Discussion
I drove most of the main roads and I've never come across so many potholes you really do not want to hit. Perhaps the road to Dunvegan was the exception I can remember where there was some fresh tarmac but this was from Staffin and not Sligachan.
The road surface on Lewis and Harris was far better.
The road surface on Lewis and Harris was far better.
Pulse said:
Patrick Bateman said:
The road surface is thoroughly knackered on most of Skye from what I saw. 
No way! You took the wrong roads then! The road to Dunvegan for example is beautiful.Red Devil said:
pb450 said:
Waking up in Scotch Corner this morning after the slog up here from Kent.
How come you only got that far? 
Whistle stop tour in 4 nights only. Fort William was the furthest point north, then return via Worcestershire. (Don't ask.) 1400 miles with very little rain. The northern bits will follow another time. The TVR didn't miss a beat, so all good there!
Subliminal scenery, as expected. Here's to the next time.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-39894789 - North Coast 500 programme on BBC Alba tonight at 20:30 apparently, series of 4 episodes. I had a look at the clip on their website; it's in Gaelic but with English subtitles so we can all understand it, phew!
We went up a couple of weeks ago to see my family near Gairloch and I planned a scenic route up the west coast via Glencoe and Skye with help from this thread (got several ideas I knew nothing about previously - I know the Gairloch area very well, but had never been further south); we had amazing luck with the weather and the views were just mindblowing - now I want to do the northern loop next time
(Word of warning: Glen Etive was being resurfaced and the temp surface was not friendly AT ALL - hopefully it's finished now but if not, I wouldn't recommend it)
We went up a couple of weeks ago to see my family near Gairloch and I planned a scenic route up the west coast via Glencoe and Skye with help from this thread (got several ideas I knew nothing about previously - I know the Gairloch area very well, but had never been further south); we had amazing luck with the weather and the views were just mindblowing - now I want to do the northern loop next time
(Word of warning: Glen Etive was being resurfaced and the temp surface was not friendly AT ALL - hopefully it's finished now but if not, I wouldn't recommend it)
We were up on Skye last year and it was amazing.
Every year in May since I was little we would rent a cottage along the Poolewe to Cove road and it is a beautiful part of the world and one I miss from time to time. We went to Gairloch every day nearly and got to know it well. On a little NC500 trip we went back up that way and stayed the night camping in Gairloch and then onto Skye. Sadly we went during midgie season, I hate those blighters.
Great photos as well.
Every year in May since I was little we would rent a cottage along the Poolewe to Cove road and it is a beautiful part of the world and one I miss from time to time. We went to Gairloch every day nearly and got to know it well. On a little NC500 trip we went back up that way and stayed the night camping in Gairloch and then onto Skye. Sadly we went during midgie season, I hate those blighters.
Great photos as well.
Blown2CV said:
one week in scotland, last week in july... where should i go? Oh I have wife and baby with me...
It's not the best time of year in the NW Highlands - tourists and midges, and it's one of the wetter months. If you do come this way, do your 'touring' sightseeing before breakfast, the roads are empty and the light is at it's best. Your walking should be left till early afternoon when the midges will generally (but not always) be absent.stupidbutkeen said:
I am booked on the ferry to go over next monday for a coule nights. Staying in camping pods alongside loch ness. Roll on the good roads and hope the weather is decent.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smidge-Midge-Insect-Repellent-75/dp/B00413715E/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495693738&sr=8-1&keywords=smidgeGetCarter said:
Blown2CV said:
one week in scotland, last week in july... where should i go? Oh I have wife and baby with me...
It's not the best time of year in the NW Highlands - tourists and midges, and it's one of the wetter months. If you do come this way, do your 'touring' sightseeing before breakfast, the roads are empty and the light is at it's best. Your walking should be left till early afternoon when the midges will generally (but not always) be absent.Blown2CV said:
yea i did think that... we are up in glasgow for a wedding the weekend before so thought it would be good to go off the back of that... maybe not. Does it get better for midges etc (and I guess tourists even though i am one) later in the Summer?
