Route around the Highlands
Discussion
We're off to the Highlands for our summer holiday this year. We've already booked a cottage near Loch Ness for the first week. At the moment, a rough plan for the second week is to spend a few days drivng around the Highlands and then stop at Fort William for a couple of days before heading home.
We're after fantastic scenary, good driving roads and places of interest to visit.
Question is....does the following sound like a reasonable route around the Highlands during our 2nd week, and how many days should we take to do it?
Head north from Inverness
up the east coast to John o'Groats
along the north coast to Durness
down the west coast to Ullapool
down to Skye
and then on to Fort William
Or would we be better inland rather than trying to follow the coast?
Any advice/recommendations greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Neil
>> Edited by rocket on Sunday 15th January 18:32
We're after fantastic scenary, good driving roads and places of interest to visit.
Question is....does the following sound like a reasonable route around the Highlands during our 2nd week, and how many days should we take to do it?
Head north from Inverness
up the east coast to John o'Groats
along the north coast to Durness
down the west coast to Ullapool
down to Skye
and then on to Fort William
Or would we be better inland rather than trying to follow the coast?
Any advice/recommendations greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Neil
>> Edited by rocket on Sunday 15th January 18:32
We did the west coast last year, Fort William to Cape Wrath and Durness, thru Ullerpool and Torredon - great hotel at Cape Wrath and beautiful beaches in Durness. We came back along west coast, went over to Skye on Glenelg ferry, which is a novelty, then Skye to Mallaig on ferry and back to F. William. Roads were great with no cameras, few cars, but loads of sheep on Skye. Think east coast is a bit flat and boring.
It's a pretty good looking route, hammer it up to John O'Groats 'cause the east coast isn't that exciting - you can take your time coming down the west which is jaw droppingly awesome, only thing I'd add to your route is coming back off Skye, take the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig, the A830 from Mallaig to Fort William is one of the most fun drives you can have, lovely twisties, shortish, but interesting, single track section, several bits of new tarmac where in excess of the ton is more than possible, and bugger all other traffic.
ETA
So pretty much what icb said
ETA further
When taking the A830 from Mallaig to Fort William take the 'old' 830 through Arisaig rather than the 'motorway' ( as the locals call it), beautiful coastal views of the small isles (Rum and Eigg) and gorgeous white sand.
>> Edited by Einion Yrth on Monday 16th January 07:40
>> Edited by Einion Yrth on Monday 16th January 08:46
ETA
So pretty much what icb said
ETA further
When taking the A830 from Mallaig to Fort William take the 'old' 830 through Arisaig rather than the 'motorway' ( as the locals call it), beautiful coastal views of the small isles (Rum and Eigg) and gorgeous white sand.
>> Edited by Einion Yrth on Monday 16th January 07:40
>> Edited by Einion Yrth on Monday 16th January 08:46
Einion Yrth said:
When taking the A830 from Mallaig to Fort William take the 'old' 830 through Arisaig rather than the 'motorway' ( as the locals call it), beautiful coastal views of the small isles (Rum and Eigg) and gorgeous white sand.
>> Edited by Einion Yrth on Monday 16th January 07:40
>> Edited by Einion Yrth on Monday 16th January 08:46
Is that the one that ducks and dives over the railway for miles and miles? I remember covering it in a (ahem) Fiesta many years ago. Great even in the rain.
selmer said:
When taking the A830 from Mallaig to Fort William take the 'old' 830 through Arisaig rather than the 'motorway' ( as the locals call it), beautiful coastal views of the small isles (Rum and Eigg) and gorgeous white sand.
>> Edited by Einion Yrth on Monday 16th January 07:40
>> Edited by Einion Yrth on Monday 16th January 08:46
Is that the one that ducks and dives over the railway for miles and miles? I remember covering it in a (ahem) Fiesta many years ago. Great even in the rain.
The A830 is indeed that road, if 'many years ago' is in excess of about twenty then the 'motorway' wasn't even built, so all you had for the stretch between Arisaig and Morar was the 1.5 track coastal route.
If not too late, have a look in the Scotland forum - GetCarter there recommends a loop south of Ullapool that is a must-do if you are up there.
Our trip, based on his advice:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=200085&f=118&h=0
Our trip, based on his advice:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=200085&f=118&h=0
Thanks fot that Nick. I think I've managed to incorporate most of Monsieur Carter's route into my own plan now. Shieldaig and Applecross are a couple of names which keep cropping up in my research, so will definitely be stopping there.
Thanks for your filling station summary too. I've noticed there's a distinct lack of Optimax and Ultimate up the top there!
Cheers,
Neil
Thanks for your filling station summary too. I've noticed there's a distinct lack of Optimax and Ultimate up the top there!
Cheers,
Neil
Have a friend who stays in Shieldaig, in the torridon region, and I drive up there every year.
Roads are excellent, just not confidnet ont he single track rubbish you get further north!.
Problems with the West coast route: Tourists, caravans, Lorries (not such a problem after Fort William), and coaches. Bust the biggest problem is keeping you eyes on the road, and not on the scenery..its so distracting
.
Problems with the East Coast: the A9.....to many speed camera's, and little men hidding behind bushes with a radar (Spotted aroung Gleneagles last time
)
Roads are excellent, just not confidnet ont he single track rubbish you get further north!.
Problems with the West coast route: Tourists, caravans, Lorries (not such a problem after Fort William), and coaches. Bust the biggest problem is keeping you eyes on the road, and not on the scenery..its so distracting
. Problems with the East Coast: the A9.....to many speed camera's, and little men hidding behind bushes with a radar (Spotted aroung Gleneagles last time
)Rocket - at Lochailort you have the choice if going from Mallaig to take the A861 via Strontian an back to Fort William via the corran(ardgour) ferry --the bit from Lochailort is now two lane all the way to Fort William , though the bit Lochailort -Glenfinnan was origonally designed as a 40 mph road - if you know it you can go a lot faster - nice bends , but locals have ended up in the loch.
Lochailort - Kinlochmoidart is two lane , but rest to Strontian ( from memory) is single a lot of the way .
If you're feeling keen - try the road to Ardamurchan point - ends at the lighthouse (turn of at Salen)--can't help you on road - last time i drove it it was very single very twisted , very slow , with a lot of humped corners - bit iffy if you've got low clearance.
Lochailort - Kinlochmoidart is two lane , but rest to Strontian ( from memory) is single a lot of the way .
If you're feeling keen - try the road to Ardamurchan point - ends at the lighthouse (turn of at Salen)--can't help you on road - last time i drove it it was very single very twisted , very slow , with a lot of humped corners - bit iffy if you've got low clearance.
Not sure if this fits but the A93 from Dundee - Aberdeen is a great road. Lots of nice open stretches, great views, T shops etc. We did a loop from Carnoustie, up the coast, turned in land and hit the A93, headed South past Balmoral, up over some huge pass with a ski "resort", then down towards Dundee. Fantastic drive even in Mr Hertz's finest 1.6 Focus (which managed to bounce of the rev limiter all day without complaint).
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