Highlands

[Red Devil]

Blakes003 said:

My Scotland trip starting this Saturday. It has been in the making now for a few weeks. Hoping for some decent weather.
The idea of the trip is to see some of Scotland's beautiful scenery, drive some great roads, experience some remoteness that we can never get here in the south east. I am also covering some of the East side of the NC500.
Any tips or detours on this trip would be much appreciated.

Let me know what you think of it;

Day 1 – Oxford to Inveraray
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Plane+Tree+Way,+Wo...

Day 2 – Inveraray to Mallaig taking in the Glencoe route or the Sky Fall road as some call it. This will include Fort William and a drive past Ben Nevis
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/The+Inveraray+Inn,...

Day 3 – Mallaig, on the ferry over to Skye, a drive through the south of the island, over the Skye Bridge, to Eileen Castle and then onto Strathcarron to start the NC 500
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Armadale,+Isle+o...

Day 4 – Strathcarron to Apple Cross and along the coast road to Ullapool
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Kelso+Lodge+Cott...

Day 5 – Ullapool to Inverness - Drive from Ullapool to Inverness via Unapool and the famous Evo Bridge onto north Laxford Bridge and then down the A838 through the mountains
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Ullapool,+UK/Una...

Day 6 - Leave Inverness then drive through the Cairgorms using the Military Road down to Ballater then down past Balmoral to Glenshee then over Kinloch Rannoch lake
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Inverness,+UK/Na...

Day 7 – Over to Glasgow area
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Macdonald+Loch+R...

Day 8 – Back down to Oxford

Here you go: my 2p.

Day 1. The A82 along Loch Lomond to Tarbet can be a proper drag, especially if you're in a camel train behind a truck or a caravan.
          Cut out most of that section by taking the A817/A814 to Arrochar - https://goo.gl/maps/GTteP14rfJy

Day 2. OK, but see Day 3.

Day 3. The two roads on Skye you will be using are the least interesting/involving stretches on the entire island.
          They are also the ones with the most traffic. I can't get my head round the logic of this at all.
          You're missing out all the best bits: the road to Dunvegan, thence to Uig, and via the Quiraing back to Portree.
          In which case, why bother going to Mallaig on day 2 and incurring the additional cost of the ferry?
          Also, you're doing less than 50 miles over the whole day. Why? I must be overlooking something but what?

Day 4. All good.

Day 5. Nothing wrong with going direct from Laxford Bridge to Lairg, but via Durness and Tongue is far better imo - https://goo.gl/maps/RvRvZ8vbJo32

Day 6. Unless you have a specific reason for visiting Nairn, I would avoid the A96 which is the primary route from Inverness to Aberdeen.
          It carries a lot of traffic with few opportunities for overtaking. This can result in some pretty lairy manoeuvres when they do arise.
          Take the B roads instead, past the battlefield site at Culloden and then via Cawdor - https://goo.gl/maps/H3NGqnro6XH2

Day 7. As Day 1: avoid the trek down the A82 along Loch Lomond. Go via Aberfoyle and join the A82 where the d/c section begins - https://goo.gl/maps/QP7w8uAg46K2

Btw, I think you need to splash out on a new compass. You're doing less than 5 miles of the East side of the NC500! - https://goo.gl/maps/oCVEj8QVmE12

[Blakes003]

Hey Red! Many thanks for reviewing my trip.

I have amended my route on Day 5 and 6 to the route you suggest. Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

As for Skye, well yes, I know!!! I am taking the misses and she can get bothered by my driving at times so I can see this being a bit of a nightmare at times. She wanted to go to Crete for a week, all inclusive and sun. She usually gets her own way but this time I have put my foot down and well, promised her a boat trip to an island if we go to Scotland. She loves boat trips even though this one does not seem to have a disco and an all you can drink bar!! The reason for the sort drive really is that we are going to take in Eileen Castle. Not really her thing, she prefers a swim up bar but at least I am making an effort to include some stuff for her.

I have never really done Scotland except for Edinburgh and really fancy a blast around.

Cheers for the tips
03

Edited by Blakes003 on Tuesday 30th August 23:24

[Red Devil]

Jacobyte said:

Look out for "The Jacobite" steam engine (a.k.a. The Harry Potter Express) - we were lucky enough for it to come alongside us:

Close, but no cigar.

"The Jacobite" is the name of the train (per the removable blue headboard in the photo below)
The engine is named 'The Lancashire Fusilier' (the curved nameplate and crest above the running plate).

