Discussion
Ramsden2019 said:
Thanks for the replies guys.
I was hoping to also visit Cape Wrath and stay overnight in the Kervaig bothy but it sounds like the little Ferry service doesn't start until May. I'm not sure if there is a way to walk around the Kyle of Durness instead.
Has anyone any experience of staying in bothys?
A wild and desolate spot - I used to fish on the hill lochs on the Parph, Keisgaig and Airigh na Bheinne especially , in those long ago days when rush hour meant meeting four cars between Rhiconich and Keoldale . You can walk up to Cape Wrath from Sandwood Bay , but it isn't a stroll. I was hoping to also visit Cape Wrath and stay overnight in the Kervaig bothy but it sounds like the little Ferry service doesn't start until May. I'm not sure if there is a way to walk around the Kyle of Durness instead.
Has anyone any experience of staying in bothys?
TheFungle said:
Looking for a spot of advice.
I'm travelling up to Ullapool via Fort William.
Should I go Strathcarron via Torridon to Kinlochewe or via Achnasheen?
And also, as much as I want to see the Kylesku bridge, is the drive via Lairg worth it on the way back to Inverness?
The Torridon route is much prettier, with some of the best views in Scotland (especially if you also take in Applecross - which will also provide the Bealach na Ba) but the Achnasheen route is much faster with some great (smooth, fast) roads, including Glen Docherty.I'm travelling up to Ullapool via Fort William.
Should I go Strathcarron via Torridon to Kinlochewe or via Achnasheen?
And also, as much as I want to see the Kylesku bridge, is the drive via Lairg worth it on the way back to Inverness?
Kylesku is only 35 minutes north of Ullapool, so you can just nip up there and back if you want.
FYI Vid driving down the he Bealach na Ba (You'd be driving up) >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn8xzp7fUlI
...and from the road over Loch Torridon:
Edited by GetCarter on Sunday 26th March 06:59
GetCarter said:
TheFungle said:
Looking for a spot of advice.
I'm travelling up to Ullapool via Fort William.
Should I go Strathcarron via Torridon to Kinlochewe or via Achnasheen?
And also, as much as I want to see the Kylesku bridge, is the drive via Lairg worth it on the way back to Inverness?
The Torridon route is much prettier, with some of the best views in Scotland (especially if you also take in Applecross - which will also provide the Bealach na Ba) but the Achnasheen route is much faster with some great (smooth, fast) roads, including Glen Docherty.I'm travelling up to Ullapool via Fort William.
Should I go Strathcarron via Torridon to Kinlochewe or via Achnasheen?
And also, as much as I want to see the Kylesku bridge, is the drive via Lairg worth it on the way back to Inverness?
Kylesku is only 35 minutes north of Ullapool, so you can just nip up there and back if you want.
FYI Vid driving down the he Bealach na Ba (You'd be driving up) >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn8xzp7fUlI
...and from the road over Loch Torridon:
Edited by GetCarter on Sunday 26th March 06:59
I'm just back so will update shortly with route and pics. The weather sure was incredible on Monday.
With my family originally being from the NW Highlands and having lived in in England for the last 20 years, I seem to get the itch every 7 years or so to visit.
On one hand this is good because I'm familiar with the area and can drive like one of the local posties; on the other hand, it's bad because I have a mis-placed romanticised expectation that it should be what it was like in the late 80s / early 90s.
But I digress.
I planned a 3 night trip from North Yorkshire and visiting Gairloch and Montrose was a must for family reasons.
Realistically, this ruled out going to the far North but being honest, this wasn't something I was that bothered about.
The weather on Monday was as perfect as I can recall in the Highlands, it was as if every picture postcard ever taken had come to life.
Day 1: North Yorkshire > A66 > A701 > Callander > Fort William
Day 2: Fort William > Invergarry > Dornie > Bealach na Ba > Kinlochewe > Gairloch > Braemore > Inverness
Day 3: Inverness > Nairn > Grantown on Spey > Tomintoul > Tarland > Aberdeen > Montrose
Day 4: Montrose > Fettercairn > Aboyne > Braemar > Pitlochry > North Yorkshire
What a trip!
