Discussion
Got a week booked in Scotland from 2th june, staying in travelodge outside Perth (right next to the A9) so any suggestions welcome. Plan is to from there, follow A9 northbound, to John o'Groats, go West alnogt the top, and back down the West coast. I know most roads round the top are "interseting" (random sheep and oncoming coaches) and I also know the A9 is not the best road to be travelling along. The start point of Perth 25th June and maybe 2 days in John o' Groats are the only "fast" points of the week....
(at some point I will stop pinching ideas off everyone and be able to suggest some back)
edit: cant bloomin type... setting off 25th june!
(at some point I will stop pinching ideas off everyone and be able to suggest some back)
edit: cant bloomin type... setting off 25th june!
Edited by rinso on Wednesday 18th May 00:23
My advice for travelling on the A9 (from Perth to Inverness) is to leave early in the morning, it should not be too busy and you can make good progress and enjoy the scenery.
After Inverness it can still be busy till around Tain, then the traffic really thins out.
From John O'Groats round the coast is a mix of two lane and single track, but most of the single track is reasonably wide. As well as sheep you need to keep an eye out for deer, the sheep are well used to traffic and take very little notice, but the deer can just run across or along the road.
Following the coast can be good but the roads inland are often better and a lot quieter. e.g I went from Lairg to Tongue (A836) a few weeks ago, on Good Friday, and met at most about 6 cars and passed/overtook 2 (they pulled in to a passing place to let me progress) that's in about 38 miles of road! Nearly all of it on single track, but mostly open, with decent views ahead, on a twisty swooping road ,through great scenery.
Anyway, if you do follow the coast, or are at JOG going west then I'd follow the road A836 all the way to Tongue, going through Thurso, Bettyhill etc, then stay on the coast road to Durness, then south to Kylesku (good hotel/food) then take the coastal loop round to Lochinver via Drumbeg and Store. Stop in Lochinver for a pie at the Pie Shop (venison and cranberry
) Then either down the coast towards Achiltiebuie and the Summer Isles, or back on the main road to Ullapool. Plenty of hotels and good eating spots in Ullapool.
Then continue on following the coast to Gairloch, Apllecross, Kyle of Lochalsh etc etc etc.
After Inverness it can still be busy till around Tain, then the traffic really thins out.
From John O'Groats round the coast is a mix of two lane and single track, but most of the single track is reasonably wide. As well as sheep you need to keep an eye out for deer, the sheep are well used to traffic and take very little notice, but the deer can just run across or along the road.
Following the coast can be good but the roads inland are often better and a lot quieter. e.g I went from Lairg to Tongue (A836) a few weeks ago, on Good Friday, and met at most about 6 cars and passed/overtook 2 (they pulled in to a passing place to let me progress) that's in about 38 miles of road! Nearly all of it on single track, but mostly open, with decent views ahead, on a twisty swooping road ,through great scenery.
Anyway, if you do follow the coast, or are at JOG going west then I'd follow the road A836 all the way to Tongue, going through Thurso, Bettyhill etc, then stay on the coast road to Durness, then south to Kylesku (good hotel/food) then take the coastal loop round to Lochinver via Drumbeg and Store. Stop in Lochinver for a pie at the Pie Shop (venison and cranberry
) Then either down the coast towards Achiltiebuie and the Summer Isles, or back on the main road to Ullapool. Plenty of hotels and good eating spots in Ullapool.Then continue on following the coast to Gairloch, Apllecross, Kyle of Lochalsh etc etc etc.
Apologies for the minor hijack as I'm also planning a Scottish trip - but in most people's experience what's a reasonable, comfortable limit to the miles you can cover on one full day of driving on these roads, say given lunch, petrol and a few short photo stops? Is 300 miles a day over-ambitious?
Some good roads in here http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Some good roads in here http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Edited by Mostro on Friday 13th May 13:22
A friend and I did our Scottish tour last weekend, approx 1300 miles in 3 days and one evening.
1st evening - home to Glasgow Travelodge, 230 miles
Friday - 6:30am start, Fort William by 9am for brekkie via Coulport nuclear sub base, A82 and Glencoe. Applecross for lunch at the pub (lovely), Ullapool by 6pm. 300+ miles.