[cat220]

Red Devil said:

Blakes003 said:

My Scotland trip starting this Saturday. It has been in the making now for a few weeks. Hoping for some decent weather.
The idea of the trip is to see some of Scotland's beautiful scenery, drive some great roads, experience some remoteness that we can never get here in the south east. I am also covering some of the East side of the NC500.
Any tips or detours on this trip would be much appreciated.

Let me know what you think of it;

Day 1 – Oxford to Inveraray
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Plane+Tree+Way,+Wo...

Day 2 – Inveraray to Mallaig taking in the Glencoe route or the Sky Fall road as some call it. This will include Fort William and a drive past Ben Nevis
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/The+Inveraray+Inn,...

Day 3 – Mallaig, on the ferry over to Skye, a drive through the south of the island, over the Skye Bridge, to Eileen Castle and then onto Strathcarron to start the NC 500
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Armadale,+Isle+o...

Day 4 – Strathcarron to Apple Cross and along the coast road to Ullapool
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Kelso+Lodge+Cott...

Day 5 – Ullapool to Inverness - Drive from Ullapool to Inverness via Unapool and the famous Evo Bridge onto north Laxford Bridge and then down the A838 through the mountains
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Ullapool,+UK/Una...

Day 6 - Leave Inverness then drive through the Cairgorms using the Military Road down to Ballater then down past Balmoral to Glenshee then over Kinloch Rannoch lake
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Inverness,+UK/Na...

Day 7 – Over to Glasgow area
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Macdonald+Loch+R...

Day 8 – Back down to Oxford

Here you go: my 2p.

Day 1. The A82 along Loch Lomond to Tarbet can be a proper drag, especially if you're in a camel train behind a truck or a caravan.
          Cut out most of that section by taking the A817/A814 to Arrochar - https://goo.gl/maps/GTteP14rfJy

Day 2. OK, but see Day 3.

Day 3. The two roads on Skye you will be using are the least interesting/involving stretches on the entire island.
          They are also the ones with the most traffic. I can't get my head round the logic of this at all.
          You're missing out all the best bits: the road to Dunvegan, thence to Uig, and via the Quiraing back to Portree.
          In which case, why bother going to Mallaig on day 2 and incurring the additional cost of the ferry?
          Also, you're doing less than 50 miles over the whole day. Why? I must be overlooking something but what?

Day 4. All good.

Day 5. Nothing wrong with going direct from Laxford Bridge to Lairg, but via Durness and Tongue is far better imo - https://goo.gl/maps/RvRvZ8vbJo32

Day 6. Unless you have a specific reason for visiting Nairn, I would avoid the A96 which is the primary route from Inverness to Aberdeen.
          It carries a lot of traffic with few opportunities for overtaking. This can result in some pretty lairy manoeuvres when they do arise.
          Take the B roads instead, past the battlefield site at Culloden and then via Cawdor - https://goo.gl/maps/H3NGqnro6XH2

Day 7. As Day 1: avoid the trek down the A82 along Loch Lomond. Go via Aberfoyle and join the A82 where the d/c section begins - https://goo.gl/maps/QP7w8uAg46K2

Btw, I think you need to splash out on a new compass. You're doing less than 5 miles of the East side of the NC500! - https://goo.gl/maps/oCVEj8QVmE12

Agree will all of the above, only thing I would change is the last part of Day 7. Certainly go via Aberfoyle however stay on the A81 all the way back to Glasgow, cracking stretch of road and will take you right into town.

[Blakes003]

Thanks for the tip Cat220, shall look into that.

[Jacobyte]

Red Devil said:

Close, but no cigar.

"The Jacobite" is the name of the train (per the removable blue headboard in the photo below)
The engine is named 'The Lancashire Fusilier' (the curved nameplate and crest above the running plate).

Every day's a school day

(Incidentally, my username pre-exists my knowledge of the train!)

[GetCarter]

There used to be a burger van south of Ft William called 'Jacobite'.

No idea if it's still there.

[Blakes003]

Day 7 amended with recommendations from Cat220 and Red Devil - Thanks guys

[GetCarter]

Day 4. Don't know whether you are breaking these journeys for lunch, but the Badachro Inn is good and is only about 1 mile detour (vey pretty detour!)

http://www.badachroinn.com

[Blakes003]

GetCarter said:

Day 4. Don't know whether you are breaking these journeys for lunch, but the Badachro Inn is good and is only about 1 mile detour (vey pretty detour!)

http://www.badachroinn.com

Thanks for the tip.

Had a look at the web site. Looks just perfect for us and will include it on our Day 4 depending on progress. We are very much including good sea food restaurants on our travels.

Do you have any recommendations for seafood restaurants in Ullapool?

