NC500 (north coast road)

NC500 (north coast road)

Author
Discussion

bobski1

1,763 posts

103 months

Friday 10th March 2017
quotequote all
Just been reading some blogs on things to do, slowly building up the itinerary of what to do, would quite like to get a kayak in the sea & go to another isle. Entirely weather dependent of course but anybody recommend a play they've been to do it?

Also if there are any shooting places that are worth going to, always wanted to do clay pigeon shooting

Edited by bobski1 on Friday 10th March 14:31

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Friday 10th March 2017
quotequote all
bobski1 said:
Just been reading some blogs on things to do, slowly building up the itinerary of what to do, would quite like to get a kayak in the sea & go to another isle. Entirely weather dependent of course but anybody recommend a play they've been to do it?

Also if there are any shooting places that are worth going to, always wanted to do clay pigeon shooting

Edited by bobski1 on Friday 10th March 14:31
Torridon Activities do clay shooting and kayaking.

Shieldiag Outdoor Adventures do Kyaking

Torridon Seatours will take you to Rona

CalMac will take you to all the big Islands.

https://www.thetorridon.com/activities/
http://shieldaigadventures.com
http://www.torridonseatours.com
https://www.calmac.co.uk


Edited by GetCarter on Friday 10th March 15:20

CO2000

3,177 posts

208 months

Friday 10th March 2017
quotequote all
GetCarter said:
I usually bang on about driving up here early in the day, but it does have it's issues. wink

There's a good 5 points there biggrin

JM

3,170 posts

205 months

Friday 10th March 2017
quotequote all
bobski1 said:
would quite like to get a kayak in the sea & go to another isle.
http://www.norwestseakayaking.com/ In Ullapool/Coigach may be able to help.
A paddle to (some) of the Summer Isles would be great in good weather.


Other non kayak option could be Handa Island for the sea bird colonies, small 'ferry' boat to get there.

Bigger ferry and island could be a trip to Orkney from Scrabster or Gills Bay.
Morning ferry, day-trip round some of the main sites on Orkney mainland and ferry back in the evening is possible either with your own car or as a passenger and then on a coach (from J O'G's).

Mull and Skye are easily added to a West coast road trip as you can land at one port and leave from another, landing further up the coast. Though neither are on the NC500 route...



Edited by JM on Friday 10th March 22:02

bobski1

1,763 posts

103 months

Monday 27th March 2017
quotequote all
In terms of car prep, what do people adivse to take?

I will be changing the wipers the day I go & will have the following:

Oil
coolant
water
spare tyre
air compressor
high vis
first aid kit
spare bulbs for all
torch
safety triangle

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Monday 27th March 2017
quotequote all
bobski1 said:
In terms of car prep, what do people adivse to take?

I will be changing the wipers the day I go & will have the following:

Oil
coolant
water
spare tyre
air compressor
high vis
first aid kit
spare bulbs for all
torch
safety triangle
I live here and have none of those. confused

AndrewEH1

4,917 posts

152 months

Monday 27th March 2017
quotequote all
bobski1 said:
In terms of car prep, what do people adivse to take?

I will be changing the wipers the day I go & will have the following:

Oil
coolant
water
spare tyre
air compressor
high vis
first aid kit
spare bulbs for all
torch
safety triangle
Oil if your car burns it on long runs (finding the right oil can be a little tricky up north). I wouldn't really go overboard though you'll never be too far from civilisation!

johnwilliams77

8,308 posts

102 months

Monday 27th March 2017
quotequote all
bobski1 said:
In terms of car prep, what do people adivse to take?

I will be changing the wipers the day I go & will have the following:

Oil
coolant
water
spare tyre
air compressor
high vis
first aid kit
spare bulbs for all
torch
safety triangle
Cash/card for petrol+food/beer.

towser

919 posts

210 months

Monday 27th March 2017
quotequote all
bobski1 said:
In terms of car prep, what do people adivse to take?

