NC500 (north coast road)

NC500 (north coast road)

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Discussion

giveitfish

4,031 posts

214 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
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I'm staying at the Cluanie on Friday night so I'll report back.

s2kjock

1,681 posts

147 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
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This was what I remember reading about

https://boutiquehotelnews.com/news/industry/black-...


Blown2CV

28,786 posts

203 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
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i am sure any price increases are as much to do with post-COVID staycation fever as they are about NC500 price gouging.

21st Century Man

40,858 posts

248 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
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s2kjock said:
This was what I remember reading about

https://boutiquehotelnews.com/news/industry/black-...
I refuse point blank to stay anywhere that describes itself as a "Boutique" Hotel. I can't abide the term.

MrsMiggins

2,809 posts

235 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
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giveitfish said:
I'm staying at the Cluanie on Friday night so I'll report back.
I was there last week. Rooms are fine. Food good. Drink expensive but not insane eg. £4 for a bottle of Peroni.

giveitfish

4,031 posts

214 months

Tuesday 18th May 2021
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Cheers - that sounds like a good compromise to me!

GetCarter

29,373 posts

279 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
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21st Century Man said:
I refuse point blank to stay anywhere that describes itself as a "Boutique" Hotel. I can't abide the term.
Like you have a choice when they are 50 miles apart!

A place to sleep and eat is what it is, whatever it's called. Down south one can make choices ad nauseam. Up here, you're lucky to find it open!

21st Century Man

40,858 posts

248 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
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Fair point! hehe

I'd have to put my snobbery to one side, or sleep in the car.

towser

919 posts

211 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
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GetCarter said:
towser said:
Jeez....aren't the new owners linked to the NC500 company somehow....? I'm sure I read that somewhere and the fact that they were planning buying up some additional hotels round the route.
yes

https://www.northern-times.co.uk/news/new-company-...
More details in the NT today - https://www.northern-times.co.uk/news/new-hotel-co...

On the face of it looks like a decent move if the promise of the year round jobs comes to fruition.

At £22 for two drinks I doubt I'll be dropping in though!


ScotHill

3,128 posts

109 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
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Does anyone know if the cafe is open at Eilean Donan castle? If not are there toilets in the visitor centre? I'd hope the cafe was open with the recent restrictions lifted but they don't seem to have updated their website - come on, Eilean!

giveitfish

4,031 posts

214 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
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Two essential planning sites for the middle-aged sports car driver in the Highlands...

Official map of public toilets: https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/283/community_lif...

Official map of speed camera sites: https://www.safetycameras.gov.scot/cameras/safety-...

Relatively few speed camera van locations in the Highlands - quite surprised at that. Any local knowledge contradict the map?

S2red

2,508 posts

191 months

Wednesday 19th May 2021
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Certainly a few mobile ones missing in Glasgow north area/Bisgopbriggs

GetCarter

29,373 posts

279 months

Thursday 20th May 2021
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giveitfish said:
Relatively few speed camera van locations in the Highlands - quite surprised at that. Any local knowledge contradict the map?
There's often a van by the level crossing at Garve, and an unmarked car (Volvo) sitis between Garve and Achnasheen - usually on a Sunday.

Anonymous-poster

12,241 posts

206 months

Thursday 20th May 2021
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GetCarter said:
giveitfish said:
Relatively few speed camera van locations in the Highlands - quite surprised at that. Any local knowledge contradict the map?
There's often a van by the level crossing at Garve, and an unmarked car (Volvo) sitis between Garve and Achnasheen - usually on a Sunday.
There’s a dark coloured BMW that’s cutting about as well!

giveitfish

4,031 posts

214 months

Thursday 20th May 2021
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GetCarter said:
There's often a van by the level crossing at Garve, and an unmarked car (Volvo) sitis between Garve and Achnasheen - usually on a Sunday.
Thanks, that’s not too surprising. I set a personal best going down there 20 years ago which I’ve never even approached since.

I’m older and wiser now and look back in horror tbh eek

jet_noise

5,645 posts

182 months

Thursday 20th May 2021
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giveitfish said:
GetCarter said:
There's often a van by the level crossing at Garve, and an unmarked car (Volvo) sitis between Garve and Achnasheen - usually on a Sunday.
Thanks, that’s not too surprising. I set a personal best going down there 20 years ago which I’ve never even approached since.

I’m older and wiser now and look back in horror tbh eek
It is a road that invites progress smile
Heading W on the mild downhill bits even a Jazz can hustle wink

andym1603

1,809 posts

172 months

Thursday 20th May 2021
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Anonymous-poster said:
There’s a dark coloured BMW that’s cutting about as well!
That confirms my suspicion. Thought I seen it in Inverness yesterday but couldn't be sure.

craig2003

1,206 posts

206 months

Friday 21st May 2021
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I have seen the dark BMW too a couple of times in Inverness.
Caution on the road over the Kessock bridge as a camera van is quite often at the Harry Gows on the North moving side and on the south they can be found either in the lay-by just before the bridge if not, over it and beside the Caley stadium.

Thevet

1,789 posts

233 months

Friday 21st May 2021
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21st Century Man said:
Fair point! hehe

I'd have to put my snobbery to one side, or sleep in the car.
LOL boutique with no accuracy ot the description is crap, but I do search the term when I looked abroad many months ago, sometimes it's good and even better, sometimes bookingdotthingy etc can yield a gem as we have found in our travels. Last time I slept in a car was in a pug 305 diesel estate with the original dog, below ben nevis in 1988 afore the run up the hill, now old age and arthritis mean a motorhome is just acceptable but boutique preferable

giveitfish

4,031 posts

214 months

Friday 21st May 2021
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Can confirm Cluanie Inn very friendly and food excellent.