Highlands

Author
Discussion

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
quotequote all
f1ten said:
Mr Carter any beautiful winter pics for us yet?
Not much snow here yet. You can play 'spot the buzzard' by 'Beinn Alligin':


GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all

Condi

17,085 posts

170 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
That the road through Coe? One of the good ones...

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Condi said:
That the road through Coe? One of the good ones...
yep.

...and this past the five sisters. Had the road almost to myself yesterday.


C70R

17,596 posts

103 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
GetCarter said:
Crippo said:
My trip is now planned.

I'll be taking a day off for a Hike so it necessitates fairly big days but I'll be travelling on my own and camping so hopefully not getting held up with faffing

That is pretty much perfect.
Coming to this a long time after the fact, but I'm looking for some advice.

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

RSTurboPaul

10,219 posts

257 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
C70R said:
GetCarter said:
Crippo said:
My trip is now planned.

I'll be taking a day off for a Hike so it necessitates fairly big days but I'll be travelling on my own and camping so hopefully not getting held up with faffing

That is pretty much perfect.
Coming to this a long time after the fact, but I'm looking for some advice.

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 did some of this with the missus the other year (in January and snow, on summer tyres at the wear limiters... lol) and what I will say is that it is a LONG way from Glasgow to Ullapool, which is as far as we got. We weren't there just for a driving holiday, we were stopping and doing things (mainly eating, haha), but it is many hours to cover any great distance, and you will want to relax for lunch and stop for pictures etc. (EDIT: Which of course you/they know, having been before! I should read more carefully before replying...)

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.

JM

3,170 posts

205 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
C70R said:
GetCarter said:
Crippo said:
My trip is now planned.

I'll be taking a day off for a Hike so it necessitates fairly big days but I'll be travelling on my own and camping so hopefully not getting held up with faffing

That is pretty much perfect.
Coming to this a long time after the fact, but I'm looking for some advice.

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
If you want to miss the A93-A939 etc section from day 1 then your best bet is probably just to use the A9 to Inverness. If you want there are interesting ways of getting halfway to Inverness without going on it. Inverness from Glasgow in 3 hours on the A9. Which would then give you plenty time to get to Ullapool either using the day 2 route or going more direct and then spending the night either in or near Ullapool or heading a bit further south to Gairloch area. That would make the day 3 return to Glasgow more reasonable.


https://goo.gl/maps/jxwzKRAZrX6tmf8P7


Who me ?

7,455 posts

211 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
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.

Amazing roads!
Anywhere up north ,there's the risk of Deer - from ones as small as a large GS to a stag. I noticed them in past years around the mobile food stands .But another thing to look out for as it gets colder is blackfaced sheep keeping warm on the tarmac.
Deer and sheep- simple idea- see one and there's most likely more around.

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
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).


Edited by C70R on Tuesday 10th December 15:19
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)

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

RSTurboPaul

10,219 posts

257 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
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 tongue out lol

https://www.highlandroadsters.co.uk/

http://www.ecossesportscarhire.com/

C70R

17,596 posts

103 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
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.

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
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.
Then 5 days rather than four... or do the 4 days with the Glasgow Applecross run, miss out the extreme north - and return via Shieldaig, Torridon, Kinlochewe, Achnasheen Strathcarron etc....

At least you get to take in this road on the way back:


GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
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.

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 11th December 15:00

coppice

8,561 posts

143 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
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 !

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
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.

C70R

17,596 posts

103 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
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.
This isn't our first Highland foray.

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.

C70R

17,596 posts

103 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
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.
Then 5 days rather than four... or do the 4 days with the Glasgow Applecross run, miss out the extreme north - and return via Shieldaig, Torridon, Kinlochewe, Achnasheen Strathcarron etc....

At least you get to take in this road on the way back:

4 days is unfortunately the max, and I had considered something not dissimilar to what you're suggesting.

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

29,358 posts

278 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
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.
Then 5 days rather than four... or do the 4 days with the Glasgow Applecross run, miss out the extreme north - and return via Shieldaig, Torridon, Kinlochewe, Achnasheen Strathcarron etc....

At least you get to take in this road on the way back:

4 days is unfortunately the max, and I had considered something not dissimilar to what you're suggesting.

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
Firstly, don't stop in Lochcarron - nowhere nice. Secondly, your second day is a nightmare. DON'T do this.

C70R

17,596 posts

103 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
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.
Then 5 days rather than four... or do the 4 days with the Glasgow Applecross run, miss out the extreme north - and return via Shieldaig, Torridon, Kinlochewe, Achnasheen Strathcarron etc....

At least you get to take in this road on the way back:

4 days is unfortunately the max, and I had considered something not dissimilar to what you're suggesting.

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
Firstly, don't stop in Lochcarron - nowhere nice. Secondly, your second day is a nightmare. DON'T do this.
Thank you for averting a potential crisis. thumbup

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?

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
quotequote all
C70R said:
Thank you for averting a potential crisis. thumbup

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.


Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 11th December 18:26