Weather not looking too good :-(

[GetCarter]

Blakes003 said:

GetCarter said:

Day 4. Don't know whether you are breaking these journeys for lunch, but the Badachro Inn is good and is only about 1 mile detour (vey pretty detour!)

http://www.badachroinn.com

Thanks for the tip.

Had a look at the web site. Looks just perfect for us and will include it on our Day 4 depending on progress. We are very much including good sea food restaurants on our travels.

Do you have any recommendations for seafood restaurants in Ullapool?

Weather not looking too good :-(

Your day 4 is quite a short trip (Under 4 hours if you don't stop). There are two nice beaches about 10 mins past Badachro. (Red Point) ... if you have the time/weather not crap. (Jamiroquai has a house there, so watch out for nice cars - he flies his chopper up and one of his 'people' brings a car up for him!).

Can't help with Seafood/Ullapool I'm afraid.. I don't eat fish. Ullapool is really only one long street and a couple of side roads, so you'll find all the eateries in 15 mins walk. Most cafes near Ferry terminal. Said street:

[cat220]

Blakes003 said:

GetCarter said:

Day 4. Don't know whether you are breaking these journeys for lunch, but the Badachro Inn is good and is only about 1 mile detour (vey pretty detour!)

http://www.badachroinn.com

Thanks for the tip.

Had a look at the web site. Looks just perfect for us and will include it on our Day 4 depending on progress. We are very much including good sea food restaurants on our travels.

Do you have any recommendations for seafood restaurants in Ullapool?

Weather not looking too good :-(

Not quite a seafood restaurant however the fish and chip shop on the front (at the Seaforth) has very good fresh fish and chips. There is also a small shop next it offering fresh seafood. Restaurant wise the Ceilidh place is nice: http://www.theceilidhplace.com/food-drink/

If you do the loop at Kinlochleven the seafood café is well worth a visit: http://www.lochlevenseafoodcafe.co.uk/location/

[vrsmxtb]

The Arch Inn is great for food in Ullapool. The fish and chip shop just round the corner from the Seaforth is a good takeaway think it's like Del-a-ca-sea or something...fishy.

Also the Day 3 on Skye makes no sense really. If it's just a ride on a boat the missus wants get the Kyle Rhea ferry across - cracking little roads before and after it and much cheaper than from Mallaig! Although you may need to backtrack from the Skye bridge to visit Eilean Donan if I remember correctly.

[vrsmxtb]

I'm currently up Gairloch way. Not seen any interesting cars yet out and about. I'm in Vauxhall Mokka hire car purgatory. They make them in 1.6NA form, why I don't know - 30mpg anyone??

[DelicaL400]

vrsmxtb said:

The Arch Inn is great for food in Ullapool. The fish and chip shop just round the corner from the Seaforth is a good takeaway think it's like Del-a-ca-sea or something...fishy.

Deli-ca-sea. I went there a couple of weeks ago, disappointed with it really - especially after having one of my best fish and chips ever at The Cabin in Mallaig a couple of days before.

There's "The Seafood Shack" takeaway behind the ferry car park which is meant to be good.

[towser]

DelicaL400 said:

Deli-ca-sea. I went there a couple of weeks ago, disappointed with it really - especially after having one of my best fish and chips ever at The Cabin in Mallaig a couple of days before.

There's "The Seafood Shack" takeaway behind the ferry car park which is meant to be good.

I can second the seafood shack....

[Red Devil]

vrsmxtb said:

If it's just a ride on a boat the missus wants get the Kyle Rhea ferry across - cracking little roads before and after it and much cheaper than from Mallaig!

The crossing itself is very short but it's a unique experience and by far the best way to get to Skye.
You'll probably meet the skipper's collies - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEZay5QX93c
Also if you're lucky you might see Victor and/or Orla, seals, sea otters, or even dolphins.

vrsmxtb said:

Although you may need to backtrack from the Skye bridge to visit Eilean Donan if I remember correctly.

The castle is at Dornie which means going past the junction with the A890 to Strathcarron at Auchtertyre - https://goo.gl/maps/2vT19YCbgep

[Janesy B]

People like this should be beaten with sticks. There was a parking area about a mile up the road.

[Bernd Tost]

Janesy B said:

People like this should be beaten with sticks. There was a parking area about a mile up the road.

In fairness it looks like they've stopped to recce the start of the world burnout championships

I have checked - it's not just dirt on my laptop screen. Is it?

What the heck was going on there

[coppice]

Oh FFS - chill out; the Highlands are deserted in comparison with anywhere else in the UK and if a couple taking a photo impede your majestic progress a few seconds so what ?