Discussion
GetCarter said:
Crippo said:
That is pretty much perfect.Planning a trip for May next year, but the challenge is that we are based in London/SE and only have 4 days total.
In practice, this means that we want to use Glasgow as a base for nights 1 & 3, and have two full days driving in the West/Northwest Highlands (out from Glasgow, back to Glasgow).
How would people recommend adapting the above route for this?
The same group did a lot of the "Day 1" stuff on a previous trip, so it would be my inclination to remove this and focus on getting as far North/West as we can. However, this still leave us with a lot of ground to cover for the out/back two days, and somewhere to base ourselves on night 2.
Keen for any thoughts.
Edited by C70R on Tuesday 10th December 15:19
C70R said:
GetCarter said:
Crippo said:
That is pretty much perfect.Planning a trip for May next year, but the challenge is that we are based in London/SE and only have 4 days total.
In practice, this means that we want to use Glasgow as a base for nights 1 & 3, and have two full days driving in the West/Northwest Highlands (out from Glasgow, back to Glasgow).
How would people recommend adapting the above route for this?
The same group did a lot of the "Day 1" stuff on a previous trip, so it would be my inclination to remove this and focus on getting as far North/West as we can. However, this still leave us with a lot of ground to cover for the out/back two days, and somewhere to base ourselves on night 2.
Keen for any thoughts.
Edited by C70R on Tuesday 10th December 15:19
I think you should avoid most of the motorhomes in May, which will help, and locals don't generally hang around and do overtake slow people (a diesel Defender overtaking a dawdling non-local on a particularly rollercoaster bit of road alongside a loch was an amusing highlight, lol), so you will be able to make progress.
I would suggest that Ullapool would be achievable from Glasgow in a (long) day, although we didn't do the squiggly bits to visit Beallach Na Ba (spelling) because we couldn't get up even the gentle slopes, lol, and it will probably a push to do all that single-track stuff unless you set off early. Glasgow is also a ballache for congestion in the rush-hour, so I would suggest staying somewhere north of there, to avoid the traffic.
Will you/others need Super Unleaded? Fort William and Inverness have it, and there was another (Shell, IIRC?) garage quite far north that had it, but I can't remember where now. You might want to take some octane boosters 'just in case' if Super is definitely required/desired.
I didn't see any speed camera / laser vans apart from just before the enormous bridge as you come into Inverness from the north - it's an annoying 50mph limit on a DC beforehand, and they sit just before the bridge and get you as you come round the gentle corner before it. Whether there's more in May around the place, due to higher traffic numbers, I don't know.
C70R said:
GetCarter said:
Crippo said:
That is pretty much perfect.Planning a trip for May next year, but the challenge is that we are based in London/SE and only have 4 days total.
In practice, this means that we want to use Glasgow as a base for nights 1 & 3, and have two full days driving in the West/Northwest Highlands (out from Glasgow, back to Glasgow).
How would people recommend adapting the above route for this?
The same group did a lot of the "Day 1" stuff on a previous trip, so it would be my inclination to remove this and focus on getting as far North/West as we can. However, this still leave us with a lot of ground to cover for the out/back two days, and somewhere to base ourselves on night 2.
Keen for any thoughts.
Edited by C70R on Tuesday 10th December 15:19
https://goo.gl/maps/jxwzKRAZrX6tmf8P7
Peanut Gallery said:
chalda said:
We will be hurrying through the Highlands on the LeJog classic car rallye during the night Monday-Tuesday next week.
Rough schedule will probably be to have dinner at the Kyle of Lochalsh hotel on the 9th, then turn north and drive The Pass of the Cattle, then up to Ullapool, then the coast road to Lochinver, then along the north coast and the devil knows what else.
Just a small note about deer and roads and night and probably not the brightest HID bulbs out there.. I was up in Lochinver early November and had to brake fairly sharply for suicidal deer. Rough schedule will probably be to have dinner at the Kyle of Lochalsh hotel on the 9th, then turn north and drive The Pass of the Cattle, then up to Ullapool, then the coast road to Lochinver, then along the north coast and the devil knows what else.
Amazing roads!
Deer and sheep- simple idea- see one and there's most likely more around.
C70R said:
In practice, this means that we want to use Glasgow as a base for nights 1 & 3, and have two full days driving in the West/Northwest Highlands (out from Glasgow, back to Glasgow).
