Good Scotland Roads?
Discussion
Am planning to take the GT3 upto Scotland on w/s 24th July and need some advice/input on routes.
Ultimately I need to be in Edinburgh by the Friday and planning to drive up to the west coast over the weekend to be there for the montday, so have a few days of driving to plan and gradually work my way east.
Are there any particular fun roads I should look to work into the route people could advise me on?
Ultimately I need to be in Edinburgh by the Friday and planning to drive up to the west coast over the weekend to be there for the montday, so have a few days of driving to plan and gradually work my way east.
Are there any particular fun roads I should look to work into the route people could advise me on?
I assume you are arriving in Scotland on the Monday and aiming to be in Edinburgh on the Friday. That leaves you 3 full days of driving.
My itinary would be:
Day 1 - Start from Stirling, which is a nice place to visit/stay. Take the A84 via Callander to Lochearnhead, where it joins the A85. Take the A85 to Crianlarich, where it joins the A82. You have a choice here. If you have the time I recommend taking the A82 south to Tarbet, then R onto the A83 to Lochgilphead via Inveraray. From Lochgilphead take the A816 to Oban and beyond to Connel Bridge. Take the A828 N to Ballachulish, where you join the A82. Take this road N thru Fort William to Spean Bridge. Just beyond Spean Bridge by the Commando Memorial you will find a turn to the left to Gairlochy. About 1/2 mile down this road on the R you will find a restaurant with rooms called the Old Pines. If you can get booked in I thoroughly recommend it for your 1st night.
[url]www.oldpines.co.uk/[/url]
Day 2 - Continue along the A82 to just past Laggan. Turn L onto the A87 towards Kyle of Lochalsh. Just past Eilan Donan - the castle you see on all the calenders - watch out for a R turn onto the A890 to Strathcarron. Just past there take a L onto the A896. About a mile past Ardarroch look out for a minor road to Applecross. This is the famous Bealach na Ba - The Pass of the Cattle. From Applecross you can retrace your steps back to the A896 and continue N. Or you can continue on the single track road and rejoin the A896 at Shieldaig. This road affords wonderful views across the sea to Skye.
From Shieldaig continue on the A896 to Kinlochewe, where you turn L onto the A832. Stay on this road until you get to A835. Turn L towards Ullapool. You can get very good fish and chips in Ullapool. I reckon 4 -5 hours to Ullapool.
N of here you are definitely in the boonies. a lot of the roads are single track - even the A roads. The scenery is fabulous. Another great place to stay and eat is the Summer Isles Hotel at Achiltibuie, if you can get booked in.
[url]www.summerisleshotel.co.uk/[/url]
Day 3 - Retrace your steps to Ullapool and take the A835 S towards Inverness. You join the A9 just before Inverness. Just S of Inverness take the A96 to Nairn, where you take the A939 S to Grantown-on-Spey. Here you will turn L and join the A95 for about a mile towards Aberlour. Just out of Grantown you take a R back onto the A939. Stay on this road thru Tomintoul and over the Lecht and down to Cock Bridge. Look out for road to your R. This is still the A939, but it is a turn to the R. It will be sign posted to Ballater.
From Ballater you have choice. You can turn R onto the A93 to Braemar and over Glenshee and onto Perth and Edinburgh. Or you can go into Ballater and over the bridge to the S Deeside road. Just over the bridge turn L onto the B976. Stay on this road until just past Finzean - pronounced Fingen - where you take a R onto the road over Cairn O'Mount. This will be sign posted to Fettercairn. If you miss this turn just continue to Strachan - pronounced Strawn. You can turn R there for Fettercairn over the Cairn O'Mount. From Fettercairn proceed onto the A90 and head for Edinburgh via Dundee and Perth.
The roads up here are great for driving. Most of the time you will encounter very little traffic. You will be there during the tourist season, so you may encounter a few dawdlers. As someone has already pointed out there are cameras on the A9 and on the A90. Elsewhere you may come across mobile cameras. Some of the camera partnerships post their intended target roads on their websites. So you can check this out before you go.
[url]www.nescamp.co.uk/[/url]
That said most of the roads in the Highlands have unrestricted visibility, so keep a keen eye on the road ahead and you should be OK.
Enjoy!