Saturday - 9:30am start head off round the top, Thurso for lunch (a bit of a hole but everything is there), John O'Groats to tick that box for my mate (there is nothing there, once visted never again...), then A9 to Boat of Garten. Arrive around 6pm again. Another 300 miles
Sunday - 9am start, A93 so past Balmoral, Glenshee (hot choc in the cafe, then donuts to follow in the muddy carpark lol), over to Pitlochry for quick lunch and Edrador whisky tour, then the long shlep home to West Yorks via A9, M74, M6 then A65 for a last bit of excitement. Was home for 7pm after around 370 miles.
These were full-on days of driving but with stops for pics and short lunch breaks. The place is AWESOME, this is my fourth driving holiday in northern Scotland. You can cover the miles even on single-track as its generally quiet and other road users are considerate. Watch out for sheep, deer and camper vans. If you have a thirsty car like my RX8 don't go past a petrol station without filling up too, I nearly regretted pushing on past on Friday.
My only regret is not doing this a month earlier, as holiday traffic was starting to be a problem in some places further south.
Here's our original plan, some of it changed on the day: http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&am...
Have a great trip!
1st evening - home to Glasgow Travelodge, 230 miles
Friday - 6:30am start, Fort William by 9am for brekkie via Coulport nuclear sub base, A82 and Glencoe. Applecross for lunch at the pub (lovely), Ullapool by 6pm. 300+ miles.
Saturday - 9:30am start head off round the top, Thurso for lunch (a bit of a hole but everything is there), John O'Groats to tick that box for my mate (there is nothing there, once visted never again...), then A9 to Boat of Garten. Arrive around 6pm again. Another 300 miles
Sunday - 9am start, A93 so past Balmoral, Glenshee (hot choc in the cafe, then donuts to follow in the muddy carpark lol), over to Pitlochry for quick lunch and Edrador whisky tour, then the long shlep home to West Yorks via A9, M74, M6 then A65 for a last bit of excitement. Was home for 7pm after around 370 miles.
These were full-on days of driving but with stops for pics and short lunch breaks. The place is AWESOME, this is my fourth driving holiday in northern Scotland. You can cover the miles even on single-track as its generally quiet and other road users are considerate. Watch out for sheep, deer and camper vans. If you have a thirsty car like my RX8 don't go past a petrol station without filling up too, I nearly regretted pushing on past on Friday.
My only regret is not doing this a month earlier, as holiday traffic was starting to be a problem in some places further south.
Here's our original plan, some of it changed on the day: http://www.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&am...
Have a great trip!
Edited by moribund on Friday 13th May 13:43
Mostro said:
Apologies for the minor hijack as I'm also planning a Scottish trip - but in most people's experience what's a reasonable, comfortable limit to the miles you can cover on one full day of driving on these roads, say given lunch, petrol and a few short photo stops? Is 300 miles a day over-ambitious?
I've done 500 in a day, that included fuel stops, lunch stop (bar lunch), some photos, and some sedate driving as well as some reasonably 'good progress'.Was a longish day, started early about 6.00, but was parked up drinking beer by about 17.00. That was in June when the tourist traffic wasn't too bad.
So I'd say 300 is do-able, but will depend on the traffic levels and how often and long you want to stop for.
I had driven on all of the roads before and know the roads pretty well, so know where overtake opportunities are etc, and also wan't stopping to look and photograph general views, or going on tours of distilleries etc.
For Perth to Inverness you can do rather better than a slog up the A9.
Perth -> Blairgowrie -> Braemar -> Cockbridge to Tomintoul Road -> Grantown on Spey -> Inverness
As a previous poster has said - if travelling at anything other than a really quiet time avoid the A9. Other than the scenery in places, it is tedious, boring and it is the road I have seen the most scary overtakes of the lot.
Perth -> Blairgowrie -> Braemar -> Cockbridge to Tomintoul Road -> Grantown on Spey -> Inverness
As a previous poster has said - if travelling at anything other than a really quiet time avoid the A9. Other than the scenery in places, it is tedious, boring and it is the road I have seen the most scary overtakes of the lot.
