Scotland driving holiday
Discussion
Can anyone help with routes? I will be driving to Scotland on the 15th August from London. I then have a few days to enjoy driving on my own before I pick up my girlfriend from Inverness airport on Friday 18th. The plan is then to head West and take in Skye and Islay before heading East on the 22nd to see friends near Dunkeld.
Any ideas would be really appreciated. The solo phase needs to have epic roads while the phase with girlfriend should probably be quite scenic so she doesn't get too bored/scared.
I'll be doing it in a Griff - if I can find one in time!
Any ideas would be really appreciated. The solo phase needs to have epic roads while the phase with girlfriend should probably be quite scenic so she doesn't get too bored/scared.
I'll be doing it in a Griff - if I can find one in time!
I have driven up to Scotland once, using the motorway up to Biggar (or thereabout), which is very swoopy and the landscape is quite nice. I then cut across to Edinburgh, by the A 702, which wasn't too bad to drive, even though the visibility was rather poor.
It was late in the evening, maybe the traffic is horrible during the day as it seems to be the best way there...
It was late in the evening, maybe the traffic is horrible during the day as it seems to be the best way there...
Edited by Alex@POD on Thursday 3rd August 12:32
thecaptain said:
Can anyone help with routes?
There's really only one route from Airstrip One
to Ecosse.
The M1 then the M6. The A1 is a non-starter, but
might be ok in about five years.
It's about 400 miles or so. Don't drive at over 80 mph
as the local Plod [ Cumbria especially ] will have their
safety cameras out.
Once in Scotland, don't drive too fast as the
locals can't cope.
Witness lots of accidents in the A90 Dundee to Aberdeen
dual c/w as locals fail to judge correctly when to pull out in
front of traffic.
Local Plod fitted safety cameras for the motorists, FFS.
The captain
You'll have fun, make sure you've a map and enjoy,Scotland definately has the best roads in Britain. If you come up the M6, then M74 (more pleasant than the M1 once north of preston) leave the M74 at Moffat and take the road the A701 to Edinburgh, you won't regret it.
When heading north from Edinburgh there are some great roads just north of the fourth road bridge, leave at exit 4, follow the signs to Knockhill then once on the A823 head north to Crieff, (you turn onto the A822 just before Crieff) then head up to Aberfeldy still on the A822, this is the "Sma Geln" road and is excellent. Then get yourself over to the A93 either via Blairgowrie or Dunkeld, over by the Glenshee ski centre to Braemar, then take the A939 to Grantown on Spey. These are all great roads, but for another detour, the B974 "Cairn o'Mount" road just south of Banchory,
When heading towards Skye, either via the A832/A890 or A82 (by Loch Ness) A887/A87.
Don't be concerned by some comments on this thread, the locals are usually fine with people driving quickly, on the narrow roads they will normally pull over to let faster cars overtake, and apart from the A68 or A1 up through the Borders there are very few cameras (not enough peopel to finance them).
Have fun
Giles
You'll have fun, make sure you've a map and enjoy,Scotland definately has the best roads in Britain. If you come up the M6, then M74 (more pleasant than the M1 once north of preston) leave the M74 at Moffat and take the road the A701 to Edinburgh, you won't regret it.
When heading north from Edinburgh there are some great roads just north of the fourth road bridge, leave at exit 4, follow the signs to Knockhill then once on the A823 head north to Crieff, (you turn onto the A822 just before Crieff) then head up to Aberfeldy still on the A822, this is the "Sma Geln" road and is excellent. Then get yourself over to the A93 either via Blairgowrie or Dunkeld, over by the Glenshee ski centre to Braemar, then take the A939 to Grantown on Spey. These are all great roads, but for another detour, the B974 "Cairn o'Mount" road just south of Banchory,
When heading towards Skye, either via the A832/A890 or A82 (by Loch Ness) A887/A87.
Don't be concerned by some comments on this thread, the locals are usually fine with people driving quickly, on the narrow roads they will normally pull over to let faster cars overtake, and apart from the A68 or A1 up through the Borders there are very few cameras (not enough peopel to finance them).
Have fun
Giles
gilesm said:
leave the M74 at Moffat and take the road the A701 to Edinburgh, you won't regret it.
Will have to try that, used to like M1/A1 to near Morpeth then A697 through Coldstream. Cameras now though.
Sometimes if I have a lot of spare time I have made a detour though Yorkshire Dales. One memorable trip, Ilkley, Bolton Abbey, Burnsall, Buchkden, up langstrothdale to Hawes, Over Buttertubs Pass to join the B6270 and drop down to Kirby Stephen.
Makes for an interesting interlude to the English part of the journey.
Once southbound diverted into Lakes pulled in Kirkstone Pass (part) cut across to Ambleside, Wrynose and Hard Knott passes, picnic by Wast Water, trip on the steam railway.
flatinfith said:
Will have to try that, used to like M1/A1 to near Morpeth then A697 through Coldstream. Cameras now though.
There are only cameras in a couple of villages on the A697, the rest is okay, they normally stick to the A1 for the camera income. When you get to Coldstream try the A6112 to Duns then B6355 to Gifford, the best way to Edinburgh from north east England.
flatinfith said:
Sometimes if I have a lot of spare time I have made a detour though Yorkshire Dales. One memorable trip, Ilkley, Bolton Abbey, Burnsall, Buchkden, up langstrothdale to Hawes, Over Buttertubs Pass to join the B6270 and drop down to Kirby Stephen.
I often travel between Edinburgh and Southern England, there are several great drives from Skipton to Edinburgh, just stay between the M6/M74 and the A1M, B road from Barnard Castle to Alston is really good. I also use the B709 from from just south of Edinburgh to Langholm, not an easy road, but lots of fun, perfect for an Elise, but bigger and/or more powerful cars may find it a touch narrow in many places.
Have fun
Giles
gilesm said:
The captain
You'll have fun, make sure you've a map and enjoy,Scotland definately has the best roads in Britain. If you come up the M6, then M74 (more pleasant than the M1 once north of preston) leave the M74 at Moffat and take the road the A701 to Edinburgh, you won't regret it.
You'll have fun, make sure you've a map and enjoy,Scotland definately has the best roads in Britain. If you come up the M6, then M74 (more pleasant than the M1 once north of preston) leave the M74 at Moffat and take the road the A701 to Edinburgh, you won't regret it.
Alternatively if you are coming up at night, you could come off the M6 at Carlisle and take the A7 up through Longtown, Langholm, Hawick, Selkirk, (dirty) Gala and Stow. Don't bother during the day, it can get busy and more and more camera vans, but at night, you can really get up some speed in some of the sections.
Captain - try this thread which may assist from the Scotland forum. Loads of links included within it.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=117301&f=118&h=0&p=2
Enjoy the trip!
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=117301&f=118&h=0&p=2
Enjoy the trip!
Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff