Highlands

[vaderface]

hiccy18 said:

Nah, just Google maps being daft.

Yeah maps being daft. two Shieldaig,s aswell.

[vaderface]

Mr Tidy said:

I enjoyed driving over the Skye bridge too.

I'm going to Scotland next May so I'd love to know where this other one is!

Other bridge is Kylesku bridge.

[5s Alive]

Mr Tidy said:

I enjoyed driving over the Skye bridge too.

I'm going to Scotland next May so I'd love to know where this other one is!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/w8zB32bXmmb7NDP48

Fabulous driving road, wasn't as busy as expected when I was there in May this year.

GetCarter's drone shot is the best I've seen of the bridge. Really conveys the atmosphere of the place - at least before the car parks fill up with motorhomes.

Very nearly booked the cabins cat the top left of the shot for next year.

[GetCarter]

Blown2CV said:

are there two achnasheens?

The place names on that map are all over the place. Don't even think of taking it as correct. There are however, two Shieldaigs. (My post sometimes turns up in the wrong one!).

[Red Devil]

thegreenhell said:

vaderface said:

TameRacingDriver said:

I must admit I loved driving over the Skye Bridge, great views!

I am the absolute opposite, I am not good with heights.
Hate that bridge with a passion, first time we went to skye years ago i checked the bridge on google maps.
Never realised it is in two parts, got a shock when i went over the flat part then seen what looked like a bloody rollercoaster
for the second part
For some reason iam ok driving it from the skye side, just not the Lochalsh side.
When we go skye i let the Mrs drive.
Yes i am a tart

You should try the Glenelg ferry. The views and the driving on both sides are far more interesting than the bridge.

Looking towards the Five Sisters of Kintail from the Mam Ratagan viewpoint.


The world's only operational turntable ferry.


Looking towards the mainland from the top of the climb from Kylerhea.

vaderface said:

thegreenhell said:

You should try the Glenelg ferry. The views and the driving on both sides are far more interesting than the bridge.

Would love to but we tend to visit april/ october as its a lot quieter. Less camper vans.
Ferry not running then.
Yes do like the drive over to Glenelg.

That's when I always visit the Highlands.
Incorrect. The ferry runs from April to mid October - https://skyeferry.co.uk/times-fares/
I've used it in both months.

[Red Devil]

P675 said:

Hi all, I was wondering if the Highlands experts here could rate my plans for a trip in May. For some background I did the NC500 on my motorbike last year, camping in a different place every night. I did the route with some sightseeing, even hiking a bit on the way around, in 3 days. I was quite knackered by the end, my energy would be gone by the afternoon after taking the tent down and packing away early every morning. I did the same thing in Ireland this year over 2 weeks and was even more deader by the end of the first week.

So for this trip I'd like to camp in one place and do day trips instead, to sample the best roads for fun fast riding, and also some of the random lanes where you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere, stopping for droning and photos on the road. I won't do things like walk to Sinclair Girnigoe in my full bike kit or get to the high point of Knockan Crag this time. I'd like to have maximum time on the bike without the time pressure of getting to the campsite and pitching the tent all over again.

I'm planning to camp in Contin near Inverness as I've stayed there before, which will take an entire day to get to, then 4 days of riding out and about, with another day reserved for back home, I may go the long way back hitting Glencoe, Kielder, Pennies, Yorkshire Dales.

Please let me know if I'm missing any good roads on these routes, before I commit to creating .gpx files for the satnav

Day 1:


Day 2:


Day 3:


Day 4:


I'm repeating roads a few times but I really want to get around everything while I'm up there. I would have liked to do Skye, Harris, Uist, but the ferries make it awkward, I think I'd be better off staying on Harris on another trip for that. Also I've driven around Skye 4 years ago, and don't remember thinking I'd love to ride my bike here. I've only got the 4 days anyway so I have a day to recover at home . Any thoughts welcome!

I've been a regular visitor to the Highlands starting in 2009, the only years I have missed are 2011, 2020/21 (Covid) and 2025. I have always adopted the basecamp/daily loop routine.

Day 1. Don't bother stopping at John O'Groats: it's just a tourist trap. Head east to the lighthouse at Duncansby Head. Walk over the hill to view the sea stacks.
Day 2. Consider swaping the A836 east of the Bettyhill Viewpoint for Balnakiel Beach and the Craft Village & Cocoa Mountain.
Day 4. Go straight on at Kinlochewe to the Glen Docherty Viewpoint then return before heading to Torridon. Omit the dead end road to Hartfield (btw it's left, not right, before the bridge)

That said, in my experience if you're planning to take pics and do drone flights attempting 300 miles per day is over ambitious, plus you'll need time for lunch. Possibly tea as well.

