Highlands

[Damp Logs]

hidetheelephants said:

Damp Logs said:

POIDH said:

<tale of scummy campers and turds>

Almost beyond belief, but an indictment of society as whole I m afraid!

It (almost) puts me off coming back ..

Suspicious username, will need a DNA check to see if any of the turds are your's.

I’m lost for words

[Leggerly]

P675 said:

I scouted both roads out on Streetview and the Glen Loth one does look rough in places but the scenery and video potential look a lot better. Are we talking craters that need a 4x4, or just 15-20mph max? Looks gravelly but it might just be worn surface. I've been on some rough roads before and it's a bit easier to get around holes on the bike but more physically involved.

For example in Ireland pretty much the entirety of Sheep's Head Peninsula and random roads in Beara Peninsula that were not enjoyable in the slightest but all part of the adventure

There are some very large pot holes along with parts that are getting washed out. Don t let the new tar at the top fool you, getting there from the A9 isn’t nice. Plus, there’s another winters worth of damage about to happen and very little chance of it being sorted out by the time you come up. It s a low priority road as nobody lives on it. The first signs of life are at Kildonan.

[P675]

Leggerly said:

There are some very large pot holes along with parts that are getting washed out. Don t let the new tar at the top fool you, getting there from the A9 isn t nice. Plus, there s another winters worth of damage about to happen and very little chance of it being sorted out by the time you come up. It s a low priority road as nobody lives on it. The first signs of life are at Kildonan.

Ok thanks, maybe I'll take the road from Helmsdale instead, turn into the dodgy road from Kildonan, go down a bit where it opens up level with Duible, get a shot and turn back.

[Nigel_O]

Seems that the benefits and drawbacks of hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Highlands is now being reconsidered

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8e91e82zneo

I can see why locals would get cheesed off - congested roads, litter, pollution, wear & tear, antisocial driving, etc.

I’ve done the Highlands twice in two years in my Aston. I’m probably not at the top of the list of ‘desirable tourists’, as I like a good hoon, and I’m there for the driving, not necessarily all the tourist stops. However, my son and I have spent nearly four grand over two trips, which can only be good for the economy.

I expect the campervan wkers who don’t spend much and (literally) leave all sorts of crap where they’ve been are the biggest cause of irritation.

I hope it can be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, as it would be a terrible shame to deny such a beautiful place to the masses.

[RSTurboPaul]

Nigel_O said:

... it would be a terrible shame to deny such a beautiful place to the masses.

Don't worry, our impending 20kg/day mandatory 'carbon allowance' will soon put paid to travel by the great unwashed... (who will now actually be unwashed because their carbon budget doesn't stretch to showering every day).

[ninepoint2]

Nigel_O said:

Seems that the benefits and drawbacks of hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Highlands is now being reconsidered

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8e91e82zneo

I can see why locals would get cheesed off - congested roads, litter, pollution, wear & tear, antisocial driving, etc.

I ve done the Highlands twice in two years in my Aston. I m probably not at the top of the list of desirable tourists , as I like a good hoon, and I m there for the driving, not necessarily all the tourist stops. However, my son and I have spent nearly four grand over two trips, which can only be good for the economy.

I expect the campervan wkers who don t spend much and (literally) leave all sorts of crap where they ve been are the biggest cause of irritation.

I hope it can be resolved to everyone s satisfaction, as it would be a terrible shame to deny such a beautiful place to the masses.

My view is the roads have always been there, the problem is the greedy fkwits who "wanted to monetise it" whilst the irresponsible users undoubtably can spoil it, the real blame must surely lie with those money grabbing bds who came up with the idea in the first place

[hidetheelephants]

It was devised by North Highland Initiative, which is a public body for issuing grants for community projects. Hardly as you describe.

[Bubbas Grill]

Up there tonight in their Octas! Bothering no-one!

[ninepoint2]

hidetheelephants said:

It was devised by North Highland Initiative, which is a public body for issuing grants for community projects. Hardly as you describe.

Initially it was but....

The North Coast 500 (NC500) brand is owned by North Coast 500 Ltd, which is controlled by Wildland Ventures, the company of Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen, Scotland's largest private landowner. While originally established by the North Highland Initiative (a charity) to boost tourism, ownership transferred to Povlsen's firm in 2018

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17932550.north...

Edited by ninepoint2 on Wednesday 10th December 00:34

[hidetheelephants]

I doubt they're making much money on that, it's a website that doesn't sell anything to the public other than maps and slightly cheesy branded tat; subs from interested businesses to advertise isn't going to touch the sides of Povlsen's disposable income and a look at Companies House confirms there's no fortune being made.

