NC500 (north coast road)
Discussion
k yes.....TheJimi said:
Uggers said:
GetCarter said:
https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/defaced-r...
I don't get the sticker thing either bit I went up to Scotland last week and had a great time - I did the Applecross pass quite early in the morning and there was little traffic about.
I did come across a lot more traffic then what I was expecting when travelling between Ullapool and Durness. Some parts were ok but it was getting tedious on some of the single track sections.
irocfan said:
Spotted a yellow Lotus Europa a couple of weeks ago - it just struck me how bloody tiny they really are, I mean they were quite small back in the day. These days 
I haven’t seen a classic Europa on the road for ages, fantastic motors. In the last twenty years I’ve had a couple of Elan S4s and a Europa Twin Cam, loved them all. You’re right, they’re tiny, I remember the Europa was quite a bit longer than the Elan.We’ve just had a brilliant week touring Oban/Fort William/Aviemore and Pitlochry in my wife’s Focus ST. I was surprised to see so many modern Mustangs, must be a bit tight on the narrow roads.
We did a wee bit of the NC500 a fortnight ago, Skye to Tongue (but skipping bealach na ba / Applecross etc. only on grounds of time). It had been a few years since we had been up to that area and we were worried it was going to be too busy to enjoy, but I actually thought it was reasonably quiet.
Quite a lot of large motor homes (although none on the really small roads) and also lots of VW Campers. Surprisingly very few 'nice' cars - 1 McLaren (no idea which model, of course) at Kylesku and we followed a Mustang along Lochinver / Achmelvich way. I'd forgotten how small and twisty that road is, bottomed out a couple of times on some nasty bits of camber and didn't get much more than 30mph but still good fun.
I love the drive down Loch Maree (pic), we had it on damp day so just had cruise control stuck at 60 and enjoyed the corners, even so we were struggling to keep up with what looked like an ex-Royal Mail van who was making very good progress indeed!
Petrol we found to be OK, filled up with 97RON in Fort William, Skye then made do with standard at Scourie (a useful 24 hour open spot) and that was enough to get back to Inverness - short cut from Tongue.
Did a few of the many recommended stops on this thread, Achmelvich beach (been before and it's still an amazing spot), Cocoa Mountain at Durness was worth a stop and Smoo Cave also good.
Cheers too to snowandrocks who recommended A836 back from Tongue, as advertised - as open and quick as it gets on single track, we pulled over to let a white Transit past, who I reckoned was hitting close to 80.
Quite a lot of large motor homes (although none on the really small roads) and also lots of VW Campers. Surprisingly very few 'nice' cars - 1 McLaren (no idea which model, of course) at Kylesku and we followed a Mustang along Lochinver / Achmelvich way. I'd forgotten how small and twisty that road is, bottomed out a couple of times on some nasty bits of camber and didn't get much more than 30mph but still good fun.
I love the drive down Loch Maree (pic), we had it on damp day so just had cruise control stuck at 60 and enjoyed the corners, even so we were struggling to keep up with what looked like an ex-Royal Mail van who was making very good progress indeed!
Petrol we found to be OK, filled up with 97RON in Fort William, Skye then made do with standard at Scourie (a useful 24 hour open spot) and that was enough to get back to Inverness - short cut from Tongue.
Did a few of the many recommended stops on this thread, Achmelvich beach (been before and it's still an amazing spot), Cocoa Mountain at Durness was worth a stop and Smoo Cave also good.
Cheers too to snowandrocks who recommended A836 back from Tongue, as advertised - as open and quick as it gets on single track, we pulled over to let a white Transit past, who I reckoned was hitting close to 80.
M3consta said:
Cheers too to snowandrocks who recommended A836 back from Tongue, as advertised - as open and quick as it gets on single track, we pulled over to let a white Transit past, who I reckoned was hitting close to 80.
Definitely one of the best roads i did, too. Also encountered crazy locals driving flat out everywhere! Great sightlines for any road let alone a single track!UmpaLoompa said:
Definitely one of the best roads i did, too. Also encountered crazy locals driving flat out everywhere! Great sightlines for any road let alone a single track!
Ha ha, yes for sure. On the single tracks it's the postie's van I fear. As soon as I see the red flash in the rear view mirror I dive for the first passing place!
M3consta said:
UmpaLoompa said:
Definitely one of the best roads i did, too. Also encountered crazy locals driving flat out everywhere! Great sightlines for any road let alone a single track!
Ha ha, yes for sure. On the single tracks it's the postie's van I fear. As soon as I see the red flash in the rear view mirror I dive for the first passing place!If you can keep up.
This is the only place where a red van is faster than a white one
cardigankid said:
PaulD86 said:
Have you reported to the council? If not, it is worth doing. I wont bore you or derail the thread with why but I'd encourage reporting of this sort of thing.
Get a life - do you really need the sign?
Generally there are far too many signs, insufficient reliance on common sense, and apologies if it sounded abrupt but I suspect that if the sign had just said 'no caravans beyond this point' it would not have had stickers all over it. Does the north of Scotland need to be decked out in massive road signs like this? Or even ones saying 'Passing Place'? If one can't recognise a passing place without a sign, surely one should have one's licence taken away?
It just gives the Roads Department muppets the idea that they are in control of something and encourages them to do even more.
It just gives the Roads Department muppets the idea that they are in control of something and encourages them to do even more.
Edited by cardigankid on Tuesday 20th October 09:27
cardigankid said:
Generally there are far too many signs, insufficient reliance on common sense, and apologies if it sounded abrupt but I suspect that if the sign had just said 'no caravans beyond this point' it would not have had stickers all over it. Does the north of Scotland need to be decked out in massive road signs like this? Or even ones saying 'Passing Place'? If one can't recognise a passing place without a sign, surely one should have one's licence taken away?
It just gives the Roads Department muppets the idea that they are in control of something and encourages them to do even more.
Passing Place signs are to tell you that a Passing Place is some distance ahead, not thay you're right there... a little layby isn't always visible from 100 yards away.It just gives the Roads Department muppets the idea that they are in control of something and encourages them to do even more.
Edited by cardigankid on Tuesday 20th October 09:27
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