NC500 (north coast road)
Discussion
abzmike said:
On holiday overseas this week, and was watching the BBC World travel program yesterday. There was a piece about the NC500, its success and some of the issues that have arisen - all pretty balanced. Then the owner of the Applecross Inn came on and pretty much said the extra visitors are a pain in the neck and she'd really rather they weren't there. A very negative and strange attitude some someone in the licensed trade I thought. It's sometimes hard to work out what people want.
I know the lady in question... the problem is that she could book all her rooms out 5 times over, and despite adding another 50+ seats outside the Inn, and adding a caravan that does fish and chips, she still turns away 50% of the people that turn up expecting Sunday lunch (some of which get mighty pissed off). There is simply no way of extending the building and the kitchen is TINY! Add to that... the car parking has become a bit of a joke, blocking in residents, and now, at certain times of day, it takes twice as long for her (and anyone from Applecross) to get to the shops / bank / railway station due to the traffic on the Bealach.
Having lived in London, I know what traffic jams are like (!), but up until the NC500, they didn't exist up here (RTA's aside)
There is a campaign to get the Applecross 'loop' taken off the NC500... but I can't see it happening (it's one of, if not THE best bit). I also live on the loop, but it doesn't affect me so much as I don't need to use the Bealach.
I was back from my NC500 trip last week and thoroughly enjoyed it. The west coat was by the far bit, and the roads became a bit samey on the north and east coast back down to Inverness.
I also found that the majority of slow cars / caravans / motorhomes were courteous and allowed me to pass when I wanted to press on. However it was clear to see that it would be an absolute nightmare in the 'holiday' season. I was shocked at the amount of foreign tourists in hire cars, the NC500 must have been well published across the globe.
Spent some time following some nice cars too, w/c 11/09 a black Jag F Type Convertible AWD or Blue Aston Martin DB11.
I also found that the majority of slow cars / caravans / motorhomes were courteous and allowed me to pass when I wanted to press on. However it was clear to see that it would be an absolute nightmare in the 'holiday' season. I was shocked at the amount of foreign tourists in hire cars, the NC500 must have been well published across the globe.
Spent some time following some nice cars too, w/c 11/09 a black Jag F Type Convertible AWD or Blue Aston Martin DB11.
GetCarter said:
I know the lady in question... the problem is that she could book all her rooms out 5 times over, and despite adding another 50+ seats outside the Inn, and adding a caravan that does fish and chips, she still turns away 50% of the people that turn up expecting Sunday lunch (some of which get mighty pissed off). There is simply no way of extending the building and the kitchen is TINY!
Add to that... the car parking has become a bit of a joke, blocking in residents, and now, at certain times of day, it takes twice as long for her (and anyone from Applecross) to get to the shops / bank / railway station due to the traffic on the Bealach.
Having lived in London, I know what traffic jams are like (!), but up until the NC500, they didn't exist up here (RTA's aside)
There is a campaign to get the Applecross 'loop' taken off the NC500... but I can't see it happening (it's one of, if not THE best bit). I also live on the loop, but it doesn't affect me so much as I don't need to use the Bealach.
Yup, as I've mentioned before... I've visited Applecross a few times over the past ten years or so and absolutely love the place. The first few visits we're basically spent wandering along the beach, having a superb, relaxed dinner the Inn followed by an evening of beers, dominos and generally having a superb time having been made very very welcome. Add to that... the car parking has become a bit of a joke, blocking in residents, and now, at certain times of day, it takes twice as long for her (and anyone from Applecross) to get to the shops / bank / railway station due to the traffic on the Bealach.
Having lived in London, I know what traffic jams are like (!), but up until the NC500, they didn't exist up here (RTA's aside)
There is a campaign to get the Applecross 'loop' taken off the NC500... but I can't see it happening (it's one of, if not THE best bit). I also live on the loop, but it doesn't affect me so much as I don't need to use the Bealach.
Our last visit was (sadly) almost a year ago en route back from the Outer Herbrides and it was such a contrast... the beach was busy and a walk was interupted by cars being launched along the shore, the parking was terrible and they we re busy extending the car park and the Inn was rammed and sadly seems ed to be a lot of loud, abnoxious types voicing their disgust at the wait and the service.
We went in to ask for a table and whether we were recognised from previous visits or were just polite and patient, but we said there's no rush but were seated quite quickly and it was pretty evident stress levels were up and the atmosphere had changed, far more tense than days gone by probably because the little place both in terms of the Inn and the village simply can't cope with the huge influx of people and cars.
I fully appreciate that I have no more right than any to be there as a visitor or a tourist and I know that my being there does add to the issues, but it's just quite sad to see somewhere that was once so quiet, relaxed and welcoming changing in to a rather stressful and noisy experience all round. I would hasten to add, food and service were sublime... lovelier people you will not meet but sadly I can't say the same of some of their customers.
I keep planning on going back but these days a) I can't be bothered with the traffic be it motorised or on foot and b) I feel guilty for being there and adding to the issues and also being branded "one of those people".
Would love it to be removed from the NC500 and return to how it was a few years back, hypocritical of me to say that but just how it is.
Gents - I think everyone agrees there is an issue. We were at Applecross on a perfect day in July. Sure, it was busy, but we still parked 25yards from the inn and had no issues getting served.
I don't have any answers - perhaps the success of the area will result in a rise in pricing overall which will ultimately choke demand. That would be a shame as well... We were just rather shocked by the tone of the proprietor on a program she presumably should have know was going out globally.
I don't have any answers - perhaps the success of the area will result in a rise in pricing overall which will ultimately choke demand. That would be a shame as well... We were just rather shocked by the tone of the proprietor on a program she presumably should have know was going out globally.
You are aware they don't really want to be on the NC500 and thus if her 'tone' pisses off the NC500 hoards from afar and they vote with their feet and don't go... that'll probably be a result in her eyes and they can go back to doing what they do best... and the locals can get their village back!
Couple of things from the last week... would be funny if not so sad.
Two motor caravans met on NC500 single track road by Kishorn at the weekend, neither will (or can) reverse, so they just sit there... switch off engines (causing tailbacks) and start shouting at each other, eventually it turns into a full scale fight, lots of blood - and the police have to be called.
Eddie (a local 76 year old) was taking some OAPs back to Applecross from a day trip when a motorbike came the other way and refused to move over to let the minibus pass. Eddie isn't too keen on reversing on the Bealach with a bunch of OAPs so asks the motor cyclist to move over to let him pass. He wont. Stand off. Biker gets off, opens the minibus drivers door and tries to grab the keys. Can't... so drags Eddie out and beats him up (literally). Reg plate noted he was eventually caught by police and charged with assault.
That's more crime in the NW Highlands in a few days than we get from October till March!
For those in Scotland there's a bit on tomorrow's (Fri) Landward about the 'Victim of it's own success'. No idea if it'll be any good.
Two motor caravans met on NC500 single track road by Kishorn at the weekend, neither will (or can) reverse, so they just sit there... switch off engines (causing tailbacks) and start shouting at each other, eventually it turns into a full scale fight, lots of blood - and the police have to be called.
Eddie (a local 76 year old) was taking some OAPs back to Applecross from a day trip when a motorbike came the other way and refused to move over to let the minibus pass. Eddie isn't too keen on reversing on the Bealach with a bunch of OAPs so asks the motor cyclist to move over to let him pass. He wont. Stand off. Biker gets off, opens the minibus drivers door and tries to grab the keys. Can't... so drags Eddie out and beats him up (literally). Reg plate noted he was eventually caught by police and charged with assault.
That's more crime in the NW Highlands in a few days than we get from October till March!
For those in Scotland there's a bit on tomorrow's (Fri) Landward about the 'Victim of it's own success'. No idea if it'll be any good.
Davie said:
Would love it to be removed from the NC500 and return to how it was a few years back, hypocritical of me to say that but just how it is.
It still is how it was for 6 months of the year! (Applecross Inn one of the few that is open all year).GetCarter said:
Couple of things from the last week... would be funny if not so sad.
Two motor caravans met on NC500 single track road by Kishorn at the weekend, neither will (or can) reverse, so they just sit there... switch off engines (causing tailbacks) and start shouting at each other, eventually it turns into a full scale fight, lots of blood - and the police have to be called.
Eddie (a local 76 year old) was taking some OAPs back to Applecross from a day trip when a motorbike came the other way and refused to move over to let the minibus pass. Eddie isn't too keen on reversing on the Bealach with a bunch of OAPs so asks the motor cyclist to move over to let him pass. He wont. Stand off. Biker gets off, opens the minibus drivers door and tries to grab the keys. Can't... so drags Eddie out and beats him up (literally). Reg plate noted he was eventually caught by police and charged with assault.
Hey Steve, I had read that about the assault and glad to hear that he has been found and charged. Last saturday while attending a funeral at Lochluichart Church we came out to find a french caravan driver and artic blocking the road. French man would NOT move even though he could have. Of course traffic backed up and a lorry driver could not do anything but squeeze lorry past a very narrow gap. He unfortunatley took a VW with him in his attempt as cars were parked up all along that road for the funeral. Two motor caravans met on NC500 single track road by Kishorn at the weekend, neither will (or can) reverse, so they just sit there... switch off engines (causing tailbacks) and start shouting at each other, eventually it turns into a full scale fight, lots of blood - and the police have to be called.
Eddie (a local 76 year old) was taking some OAPs back to Applecross from a day trip when a motorbike came the other way and refused to move over to let the minibus pass. Eddie isn't too keen on reversing on the Bealach with a bunch of OAPs so asks the motor cyclist to move over to let him pass. He wont. Stand off. Biker gets off, opens the minibus drivers door and tries to grab the keys. Can't... so drags Eddie out and beats him up (literally). Reg plate noted he was eventually caught by police and charged with assault.
Ave
GetCarter said:
It still is how it was for 6 months of the year! (Applecross Inn one of the few that is open all year).
This is encouraging... I'll away and dig out the winter tyres and the Thermals in readiness. I did suggest to her that sat on said beach for the bells could be nice... she didn't disagree!
GetCarter said:
.....
Eddie (a local 76 year old) was taking some OAPs back to Applecross from a day trip when a motorbike came the other way and refused to move over to let the minibus pass. Eddie isn't too keen on reversing on the Bealach with a bunch of OAPs so asks the motor cyclist to move over to let him pass. He wont. Stand off. Biker gets off, opens the minibus drivers door and tries to grab the keys. Can't... so drags Eddie out and beats him up (literally). Reg plate noted he was eventually caught by police and charged with assault..
In NO way am I defending anyone who would resort to beating up anyone over a trivial road issue, let alone an OAP, but I think it's worth pointing out a couple of issues here on behalf of bikers on singletrack roads, especially on steep ascents or descents...Eddie (a local 76 year old) was taking some OAPs back to Applecross from a day trip when a motorbike came the other way and refused to move over to let the minibus pass. Eddie isn't too keen on reversing on the Bealach with a bunch of OAPs so asks the motor cyclist to move over to let him pass. He wont. Stand off. Biker gets off, opens the minibus drivers door and tries to grab the keys. Can't... so drags Eddie out and beats him up (literally). Reg plate noted he was eventually caught by police and charged with assault..
Obviously a motorbike doesn't have reverse gear so that it makes it virtually impossible to reverse/paddle/push a 200kg+ motorbike up a hill or even a half decent slope. Not much better reversing/paddling/wobble-ing back down a hill either. Clearly by their very nature singletrack roads do not have enough room for 2 vehicles to pass, not even much room for a normal car to slide by a push bike if the verge is soft. In the case of a motorbike being brushed by a vehicle trying to do so this could easily tip the bike over the balance point and once that happens then there's no way back and the motorbike is in the ditch. I've fortunately never had to lift 200kg of motorbike out of a ditch but I'd bet it's not that easy.
Every time I come across a motorbike on a singletrack road I always assume, if I've not looked or planned far enough ahead to pull into a passing place beforehand, that I'm going to be reversing back to the last passing place. In bad weather or when the verges are soft it can be required (or at least courteous) to do so for bicycles.
I would add that this is the reason why I never take my motorbike down singletrack roads. Blame Charly and Ewan for all the heroes on their BMW GS's who do...
I've ridden a largeish bike around most of the NC500 (including the Bealach) before and generally its fine - you should be able to plan ahead (better sight lines than sports cars) most of the time to either stop somewhere in advance, or time your meet where there is enough room to squeeze past, which often there is.
Fully blind corners that don't also include a passing place are a problem though, and the tendancy to retarmac over the old surface rather than rip up the old one means you have sharp/high edges a lot of the time which you can't deal with on a bike very well if at all - something that non-riders don't necessarily appreciate. I have in the past stood my ground in the middle of the road as while there was physical space to fit bike plus car/van on the road, I couldn't put my left foot down to steady myself as the tarmac was raised so high from the verge - couldn't put my right foot down in case it got run over!
I had one comedy moment on the north coast road to Lochinver which is particularly hilly, bendy, and narrow in some parts - I had decided to help a small van pass I had met on a bad uphill bend by pulling right over to the left and sticking my left foot down across a foot deep and two foot wide drainage ditch - what I had not appreciated was that the bike would then be leant over so far that there was no way I could push myself upright again after the van passed. Luckily I was touring with a friend in a car who was sitting behind me who had worked out what was going on - after he had wetted himself with laughter at my predicament he eventually got out of his car and helped pull me and the bike upright.
Lesson learned in dominating the road on single track.....................
Fully blind corners that don't also include a passing place are a problem though, and the tendancy to retarmac over the old surface rather than rip up the old one means you have sharp/high edges a lot of the time which you can't deal with on a bike very well if at all - something that non-riders don't necessarily appreciate. I have in the past stood my ground in the middle of the road as while there was physical space to fit bike plus car/van on the road, I couldn't put my left foot down to steady myself as the tarmac was raised so high from the verge - couldn't put my right foot down in case it got run over!
