London to John O'groats - advice please!
Discussion
Thinking about doing a road trip to John O'groats. That's the main aim, but it would be nice to call in on friends in York and Edinburgh along the way. Wondered if anyone here had any advice.....
Although I'm happy to blast along for 8 hours a day, my girlfriend would be coming along and she's not a car nut, so I'm trying to budget for reasonable stops and a fairly relaxed average speed. Not too worried about interesting roads for the first part of the trip (basically want to get north of the border as easily as possible) it would be good to take in a few afterwards, but I gather that's kind of innevitable!
Any idea how long the trip would take?
From what I've heard, I was loosely planning the following....
Day 1 - to York to meet up with friends (only 3 hours or so from Enfield)
Day 2 - to Edinburgh to meet a couple of my old friends. Probably head up the A1, then cut across to the M6 at Scotch Corner, based on recomendations from a colleague who used to drive up to Knockhill frequently. If so, A702 across to Edinburgh. Or just A1 all the way up?
Day 3 - A9 to Inverness
Day 4 - Continue up to John O'groats via A9. Take photo. Drive back to Inverness?
Day 5 - Back to Edinburgh?
Day 6 - Back to York (or possibly Skegness to see family - bit far?)
Day 7 - arrive back to Enfield
The Edinburgh route was suggested only because I know a few people there and I assumed it'd be a nicer place to stay than anywhere further west along the same Latitude. It's also likely we'd be doing the trip late August or early September, when I believe the Edinburgh Festival will be on, which could be bad news for traffic, so we might reconsider that bit.
Like I said, the main idea this time round is a rapid and fairly idiot proof route up to Highlands, hopefully taking in a few sights along the way. We can't take more than a week on it and my navigator isn't a huge car nut, so whilst I could spend a week just driving all the twisty roads around the Lochs, that's not an option
Any suggestions? - route, places to stay, things to see? etc
Although I'm happy to blast along for 8 hours a day, my girlfriend would be coming along and she's not a car nut, so I'm trying to budget for reasonable stops and a fairly relaxed average speed. Not too worried about interesting roads for the first part of the trip (basically want to get north of the border as easily as possible) it would be good to take in a few afterwards, but I gather that's kind of innevitable!
Any idea how long the trip would take?
From what I've heard, I was loosely planning the following....
Day 1 - to York to meet up with friends (only 3 hours or so from Enfield)
Day 2 - to Edinburgh to meet a couple of my old friends. Probably head up the A1, then cut across to the M6 at Scotch Corner, based on recomendations from a colleague who used to drive up to Knockhill frequently. If so, A702 across to Edinburgh. Or just A1 all the way up?
Day 3 - A9 to Inverness
Day 4 - Continue up to John O'groats via A9. Take photo. Drive back to Inverness?
Day 5 - Back to Edinburgh?
Day 6 - Back to York (or possibly Skegness to see family - bit far?)
Day 7 - arrive back to Enfield
The Edinburgh route was suggested only because I know a few people there and I assumed it'd be a nicer place to stay than anywhere further west along the same Latitude. It's also likely we'd be doing the trip late August or early September, when I believe the Edinburgh Festival will be on, which could be bad news for traffic, so we might reconsider that bit.
Like I said, the main idea this time round is a rapid and fairly idiot proof route up to Highlands, hopefully taking in a few sights along the way. We can't take more than a week on it and my navigator isn't a huge car nut, so whilst I could spend a week just driving all the twisty roads around the Lochs, that's not an option
Any suggestions? - route, places to stay, things to see? etc
The only part I would strongly disagree with is the A9 Edinburgh - Inverness.
1: Speed camera'd to hell.
2: Not very scenic anyway.
Suggest M9 Edinbugh - Dunblane. A84 to past Lochearnhead. A85 to Crianlarich then A82 all the way to Inverness. A total waste of time to do it any other way if you're on Holiday. Enjoy .
1: Speed camera'd to hell.
2: Not very scenic anyway.
