Applecross pass closed late summer (West Highlands)
Discussion
I know a lot of people from here organise 'blats' over the Bealach to Applecross (West Highlands of Scotland). I have just found out that the road will be closed for 8 weeks from "the end of August" for repair work. Access to Applecross will still be available via the coast road, but the loop will not be possible.
Damn - that's a real shame as I was planning a return to Applecross in september. In my opinion, the coastal road is even better, but I don't like doubling back on myself when on a road trip!! Also, if everyone has to go that way, I might see 10 cars an hour, instead of the 2-3 I saw last year!
Steve,
I've seen some of your Aston & West Scotland pictures, they are truly stunning. Mine is black just as yours was, except i've got grey calipers!
What is the issue with using the Aston on that route ?
Never been to Skye before even though I lived in Scotland for 20yrs so was also considering a loop of Skye up the East side thru Portree and then down the west side via Struan and Dynoch.
Is this worth it?
Cheers
John
I've seen some of your Aston & West Scotland pictures, they are truly stunning. Mine is black just as yours was, except i've got grey calipers!
What is the issue with using the Aston on that route ?
Never been to Skye before even though I lived in Scotland for 20yrs so was also considering a loop of Skye up the East side thru Portree and then down the west side via Struan and Dynoch.
Is this worth it?
Cheers
John
Skye... well for driving it's a bit rubbish. It's quite pretty in the west, and the north, and the Cuillin Hills are great, but the big chunck in the middle has no trees and 4 million B&Bs.
The road to Applecross is fine in an Aston, but it's all single track, very twisty and (as you know) the Atson eats up smooth fast roads - but isn't totally suited to dodgy single track stuff with bumps.
There are however some epic roads around here for a V8 - Achnasheen Kinlochewe and up to Gairloch is fab, and Achnasheen Locharron is quick (as in really quick). Also the Skye road from Fort Augustus past Donan Castle is a stunning drive.
For views, north of Glen Coe, you don't get much better than Torridon, so worth doing the Applecross run just for that.
Steve
The road to Applecross is fine in an Aston, but it's all single track, very twisty and (as you know) the Atson eats up smooth fast roads - but isn't totally suited to dodgy single track stuff with bumps.
There are however some epic roads around here for a V8 - Achnasheen Kinlochewe and up to Gairloch is fab, and Achnasheen Locharron is quick (as in really quick). Also the Skye road from Fort Augustus past Donan Castle is a stunning drive.
For views, north of Glen Coe, you don't get much better than Torridon, so worth doing the Applecross run just for that.
Steve
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 20th April 13:44
Route all sorted, 750miles of driving nirvana up the West coast and then through the Hilgnads back towards Inverness and to my parents in Carnoustie via Ballater, Braemar and Glennshee 
Forecast looks a bit ropey but nevermind it can change in the blink of an eye.
GetCarter, will be passing Shieldaig about 2pm on Thursday 29th on the way to Ullapool.
Cheers
John
Forecast looks a bit ropey but nevermind it can change in the blink of an eye.
GetCarter, will be passing Shieldaig about 2pm on Thursday 29th on the way to Ullapool.
Cheers
John
993Targa said:
Route all sorted, 750miles of driving nirvana up the West coast and then through the Hilgnads back towards Inverness and to my parents in Carnoustie via Ballater, Braemar and Glennshee
Forecast looks a bit ropey but nevermind it can change in the blink of an eye.
GetCarter, will be passing Shieldaig about 2pm on Thursday 29th on the way to Ullapool.
Cheers
John
Hi John,Forecast looks a bit ropey but nevermind it can change in the blink of an eye.
GetCarter, will be passing Shieldaig about 2pm on Thursday 29th on the way to Ullapool.
Cheers
John
There are 18 of us doing the same route (also including the northcoast at Durness) in May. I also checked the long range forecast last night and "ropey" is a bit of an understatement - many of the sites I looked at were predicting a much wetter and colder May than average. Oh well, can't do anything about it now! Only good thing is that I'll be in one of the cars and not one of the 8 guys coming with us on their motorbikes...
