Highlands

[leggly]

From Inverness you could go Nairn, Grantown on Spey, Tomintoul , Cock Bridge, Braemar, Spittal of Glenshee, Perth. That cuts out most of the A9 and is a far superior drive.

[GetCarter]

leggly said:

From Inverness you could go Nairn, Grantown on Spey, Tomintoul , Cock Bridge, Braemar, Spittal of Glenshee, Perth. That cuts out most of the A9 and is a far superior drive.

This /\

[f1ten]

Super photos as always Mr Carter. Im up just after boxing day although South of Glencoe but will no doubt try for a drive towards sheildaig!

[C70R]

GetCarter said:

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.

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 11th December 18:26

The challenge with turning right or left at Garve (based on the current route), is that coming back via Achnosheen etc. adds about 2hrs onto the drive (taking it to ~9hrs according to Google). That's excessive for one day, particularly given we need to drive back to London the following day.
Something needs to give...

[GetCarter]

C70R said:

The challenge with turning right or left at Garve (based on the current route), is that coming back via Achnosheen etc. adds about 2hrs onto the drive (taking it to ~9hrs according to Google). That's excessive for one day, particularly given we need to drive back to London the following day.
Something needs to give...

Sorry.. we may be at cross routes.

I'm saying Applecross, Torridon, Kinlochewe, Achnasheen, Strathcarron, Shiel Bridge, Invergarry, Ft William, Glasgow.

6 hours tops.

I did Stirling to Shieldaig in 3 hours 55 mins on Monday using much of that route. (Including stops for pics and fuel - Pics above!)

9 hrs is nonsense.

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 11th December 19:49

[C70R]

GetCarter said:

C70R said:

The challenge with turning right or left at Garve (based on the current route), is that coming back via Achnosheen etc. adds about 2hrs onto the drive (taking it to ~9hrs according to Google). That's excessive for one day, particularly given we need to drive back to London the following day.
Something needs to give...

Sorry.. we may be at cross routes.

I'm saying Applecross, Torridon, Kinlochewe, Achnasheen, Strathcarron, Shiel Bridge, Invergarry, Ft William, Glasgow.

6 hours tops.

We're talking about the same thing, but my lack of local knowledge isn't helping me explain well.
Google is estimating that drive at 278 miles and 7.5hrs. 278 miles in 6hrs is some pretty serious average speed, given the roads!

Edited by C70R on Wednesday 11th December 20:32

[JM]

GetCarter said:

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.

Plenty of options to doing all of the A9 from Inverness to Stirling, one of which I posted last night. The top part could be dodged by using some of the old route, or even Dava Moor from Cawdor to Carrbridge, then back roads south to Kingussie. On to Lagan and then to Dalwhinnie.
But the only section of the A9 that would need to be driven is from Dalwhinnie south to near the end of the Drumochter DC.

e.g. https://goo.gl/maps/EK7QwACaDK3ycfHZ7

That route includes the Dukes Pass, plus the Kenmore to Amulree multi hairpin single track.

Not sure what cars you'll be driving.

[C70R]

JM said:

GetCarter said:

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.

Plenty of options to doing all of the A9 from Inverness to Stirling, one of which I posted last night. The top part could be dodged by using some of the old route, or even Dava Moor from Cawdor to Carrbridge, then back roads south to Kingussie. On to Lagan and then to Dalwhinnie.
But the only section of the A9 that would need to be driven is from Dalwhinnie south to near the end of the Drumochter DC.

e.g. https://goo.gl/maps/EK7QwACaDK3ycfHZ7

That route includes the Dukes Pass, plus the Kenmore to Amulree multi hairpin single track.

Not sure what cars you'll be driving.

So we actually did a chunk of that route last year, when we did our last trip. It's effing brilliant.

The downside to what you're suggesting is that it's just too long to be manageable if our Highland-to-Glasgow day starts somewhere around Applecross (as planned).

[JM]

C70R said:

So we actually did a chunk of that route last year, when we did our last trip. It's effing brilliant.

The downside to what you're suggesting is that it's just too long to be manageable if our Highland-to-Glasgow day starts somewhere around Applecross (as planned).

