The road to Orkney: A9 or other route?
Discussion
Early in August I'll be heading up through Scotland to Scrabster, where I'll be catching the ferry to Orkney. For my sins, I'm getting married on the island.
I'll be picking up family members in Coatbridge on the Saturday evening at around 8pm I reckon and then driving as far as I can through the night, with the aim of reaching Scrabster for midday Sunday. I'll be taking breaks on route to sleep.
I've read some of the many threads on here about the A9, so I'm debating whether it's the best option for me. I can either go A9 Perth, Inverness, or I could go the A82 route, via Fort William. A82 looks more scenic (although most of it will be driven at night, so not that important), but according to Google the A9 option is faster.
Would be grateful for thoughts of those who regularly drive in that area.
Darren
I'll be picking up family members in Coatbridge on the Saturday evening at around 8pm I reckon and then driving as far as I can through the night, with the aim of reaching Scrabster for midday Sunday. I'll be taking breaks on route to sleep.
I've read some of the many threads on here about the A9, so I'm debating whether it's the best option for me. I can either go A9 Perth, Inverness, or I could go the A82 route, via Fort William. A82 looks more scenic (although most of it will be driven at night, so not that important), but according to Google the A9 option is faster.
Would be grateful for thoughts of those who regularly drive in that area.
Darren
At that time of night I'd just want to get there the quickest and easiest way, you're not going to be able to enjoy the scenery in the dark.
Remember though that from Bridge of Allan to Inverness is covered by average speed cameras - sitting at a constant (boring) speed on a boring road is not conducive to staying awake
Remember though that from Bridge of Allan to Inverness is covered by average speed cameras - sitting at a constant (boring) speed on a boring road is not conducive to staying awake
Thanks Mon. I can see the logic, that it's best to opt for the quicker route. But, you raise an interesting point about the "boring" nature of the road. By the time I hit that road, I'll already have been driving about 6 hours, so tiredness is a concern. I'll be taking regular breaks along the way, and will pull over somewhere to sleep for several hours. I do wonder if a slightly more interesting road will help with concentration.
I've heard tell of those average speed cameras on the A9. Will have to be on my guard if I do take the A9.
Darren
I've heard tell of those average speed cameras on the A9. Will have to be on my guard if I do take the A9.
Darren
Edited by TR5tar on Thursday 29th June 13:59
Edited by TR5tar on Thursday 29th June 17:58
Driving at night I'd take the A9. I've got family on the Isle of Lewis so have driven both routes quite a bit over the years. On the A9 you'll hit a lot of trucks, but there will be dual carriageway stretches for overtaking. By comparison I hate driving the A82 to Fort William at night, harder to overtake in the dark for longer periods IMO, due to the nature of the road - get a couple of trucks back to back and you could be stuck for a while.
I don't mind the A9, the bits where you have to slow down behind trucks and caravanners balance out the bits where you floor it through the dual carriageway to overtake
Enjoy Orkney, the only time I've been was for a wedding, I thought it was a lovely Island, not what I expected and nothing like Lewis/Harris/Skye in terms of scenery. Ferry crossing was horrible though if you get motion sickness at all!
I don't mind the A9, the bits where you have to slow down behind trucks and caravanners balance out the bits where you floor it through the dual carriageway to overtake
Enjoy Orkney, the only time I've been was for a wedding, I thought it was a lovely Island, not what I expected and nothing like Lewis/Harris/Skye in terms of scenery. Ferry crossing was horrible though if you get motion sickness at all!
Thanks for the advice all. A9 definitely seems to be the favourite option so far then.
I hadn't considered the other ferry options. You're right, it might have been better, but I'm already booked up now, so Scrabster it is. I've got reasonably good sea legs (at least I did have last time I was on water), but the wife to be suffers motion sickness quite badly, so she's not looking forward to that.
We both have an interest in Neolithic history, so Orkney is a very special place for us. We have been meaning to visit for years. We're not expecting great weather (wife to be has purchased bridal wellies), but I'm hoping it won't be too bad. But, if it is, then at least it'll be even more memorable.
Thanks too for the kind wishes.
Darren
P.S. That's a great photo Kiltie.
I hadn't considered the other ferry options. You're right, it might have been better, but I'm already booked up now, so Scrabster it is. I've got reasonably good sea legs (at least I did have last time I was on water), but the wife to be suffers motion sickness quite badly, so she's not looking forward to that.
We both have an interest in Neolithic history, so Orkney is a very special place for us. We have been meaning to visit for years. We're not expecting great weather (wife to be has purchased bridal wellies), but I'm hoping it won't be too bad. But, if it is, then at least it'll be even more memorable.