You might consider flying to Inverness (90 mins) and hiring a car (plenty to choose from including sports cars). Then just head west and when you see the sea turn right. Sorted. :0)Edited by C70R on Tuesday 10th December 15:19
If you really want Glasgow then 5 days would be MUCH better - for a mix of great roads and great scenery, I suggest:
Glasgow > Loch Lomond > Crianlarich > Glen Coe > Spean Bridge > Invergarry > Shiel Bridge > Strathcarron > Applecross (STOP THE NIGHT) > Shieldaig > Torridon > Kinlochewe > Poolewe > Ullapool > Elphin > Kylesku > Durness (STOP THE NIGHT) Head back the quick way to Glasgow.
Glasgow to Applecross with no stops takes about 5.5 hours (I've done this journey a lot). Applecross to Durness with no stops takes about 6 hours (I still do this journey a lot).
Bear in mind that days in May are about 18 hours long this far north.
There's super unleaded in Ullapool.
The three photos above are on said route. PM me if you want recommendations of places to stay.
ETA : Many of the photos here are on the west coast and on said route > http://www.stevecarter.com/gallery1/MyFaves.htm
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 11th December 09:09
GetCarter said:
You might consider flying to Inverness (90 mins) and hiring a car (plenty to choose from including sports cars). Then just head west and when you see the sea turn right. Sorted. :0)
Good idea!There are a couple of places that hire out the answer to everything lol
https://www.highlandroadsters.co.uk/
http://www.ecossesportscarhire.com/
GetCarter said:
You might consider flying to Inverness (90 mins) and hiring a car (plenty to choose from including sports cars). Then just head west and when you see the sea turn right. Sorted. :0)
It's something we'd all considered. While I'd get plenty of enjoyment out of ragging a hire car, I think a lot of the pleasure for us as a group would be taking the cars that we've all tracked and done road-trips together in previously.C70R said:
GetCarter said:
You might consider flying to Inverness (90 mins) and hiring a car (plenty to choose from including sports cars). Then just head west and when you see the sea turn right. Sorted. :0)
It's something we'd all considered. While I'd get plenty of enjoyment out of ragging a hire car, I think a lot of the pleasure for us as a group would be taking the cars that we've all tracked and done road-trips together in previously.At least you get to take in this road on the way back:
If you do the four day tour then I recommend these two places to stay:
https://www.thetorridon.com/ (posh hotel or v. clean Inn)
https://www.applecrossinn.co.uk/ (proper pub vibe)
ETA: There's never any crime here, so don't worry about the cars. I haven't locked mine in 20 years.
https://www.thetorridon.com/ (posh hotel or v. clean Inn)
https://www.applecrossinn.co.uk/ (proper pub vibe)
ETA: There's never any crime here, so don't worry about the cars. I haven't locked mine in 20 years.
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 11th December 15:00
C70R said:
It's something we'd all considered. While I'd get plenty of enjoyment out of ragging a hire car, I think a lot of the pleasure for us as a group would be taking the cars that we've all tracked and done road-trips together in previously.
If you are going as a group , I'd strongly recommend each running a mile apart because - -then you wont spend the time looking at the car in front or behind and
- you will see empty road and magnificent scenrey instead and
- you won't look like another daft convoy of the type which is ruining NW Scotland and
- you won't ps off other road users and locals
Seriously !
coppice said:
If you are going as a group , I'd strongly recommend each running a mile apart because -
-then you wont spend the time looking at the car in front or behind and
- you will see empty road and magnificent scenrey instead and
- you won't look like another daft convoy of the type which is ruining NW Scotland and
- you won't ps off other road users and locals
Seriously !
Best Highland roads advice ever.-then you wont spend the time looking at the car in front or behind and
- you will see empty road and magnificent scenrey instead and
- you won't look like another daft convoy of the type which is ruining NW Scotland and
- you won't ps off other road users and locals
Seriously !
GetCarter said:
coppice said:
If you are going as a group , I'd strongly recommend each running a mile apart because -
-then you wont spend the time looking at the car in front or behind and
- you will see empty road and magnificent scenrey instead and
- you won't look like another daft convoy of the type which is ruining NW Scotland and
- you won't ps off other road users and locals
Seriously !
Best Highland roads advice ever.-then you wont spend the time looking at the car in front or behind and
- you will see empty road and magnificent scenrey instead and
- you won't look like another daft convoy of the type which is ruining NW Scotland and
- you won't ps off other road users and locals
Seriously !
I think "running a mile apart" is a bit excessive, but we certainly (as on most roadtrips) won't spend the trip stuck to each others' bumpers. At any rate, looking "daft" isn't really something that bothers me.
Even when we travelled as a group of 4 on the last trip, I can't recall a time when we might have "pissed off" other road users. It's possible to avoid being an inconsiderate tt without following such an excessive diktat.