July and August are the worst. They get scarce by mid September and have gone by early October. NW Highlands are best in March, April & October.The thing with midges is, you could be here for a week and not see a single one. If it's dry, windy & sunny you're fine. June last year was almost midge free, July was a different story. If it's damp, warm and still, they are a bloody nightmare. Living up here, you just work around them. 'Smidge' works, but avoiding early mornings and still evenings is the key. Leaving windows open at night with a light on is asking for trouble. (Which is why I built air-con into my house)
Midge hoods and jackets are good. I stand outside taking photos of sunsets wearing one. I look like an idiot, until the midges arrive, then everyone without a midge jacket looks like an idiot!
In perfect midge weather, you do get to see these mind:
Looking forward to those sunsets! - I'm in a cottage in Clachtoll mid June.
Will be trying to make a list of some of the roads I have not been on yet, but never get tired of the more common roads!
Regarding the Highland Midge.... if anyone else wants a midge free trip, take me along. They will eat me alive, but leave you alone. I am going armed with smidge, avon, deet, jungle formula and citronela oil - but I fear I will just be wearing my hat / gloves / long sleeves and coming back looking like a measles outbreak.
Looking forward to it!
Will be trying to make a list of some of the roads I have not been on yet, but never get tired of the more common roads!
Regarding the Highland Midge.... if anyone else wants a midge free trip, take me along. They will eat me alive, but leave you alone. I am going armed with smidge, avon, deet, jungle formula and citronela oil - but I fear I will just be wearing my hat / gloves / long sleeves and coming back looking like a measles outbreak.
Looking forward to it!
Left for a road and walking trip up the West coast 3 May for a week on the excellent forcast which proved correct. 18 degrees perfect and hardly a midge in sight! Quiet too!
Ben Lomond, Ben Etive, Inaccessible Pinaccle, Loch Coruisk from Elgol via the Bad Step, Blaven then up to Torridon and Ben Eige.
Up on Skye a couple of Septembers back and midges were a nightmare.
If you get the weather early May its the best time.....for both seriously rapid and involving driving(where possible!) and walking imo.
Ben Lomond, Ben Etive, Inaccessible Pinaccle, Loch Coruisk from Elgol via the Bad Step, Blaven then up to Torridon and Ben Eige.
Up on Skye a couple of Septembers back and midges were a nightmare.
If you get the weather early May its the best time.....for both seriously rapid and involving driving(where possible!) and walking imo.
Had a great two day run round some of the roads on the west coast / nc500 last week.. Some phone/drone pictures 
20170525_130946 by justinking1986, on Flickr
20170525_130447 by justinking1986, on Flickr
20170525_160228 by justinking1986, on Flickr
20170526_223928 by justinking1986, on Flickr
20170525_162541 by justinking1986, on Flickr
Kylesku by justinking1986, on Flickr
Bealach na Ba 2 by justinking1986, on Flickr
Doughnuts by justinking1986, on Flickr
20170525_130946 by justinking1986, on Flickr20170525_130447 by justinking1986, on Flickr20170525_160228 by justinking1986, on Flickr20170526_223928 by justinking1986, on Flickr20170525_162541 by justinking1986, on FlickrKylesku by justinking1986, on FlickrBealach na Ba 2 by justinking1986, on FlickrDoughnuts by justinking1986, on Flickrmak250300 said:
The pictures look great. Nice weather too.
Out of interest where is the campsite?
Sorry to butt in... If you mean the one of the beach it's Achmelvich, near Lochinver... though it's static caravans.Out of interest where is the campsite?
It's really nice out of season, as you can get the place to yourself
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 30th May 18:54
GetCarter said:
mak250300 said:
The pictures look great. Nice weather too.
Out of interest where is the campsite?
Sorry to butt in... If you mean the one of the beach it's Achmelvich, near Lochinver... though it's static caravans.Out of interest where is the campsite?
Chip shop on site as well.
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