Thanks too for the kind wishes.
Darren
P.S. That's a great photo Kiltie.
Good stuff. Skara Brae is fantastic. We went on a Tuesday and there were too many people though. They said Tuesdays seem to be their busiest day for no apparent reason (maybe to do with cruise ship rotations or something). A friend who comes from Orkney told me later that it's actually public land so you don't have to pay and you can go there out of hours.
I'd probably advise caution though. You wouldn't want to get arrested the day before or after your wedding.
There's a nice wee bit of beach by Skara Brae and I think accessible from the site. If I was going again and it was a fine day, I think I'd take a picnic and hang out on the beach for a bit - maybe toward the end of the day so I could walk around the settlement when there were minimal people.
The photo was taken at Brough Head. I loved that place. First time I've ever been somewhere that required walking across a causeway only there at low tide.
The Kitchener Memorial is easy to get to from there too - needs a bit of a head for heights as on a cliff top.
BTW - just thought of something that might interest you. The Skerries Bistro has a "dining pod". Up to 8 people can have a taster menu in it. It's the spherical structure in the pic below. The night I was there, it was just a couple in it. I just thought it might be nice if you had a family group. You can see right to Duncansby Head.
I hope you have a brilliant time.
I'd probably advise caution though. You wouldn't want to get arrested the day before or after your wedding.
There's a nice wee bit of beach by Skara Brae and I think accessible from the site. If I was going again and it was a fine day, I think I'd take a picnic and hang out on the beach for a bit - maybe toward the end of the day so I could walk around the settlement when there were minimal people.
The photo was taken at Brough Head. I loved that place. First time I've ever been somewhere that required walking across a causeway only there at low tide.
The Kitchener Memorial is easy to get to from there too - needs a bit of a head for heights as on a cliff top.
BTW - just thought of something that might interest you. The Skerries Bistro has a "dining pod". Up to 8 people can have a taster menu in it. It's the spherical structure in the pic below. The night I was there, it was just a couple in it. I just thought it might be nice if you had a family group. You can see right to Duncansby Head.
I hope you have a brilliant time.
A9 all the way as others have said, and I'd also consider just staying the night and leaving early morning.
Cruise control is great for the camera covered sections of the A9. I wouldn't say it's a boring road, being stuck in a long queue of slow cars and lorries is boring no matter what road it is. The A835 would be boring at 35mph stuck behind a convoy of campervans, caravans and trucks.
The Orkney Islands are a great place to go with lots of interesting stuff to see.
I nearly got stuck on the wrong end of that causeway Kiltie, slightly damp shoes when I got back to the mainland.
Cruise control is great for the camera covered sections of the A9. I wouldn't say it's a boring road, being stuck in a long queue of slow cars and lorries is boring no matter what road it is. The A835 would be boring at 35mph stuck behind a convoy of campervans, caravans and trucks.
The Orkney Islands are a great place to go with lots of interesting stuff to see.
I nearly got stuck on the wrong end of that causeway Kiltie, slightly damp shoes when I got back to the mainland.
Thanks for the further detail Kiltie. I wondered if that was Skara Brae in the background of your first photo. I'll try to avoid going on the Tuesday as you suggest ... I'll leave it to the Wednesday (day before the wedding), and I'll try not to get arrested. After all, I wouldn't want to miss the stag night! I'm aiming to visit the two distilleries for that.
Thanks for the recommendation of the Dinning Pod. Looks interesting.
Hi Andrew, I'm on the ferry at about 1ish on the Sunday. I like to leave a good safety margin time wise, so if I stayed overnight in Coatbridge, I think I'd want to be on the road no later than about 5am. My concern would be that I wouldn't get to sleep very early the night before and so even if I stayed in a Travellodge type place, I'd only get 4 or 5 hours sleep there. And then there's the problem of getting the wife to be (and the others) moving in the morning. At least if we are all in the car, I only have to worry about getting myself going.
Thanks JM. I suspect I'll make a lot of use of the cruise control. I can't imagine the A9 will be very busy at the time I'll be on it on the Sunday morning, or is that wishful thinking?
Thanks for the recommendation of the Dinning Pod. Looks interesting.
Hi Andrew, I'm on the ferry at about 1ish on the Sunday. I like to leave a good safety margin time wise, so if I stayed overnight in Coatbridge, I think I'd want to be on the road no later than about 5am. My concern would be that I wouldn't get to sleep very early the night before and so even if I stayed in a Travellodge type place, I'd only get 4 or 5 hours sleep there. And then there's the problem of getting the wife to be (and the others) moving in the morning. At least if we are all in the car, I only have to worry about getting myself going.
Thanks JM. I suspect I'll make a lot of use of the cruise control. I can't imagine the A9 will be very busy at the time I'll be on it on the Sunday morning, or is that wishful thinking?
Use the A9. Its better for where you want to go to. Remember to turn left at latheron wheel and watch out for the humpback bridge between there and thurso. Berridale braes should also be respected.
If you want food on the boat. Get to the restaurant as soon as you board. You dont want to be trying to get to a table with food/ hot drinks once under way.
My grandparents live on Orkney I have done the crossing at least 60 times in all conditions.
If you want food on the boat. Get to the restaurant as soon as you board. You dont want to be trying to get to a table with food/ hot drinks once under way.
My grandparents live on Orkney I have done the crossing at least 60 times in all conditions.
Noted, thanks Sherman.
Another question, that hopefully someone here will be able to help with ... given that I aim to pull off the road to get some sleep somewhere along the A9, where's the best place to do that? I'm hoping to be able to get at least one hundred miles in after Coatbridge, so I don't have too much more to do in the morning. Are there plenty of laybys along the way, or perhaps somewhere else suitable?
Thanks, Darren
Another question, that hopefully someone here will be able to help with ... given that I aim to pull off the road to get some sleep somewhere along the A9, where's the best place to do that? I'm hoping to be able to get at least one hundred miles in after Coatbridge, so I don't have too much more to do in the morning. Are there plenty of laybys along the way, or perhaps somewhere else suitable?
Thanks, Darren
This ( https://goo.gl/maps/iCv5uyF8rHv ) would be a place I'd consider stopping to try and get a kip. Hopefully they don't lock the gates (to keep camper vans out!) at night. Another option further south would be House of Bruar, they have a big car-park.
There are lots of laybys on the A9, but most are right beside the carriageway though there are some with a bit of verge between you and the live lanes. A big one at Drumochter summit a mile or two after the long dual carriageway.
There are lots of laybys on the A9, but most are right beside the carriageway though there are some with a bit of verge between you and the live lanes. A big one at Drumochter summit a mile or two after the long dual carriageway.
Great suggestions, thanks JM. Having looked on the map, The Ralia Cafe looks perfect, providing I can make it that far. It's the sort of distance I'd like to try for before getting some kip. If I'm too tired to push on that far, then the other options look good too.
Much appreciated.
Darren
Much appreciated.
Darren
Hi Kiltie,
I'll mark both options in the Satnav I think, so that if I'm very tired before reaching the Ralia I can pull over at the House of Bruar. Ideally I can reach the Ralia without stopping, because it looks like it might be a nice place for breakfast, if they open early enough on a Sunday. I'll have to play it by ear to some extent.
You've all been a brilliant help in the planning.
Darren
I'll mark both options in the Satnav I think, so that if I'm very tired before reaching the Ralia I can pull over at the House of Bruar. Ideally I can reach the Ralia without stopping, because it looks like it might be a nice place for breakfast, if they open early enough on a Sunday. I'll have to play it by ear to some extent.
You've all been a brilliant help in the planning.
Darren
TR5tar said:
Hi Kiltie,
I'll mark both options in the Satnav I think, so that if I'm very tired before reaching the Ralia I can pull over at the House of Bruar. Ideally I can reach the Ralia without stopping, because it looks like it might be a nice place for breakfast, if they open early enough on a Sunday. I'll have to play it by ear to some extent.
You've all been a brilliant help in the planning.
Darren
08:00 am every Summer's day to 8:00 pm. You'll not be disappointed. WIFI as well!I'll mark both options in the Satnav I think, so that if I'm very tired before reaching the Ralia I can pull over at the House of Bruar. Ideally I can reach the Ralia without stopping, because it looks like it might be a nice place for breakfast, if they open early enough on a Sunday. I'll have to play it by ear to some extent.
You've all been a brilliant help in the planning.
Darren
Hiya Darren.
I was just looking at some photos and remembering what a brilliant time we had on (in?) Orkney.
I hope you find it as good.
Skara Brae with too many people on a Tuesday ...
Italian Chapel, nice place and a great story, done in 10 mins ...
Mucking around on beaches and feeling six years old again ...
View from our front door, 21/06/17 23:59 ...
Enjoy!
I was just looking at some photos and remembering what a brilliant time we had on (in?) Orkney.
I hope you find it as good.
Skara Brae with too many people on a Tuesday ...
Italian Chapel, nice place and a great story, done in 10 mins ...
Mucking around on beaches and feeling six years old again ...
View from our front door, 21/06/17 23:59 ...
Enjoy!
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