Suggest M9 Edinbugh - Dunblane. A84 to past Lochearnhead. A85 to Crianlarich then A82 all the way to Inverness. A total waste of time to do it any other way if you're on Holiday. Enjoy .
One of my colleagues suggested that way too, thing is I'm quite pushed for time and apparently the last time he was up there (some time ago!) the roads weren't that good round that side. Maybe these days it doesn't take that much longer if there are more dual carriageway stretches? I'd love to do the whole thing on single carriage way, but looking at the map it's actually a hell of a long way and a lot of this depends on the misus who can't justify a huge ammount of time off work and isn't a major car nut. Still if it's equally (or nearly as) quick and convenient, we'd obviously rather go a more scenic route.
Inverness was only a random pick as I don't know the area and it seemed about the right sort of distance for a fairly comfortable drive out to JOG to take the cheesey tourist photo at that sign post (New York n thousand miles!) and then drive back within a day.
Inverness was only a random pick as I don't know the area and it seemed about the right sort of distance for a fairly comfortable drive out to JOG to take the cheesey tourist photo at that sign post (New York n thousand miles!) and then drive back within a day.
Taking that route fro Edinburgh to Inverness, probably about 5 hrs depending on traffic, weather, knee jerk slowing down for the views!
If you do it, make a slight detour at Fort Augustus and take the south road to Inverness B862, but hook a left on the B852 @Foyers. Beautiful views of the Loch Ness from here.
Fabulously fast sweeping roads for the main part, just watch out for crazy German bikers!
If you do it, make a slight detour at Fort Augustus and take the south road to Inverness B862, but hook a left on the B852 @Foyers. Beautiful views of the Loch Ness from here.
Fabulously fast sweeping roads for the main part, just watch out for crazy German bikers!
Chris71 said:
Day 2 - to Edinburgh to meet a couple of my old friends. Probably head up the A1, then cut across to the M6 at Scotch Corner, based on recomendations from a colleague who used to drive up to Knockhill frequently. If so, A702 across to Edinburgh. Or just A1 all the way up?
A1 dreadful north of Morpeth - only single carraigeway each way.A68 covered in speed cameras and hilly. I always get stuck
behind a lorry.
A697 least worst option.
A66 has some roadworks between Scotch Corner and Barnard Castle.
Finally, after thirty years of waiting, they are upgrading
the road to dual c/w. They will have to take down all the
signs telling us what a dangerous road it is.
Well, the other point was thats in a very ordinary 1800 roadster, ground-covering pace is only marginally above girlfriend-scaring pace. If anyone would care to lend me a DB9 I'm, sure that could be addressed though
Is the A697 single carriageway all the way? Might be easier, to cut across to the west and take the A74(M) up? Would be good to take in some scenic roads north of the border, but before we get there, it's just the quickest way we can reach Scotland without doing spoiling my nil points license!
Is the A697 single carriageway all the way? Might be easier, to cut across to the west and take the A74(M) up? Would be good to take in some scenic roads north of the border, but before we get there, it's just the quickest way we can reach Scotland without doing spoiling my nil points license!
Chris71 said:
Is the A697 single carriageway all the way?
Yes. And quite hilly. But not as bad as the A68.Chris71 said:
Might be easier, to cut across to the west and take the A74(M) up?
Maybe. Newcastle-Carlisle A69 road is dual c/w until at leastCorbridge, not sure after that and IIRC only one speed
camera.
Provided you avoid the Metro centre near Newcastle when it's
busy [ all the time], then A1, A69, A74 sounds a good easy route.
Remember once you get north of Yorkshire, there
are very few people [ voters] living up there
and so very few wide roads.
My dad reckons a Yorkshire motorway has cattle grids,
is six feet wide and gates every few miles.
Chris71 said:
Well, the other point was thats in a very ordinary 1800 roadster, ground-covering pace is only marginally above girlfriend-scaring pace. If anyone would care to lend me a DB9 I'm, sure that could be addressed though
Is the A697 single carriageway all the way? Might be easier, to cut across to the west and take the A74(M) up? Would be good to take in some scenic roads north of the border, but before we get there, it's just the quickest way we can reach Scotland without doing spoiling my nil points license!
Thats how I got home from A74(M) from Pistonfest and I have no points Is the A697 single carriageway all the way? Might be easier, to cut across to the west and take the A74(M) up? Would be good to take in some scenic roads north of the border, but before we get there, it's just the quickest way we can reach Scotland without doing spoiling my nil points license!
That road brings you out near glasgow and its less than an hour from it joining the m8 until your heading for loch lomond and the fun starts The A9 to inverness isnt particularly dull but its nothing like as good as the a82 route to get you there. That said the a9 would be a hell of a lot quicker if thats an issue, and last time I was up there were at least 3 cars in the process of having their details taken. 
on its own[quote=hemibum]The only part I would strongly disagree with is the A9 Edinburgh - Inverness.
1: Speed camera'd to hell.
2: Not very scenic anyway.
quote]Once you get past Perth there is only 3 cameras the last being the hidden one behind the sign at Dunkeld & Birnam and as for the scenery the views on the way over the Drumochter pass are stunning. Generally there is very little police on the road until you get past Aviemore and at this point its less than 30 miles to Inverness.
When you reach Inverness take the Beauly road and come through Dingwall instead of the A9 its a nice detour. You join the A9 again at the north end of the cromarty firth bridge, continue for about 5 miles and then turn off at the Skiach service station and take the stunning Struie road to Ardgay/Bonar Bridge and come up the North end of the Dornoch Firth rejoining the A9 at Clashmore just before Dornoch
1: Speed camera'd to hell.
2: Not very scenic anyway.
quote]Once you get past Perth there is only 3 cameras the last being the hidden one behind the sign at Dunkeld & Birnam and as for the scenery the views on the way over the Drumochter pass are stunning. Generally there is very little police on the road until you get past Aviemore and at this point its less than 30 miles to Inverness.
When you reach Inverness take the Beauly road and come through Dingwall instead of the A9 its a nice detour. You join the A9 again at the north end of the cromarty firth bridge, continue for about 5 miles and then turn off at the Skiach service station and take the stunning Struie road to Ardgay/Bonar Bridge and come up the North end of the Dornoch Firth rejoining the A9 at Clashmore just before Dornoch
craig2003 said:
quote]Once you get past Perth there is only 3 cameras the last being the hidden one behind the sign at Dunkeld & Birnam and as for the scenery the views on the way over the Drumochter pass are stunning. Generally there is very little police on the road until you get past Aviemore and at this point its less than 30 miles to Inverness.
But watch for the Scamera van which is often to be found between Drumochter and Aviemore 
Anyone planning this from Edinburgh don't take the A9.
From Edinburgh head to Stirling along the M9 then head through GlenCoe on the A82 and make your way towards Skye then to Ullapool (7 hours roughly)
From Ullapool follow the West coast road towards Durness then along the North of Scotland to Wick and John o Groats.(6 odd hours but faaaar better scenery)
Sorry don't know the actual road names.
From Edinburgh head to Stirling along the M9 then head through GlenCoe on the A82 and make your way towards Skye then to Ullapool (7 hours roughly)
From Ullapool follow the West coast road towards Durness then along the North of Scotland to Wick and John o Groats.(6 odd hours but faaaar better scenery)
Sorry don't know the actual road names.
A thread from the past! If you are going to go that far north, go to Dunnet Head as well since thats actually the most Northern point. There's also plenty of other tourist stuff up there - Duncansby Stacks or other coastline, Mey Castle, plenty of Cairns etc. Roads up around Durness are single track. If you want to do Ullapool/Durness you'll need to stay overnight somewhere. You'll never do Edinburgh->A82 etc->Thurso and back in a day.
Up the A9 Edinburgh to Thurso will take you 5 hours without stopping, and the A82 is definitely far superior than the A9 up to Inverness if you're on holiday.
Up the A9 Edinburgh to Thurso will take you 5 hours without stopping, and the A82 is definitely far superior than the A9 up to Inverness if you're on holiday.
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