Agh I never clicked to zoom in on the quoted map to see you had done a lot of that.

On your day 1 I'd cut out the slog to Kinloch Hourne and back. Save at least an hour. Also going over the Ratagan to Glenelg, unless you get the ferry across to Skye and then come back across the Skye bridge.


On day 2. https://goo.gl/maps/EF7G5cFBVaxAYKaZ7

[GetCarter]

C70R said:

GetCarter said:

C70R said:

The challenge with turning right or left at Garve (based on the current route), is that coming back via Achnosheen etc. adds about 2hrs onto the drive (taking it to ~9hrs according to Google). That's excessive for one day, particularly given we need to drive back to London the following day.
Something needs to give...

Sorry.. we may be at cross routes.

I'm saying Applecross, Torridon, Kinlochewe, Achnasheen, Strathcarron, Shiel Bridge, Invergarry, Ft William, Glasgow.

6 hours tops.

We're talking about the same thing, but my lack of local knowledge isn't helping me explain well.
Google is estimating that drive at 278 miles and 7.5hrs. 278 miles in 6hrs is some pretty serious average speed, given the roads!

Edited by C70R on Wednesday 11th December 20:32

Ah Ok... well that's 46 mph average. It's easy to get 55 mph on most of the roads here - single track excepted of course. I drove from Stirling to the Applecross coast road in just under 4 hours on Monday and that's 221 miles.

ETA: It is December mind, so pretty much zero traffic for 95% of the journey. It could take up to an extra hour in summer.

One of the reasons so many come to Applecross - sea level to 2350 ft in under 5 miles (in case you've never been).

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 12th December 07:28

[C70R]

GetCarter said:

C70R said:

GetCarter said:

C70R said:

The challenge with turning right or left at Garve (based on the current route), is that coming back via Achnosheen etc. adds about 2hrs onto the drive (taking it to ~9hrs according to Google). That's excessive for one day, particularly given we need to drive back to London the following day.
Something needs to give...

Sorry.. we may be at cross routes.

I'm saying Applecross, Torridon, Kinlochewe, Achnasheen, Strathcarron, Shiel Bridge, Invergarry, Ft William, Glasgow.

6 hours tops.

We're talking about the same thing, but my lack of local knowledge isn't helping me explain well.
Google is estimating that drive at 278 miles and 7.5hrs. 278 miles in 6hrs is some pretty serious average speed, given the roads!

Edited by C70R on Wednesday 11th December 20:32

Ah Ok... well that's 46 mph average. It's easy to get 55 mph on most of the roads here - single track excepted of course. I drove from Stirling to the Applecross coast road in just under 4 hours on Monday and that's 221 miles.

ETA: It is December mind, so pretty much zero traffic for 95% of the journey. It could take up to an extra hour in summer.

One of the reasons so many come to Applecross - sea level to 2350 ft in under 5 miles (in case you've never been).

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 12th December 07:28

I think that the 46mph average, especially taking into account stops for toilets/photos/coffee/leg-stretching and unfamiliar roads is a wee bit ambitious for us, sadly.
On this basis, perhaps it might make sense to come back and cover some of the same roads on Day 2, after the loop around Applecross-Kinlochewe-Achnasheen.

We simply didn't have the time to go via Applecross on the last trip (two days between Edinburgh-Inverness-Glasgow), and regretted it deeply. Part of the reason we're going back to the NW is the sense of unfinished business.

[C70R]

JM said:

C70R said:

So we actually did a chunk of that route last year, when we did our last trip. It's effing brilliant.

The downside to what you're suggesting is that it's just too long to be manageable if our Highland-to-Glasgow day starts somewhere around Applecross (as planned).

Agh I never clicked to zoom in on the quoted map to see you had done a lot of that.

On your day 1 I'd cut out the slog to Kinloch Hourne and back. Save at least an hour. Also going over the Ratagan to Glenelg, unless you get the ferry across to Skye and then come back across the Skye bridge.