Edited by hidetheelephants on Wednesday 10th December 10:02

[P675]

Nigel_O said:

Seems that the benefits and drawbacks of hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Highlands is now being reconsidered

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8e91e82zneo

I can see why locals would get cheesed off - congested roads, litter, pollution, wear & tear, antisocial driving, etc.

I ve done the Highlands twice in two years in my Aston. I m probably not at the top of the list of desirable tourists , as I like a good hoon, and I m there for the driving, not necessarily all the tourist stops. However, my son and I have spent nearly four grand over two trips, which can only be good for the economy.

I expect the campervan wkers who don t spend much and (literally) leave all sorts of crap where they ve been are the biggest cause of irritation.

I hope it can be resolved to everyone s satisfaction, as it would be a terrible shame to deny such a beautiful place to the masses.

Seen a lot of grumbling on Facebook about this. It's understandable but at the end of the day you can't control people's choice to go up there in a motorhome. Maybe instead of moaning about nobody comes to your B&B anymore and that's why you have to charge £400 a night, cater to the motorhomes instead? Times change unfortunately.

Myself when I did it on the motorbike I struggled to find places to eat on the western side and survived off petrol stations in the day, cooking food when I camped (at sites not wild) at night, buying from small shops. The only meal I bought was a sandwich at John O Groats and fish and chips at Applecross pub. If it was me I'd be setting up a burger van network in all the laybys along the route.

[POIDH]

Nigel_O said:

I expect the campervan wkers who don t spend much and (literally) leave all sorts of crap where they ve been are the biggest cause of irritation.

I hope it can be resolved to everyone s satisfaction, as it would be a terrible shame to deny such a beautiful place to the masses.

How do we know who the bad people and good people are?
I completely agree that we need to see benefits for all of us, but both sides have some rather narrow minded individuals...

[Red Devil]

One time I had the misfortune to be stuck behind a driving a motorhome who refused to pull over for the entire 34 mile single track of the A838 from Laxford Bridge to Colaboll.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/mdmp6MNCnYMMHTtL8

What made it doubly frustrating was that he drove past both of these signs, so there was no excuse tor it.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/h5ZBri6PFGy14nE66
https://maps.app.goo.gl/F8xASUg9mJXkjET68

At one point on a long straight he actually managed to wind it up to over 30mph. Grrrr...

[Drive Blind]

Day 1







Day2





Day3

[POIDH]

Excellent

[Snow and Rocks]

Great pics - how long are you up for and what's your driving plans over the next few days?

Looking potentially pretty snowy and windy from New Year's Day onwards - worth thinking about especially if you're anywhere near Aberdeenshire/Moray/Speyside or any of the higher roads further west and don't have winters fitted.

[Drive Blind]

Snow and Rocks said:

Great pics - how long are you up for and what's your driving plans over the next few days?

Looking potentially pretty snowy and windy from New Year's Day onwards - worth thinking about especially if you're anywhere near Aberdeenshire/Moray/Speyside or any of the higher roads further west and don't have winters fitted.

i'm now back home in Ayrshire.
The day 3 route posted above was just the first part to get fish n chips in Anstruther. Part 2 was the 2 hour drive along the A92, M90, M8, M77 home.

I would have welcomed some snow. I run winters.

[Red Devil]

Drive Blind said:

Day 1







Day2

Great pics.

Day 1
Loch a' Chroisg - https://maps.app.goo.gl/CYKnFgk3YzFWfxBE9
Little Loch Broom - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Day 2
South of Forsinard - https://maps.app.goo.gl/H1aqj4cEXBcNTGs38

[Leggerly]

Red Devil said:

Drive Blind said:

Day 1







Day2

Great pics.

Day 1
Loch a' Chroisg - https://maps.app.goo.gl/CYKnFgk3YzFWfxBE9
Little Loch Broom - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Day 2
South of Forsinard - https://maps.app.goo.gl/H1aqj4cEXBcNTGs38

That stretch of road towards Achentoul on day 2 is known as the Bealach, one of the finest holiday cottages in the county is under Ben Griam Beg, the mountain to the right as you head south. Forget using anything even slightly low to get there. The level crossing is interesting to say the least. Graemachorry is the name of the place, I rent it for a week every year even though I only live 15 miles away.

[GetCarter]

The 'Coast Road' on the Applecross Peninsula earlier this morning.