Mostro said:
Is 300 miles a day over-ambitious?
Depends when you go, what route you take and what time of day you drive. My Tesco round trip is 160 miles and I don't think twice about it, but I time it properly! I did it earlier this week and was back by 10 a.m.300 miles on a Sunday in August would be a nightmare. Drive 300 miles in early May and you could do it before lunch.
To both you and the O/P - check out http://www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm - if you need advice on the west coast, places to stay round here etc. - PM me.
Steve
Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 14th May 19:56
GetCarter said:
Depends when you go, what route you take and what time of day you drive.
I'm planning the 'usual' sort of route, Glencoe to Mallaig, a tour of Skye, the Applecross loop, north to Durness, south to Inverness and back over the Cairngorms. Varied roads I know, but I'm guessing the relative lack of traffic and town centres will increase range significantly.GetCarter said:
To both you and the O/P - check out http://www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm - if you need advice on the west coast, places to stay round here etc. - PM me.
Steve
Will do, cheers. Applecross may well be one overnight stay.Steve
Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 14th May 19:56
GetCarter said:
Depends when you go, what route you take and what time of day you drive. My Tesco round trip is 160 miles and I don't think twice about it, but I time it properly! I did it earlier this week and was back by 10 a.m.
300 miles on a Sunday in August would be a nightmare. Drive 300 miles in early May and you could do it before lunch.
To both you and the O/P - check out http://www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm - if you need advice on the west coast, places to stay round here etc. - PM me.
Steve
Cheers for the info, will do! 300 miles on a Sunday in August would be a nightmare. Drive 300 miles in early May and you could do it before lunch.
To both you and the O/P - check out http://www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm - if you need advice on the west coast, places to stay round here etc. - PM me.
Steve
Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 14th May 19:56
THanks to all suggestions too, appreciate it.
Have already done this a few years back and did the A9 that time, so if there's alternatives out there, I'd much rather do them, hate going the same way twice...
rinso said:
Have already done this a few years back and did the A9 that time, so if there's alternatives out there, I'd much rather do them, hate going the same way twice...
Alternative to the A9 between Perth and Inverness would be, A93 Perth -> Ballater, A939 -> Nairn, A96 -> Inverness.There are a couple of options to get to Inverness from A939 after Granton on Spey north if you want (A96 between Nairn and Inv is usually slow and busy)
rinso said:
Got a week booked in Scotland from 2th june, staying in travelodge outside Perth (right next to the A9) so any suggestions welcome.
Ah, that has been our starting point too. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broxden_JunctionGets pretty busy at peak times. Easy to get in the wrong lane and end up with quite a long detour.
On the journey up to Perth if you are going via the M6 there are several choices after Carlisle. My favourite is to leave the M74 at Moffat then take the A701 over the Devil's Beef Tub to the cross roads at Leadburn. From there, the A6094, A7, A720 Edinburgh by-pass, and the Forth Bridge.
The A 701 is 50 miles of superb driving all the way from Moffat to Leadburn. All NSL except for 2 villages (Broughton - 30, and Romannobridge - 40). Best to be careful in Broughton. On my last trip the BiB were lying in wait brandishing a hairdryer going up and coming back!
If you have time divert from the A6094 on the B7003 and visit Roslin Chapel (think Da Vinci Code).
Red Devil said:
Ah, that has been our starting point too. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broxden_Junction
Gets pretty busy at peak times. Easy to get in the wrong lane and end up with quite a long detour.
On the journey up to Perth if you are going via the M6 there are several choices after Carlisle. My favourite is to leave the M74 at Moffat then take the A701 over the Devil's Beef Tub to the cross roads at Leadburn. From there, the A6094, A7, A720 Edinburgh by-pass, and the Forth Bridge.
The A 701 is 50 miles of superb driving all the way from Moffat to Leadburn. All NSL except for 2 villages (Broughton - 30, and Romannobridge - 40). Best to be careful in Broughton. On my last trip the BiB were lying in wait brandishing a hairdryer going up and coming back!
If you have time divert from the A6094 on the B7003 and visit Roslin Chapel (think Da Vinci Code).