On day 2. https://goo.gl/maps/EF7G5cFBVaxAYKaZ7

So that link you shared for Day 2 looks like an A-road run back to Glasgow, from Garve. That was part of my original route, and was comprehensively shot down by GetCarter.
We also want to start the day with an early run around Applecross, so we can't start our route from Garve.
Not quite sure what I'm looking at?

As for the Day 1, I'd be keen to hear the thoughts of others, but that road out to Kinloch Hourne looks incredible (and was part of a previous poster's route which was described as "almost perfect").
What's the rationale for binning it off?

[JM]

C70R said:

JM said:

C70R said:

So we actually did a chunk of that route last year, when we did our last trip. It's effing brilliant.

The downside to what you're suggesting is that it's just too long to be manageable if our Highland-to-Glasgow day starts somewhere around Applecross (as planned).

Agh I never clicked to zoom in on the quoted map to see you had done a lot of that.

On your day 1 I'd cut out the slog to Kinloch Hourne and back. Save at least an hour. Also going over the Ratagan to Glenelg, unless you get the ferry across to Skye and then come back across the Skye bridge.


On day 2. https://goo.gl/maps/EF7G5cFBVaxAYKaZ7

So that link you shared for Day 2 looks like an A-road run back to Glasgow, from Garve. That was part of my original route, and was comprehensively shot down by GetCarter.
We also want to start the day with an early run around Applecross, so we can't start our route from Garve.
Not quite sure what I'm looking at?

As for the Day 1, I'd be keen to hear the thoughts of others, but that road out to Kinloch Hourne looks incredible (and was part of a previous poster's route which was described as "almost perfect").
What's the rationale for binning it off?

I've only put Garve as the start point as it's most likely somewhere you'll come through depending on where you stay and which route you take back south. Less than an hour from Ullapool or Achnasheen etc.

Since there are only really three roads going south from Inverness area, and you have discounted two, we are only left with trying to do something with the third. There would be an option of going further east and using the B974 but I suspect that won't suit timings etc either.

As for the road to Kinloch Hourn, it is a dead end, the road is all single track and not one that you can make much 'progress' along. The end is a nice place, if bereft of much in the way of facilities and the scenery you drive through to get it there is pretty decent and wild if you exclude the large man-made reservoir and other associated infrastructure. If I was on a road trip and was wanting to go on some of the better roads it wouldn't be on my list.

As you seem to want to do Applecross at the start of day 2, why not use day 1 to get north quickly, to Inverness, and then head north west and then down the coast to near your Applecross area stop, and then do your day 1 route back on day 2 instead? You can then decide depending on timing if you have time for a couple of hours out and back to Kinloch Hourn or just keep going south.

[C70R]

JM said:

C70R said:

JM said:

C70R said:

So we actually did a chunk of that route last year, when we did our last trip. It's effing brilliant.

The downside to what you're suggesting is that it's just too long to be manageable if our Highland-to-Glasgow day starts somewhere around Applecross (as planned).

Agh I never clicked to zoom in on the quoted map to see you had done a lot of that.

On your day 1 I'd cut out the slog to Kinloch Hourne and back. Save at least an hour. Also going over the Ratagan to Glenelg, unless you get the ferry across to Skye and then come back across the Skye bridge.


On day 2. https://goo.gl/maps/EF7G5cFBVaxAYKaZ7

So that link you shared for Day 2 looks like an A-road run back to Glasgow, from Garve. That was part of my original route, and was comprehensively shot down by GetCarter.
We also want to start the day with an early run around Applecross, so we can't start our route from Garve.
Not quite sure what I'm looking at?

As for the Day 1, I'd be keen to hear the thoughts of others, but that road out to Kinloch Hourne looks incredible (and was part of a previous poster's route which was described as "almost perfect").
What's the rationale for binning it off?

I've only put Garve as the start point as it's most likely somewhere you'll come through depending on where you stay and which route you take back south. Less than an hour from Ullapool or Achnasheen etc.

Since there are only really three roads going south from Inverness area, and you have discounted two, we are only left with trying to do something with the third. There would be an option of going further east and using the B974 but I suspect that won't suit timings etc either.