My itinary would be:
Day 1 - Start from Stirling, which is a nice place to visit/stay. Take the A84 via Callander to Lochearnhead, where it joins the A85. Take the A85 to Crianlarich, where it joins the A82. You have a choice here. If you have the time I recommend taking the A82 south to Tarbet, then R onto the A83 to Lochgilphead via Inveraray. From Lochgilphead take the A816 to Oban and beyond to Connel Bridge. Take the A828 N to Ballachulish, where you join the A82. Take this road N thru Fort William to Spean Bridge. Just beyond Spean Bridge by the Commando Memorial you will find a turn to the left to Gairlochy. About 1/2 mile down this road on the R you will find a restaurant with rooms called the Old Pines. If you can get booked in I thoroughly recommend it for your 1st night.
[url]www.oldpines.co.uk/[/url]
Day 2 - Continue along the A82 to just past Laggan. Turn L onto the A87 towards Kyle of Lochalsh. Just past Eilan Donan - the castle you see on all the calenders - watch out for a R turn onto the A890 to Strathcarron. Just past there take a L onto the A896. About a mile past Ardarroch look out for a minor road to Applecross. This is the famous Bealach na Ba - The Pass of the Cattle. From Applecross you can retrace your steps back to the A896 and continue N. Or you can continue on the single track road and rejoin the A896 at Shieldaig. This road affords wonderful views across the sea to Skye.
From Shieldaig continue on the A896 to Kinlochewe, where you turn L onto the A832. Stay on this road until you get to A835. Turn L towards Ullapool. You can get very good fish and chips in Ullapool. I reckon 4 -5 hours to Ullapool.
N of here you are definitely in the boonies. a lot of the roads are single track - even the A roads. The scenery is fabulous. Another great place to stay and eat is the Summer Isles Hotel at Achiltibuie, if you can get booked in.
[url]www.summerisleshotel.co.uk/[/url]
Day 3 - Retrace your steps to Ullapool and take the A835 S towards Inverness. You join the A9 just before Inverness. Just S of Inverness take the A96 to Nairn, where you take the A939 S to Grantown-on-Spey. Here you will turn L and join the A95 for about a mile towards Aberlour. Just out of Grantown you take a R back onto the A939. Stay on this road thru Tomintoul and over the Lecht and down to Cock Bridge. Look out for road to your R. This is still the A939, but it is a turn to the R. It will be sign posted to Ballater.
From Ballater you have choice. You can turn R onto the A93 to Braemar and over Glenshee and onto Perth and Edinburgh. Or you can go into Ballater and over the bridge to the S Deeside road. Just over the bridge turn L onto the B976. Stay on this road until just past Finzean - pronounced Fingen - where you take a R onto the road over Cairn O'Mount. This will be sign posted to Fettercairn. If you miss this turn just continue to Strachan - pronounced Strawn. You can turn R there for Fettercairn over the Cairn O'Mount. From Fettercairn proceed onto the A90 and head for Edinburgh via Dundee and Perth.
The roads up here are great for driving. Most of the time you will encounter very little traffic. You will be there during the tourist season, so you may encounter a few dawdlers. As someone has already pointed out there are cameras on the A9 and on the A90. Elsewhere you may come across mobile cameras. Some of the camera partnerships post their intended target roads on their websites. So you can check this out before you go.
[url]www.nescamp.co.uk/[/url]
That said most of the roads in the Highlands have unrestricted visibility, so keep a keen eye on the road ahead and you should be OK.
Enjoy!
Edited by CharlesW on Thursday 6th July 10:27
milleman said:
The road through Glencoe and then onto Skye is well worth doing.
The one to avoid or be very carefull on is the A9, full of Scameras and is heavily policed.
Enjoy.
The one to avoid or be very carefull on is the A9, full of Scameras and is heavily policed.
Enjoy.
Whatch out for the cops on the bridge on the Glencoe road, don't worry you can see them from 3 miles away. DO NOT SPEED ON ANY M/WAYS DUAL/WAYS IN FIFE, you will get caught, you have been warned.
Thats the bad news the rest of the country is open for fun.
O 1 last bit off bad news, you are coming to Edinburgh, You do know the city is cram pack with speed bumps & I mean packed....
Did you know around stirling the road is the A911, been down it many times.