Cheers for that! Did divert from the M6 early last time I went to Scotland, but I can't remember where... A701 sounds like a plan though, so thanks!Gets pretty busy at peak times. Easy to get in the wrong lane and end up with quite a long detour.
On the journey up to Perth if you are going via the M6 there are several choices after Carlisle. My favourite is to leave the M74 at Moffat then take the A701 over the Devil's Beef Tub to the cross roads at Leadburn. From there, the A6094, A7, A720 Edinburgh by-pass, and the Forth Bridge.
The A 701 is 50 miles of superb driving all the way from Moffat to Leadburn. All NSL except for 2 villages (Broughton - 30, and Romannobridge - 40). Best to be careful in Broughton. On my last trip the BiB were lying in wait brandishing a hairdryer going up and coming back!
If you have time divert from the A6094 on the B7003 and visit Roslin Chapel (think Da Vinci Code).
We have just covered 700 miles in 3 days in Scotland (starting and finishing in Glasgow). We have had great lunch stops and hotels, and the driving has been phenomenal.
The most memorable driving highlights:
Lochan Na Lairige mountain pass near Bridge of Balgie
Spital of Glenshee/ Lecht Rd
Cairngorm Mountain Road up to the Ski Area.
Achnasheen to Kyle of Localsh, via Torridon Hotel (especially the Strathcarron Section!)
Kinlochleven Loop
Oban to Lochgilphead
The most memorable driving highlights:
Lochan Na Lairige mountain pass near Bridge of Balgie
Spital of Glenshee/ Lecht Rd
Cairngorm Mountain Road up to the Ski Area.
Achnasheen to Kyle of Localsh, via Torridon Hotel (especially the Strathcarron Section!)
Kinlochleven Loop
Oban to Lochgilphead
kiwifraser said:
The most memorable driving highlights:
Achnasheen to Kyle of Localsh, via Torridon Hotel (especially the Strathcarron Section!)
+1Achnasheen to Kyle of Localsh, via Torridon Hotel (especially the Strathcarron Section!)
If you went via Torridon that's on the long way round via Shieldaig. Another 9 miles brings you here.
Not to be missed, especially if the weather is kind. At the other end stop off for some quality tucker.
The OC I belong to does an 800-900 mile 4 day run around the Highlands each year. it takes place in April well before the majority of tourists arrive. Not only are the roads almost deserted but it has the added bonus of a welcome lack of midges!
Good food is an essential part of the proceedings.
Red Devil said:
+1
If you went via Torridon that's on the long way round via Shieldaig. Another 9 miles brings you here.
Not to be missed, especially if the weather is kind. At the other end stop off for some quality tucker.
The OC I belong to does an 800-900 mile 4 day run around the Highlands each year. it takes place in April well before the majority of tourists arrive. Not only are the roads almost deserted but it has the added bonus of a welcome lack of midges!
Good food is an essential part of the proceedings.
We did a longer 900 mile trip in 2009 (right up to Durness), and went over the Applecross Pass then. Spectacular views and road, but not great in tourist traffic season. If you went via Torridon that's on the long way round via Shieldaig. Another 9 miles brings you here.
Not to be missed, especially if the weather is kind. At the other end stop off for some quality tucker.
The OC I belong to does an 800-900 mile 4 day run around the Highlands each year. it takes place in April well before the majority of tourists arrive. Not only are the roads almost deserted but it has the added bonus of a welcome lack of midges!
Good food is an essential part of the proceedings.
This time we chose to cross over to Skye for some driving/ sightseeing, before we got on the Armadale Ferry to Mallaig as we were staying at a great hotel in Arisaig for the night ( http://www.oldlibrary.co.uk/ )
Next year it's back to a 4 night trip and will be taking in the 'European Commission' roads around Kylesku Bridge
Spitfire2 said:
Nice one - you took in a lot of Scotland.
If I'd known Glen Lyon was on your list I would Have recommended a burger at the fortingall hotel - one of the best I've had.
I was trying to find the name for the area by Bridge of Balgie... so now I know If I'd known Glen Lyon was on your list I would Have recommended a burger at the fortingall hotel - one of the best I've had.
A great (and quiet) piece of road. Next time I'm up that way I'll have to try that burger!Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff