Critique a Scottish road trip

[Nigel_O]

My youngest son and I did most of the NC500 in 3 days last year in my V8 Vantage and we're itching for more. We've booked the second week in October. This time, we'll probably have 5 days in Scotland (book-ended by a day of traveling from the Midlands). We intend to stay away from much of the NC500, apart from the Applecross loop and a chance to meet Get Carter for some photography tips around Shieldag / Torridon (I'll message you Steve...).

We're looking for great scenery and epic driving roads, but we'd like to stay away from too much single-track stuff if possible. Although its perfectly do-able, an Aston isn't really at home on 2nd-gear roads.

So - here's my first stab at a possible route. We'd like to spend our money where its welcome, so we might even hop on a ferry to Orkney and it would be great if we could spend a night there too.

Outbound - https://maps.app.goo.gl/5k2sB7MeRLKRWqzM6



Homebound - just HAVE to do the Old Military Road over the Cairngorms again... https://maps.app.goo.gl/EJszfsneg8uiEbb57



I don't mind covering ground twice, especially if its in the opposite direction, so an extension to the Cairngorm route via the West and Loch Lomond isn't out of the question

Edited by Nigel_O on Friday 11th April 15:50

Edited by Nigel_O on Friday 11th April 15:51

[TVRBRZ]

Having just done Skye in an Evora I'd caution your Skye route. The main A87 is OK but all the other A Roads have horrific potholes, ridges and canyons. You are barrelling along at NSL then have to stop to a crawl to traverse.

I'd suggest north from Mallaig ferry to Portree on the A87, then take the A855 to Staffin so you see the Storr and the Quirang. Take the single track road accross to Uig (no point in looping further north as it is all single track). Uig to Dunvegan on the A850, then Dunvegan to Sligachan on the A863, and then back to the bridge on the A87.

The A863 is bad for potholes but has stupendous sea views and views of the Cuillin so worth the extra concentration.

[towser]

If you don't enjoy or can't drive confidently on single track then avoid the Lairg to Tongue outbound section - although it's got decent visibility / sight lines it's pretty much all single track.

Inbound the same applies to the Strath Halladale section from Melvich down to Helmsdale.....

[hongkongdonkey]

There are lots of great roads around Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders if you want to break up the trip north and avoid the motorways for a bit. I love the Dalveen pass (A701) and road around Moffat.

[Richspec]

Yeah agree with that, the M74 is scenic and quiet compared to anything down south but theres lovely roads in SW scotland you could take in, like A712/713 head across up towards Ayr then coast road to Erskine Bridge etc,

[Steve_H80]

The M74 is pretty grim, the old road (B7078) is more fun.
Rather than that I would take the A75/A712/A713 (then a boring bit), the Gourock ferry and up the A815 by Loch Eck.
Harris & Lewis are worth a look if you have the time.
Neither of these will have many places to show off the Vantage, sheep and trees haven't any appreciation of automotive art
And coming back bypass Edinburgh and take the A68 and A697 south. At Morpeth you can pick up the A1 home.

Edited by Steve_H80 on Thursday 17th April 06:51

[Terzo123]

Id consider cutting off the A82 at Loch Lomond and taking the Haul Road (A817) towards Garelochead. The Haul road is fantastic with amazing views. You can then take the A814 to Arrochar, which is a stunning drive in itself.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12482210.the-r...

Depending on time, heading off the M74 and heading towards Newton Stewart/Glentrool and travelling up through the Galloway forest would be nice, taking the A78 towards the A8/M8 and the Erskine bridge.

On your way home, the Dukes pass is a fantastic drive and worth a detour to get to. Head from Perth, through Crieff and Cromrie and then Lochearnhead towards Aberfoyle.

Edited to add herald link

Edited by Terzo123 on Thursday 17th April 11:18

Edited by Terzo123 on Thursday 17th April 11:38

[Yahonza]

hongkongdonkey said:

There are lots of great roads around Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders if you want to break up the trip north and avoid the motorways for a bit. I love the Dalveen pass (A701) and road around Moffat.

^ This - a lot of people head up on the M74 and completely miss D&G and the Borders. Good for the locals though. Better roads in the Borders as well.
I would do your trip in reverse and head up via Glenshee / The Lecht on the way up and come back down on the Western route.
Agree about the potholes - so watch your tyre pressures. Plus the odd mobile speed camera, they are out and about.

[Red Devil]

towser said:

If you don't enjoy or can't drive confidently on single track then avoid the Lairg to Tongue outbound section - although it's got decent visibility / sight lines it's pretty much all single track.

Inbound the same applies to the Strath Halladale section from Melvich down to Helmsdale.....

It's not just Lairg to Tongue that's single track, the A838 from Laxford Bridge is as well - https://maps.app.goo.gl/ciLLaYy5SY2vKTt79
Likewise some of the A836 between Tongue and Bettyhill.

Steve_H80 said:

The M74 is pretty grim, the old road (B7078) is more fun.

- The old (A74) road from Gretna Services to Lesmahagow, B7076/A702/B7078, is much more engaging than the motorway.

Terzo123 said:

Id consider cutting off the A82 at Loch Lomond and taking the Haul Road (A817) towards Garelochead. The Haul road is fantastic with amazing views. You can then take the A814 to Arrochar, which is a stunning drive in itself.

Agreed. If you're unlucky enough to get stuck in a camel train behind a HGV along Loch Lomond it's a monumental PITA.

On the homeward route I avoid the A9 south of Inverness and go via Culloden Moor - https://maps.app.goo.gl/s9xPc2gRrRhdgCXr9
Last year I visited the battlefield site (where the Jacobites were defeated by the Duke of Cumberland in 1746).
If you have sufficient time in hand and are interested in history it's not to be missed.
I usually do my own thing at tourist atttactions and don't participate in guided tours but I joined one of the walk groups and was glad I did.
It was clearly evident that the guide was passionate about the subject and a first class communicator.

[hidetheelephants]

Steve_H80 said:

The M74 is pretty grim, the old road (B7078) is more fun.
Rather than that I would take the A75/A712/A713 (then a boring bit), the Gourock ferry and up the A815 by Loch Eck.

Another alternative is go via Troon or Ardrossan and add in a tour of Arran then cross from Lochranza to Kintyre. If you do this divert off the A83 via the B8024. It's a tarmacced goat track but the scenery is great.

Between Oban and Fort William don't do that massive divert inland to join the A82, take the A828 through Appin and along the loch side, it's a decent road with more great scenery and is at least as good to look at as Glencoe.

I'd agree about not skipping past Ayrshire and D&G generally; there's plenty of good scenery there that people whizz past on the M74; their loss. Even just following the main roads, A75 then A77, has some good views, the main potential downside is getting stuck behind an HGV convoy toward or away from the ferry terminal at Cairnryan.

Edited by hidetheelephants on Friday 18th April 07:13