Have a good trip, let us know how you get on.
Cheers,
Longers
Spooky... but I heard today:
They know nothing! They say that they will start work 11th Oct, but that they have not accepted any tenders yet, so it might not start on Oct 11th (!) Nice to know they are on the case.
Feel free to e mail me around that time as I will know. I'll add a post here if they find their elbow from their ar5e
Meanwhile, (as I'm sure you know) you can also get to Applecross via the Shieldaig Coast Road.
They know nothing! They say that they will start work 11th Oct, but that they have not accepted any tenders yet, so it might not start on Oct 11th (!) Nice to know they are on the case.
Feel free to e mail me around that time as I will know. I'll add a post here if they find their elbow from their ar5e
Meanwhile, (as I'm sure you know) you can also get to Applecross via the Shieldaig Coast Road.
GetCarter said:
They say that they will start work 11th Oct, but that they have not accepted any tenders yet, so it might not start on Oct 11th (!) Nice to know they are on the case.
Ah. So if it does start on the 11th the pass will be closed when I was planning to head up on the week of the 25th October? That's a bit of a pain. Might look at staying elsewhere as we've yet to book anything.Well they SAY they are starting then (two weeks today) but they STILL haven't found a company to do it! Personally I don't think anything will happen until spring now as bad weather up there in winter will stop all 'finish early bonuses'.
Bear in mind that if you are staying in Applecross the coast road is only 30 mins longer from Lochcarron and almost identical time from Shieldaig.
If you are staying up here the Torridon Inn is well worth a look (next to the posh hotel, which is great). www.Torridon.com
Bear in mind that if you are staying in Applecross the coast road is only 30 mins longer from Lochcarron and almost identical time from Shieldaig.
If you are staying up here the Torridon Inn is well worth a look (next to the posh hotel, which is great). www.Torridon.com
Edited by GetCarter on Monday 27th September 12:38
GetCarter said:
If you are staying up here the Torridon Inn is well worth a look (next to the posh hotel, which is great). www.Torridon.com
Scottish Pub of The Year and a resident real ale festival. Hmm, that could be a possibility!Hi, read this post and thought the worst. Myself and a friend are taking our Clio RS200's up there next Thursday and Friday. Looks like it will still be open which is good as neither of us has driven that road. Stopping overnight in Ullapool then up to Durness then back the scenic way to Fife. Hope the weather isn't too wet!
OK... latest news.
It looks like the Bealach work *will* start Oct 11th...and is due to finish Nov 17th (though it may well not take that long). They are closing a 2 mile stretch half way up the bealach itself on the east side (the fun bit). So you will not be able to do the loop, or get to the top this way.
You will be able to get to the top by going via Applecross
If you want to go to Applecross, the only way is via the coast road (Shieldaig, Kenmore, etc)
If they bottle out at the last moment, I'll post here.
It looks like the Bealach work *will* start Oct 11th...and is due to finish Nov 17th (though it may well not take that long). They are closing a 2 mile stretch half way up the bealach itself on the east side (the fun bit). So you will not be able to do the loop, or get to the top this way.
You will be able to get to the top by going via Applecross
If you want to go to Applecross, the only way is via the coast road (Shieldaig, Kenmore, etc)
If they bottle out at the last moment, I'll post here.
Many thanks for updating this, I've been keeping a keen eye as I'm up on a 4 days tour of the west coast this weekend with two friends. Was planning lunch at Applecross Inn, still might take the long way round depending on how we're doing for time but not as exciting as going over the bealach. On the positive side I'm very much looking forward to my first visit to the Torridon hotel which has been a plan for many moons since I think I first read about it and saw the pics of it on your house build blog. So thanks for the recommendation on that, I have a feeling it will be a most enjoyable experience.
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