I will be changing the wipers the day I go & will have the following:

Oil
coolant
water
spare tyre
air compressor
high vis
first aid kit
spare bulbs for all
torch
safety triangle
Canned foods
Rifle
Sled & Huskies
Guide who speaks the local language

;-)

myvision

1,931 posts

135 months

Monday 27th March 2017
quotequote all
Has anyone done this and wild camped?
I'm planning on going in August on my motorbike I'm presuming there are plenty of campsites along the way anyway for when I'll need a shower ETC.

towser

919 posts

210 months

Monday 27th March 2017
quotequote all
myvision said:
Has anyone done this and wild camped?
I'm planning on going in August on my motorbike I'm presuming there are plenty of campsites along the way anyway for when I'll need a shower ETC.
August + Camping + West Coast = Midgie Hell sadly

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Monday 27th March 2017
quotequote all
myvision said:
Has anyone done this and wild camped?
I'm planning on going in August on my motorbike I'm presuming there are plenty of campsites along the way anyway for when I'll need a shower ETC.
Wild camping is fine and legal in the Highlands, except for some areas around Loch Lomond. There are campsites dotted about. There are two near me, Shieldaig and Torridon. Both free. No showers at Shieldaig.


..and yes... midges will be a problem camping in August. Do it in May.

ReaderScars

6,087 posts

175 months

Monday 27th March 2017
quotequote all
If it's possible to eliminate mosquitoes maybe the same should be done for the midges.

Or do like having a few around to keep the unwanted south of the border? Talk about feeding the hand that bites hehe

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Tuesday 28th March 2017
quotequote all
ReaderScars said:
If it's possible to eliminate mosquitoes maybe the same should be done for the midges.

Or do like having a few around to keep the unwanted south of the border? Talk about feeding the hand that bites hehe
There is one repellent that works (Smidge). But the buggers get everywhere (in your hair etc). So far there is no 100% way of stopping them. They are only around for 3 months, and of those three months much of the time it'll be the wrong sort of weather, so they hide.

Half the population here were born south of the border and have moved up (like me). So the midges are bad, but not that bad - unlike some of the tourists wink

myvision

1,931 posts

135 months

Tuesday 28th March 2017
quotequote all
GetCarter said:
Wild camping is fine and legal in the Highlands, except for some areas around Loch Lomond. There are campsites dotted about. There are two near me, Shieldaig and Torridon. Both free. No showers at Shieldaig.


..and yes... midges will be a problem camping in August. Do it in May.
I've had experience of the midges before I have to do it in august as it's the only time I can get off work.
I was planning on going anti clockwise I might go clockwise and get the midges done first!

Mad Jock

1,272 posts

261 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
quotequote all
myvision said:
Has anyone done this and wild camped?
I'm planning on going in August on my motorbike I'm presuming there are plenty of campsites along the way anyway for when I'll need a shower ETC.
Wuss! Camp near a river and dive in.

s2kjock

1,677 posts

146 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
quotequote all
myvision said:
I was planning on going anti clockwise I might go clockwise and get the midges done first!
I read that initially as you hoping to avoid the midges by travelling in a certain direction to confuse them.

Sadly that only works with haggis. frown

bobski1

1,763 posts

103 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
quotequote all
towser said:
Canned foods
Rifle
Sled & Huskies
Guide who speaks the local language

;-)
Are you volunteering as the guide?

Peanut Gallery

2,418 posts

109 months

Wednesday 29th March 2017
quotequote all
Mad Jock said:
myvision said:
Has anyone done this and wild camped?
I'm planning on going in August on my motorbike I'm presuming there are plenty of campsites along the way anyway for when I'll need a shower ETC.
Wuss! Camp near a river and dive in.
Or go for a swim, herewith the wild campsite we had to ourselves in Sandwood Bay.


Oh, minor note, that is a good walk from the nearest road, so that is probably why we had it to ourselves!

naetype

889 posts

249 months

Friday 28th April 2017
quotequote all
Midges:

Smidge repellent: don't get it near anything sensitive as it'll burn then numb. Following on from that: Make sure you wash/clean the palms of your hands after applying it and before you need to urinate (guy advice here really). Been there, done that, not keen to repeat.

Or Avon Skin-So-Soft, nobody has any real idea why it works but it does. Try and get either before you go otherwise there's a chance you'll be buying it at the Green Welly (the Harrods of the North) just up the road from Crianlarich at a minimum 100% mark up. Which is pretty much their standard pricing policy for everything.

They dislike direct Sun and anything above a stiff breeze will disperse them. So stay away from sheltered spots beside rivers. Oh and for those nicotine addicts among you they also dislike cigarette smoke (they worry about the 2nd hand smoke as it might give them cancer). True story.

Edited by naetype on Saturday 29th April 08:49