Discussion
Riley Blue said:
Blown2CV said:
Riley Blue said:
Blown2CV said:
April is an odd month, just as it is in the rest of the UK. It could be any season, and extremes to boot! This year is showing signs of being more springlike maybe?
I do hope so. We shall be tackling the NC500 between March 30 - April 8 so a hint of spring will be very welcome.
GetCarter said:
Riley Blue said:
Blown2CV said:
Riley Blue said:
Blown2CV said:
April is an odd month, just as it is in the rest of the UK. It could be any season, and extremes to boot! This year is showing signs of being more springlike maybe?
I do hope so. We shall be tackling the NC500 between March 30 - April 8 so a hint of spring will be very welcome.
Me and the other half are now looking at a mid-April trip this year, will be our first on the West Coast since Skye and Harris in 2017. Have previously stayed in Torridon as well but we're thinking further North this time for maybe around 4 nights or so.
Ullapool a good shout? A notice there's not a huge amount of places on airbnb (which we use a lot) for under £100 a night. Closer to £75 would be better though!
Edit: playing about with the dates has helped a bit.
Lochinver also a shout?
Ullapool a good shout? A notice there's not a huge amount of places on airbnb (which we use a lot) for under £100 a night. Closer to £75 would be better though!
Edit: playing about with the dates has helped a bit.
Lochinver also a shout?
Edited by Patrick Bateman on Tuesday 4th February 21:05
Patrick Bateman said:
Ullapool a good shout?
- Try Dacama House: https://goo.gl/maps/VsctuA42r65uD18x5Patrick Bateman said:
Lochinver also a shout?
Possibly. I stayed in Baddidarrach rather than Lochinver itself. It was excellent value back then.However it was several years ago and it has since changed hands (and its name to Tarradh) so I can't vouch for it now.
I would say that if you're planning to make it your base (i.e. for several nights) Lochinver is too far north imo.
The only reason I chose it was because I had left it too late to find accommodation in Ullapool.
Patrick Bateman said:
Lochinver also a shout?
We stay in Lochinver 4 or 5 times a year as we love the landscapes in that part of Sutherland. Lochinver itself has a large industrial harbour so isn't a pretty fishing village but nearby you have Achmelvich, Kylesku, Inverkirkaig, Drumbeg amongst others. If you watched The Grand Tour most of it was filmed between Lochinver and Kylesku.Edited by Patrick Bateman on Tuesday 4th February 21:05
Lochinver is about an hour north of Ullapool.
I can't recommend any B&Bs I'm afraid as we stay in the Inverlodge Hotel.
If you get to Achmelvich, there's a better beach (away from caravans) to the right. Our dog's fave place in mainland Scotland. The sand is particularly soft - drives him nuts.
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 5th February 05:28
Would I miss out on the NC500 experience if instead of driving the loop, I based myself somewhere north of Ullapool on the west coast for 5 or 6 nights and took day trips?
Whilst I definitely want to drive the roads, I also fancy spending time on deserted beaches, and immersing myself in the landscape.
Apart from Ullapool itself - where else is there to stay that has some reasonable accommodation and a selection of places to eat - mainly interested in not having to eat in the same place 5 nights in a row.
Or - should I be looking for 2 bases - 3 nights in each?
Whilst I definitely want to drive the roads, I also fancy spending time on deserted beaches, and immersing myself in the landscape.
Apart from Ullapool itself - where else is there to stay that has some reasonable accommodation and a selection of places to eat - mainly interested in not having to eat in the same place 5 nights in a row.
Or - should I be looking for 2 bases - 3 nights in each?
omniflow said:
Would I miss out on the NC500 experience if instead of driving the loop, I based myself somewhere north of Ullapool on the west coast for 5 or 6 nights and took day trips?
Whilst I definitely want to drive the roads, I also fancy spending time on deserted beaches, and immersing myself in the landscape.
Apart from Ullapool itself - where else is there to stay that has some reasonable accommodation and a selection of places to eat - mainly interested in not having to eat in the same place 5 nights in a row.
Or - should I be looking for 2 bases - 3 nights in each?
1/2 of the NC500 is a waste of time... it's only there to close the circle. West coast from Rannoch Moor to Durness is the place to be. Just stick as close to the coast as poss and you can't go wrong.Whilst I definitely want to drive the roads, I also fancy spending time on deserted beaches, and immersing myself in the landscape.
Apart from Ullapool itself - where else is there to stay that has some reasonable accommodation and a selection of places to eat - mainly interested in not having to eat in the same place 5 nights in a row.
Or - should I be looking for 2 bases - 3 nights in each?
GetCarter said:
1/2 of the NC500 is a waste of time... it's only there to close the circle. West coast from Rannoch Moor to Durness is the place to be. Just stick as close to the coast as poss and you can't go wrong.
