.
Am I missing a trick by not venturing further west back into the Cairngorms or is the A939 enough to see what needs to be seen ?
I'm more looking at it from a views and things to see point of view as opposed to the best road to 'drive' in the rented Kuga....
The first day of our journey is Fort William to Aboyne.
I've never seen Loch Ness so want to take this in so am looking to go to Fort Augustus first, from there though I'm not sure, if we take the northern route along the A82 all the way to Inverness it seems a long way round but yet is only 15 mins more than if we go via the B862/B851. These B roads look horrendous, single track with passing places for miles and miles, they don't even look that 'interesting'
but thats only through a quick scout on Google maps so maybe I'm wrong.Whatever route we take we'd then join up the A9 down to Carrbridge and then the A939 Old Military Road down through the eastern side of the Cairngorms and finally on to Aboyne.
Am I missing a trick by not venturing further west back into the Cairngorms or is the A939 enough to see what needs to be seen ?
I'm more looking at it from a views and things to see point of view as opposed to the best road to 'drive' in the rented Kuga....
Aboyne is where the hotel is for that night.
If we go via the A82 up to Inverness and then A9/A939 then that's 3 hours 45 mins which is fine for the day when you add in stops etc.
The idea now going through my head is that we don't actually bother with Loch Ness if the Cairngorms is a better bet from a sight seeing point of view ?
Difficult one
If we go via the A82 up to Inverness and then A9/A939 then that's 3 hours 45 mins which is fine for the day when you add in stops etc.
The idea now going through my head is that we don't actually bother with Loch Ness if the Cairngorms is a better bet from a sight seeing point of view ?
Difficult one
This would be my choice for your route. https://goo.gl/maps/XXTac2oFD6S2
A82 along Loch Ness will likely be a slow crawl behind caravans, campervans, coaches and other tourist traffic. Plus locals trying to go about their day.
The south will be much quieter and the road isn't that bad. You have the option of going to through Foyers to the lochside and travelling up past Boleskine to Inverfarigaig where you can take a proper small single track road twisting up to the B851 at Errogie.
Then take the next small sing track road (unclassified/numbered) to Tomatin from just before Farr. A nice diversion up through the hills and moors. Then join the A9 heading south for a few miles before turning off for the A938 at Carrbridge.
After Cockbridge you can either continue on the A939 or not turn off but stay straight on to the A944 through Strathdon, before then joining turning onto the A97 then onto the A93 to Aboyne.
he other option is to totally ignore Loch Ness/A82 and take the A86 through Lagan and on towards Aviemore. Diverting off onto some of the quieter backroads and maybe even a detour up to Cairngorm Mountain and a possible trip up the funicular railway. Then back onto the A939 route.
https://goo.gl/maps/nEh2WkKj2fo
A82 along Loch Ness will likely be a slow crawl behind caravans, campervans, coaches and other tourist traffic. Plus locals trying to go about their day.
The south will be much quieter and the road isn't that bad. You have the option of going to through Foyers to the lochside and travelling up past Boleskine to Inverfarigaig where you can take a proper small single track road twisting up to the B851 at Errogie.
Then take the next small sing track road (unclassified/numbered) to Tomatin from just before Farr. A nice diversion up through the hills and moors. Then join the A9 heading south for a few miles before turning off for the A938 at Carrbridge.
After Cockbridge you can either continue on the A939 or not turn off but stay straight on to the A944 through Strathdon, before then joining turning onto the A97 then onto the A93 to Aboyne.
he other option is to totally ignore Loch Ness/A82 and take the A86 through Lagan and on towards Aviemore. Diverting off onto some of the quieter backroads and maybe even a detour up to Cairngorm Mountain and a possible trip up the funicular railway. Then back onto the A939 route.
https://goo.gl/maps/nEh2WkKj2fo
JM said:
This would be my choice for your route. https://goo.gl/maps/XXTac2oFD6S2
JM said:
The A82 along Loch Ness will likely be a slow crawl behind caravans, campervans, coaches and other tourist traffic. Plus locals trying to go about their day.
Seconded. It's the primary route to Inverness from the west side of Scotland. It's not much fun even during April.I dread to think what's it like in the height of the tourist season.
JM said:
The south will be much quieter and the road isn't that bad.
+1JM said:
You have the option of going to through Foyers to the lochside and travelling up past Boleskine to Inverfarigaig where you can take a proper small single track road twisting up to the B851 at Errogie.
If seeing Loch Ness is the objective though I think he will be disappointed.In summer there is far too much vegetation between Foyers and Inverfarigaig to get more than a fleeting glimpse.
All the best views are between the latter and Dores. For example - https://goo.gl/maps/1p2rw5cpVfq
JM said:
Then take the next small sing track road (unclassified/numbered) to Tomatin from just before Farr. A nice diversion up through the hills and moors. Then join the A9 heading south for a few miles before turning off for the A938 at Carrbridge.
Glen Kyllachy - https://goo.gl/maps/C6V5NQomb2R2Another reason to go that way (only a short detour).
- https://goo.gl/maps/uEGfA3VqLGH2JM said:
After Cockbridge you can either continue on the A939 or not turn off but stay straight on to the A944 through Strathdon, before then joining turning onto the A97 then onto the A93 to Aboyne.
Or turn off the A97 to Tarland and then the B9094 direct to Aboyne.JM said:
The other option is to totally ignore Loch Ness/A82 and take the A86 through Lagan and on towards Aviemore. Diverting off onto some of the quieter backroads and maybe even a detour up to Cairngorm Mountain and a possible trip up the funicular railway. Then back onto the A939 route.
https://goo.gl/maps/nEh2WkKj2fo
The B970 is usually pretty quiet. The turning in Kingussie is unsigned so 99% of tourists don't notice and stay on the A86. https://goo.gl/maps/nEh2WkKj2fo
- https://goo.gl/maps/5fTePioodCK2Red Devil said:
JM said:
You have the option of going to through Foyers to the lochside and travelling up past Boleskine to Inverfarigaig where you can take a proper small single track road twisting up to the B851 at Errogie.
If seeing Loch Ness is the objective though I think he will be disappointed.In summer there is far too much vegetation between Foyers and Inverfarigaig to get more than a fleeting glimpse.
All the best views are between the latter and Dores. For example - https://goo.gl/maps/1p2rw5cpVfq
Plus a detour to the Falls of Foyers as a diversion/leg stretch.
And, for the more adventurous instead there is always 'The Corckscrew' from Iverfarigaig, turning here. https://goo.gl/maps/jeNVD3fvVSv
That takes you up to the B862 just north of Torness, then there is a choice of 3 or more routes to get onto the B851.
Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff