Off to Scotland
Discussion
In terms of driving I really enjoyed taking the A9 from Inverness up to Thurso, then going left right round and down the West coast on the A836/A832/A87 etc (all the way back to Glasgow).
We stopped in Durness, here you could take the A838/A894/A837/A835 down to Ullapool and follow the same road back across to Inverness. In truth though just make sure you have plenty of fuel and go where your nose takes you, it can be a staggeringly bleak and dramatic landscape at the time of year you're going, and there's a decent chance you'll encounter some snow.
edit: apologies it's been a few years and i missed out a few important roads/route steps. don't take my word for it plan your route carefully!
We stopped in Durness, here you could take the A838/A894/A837/A835 down to Ullapool and follow the same road back across to Inverness. In truth though just make sure you have plenty of fuel and go where your nose takes you, it can be a staggeringly bleak and dramatic landscape at the time of year you're going, and there's a decent chance you'll encounter some snow.
edit: apologies it's been a few years and i missed out a few important roads/route steps. don't take my word for it plan your route carefully!
Edited by weezb on Tuesday 21st September 19:46
I've been using this as a guide for my trip next year:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
...and of course...
http://www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
...and of course...
http://www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm
All the roads up there are good - although I'd stay to the west- the A9 is a terrible road - if I were you I wouldn't miss the chance of the A87 over to Eilean Donan Castle. Further south from Loch Ness on the A82 is good - Fort Augustus is a decent stop for lunch, Fort William to Ballachulish isn't the best, but from Ballachulish through GlenCoe down to the Green Welly in Tarbet is fantastic - home of the legendary 22 car overtake due to the massive straights and great visibility. From there the A85 out to Oban and then back north to get back onto the A82.
The of course there is the North-west.....the scenery round Steve Carter's "loop" past Applecross is fantastic - but can be a long, tough drive on single-track roads...challenging and frustrating, not really a great drive, but a great experience.
The A835 from Inverness to Ullapool is a good blast - nice tarmac, sweeping bends etc.
North of Ullapool can be mixed, but the A894 up towards Unapool is great - stop at the Kylescu Hotel for the great seafood and the most idillic spot.
Stay away from Inverness and the A9 and its all brilliant...
The of course there is the North-west.....the scenery round Steve Carter's "loop" past Applecross is fantastic - but can be a long, tough drive on single-track roads...challenging and frustrating, not really a great drive, but a great experience.
The A835 from Inverness to Ullapool is a good blast - nice tarmac, sweeping bends etc.
North of Ullapool can be mixed, but the A894 up towards Unapool is great - stop at the Kylescu Hotel for the great seafood and the most idillic spot.
Stay away from Inverness and the A9 and its all brilliant...
The A82 around Loch Ness is great. From Loch Lomond to Fort William is very open and fast with amazing views, after Fort William it gets tight and twisty and more fun depending on car choice.
If heading north up the A82 turn left (west) to Oban on the A85. Little hiddem gem of a road. Also A830 to Malaig and the A87 to Skye. If you get the chance a blast around Skye is well worth it.
If you can then go to Inverness, then head to Ullapool which is good roads, especially nearer the west and there are some great photo spots along the way. The entry to Ullapool is always a wonderful sight. If time allows then head from Ullapool to the Falls of Shin (Harrods little shop there and leaping Salmon) along the route here: Clicky
Enjoy
If heading north up the A82 turn left (west) to Oban on the A85. Little hiddem gem of a road. Also A830 to Malaig and the A87 to Skye. If you get the chance a blast around Skye is well worth it.
If you can then go to Inverness, then head to Ullapool which is good roads, especially nearer the west and there are some great photo spots along the way. The entry to Ullapool is always a wonderful sight. If time allows then head from Ullapool to the Falls of Shin (Harrods little shop there and leaping Salmon) along the route here: Clicky
Enjoy
It might be a bit out of your way but the A82 south of Fort William through Glen Coe is an awesome road, although it's very dependant on the weather as you'll miss out on the scenery if it's really bad.
I agree with the sentiments about the A9. It's a dire road, it carries a lot of HGV traffic and is largely single carrigeway. I used it this April when my g/f and I took a daytrip to Inverness. We joined it just north of Perth at around 7.00am on a weekeday morning and it was just slow as hell.
I agree with the sentiments about the A9. It's a dire road, it carries a lot of HGV traffic and is largely single carrigeway. I used it this April when my g/f and I took a daytrip to Inverness. We joined it just north of Perth at around 7.00am on a weekeday morning and it was just slow as hell.
just to add when I go over to skye I make sure I go on the A830 Fort William to Mallaig and then jump on the ferry to Skye. That road is awesome for driving and the scenery is fantastic. First few miles outside fort william is a bit straight and boring but be patient and then you have about 30 miles of 
then come back to the mainland on the A87 as mentioned by others
Eta: if you get up to ullapool then go up the A835 but take the long way round using the A832 loop from just south of Ullapool and then follow it round and it'll join the A835. we used this on a motorbike trip as it was awesome (and v.quiet)
then come back to the mainland on the A87 as mentioned by others
Eta: if you get up to ullapool then go up the A835 but take the long way round using the A832 loop from just south of Ullapool and then follow it round and it'll join the A835. we used this on a motorbike trip as it was awesome (and v.quiet)
Edited by PKLD on Wednesday 22 September 20:33
If you live in southern england then to be honest you are going to be hard pressed to find a bad road when you come up to scotland
One tip however is when you find a petrol station, any petrol station fill-up as there is very few up north
And you must go to applecross and pop into the potting shed
One tip however is when you find a petrol station, any petrol station fill-up as there is very few up north
And you must go to applecross and pop into the potting shed
Hello OP..
I'm local to this area. Have been for my entire driving career.
The roads mentioned by others are good, but very busy most of the time with idiots on pushbikes/motorbikes/cars doing about 40mph. Hit these routes in evening if possible as they are mostly arterial routes for ways in/ ways out of the Highlands.
A few of tips on road mannerism here:
- DON'T speed through the villages, Police will crucify you. If it says 30, do 30 on the damn needle. Police are basically blind to speeding outside of villages - Help keep it this way by behaving while in them. (Speed camera vans sit all over the A82 & A9 Evenings are OK.)
- Some locals drive very fast - if you get a flash from behind, let them pass. If you get a quick flash while passing it means 'Pull in' not 'f
k you'. Dont be surprised if things appear in your rear view. (e.g - Motorbikes slow us down here, we're always moaning about it)
- If people flick nearside indicator while you're behind them, it means it's ok to pass.
- If they flick both, it means 'Thanks'
As for driving roads:
I suggest hitting the A831 (Turn off at Drumnadrochit instead of going to Inverness) this will take you on a very good road indeed. This road will be empty. You will come out at a place called Beauly - from here you head back to Drum'. This road will test you, it's bloody brilliant. If it's raining, even moreso.
If you want a really good trip for your Evo, Goto Fort Augustus and take 'The back road' to Inverness. This road is single track mostly. Its the main route we use to get to Inverness to avoid the dummies on the A82. This road is called the B852. Do not drive this road is you're half asleep - Locals on this road come in 2 kinds - Very very old, or Very fking fast. Take a camera also. Go by Falls of Foyers.
Finally, if you'd like to strech your legs locally. Goto Invergarry (turn off onto the A87) and put your foot DOWN. 13 miles later you turn back on yourself and head down the A887 (read: Autobhan) back onto the A82, 6 miles later, You're back in Fort Augustus.
Enjoy your holiday - I'll give you a wave if I see you about
Oh - Dont fill up in Fort Augustus - Dirty fuel there. Invergarry is your best bet. Drum is OK too. Super is available in Inverness and BP Ultimate in Fort William.
Stay safe and enjoy your time here - I'll give you flash if you're holding me up. Hehe.
Cheers.
P.S - The road signs don't have bullet holes in them for nothing, behave yourself
ETA: Took away paragraph that nmade no sense, and to say Applecross is good for picture-taking only, for driving, its crap - even the single track bit going round the coast.
I'm local to this area. Have been for my entire driving career.
The roads mentioned by others are good, but very busy most of the time with idiots on pushbikes/motorbikes/cars doing about 40mph. Hit these routes in evening if possible as they are mostly arterial routes for ways in/ ways out of the Highlands.
A few of tips on road mannerism here:
- DON'T speed through the villages, Police will crucify you. If it says 30, do 30 on the damn needle. Police are basically blind to speeding outside of villages - Help keep it this way by behaving while in them. (Speed camera vans sit all over the A82 & A9 Evenings are OK.)
- Some locals drive very fast - if you get a flash from behind, let them pass. If you get a quick flash while passing it means 'Pull in' not 'f
k you'. Dont be surprised if things appear in your rear view. (e.g - Motorbikes slow us down here, we're always moaning about it)- If people flick nearside indicator while you're behind them, it means it's ok to pass.
- If they flick both, it means 'Thanks'
As for driving roads:
I suggest hitting the A831 (Turn off at Drumnadrochit instead of going to Inverness) this will take you on a very good road indeed. This road will be empty. You will come out at a place called Beauly - from here you head back to Drum'. This road will test you, it's bloody brilliant. If it's raining, even moreso.
If you want a really good trip for your Evo, Goto Fort Augustus and take 'The back road' to Inverness. This road is single track mostly. Its the main route we use to get to Inverness to avoid the dummies on the A82. This road is called the B852. Do not drive this road is you're half asleep - Locals on this road come in 2 kinds - Very very old, or Very f
king fast. Take a camera also. Go by Falls of Foyers.Finally, if you'd like to strech your legs locally. Goto Invergarry (turn off onto the A87) and put your foot DOWN. 13 miles later you turn back on yourself and head down the A887 (read: Autobhan) back onto the A82, 6 miles later, You're back in Fort Augustus.
Enjoy your holiday - I'll give you a wave if I see you about
Oh - Dont fill up in Fort Augustus - Dirty fuel there. Invergarry is your best bet. Drum is OK too. Super is available in Inverness and BP Ultimate in Fort William.
Stay safe and enjoy your time here - I'll give you flash if you're holding me up. Hehe.
Cheers.
P.S - The road signs don't have bullet holes in them for nothing, behave yourself
ETA: Took away paragraph that nmade no sense, and to say Applecross is good for picture-taking only, for driving, its crap - even the single track bit going round the coast.
Edited by WaspsNest on Wednesday 22 September 22:43
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