That's precisely our intention in April. Having driven the eastern half last May we would never bother again and wouldn't have done it then if John O'Groats hadn't been our destination. This time we're heading up the west coast, east as far as Tongue and then south past the Crask Inn. We have three two-night stops planned at Portree, Torridon and Tongue to give us 'sightseeing time', four more are single-nights. We're doing no more than 85 miles between overnight halts so that we can enjoy the scenery as much as the driving.
towser said:
GetCarter said:
1/2 of the NC500 is a waste of time... it's only there to close the circle. West coast from Rannoch Moor to Durness is the place to be. Just stick as close to the coast as poss and you can't go wrong.
Really?Nothing of note east of Durness? Man alive.....
towser said:
GetCarter said:
1/2 of the NC500 is a waste of time... it's only there to close the circle. West coast from Rannoch Moor to Durness is the place to be. Just stick as close to the coast as poss and you can't go wrong.
Really?Nothing of note east of Durness? Man alive.....
If you like a pint, I enjoyed a few in the Arch Inn in September. There's a young lad who plays accordian in there quite often (not what you might think).
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&...
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&...
I’ve just returned from an impromptu driving trip to Skye. The roads outwith the A87 from Kyelakin to Portree are in a poor state and clearly haven’t coped with the traffic levels they’ve had to endure. What maintenance that has been done, has been done on the cheap (loose chippings everywhere) and it isn’t working. The scenery is fantastic but the poor state of the roads and the fact that a lot of businesses were shut took the shine off an otherwise enjoyable trip.
Edited by Blink982 on Friday 7th February 07:20
Steve,
Thank you for your continuing contributions to this thread and to your daily exposure pages.
What is the attitude to visitors up there at the moment? We have a week in Torridon fixed for next week (you may remember us, black Mercedes SEC and gold Mercedes estate opposite Jo's shop). We're not sure quite what the right thing to do is. On the one hand, residents may be concerned and even angry about visitors bringing the plague (although we are a young, fit and healthy family from Northumberland where there are zero cases). On the other hand, every publican and restaurateur I speak to begs me to keep coming and to keep spending.
As a local man your views would be appreciated. All we do is go for walks on the Aird or the Ploc and visit the Applecross Inn, Nanny's and Jo's.
Jonathan
Thank you for your continuing contributions to this thread and to your daily exposure pages.
What is the attitude to visitors up there at the moment? We have a week in Torridon fixed for next week (you may remember us, black Mercedes SEC and gold Mercedes estate opposite Jo's shop). We're not sure quite what the right thing to do is. On the one hand, residents may be concerned and even angry about visitors bringing the plague (although we are a young, fit and healthy family from Northumberland where there are zero cases). On the other hand, every publican and restaurateur I speak to begs me to keep coming and to keep spending.
As a local man your views would be appreciated. All we do is go for walks on the Aird or the Ploc and visit the Applecross Inn, Nanny's and Jo's.
Jonathan
r129sl said:
Steve,
Thank you for your continuing contributions to this thread and to your daily exposure pages.
What is the attitude to visitors up there at the moment? We have a week in Torridon fixed for next week (you may remember us, black Mercedes SEC and gold Mercedes estate opposite Jo's shop). We're not sure quite what the right thing to do is. On the one hand, residents may be concerned and even angry about visitors bringing the plague (although we are a young, fit and healthy family from Northumberland where there are zero cases). On the other hand, every publican and restaurateur I speak to begs me to keep coming and to keep spending.
As a local man your views would be appreciated. All we do is go for walks on the Aird or the Ploc and visit the Applecross Inn, Nanny's and Jo's.
Jonathan
We know we're entering the tourist season and tbh we know the virus will come. It can't be helped. A lot of people here rely on the next 6 months to get them through the winter. I was talking to Jo this morning and she (along with other shops) are offering a free delivery service to elderly/vulnerable. She wants to stay open as a shop but thinks she might close the cafe and offer take out coffees. The Torridon hotel has had dozens of cancellations, so come summer everything might be closed up here! Tesco grocery deliveries are hard to come by as demand high, drivers few. If you want a delivery to a holiday let next week, I'd book now!Thank you for your continuing contributions to this thread and to your daily exposure pages.
What is the attitude to visitors up there at the moment? We have a week in Torridon fixed for next week (you may remember us, black Mercedes SEC and gold Mercedes estate opposite Jo's shop). We're not sure quite what the right thing to do is. On the one hand, residents may be concerned and even angry about visitors bringing the plague (although we are a young, fit and healthy family from Northumberland where there are zero cases). On the other hand, every publican and restaurateur I speak to begs me to keep coming and to keep spending.
As a local man your views would be appreciated. All we do is go for walks on the Aird or the Ploc and visit the Applecross Inn, Nanny's and Jo's.
Jonathan
The upside... It's VERY pretty here at the moment!
Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 18th March 18:03
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