[vaderface]

Red Devil said:

That's when I always visit the Highlands.
Incorrect. The ferry runs from April to mid October - https://skyeferry.co.uk/times-fares/
I've used it in both months.

Apologies, we visit october to april.
Teach me not to read.

[P675]

Red Devil said:

I've been a regular visitor to the Highlands starting in 2009, the only years I have missed are 2011, 2020/21 (Covid) and 2025. I have always adopted the basecamp/daily loop routine.

Day 1. Don't bother stopping at John O'Groats: it's just a tourist trap. Head east to the lighthouse at Duncansby Head. Walk over the hill to view the sea stacks.
Day 2. Consider swaping the A836 east of the Bettyhill Viewpoint for Balnakiel Beach and the Craft Village & Cocoa Mountain.
Day 4. Go straight on at Kinlochewe to the Glen Docherty Viewpoint then return before heading to Torridon. Omit the dead end road to Hartfield (btw it's left, not right, before the bridge)

That said, in my experience if you're planning to take pics and do drone flights attempting 300 miles per day is over ambitious, plus you'll need time for lunch. Possibly tea as well.

Yeah not much going on at John O'Groats but I thought i may as well go as I'm up that way, I did have a nice bacon and sausage sandwich at the cafe last time. I had woken up in Wick, went to the old castle, then to Castle Sinclair, it was so misty that early I couldn't even see it from the car park, but was nice when I got there and nobody else around. I tried the sea stacks, walked in my gear for about 45 minutes but saw nothing, due to the mist probably won't try again this trip. After the sandwich, the mist cleared and I had a great run to Dunnet Head, and could go a lot faster, the way up to Groats I couldn't see a thing and had to let the odd car past me.

But yeah I've done a few of the good walking around bits already so this is more about the riding. They are long days but I'll only have daylight as my limiter rather than getting to the campsite on time, and not having 15kg bulging bag on the back of the bike the entire time will better. The wider roads don't take very long to get through compared to the nadgery ones, so the estimated time is variable. I'll take a look at the suggestions, and yes the Hartfield road I won't bother with after discovering it turns to mud after the hostel.

[Drive Blind]

yesterdays tour, figure of 8 starting and ending in Inverness



found a bit of snow for the winter tyres



lunchtime



when in rome ...

[POIDH]

GetCarter said:

As we're on bridges, here's my latest of the other one up here:

To quote my OH, Arran may have Cioch na h'Oighe*, but these should be the Dolly Parton hills....

(*Cioch na h'Oighe = 'the maidens nipple')

[Nigel_O]

Kylesku bridge is a great photo opportunity:

Aston V8 Vantage on Kylesku Bridge by Nigel Ogram, on Flickr

Also handy for noisy videos too… turn the volume up

Aston on Kylesku bridge by Nigel Ogram, on Flickr

[jock mcsporran]

P675 said:

Hi all, I was wondering if the Highlands experts here could rate my plans for a trip in May. For some background I did the NC500 on my motorbike last year, camping in a different place every night. I did the route with some sightseeing, even hiking a bit on the way around, in 3 days. I was quite knackered by the end, my energy would be gone by the afternoon after taking the tent down and packing away early every morning. I did the same thing in Ireland this year over 2 weeks and was even more deader by the end of the first week.

So for this trip I'd like to camp in one place and do day trips instead, to sample the best roads for fun fast riding, and also some of the random lanes where you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere, stopping for droning and photos on the road. I won't do things like walk to Sinclair Girnigoe in my full bike kit or get to the high point of Knockan Crag this time. I'd like to have maximum time on the bike without the time pressure of getting to the campsite and pitching the tent all over again.

I'm planning to camp in Contin near Inverness as I've stayed there before, which will take an entire day to get to, then 4 days of riding out and about, with another day reserved for back home, I may go the long way back hitting Glencoe, Kielder, Pennies, Yorkshire Dales.


I'm repeating roads a few times but I really want to get around everything while I'm up there. I would have liked to do Skye, Harris, Uist, but the ferries make it awkward, I think I'd be better off staying on Harris on another trip for that. Also I've driven around Skye 4 years ago, and don't remember thinking I'd love to ride my bike here. I've only got the 4 days anyway so I have a day to recover at home . Any thoughts welcome!