I can't put into words how fortunate I was with traffic conditions, from the minute I dropped off the M74 and joined the A701 at Moffat all the way to reaching Pitlochry on day 4 which was the end of the driving roads before the slog back home.
Although I was privileged to have Glencoe almost to myself in the fading light, I don't especially rate it as a road.
My top three sections:
Gairloch > Braemore > Garve. Fast, flowing, spectacular and only 3 cars that I had to over take. Heaven.
Braemar > Spittal of Glen Shee. Magnificent.
Nairn > Grantown on Spey. An unexpected treat. It twisted, it turned, it flowed and it didn't feel at all 'heavy' the higher up road to Tomintoul did.
Honourable mention:
Tarland > Aberdeen on the B9119. Thanks to a diversion, Waze took me down this fabulous country road which was completely unexpected. Not sure if it could really be planned into a road trip but the perfect local 'going for a drive' road.
In total it was just 1100 miles, an impressive amount of which driven enthusiastically.
As a solo traveller it's definitely do-able and I'd highly recommend going out of season. I have to say, I could not imagine doing it with a large volume of slow moving tourist traffic.
On one hand this is good because I'm familiar with the area and can drive like one of the local posties; on the other hand, it's bad because I have a mis-placed romanticised expectation that it should be what it was like in the late 80s / early 90s.
But I digress.
I planned a 3 night trip from North Yorkshire and visiting Gairloch and Montrose was a must for family reasons.
Realistically, this ruled out going to the far North but being honest, this wasn't something I was that bothered about.
The weather on Monday was as perfect as I can recall in the Highlands, it was as if every picture postcard ever taken had come to life.
Day 1: North Yorkshire > A66 > A701 > Callander > Fort William
Day 2: Fort William > Invergarry > Dornie > Bealach na Ba > Kinlochewe > Gairloch > Braemore > Inverness
Day 3: Inverness > Nairn > Grantown on Spey > Tomintoul > Tarland > Aberdeen > Montrose
Day 4: Montrose > Fettercairn > Aboyne > Braemar > Pitlochry > North Yorkshire
What a trip!
I can't put into words how fortunate I was with traffic conditions, from the minute I dropped off the M74 and joined the A701 at Moffat all the way to reaching Pitlochry on day 4 which was the end of the driving roads before the slog back home.
Although I was privileged to have Glencoe almost to myself in the fading light, I don't especially rate it as a road.
My top three sections:
Gairloch > Braemore > Garve. Fast, flowing, spectacular and only 3 cars that I had to over take. Heaven.
Braemar > Spittal of Glen Shee. Magnificent.
Nairn > Grantown on Spey. An unexpected treat. It twisted, it turned, it flowed and it didn't feel at all 'heavy' the higher up road to Tomintoul did.
Honourable mention:
Tarland > Aberdeen on the B9119. Thanks to a diversion, Waze took me down this fabulous country road which was completely unexpected. Not sure if it could really be planned into a road trip but the perfect local 'going for a drive' road.
In total it was just 1100 miles, an impressive amount of which driven enthusiastically.
As a solo traveller it's definitely do-able and I'd highly recommend going out of season. I have to say, I could not imagine doing it with a large volume of slow moving tourist traffic.
Edited by TheFungle on Thursday 30th March 14:48
Great post, something about that 1st pic had me transfixed. Looks like you were parked opposite the Wee Free church in Aultbea in the 4th photo - I seldom saw weather that good up there! You allude to being in the area 30-odd years ago, I count myself very lucky to have been in Wester Ross in the mid 90's, long before the NC500 would change things & not for the good. Keep saying I'll go back one day but the nearest I've been is Skye last April.
Steve: as ever, thanks for the info & images
Steve: as ever, thanks for the info & images
Driveline Shunt said:
Great post, something about that 1st pic had me transfixed. Looks like you were parked opposite the Wee Free church in Aultbea in the 4th photo - I seldom saw weather that good up there! You allude to being in the area 30-odd years ago, I count myself very lucky to have been in Wester Ross in the mid 90's, long before the NC500 would change things & not for the good. Keep saying I'll go back one day but the nearest I've been is Skye last April.
Steve: as ever, thanks for the info & images
Thank you - I could happily have made it a photography trip but I mostly resisted the temptation to stop at every viewpoint!Steve: as ever, thanks for the info & images
The first picture was taken at Onich looking across to the rainshower at the far end of Loch Linnhe.
And great spot, you're correct in that fact it was taken in front of the church at Aultbea, the village feels a bit tired these days in comparison to Gairloch and Poolewe.
Ramsden2019 said:
What are shop/petrol station opening times like on Easter Sunday?
if you're further out in the sticks such as the hebrides then you can't even find a shop open on sunday let alone easter sunday. People get shouted at for hanging out their washing on sundays up there!Blown2CV said:
Ramsden2019 said:
What are shop/petrol station opening times like on Easter Sunday?
if you're further out in the sticks such as the hebrides then you can't even find a shop open on sunday let alone easter sunday. People get shouted at for hanging out their washing on sundays up there!GetCarter said:
Many now have credit card 24/7 machines. Lochinver is the exception.
Around here, Applecross, Kinlochewe and Lochcarron all have them.
Shops are hit/miss. Shielding open. ETA... Shieldaig open 10 am to 4 pm.
if you do go over to Skye, remember that fuel is ( or was last time I was up there) 5p a litre cheaper than on mainland. Around here, Applecross, Kinlochewe and Lochcarron all have them.
Shops are hit/miss. Shielding open. ETA... Shieldaig open 10 am to 4 pm.
Edited by GetCarter on Monday 3rd April 14:39
I visited my O/H in hospital in Chesterfield this afternoon, a doctor came in to check something. "Which past of Scotland are you from?" she asked Gael. "Aberdeen" she replied. The doctor and her boyfriend had driven the NC500 so the three of us had a 15 minute chat about it.
They'd also travelled around Canada, New Zealand and Australia but still reckoned Scotland was hard to beat.
After having to cancel three trips because of Covid we're determined to head north next year <fingers crossed>
They'd also travelled around Canada, New Zealand and Australia but still reckoned Scotland was hard to beat.
After having to cancel three trips because of Covid we're determined to head north next year <fingers crossed>
TheFungle said:
Driveline Shunt said:
Great post, something about that 1st pic had me transfixed. Looks like you were parked opposite the Wee Free church in Aultbea in the 4th photo - I seldom saw weather that good up there! You allude to being in the area 30-odd years ago, I count myself very lucky to have been in Wester Ross in the mid 90's, long before the NC500 would change things & not for the good. Keep saying I'll go back one day but the nearest I've been is Skye last April.
Steve: as ever, thanks for the info & images
Thank you - I could happily have made it a photography trip but I mostly resisted the temptation to stop at every viewpoint!Steve: as ever, thanks for the info & images
The first picture was taken at Onich looking across to the rainshower at the far end of Loch Linnhe.
And great spot, you're correct in that fact it was taken in front of the church at Aultbea, the village feels a bit tired these days in comparison to Gairloch and Poolewe.
Snap.
Third pic - https://goo.gl/maps/ykrdkbZoD9Qvr2Xo7
Whilst I agree with as far north and west as possible, back in my camping days we would look at the weather forecast when we got to Inverness - and then either head to Durness or to Skye - or anywhere inbetween depending on the forecast.
Yes, this was pre- NC500, so 95% of the campsites you could just rock up and check in.
(Extra shout out to the campsite at Durness, really helpful, welcoming & friendly)
Yes, this was pre- NC500, so 95% of the campsites you could just rock up and check in.
(Extra shout out to the campsite at Durness, really helpful, welcoming & friendly)
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