GetCarter said:
C70R said:
GetCarter said:
You might consider flying to Inverness (90 mins) and hiring a car (plenty to choose from including sports cars). Then just head west and when you see the sea turn right. Sorted. :0)
It's something we'd all considered. While I'd get plenty of enjoyment out of ragging a hire car, I think a lot of the pleasure for us as a group would be taking the cars that we've all tracked and done road-trips together in previously.At least you get to take in this road on the way back:
At the moment, this is what I have thrown together (very quickly) for the two days:
Day 1: https://goo.gl/maps/NAmfoY4m1RgVEYYp7
Day 2: https://goo.gl/maps/8TCUvNQpxJCkPiqk9
C70R said:
GetCarter said:
C70R said:
GetCarter said:
You might consider flying to Inverness (90 mins) and hiring a car (plenty to choose from including sports cars). Then just head west and when you see the sea turn right. Sorted. :0)
It's something we'd all considered. While I'd get plenty of enjoyment out of ragging a hire car, I think a lot of the pleasure for us as a group would be taking the cars that we've all tracked and done road-trips together in previously.At least you get to take in this road on the way back:
At the moment, this is what I have thrown together (very quickly) for the two days:
Day 1: https://goo.gl/maps/NAmfoY4m1RgVEYYp7
Day 2: https://goo.gl/maps/8TCUvNQpxJCkPiqk9
GetCarter said:
C70R said:
GetCarter said:
C70R said:
GetCarter said:
You might consider flying to Inverness (90 mins) and hiring a car (plenty to choose from including sports cars). Then just head west and when you see the sea turn right. Sorted. :0)
It's something we'd all considered. While I'd get plenty of enjoyment out of ragging a hire car, I think a lot of the pleasure for us as a group would be taking the cars that we've all tracked and done road-trips together in previously.At least you get to take in this road on the way back:
At the moment, this is what I have thrown together (very quickly) for the two days:
Day 1: https://goo.gl/maps/NAmfoY4m1RgVEYYp7
Day 2: https://goo.gl/maps/8TCUvNQpxJCkPiqk9
The overnight stop will be decided on as somewhere that has 5-6 rooms available, and my (limited) research tells me that Lochcarron probably isn't the answer. It's in there as a placeholder at the moment, because we want to be close so that we're able to get out onto Bealach na Ba nice and early. We're willing to sacrifice luxury/amenities for location on this occasion.
Any alternative suggestions are appreciated.
I'd struggled with Day 2 a bit, and resisted the urge to retrace our Day 1 steps. I really want to get to see Torridon and Kinlochewe, but I was at a bit of a loss as to where to head after that. The coastal road up and past Loch Ewe looks spectacular on the map/streetview, but it does leave us with an awful slog back down the A9 to Glasgow.
What would you suggest as an alternative?
C70R said:
Thank you for averting a potential crisis.
The overnight stop will be decided on as somewhere that has 5-6 rooms available, and my (limited) research tells me that Lochcarron probably isn't the answer. It's in there as a placeholder at the moment, because we want to be close so that we're able to get out onto Bealach na Ba nice and early. We're willing to sacrifice luxury/amenities for location on this occasion.
Any alternative suggestions are appreciated.
I'd struggled with Day 2 a bit, and resisted the urge to retrace our Day 1 steps. I really want to get to see Torridon and Kinlochewe, but I was at a bit of a loss as to where to head after that. The coastal road up and past Loch Ewe looks spectacular on the map/streetview, but it does leave us with an awful slog back down the A9 to Glasgow.
What would you suggest as an alternative?
Applecross or Torridon Inns are the place to stay (but may already be booked). Your second day falls apart at Garve. From then on it's a right pain in the arse (A9 is 120 miles of average speed cameras and road works). Not many alternatives I'm afraid. I'd go back the way you came (ish). Forget Poolewe, turn right at Kinlochewe and drive down Loch Ness on your way back to Glasgow. Time is your problem. 5 days makes it so much better.The overnight stop will be decided on as somewhere that has 5-6 rooms available, and my (limited) research tells me that Lochcarron probably isn't the answer. It's in there as a placeholder at the moment, because we want to be close so that we're able to get out onto Bealach na Ba nice and early. We're willing to sacrifice luxury/amenities for location on this occasion.
Any alternative suggestions are appreciated.
I'd struggled with Day 2 a bit, and resisted the urge to retrace our Day 1 steps. I really want to get to see Torridon and Kinlochewe, but I was at a bit of a loss as to where to head after that. The coastal road up and past Loch Ewe looks spectacular on the map/streetview, but it does leave us with an awful slog back down the A9 to Glasgow.
What would you suggest as an alternative?
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 11th December 18:26
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