I had one comedy moment on the north coast road to Lochinver which is particularly hilly, bendy, and narrow in some parts - I had decided to help a small van pass I had met on a bad uphill bend by pulling right over to the left and sticking my left foot down across a foot deep and two foot wide drainage ditch - what I had not appreciated was that the bike would then be leant over so far that there was no way I could push myself upright again after the van passed. Luckily I was touring with a friend in a car who was sitting behind me who had worked out what was going on - after he had wetted himself with laughter at my predicament he eventually got out of his car and helped pull me and the bike upright.
Lesson learned in dominating the road on single track.....................
Interesting education this!
If I was in a camper van or anything largeish and came up against a motorcyclist coming the other way I would just assume that it would be easier for the biker to do a u turn and go back to the last passing place. Would have thought a m/b could do a u-turn on a single lane? If its on a slope then surely you do the u turn in such a way that your bike is rolling downhill on the "reverse" if needed?
Being a pedal cyclist I can understand the argument re uneven ground when looking to put your foot down though!
If I was in a camper van or anything largeish and came up against a motorcyclist coming the other way I would just assume that it would be easier for the biker to do a u turn and go back to the last passing place. Would have thought a m/b could do a u-turn on a single lane? If its on a slope then surely you do the u turn in such a way that your bike is rolling downhill on the "reverse" if needed?
Being a pedal cyclist I can understand the argument re uneven ground when looking to put your foot down though!
I cycled up the Bealach this year and looking ahead made it ok. One of the main issues I found was that if people just folded their mirrors in whilst going past me (either way) I would have had a lot more room. Most people were helpful and good natured though and bikes can easily pull into the passing places and (continue to) cycle slowly to let people past.
The Applecross Inn has added the chip van in recent years and covers served are now immense. Personally I found the staff to be very good despite it being like parachuted into a Cotswold's pub on a sunny bank holiday. I guess we are just getting used to bigger traffic and tourist volumes in Scotland now. We would moan more if it was the opposite.
The Applecross Inn has added the chip van in recent years and covers served are now immense. Personally I found the staff to be very good despite it being like parachuted into a Cotswold's pub on a sunny bank holiday. I guess we are just getting used to bigger traffic and tourist volumes in Scotland now. We would moan more if it was the opposite.
On average a singletrack road is designed (by modern standards) to be about 3.5m wide. As an indication my motorbike, which is NOT a humungous BMW GS, is about 2m which gives you about 75cm each side to play with and most motorbikes, particularly sportsbikes, have a pretty restricted steering lock which can make doing even a simple U turn on a normal 2 lane road a bit of a challenge at times.
Get on your bicycle, add about 30-40cm to the top tube and saddle width, add on about another wheel diameter, bung on about 190kg of ballast and increase the centre of gravity by about 25% and have a go. I'm not bad at low speed manouevres, then again I'm no Dougie Lampkin either, but I wouldn't normally try to do a U turn on a level singletrack road let alone on one with a slope and the attendant constantly changing balance point of the bike.
In the end it's all about common sense. TBH if I came upon you on a singletrack road and there's no vehicles behind you then I would hope you'd make the decision to slowly reverse, maybe even with some help from myself. However if there's a John Deere behind you with a trailer full of hay bales followed by a timber lorry then we're both f
ked 
Get on your bicycle, add about 30-40cm to the top tube and saddle width, add on about another wheel diameter, bung on about 190kg of ballast and increase the centre of gravity by about 25% and have a go. I'm not bad at low speed manouevres, then again I'm no Dougie Lampkin either, but I wouldn't normally try to do a U turn on a level singletrack road let alone on one with a slope and the attendant constantly changing balance point of the bike.
In the end it's all about common sense. TBH if I came upon you on a singletrack road and there's no vehicles behind you then I would hope you'd make the decision to slowly reverse, maybe even with some help from myself. However if there's a John Deere behind you with a trailer full of hay bales followed by a timber lorry then we're both f
ked Edited by naetype on Tuesday 26th September 09:38
I hadn't heard about the fighting on the roads mentioned above before I read this today, Grim.
I still find driving in the highlands really friendly. Take Friday evening for example where I took the GT3 from Aberdeen to Glencoe after work: Loads of people waving, flashing their lights and even some lovely people offering me a hand job. What a lovely place to live.
I still find driving in the highlands really friendly. Take Friday evening for example where I took the GT3 from Aberdeen to Glencoe after work: Loads of people waving, flashing their lights and even some lovely people offering me a hand job. What a lovely place to live.
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