I drove to Fort William for the new year. I found that going up the A1 and hang a left at scotch corner was much nicer than the M1 via Manchester, Liverpool etc. IMHO of course. Are you doing it in one go? I stayed at a fantastic place in north yorkshire moors which was half way www.mrandmrssmith.com/luxury-hotels/united-kingdom-hotels/yorkshire-hotels/star-inn
Here's some websites to show you what is in store for you on the road to Applecross.
[url]www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/applecross/peninsula/index.html[/url]
[url]www.northernsights.net/applecross-9.html[/url]
You can try and watch this clip. I'm not sure if it still available. I can mail it to you, if you want.
[url]www.pistonheads.tv/clip182[/url]
[url]www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/applecross/peninsula/index.html[/url]
[url]www.northernsights.net/applecross-9.html[/url]
You can try and watch this clip. I'm not sure if it still available. I can mail it to you, if you want.
[url]www.pistonheads.tv/clip182[/url]
Edited by CharlesW on Thursday 6th July 23:04
As a local I can tell you to avoid Dundee to Perth A90. Specs up and running.
I have a route from Edinburgh to Aberdeen that I did for the German Boxter club.
Exit Kinross services – turn right then first right. Turn left to
A91 Yetts o’ Muckart - Note : Sharp turn right onto.
A823 Crieff
Stop Gleneagles Hotel - Lunch, Continue
A823 Crieff turn right through town towards
A85 Perth after 3 miles turn left towards
A822 Amulree straight on to
A822 Dunkeld turn onto A9, Busy road turn right and exit A9 left 50m only. I will wait for all cars here.
Stop Dunkeld House Hotel - Tea or Coffee Turn left then right to
A923 Blaigowrie left turn in Blairgowrie
A93 Glenshee straight on
At Glenshee( top of hill) Stop Viewpoint. Straight on
A93 Braemar – straight on
A93 Crathie – Balmoral visitor Centre Stop in Car Park on right
B976 Ballater Stay Craigendarroch Hilton. Oak room dining.
From there via Speyside distilleries( Glenfiddich) to Inverness. Down Loch Ness south side to Fort Augustus. Down to Glen Garry and up to Skye. Glenvarigil is great to Portree
Stay at the 3 Chimneys for the best food. Visit Talisker Distillery. Journey back via Glencoe.
Charles
I have a route from Edinburgh to Aberdeen that I did for the German Boxter club.
Exit Kinross services – turn right then first right. Turn left to
A91 Yetts o’ Muckart - Note : Sharp turn right onto.
A823 Crieff
Stop Gleneagles Hotel - Lunch, Continue
A823 Crieff turn right through town towards
A85 Perth after 3 miles turn left towards
A822 Amulree straight on to
A822 Dunkeld turn onto A9, Busy road turn right and exit A9 left 50m only. I will wait for all cars here.
Stop Dunkeld House Hotel - Tea or Coffee Turn left then right to
A923 Blaigowrie left turn in Blairgowrie
A93 Glenshee straight on
At Glenshee( top of hill) Stop Viewpoint. Straight on
A93 Braemar – straight on
A93 Crathie – Balmoral visitor Centre Stop in Car Park on right
B976 Ballater Stay Craigendarroch Hilton. Oak room dining.
From there via Speyside distilleries( Glenfiddich) to Inverness. Down Loch Ness south side to Fort Augustus. Down to Glen Garry and up to Skye. Glenvarigil is great to Portree
Stay at the 3 Chimneys for the best food. Visit Talisker Distillery. Journey back via Glencoe.
Charles
If you get to Ullapool in good time think about running on up via Unapool and Scourie to Keodale where you park the car and catch a ferry then mini bus to Cape Wrath. The roads in the far north are perhaps not as fast as further south but no less interesting for that.
In June last year I left Lochearnhead sharpish (5.30am)then via Rannoch Moor, Fort Bill, Ullapool, Cape Wrath and back down to Lochinver comfortably in time to enjoy a pre dinner glass of sparkling mineral water.
In June last year I left Lochearnhead sharpish (5.30am)then via Rannoch Moor, Fort Bill, Ullapool, Cape Wrath and back down to Lochinver comfortably in time to enjoy a pre dinner glass of sparkling mineral water.
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