We’re up on bikes every year as half my family live up that way. For day trips we normally limit ourselves to 200-250 miles per day depending on how much single track. We do a few quick coffee stops to regroup and a lunch stop and it pretty much fills the day.

I won’t comment on the route as most roads up there have great views and/or riding but I would say that 300 mile plus days up there is a slog and that’s considering that I’ve done a few 800-1000 mile days in the saddle in my time. Even more so when it sounds like you have a long ride either side to get up and back.
We go up from Leeds via Glencoe normally and you’re looking at 7-8 hours (knock an hour off for A9 but you’re adding boredom). The old military road is a good road back but, again, time.

If you’re comfortable with regular 300+ mile A-road rides then go for it but get out the door early and enjoy the empty roads for as long as you can each morning before the campervans wake up.

[POIDH]

Contin is a pretty good base for things.

From there you can be out walking in Affric to Plodda Falls or round the Loch in what looks like 35 miles - but is easily an hours ride, and go the long way back via Ness or explore up Mullardoch with a few stops on the river or lochs there, and boom you have spent 4 hours in the saddle an only covered 100 miles tops...

Similar exploring on Black Isle, along the Moray coast to Findhorn and back over Dava and Tomatin, another day around Aviemore, Morlich and Nethy Bridge, and another day Dornoch, Lairg and Falls of Shin. All of them only around 100 miles of great, mixed riding, but with fabulous walks and chilling out here and there....

The key I think is to get look at OS map and google maps for waterfalls, walks, viewpoints, cafes - and look less at the 'long road' and more 'what is in that Glen?' approach to life.

[Mr Tidy]

vaderface said:

Other bridge is Kylesku bridge.

Many thanks.

[OliilO]

Drive Blind said:

yesterdays tour, figure of 8 starting and ending in Inverness

The road from Forres to Grantown is a great drive: one of my favourites.

[Red Devil]

Drive Blind said:

yesterdays tour, figure of 8 starting and ending in Inverness



found a bit of snow for the winter tyres



lunchtime



when in rome ...

Pic 1. Just north of The Watchers heading up to The Lecht - https://maps.app.goo.gl/nJJ4KQxRUtgMBRv79
Pic 2. Cullen - https://maps.app.goo.gl/sTVuQVVMApZuZXgbA
Pic 3. Cullen - https://maps.app.goo.gl/5WAUc1d5UXjkDVCj7

OliilO said:

The road from Forres to Grantown is a great drive: one of my favourites.

Heading the other way, the double bend before the bridge over the River Divie can catch you out if you're unfamiliar with it -

[GordonL]

More of a rant than anything... is this time of year "Be a **** in the Highlands" week? I live in a very quiet little spot, down a (private) single track road, with about 10 houses, there's a wee beach that is quite lovely, think wild otters, seals and lots of seabirds. One of my neighbours supplements her pension by having a small grassy area beside the beach which she rents out per night for motorhomes/campervans (no tents, no cars with council tent boxes).

Generally the people who come to it are no bother, but around once a month we get some dirty scum crapping in the bushes. It's a problem for me because my dogs like to get amongst it and roll in it/eat it, with obvious issues. There's generally a bit of extra rubbish on the beach too. It's been getting steadily worse since the Pandemic and the explosion of camper vans/motorhomes that seemed to generate.

Over the past 5 days though we've had 3 lots of crapping in the bushes, loads of rubbish left behind, we're talking portable barbecues, chicken carcasses, BBQ starter fluid bottles, large amounts of general rubbish including used toilet paper (of course!). Just to add salt to this, they've been sneaking in after dark and leaving early in the morning, so my neighbour has been getting stiffed for the 10 quid a night she'd normally get into the bargain.

Luckily I managed to confront one charming group who had left 2 full bin bags behind them, and "persuade" them to take their rubbish away with them, but generally I have to clear up all the st myself. Hopefully before my dogs get into it.

Just wondering if other locals are finding this issue just now or if we're just "lucky".

[hidetheelephants]

She should start charging a deposit which can be returned if they can resist stting in the shrubbery and leaving litter behind.

[Drive Blind]

Red Devil said:

can catch you out if you're unfamiliar with it -

there was evidence of 2 drivers getting caught out when I travelled the road

The bit where the A939 goes under the old railway bridge, a Golf was up the embankment and on the A940 a supermarket delivery driver had managed to get their van off the road.

[hidetheelephants]

Drive Blind said:

on the A940 a supermarket delivery driver had managed to get their van off the road.

I wish the supermarket delivery drivers round here were that enthusiastic, mobile chicanes that size are a challenge to get past on our roads.