As for the road to Kinloch Hourn, it is a dead end, the road is all single track and not one that you can make much 'progress' along. The end is a nice place, if bereft of much in the way of facilities and the scenery you drive through to get it there is pretty decent and wild if you exclude the large man-made reservoir and other associated infrastructure. If I was on a road trip and was wanting to go on some of the better roads it wouldn't be on my list.

As you seem to want to do Applecross at the start of day 2, why not use day 1 to get north quickly, to Inverness, and then head north west and then down the coast to near your Applecross area stop, and then do your day 1 route back on day 2 instead? You can then decide depending on timing if you have time for a couple of hours out and back to Kinloch Hourn or just keep going south.

If you've done the Kinloch Hourn road before (which I was aware was a dead end), then I'll have to accept your opinion as having more weight than my cursory Streetview scan (which made it look very doable and interesting). My only question is why others in this thread have recommended it?
If it helps, we're all driving hot hatches - so no issues with things like ground clearance etc.

Having only two days in the Highlands (it's a hard limit, sadly), I'm trying my hardest to spread out the fun roads across both of them. Driving 7+hrs each way from London-Glasgow might feel a bit disappointing if we spend one of our Highland days just trying to get to Inverness as quickly as possible, leaving only one day of actual 'fun' driving.

Edited by C70R on Thursday 12th December 11:10

[GetCarter]

West is best

[Peanut Gallery]

GetCarter said:

West is best

What he said!

I saw your previous Day 2, I am again with GetCarter here, that is a heck of a long day. The A9 is good for just covering miles, but you are just sitting behind trucks for hours on end. - After a long days driving are you on the dual carriageway section and can overtake for hours on end, or are you on the single carriageway section and will meet someone else coming towards you? - Also the A9 has large lengths of average speed cam.

I can never attain the average speeds that the locals get, there are far too many amazing view points and views to just be focused on the road.

[C70R]

Peanut Gallery said:

I saw your previous Day 2, I am again with GetCarter here, that is a heck of a long day.

I'm inclined to agree, which is why I'm really open for feedback.

The only criteria are:
- We want to do Applecross at dawn
- We need to finish the day in Glasgow (probably at a spa hotel!)
- It needs to be drivable in a day
- It needs to pack as much fun in as possible

Fill your boots.

[GetCarter]

C70R said:

I'm inclined to agree, which is why I'm really open for feedback.

The only criteria are:
- We want to do Applecross at dawn
- We need to finish the day in Glasgow (probably at a spa hotel!)
- It needs to be drivable in a day
- It needs to pack as much fun in as possible

Fill your boots.

At risk of repeating myself (apols) ... I've driven Applecross coast road through Glasgow to Oxford about 20 times (before I moved here full time). It takes me just under 5 hours to get to Glasgow via Kishorn & Fort William (I always use this route, even though it is longer I HATE the A9). I regularly did Applecross to Oxford in one go. If I added Torridon and Kinlochewe (worth it for the views and roads) it would take 5.5 hours to get to Glasgow. It's not a long drive. Our delivery driver does more than that 6 days a week!

[C70R]

GetCarter said:

C70R said:

I'm inclined to agree, which is why I'm really open for feedback.

The only criteria are:
- We want to do Applecross at dawn
- We need to finish the day in Glasgow (probably at a spa hotel!)
- It needs to be drivable in a day
- It needs to pack as much fun in as possible

Fill your boots.

At risk of repeating myself (apols) ... I've driven Applecross coast road through Glasgow to Oxford about 20 times (before I moved here full time). It takes me just under 5 hours to get to Glasgow via Kishorn & Fort William (I always use this route, even though it is longer I HATE the A9). I regularly did Applecross to Oxford in one go. If I added Torridon and Kinlochewe (worth it for the views and roads) it would take 5.5 hours to get to Glasgow. It's not a long drive. Our delivery driver does more than that 6 days a week!

I get it. I do.

But we're looking at 4 consecutive days of long driving. And the last thing I want is a motorway drive back to London completely shattered.

[GetCarter]

BTW you are absolutely right to do Applecross at dawn - just be aware that's about 4:00 a.m. in May.

The trades get out between 7 and 8 so that's the 'busy' time. Gets quiet from 9 to 10 (then the motorhomes wake up).