The road to Orkney: A9 or other route?

[TR5tar]

Early in August I'll be heading up through Scotland to Scrabster, where I'll be catching the ferry to Orkney. For my sins, I'm getting married on the island.

I'll be picking up family members in Coatbridge on the Saturday evening at around 8pm I reckon and then driving as far as I can through the night, with the aim of reaching Scrabster for midday Sunday. I'll be taking breaks on route to sleep.

I've read some of the many threads on here about the A9, so I'm debating whether it's the best option for me. I can either go A9 Perth, Inverness, or I could go the A82 route, via Fort William. A82 looks more scenic (although most of it will be driven at night, so not that important), but according to Google the A9 option is faster.

Would be grateful for thoughts of those who regularly drive in that area.

Darren

[TR5tar]

Thanks Mon. I can see the logic, that it's best to opt for the quicker route. But, you raise an interesting point about the "boring" nature of the road. By the time I hit that road, I'll already have been driving about 6 hours, so tiredness is a concern. I'll be taking regular breaks along the way, and will pull over somewhere to sleep for several hours. I do wonder if a slightly more interesting road will help with concentration.

I've heard tell of those average speed cameras on the A9. Will have to be on my guard if I do take the A9.

Darren

Edited by TR5tar on Thursday 29th June 13:59

Edited by TR5tar on Thursday 29th June 17:58

[TR5tar]

Thanks for the advice all. A9 definitely seems to be the favourite option so far then.

I hadn't considered the other ferry options. You're right, it might have been better, but I'm already booked up now, so Scrabster it is. I've got reasonably good sea legs (at least I did have last time I was on water), but the wife to be suffers motion sickness quite badly, so she's not looking forward to that.

We both have an interest in Neolithic history, so Orkney is a very special place for us. We have been meaning to visit for years. We're not expecting great weather (wife to be has purchased bridal wellies), but I'm hoping it won't be too bad. But, if it is, then at least it'll be even more memorable.

Thanks too for the kind wishes.

Darren

P.S. That's a great photo Kiltie.

[TR5tar]

Thanks for the further detail Kiltie. I wondered if that was Skara Brae in the background of your first photo. I'll try to avoid going on the Tuesday as you suggest ... I'll leave it to the Wednesday (day before the wedding), and I'll try not to get arrested. After all, I wouldn't want to miss the stag night! I'm aiming to visit the two distilleries for that.

Thanks for the recommendation of the Dinning Pod. Looks interesting.

Hi Andrew, I'm on the ferry at about 1ish on the Sunday. I like to leave a good safety margin time wise, so if I stayed overnight in Coatbridge, I think I'd want to be on the road no later than about 5am. My concern would be that I wouldn't get to sleep very early the night before and so even if I stayed in a Travellodge type place, I'd only get 4 or 5 hours sleep there. And then there's the problem of getting the wife to be (and the others) moving in the morning. At least if we are all in the car, I only have to worry about getting myself going.

Thanks JM. I suspect I'll make a lot of use of the cruise control. I can't imagine the A9 will be very busy at the time I'll be on it on the Sunday morning, or is that wishful thinking?

[TR5tar]

Noted, thanks Sherman.

Another question, that hopefully someone here will be able to help with ... given that I aim to pull off the road to get some sleep somewhere along the A9, where's the best place to do that? I'm hoping to be able to get at least one hundred miles in after Coatbridge, so I don't have too much more to do in the morning. Are there plenty of laybys along the way, or perhaps somewhere else suitable?

Thanks, Darren

[TR5tar]

Great suggestions, thanks JM. Having looked on the map, The Ralia Cafe looks perfect, providing I can make it that far. It's the sort of distance I'd like to try for before getting some kip. If I'm too tired to push on that far, then the other options look good too.

Much appreciated.

Darren

[TR5tar]

Hi Kiltie,

I'll mark both options in the Satnav I think, so that if I'm very tired before reaching the Ralia I can pull over at the House of Bruar. Ideally I can reach the Ralia without stopping, because it looks like it might be a nice place for breakfast, if they open early enough on a Sunday. I'll have to play it by ear to some extent.

You've all been a brilliant help in the planning.

Darren

[TR5tar]

Hi Kiltie,

More fantastic photos there.

That does look very busy at Skara. Is the tour guided and do you only have a set amount of time? Looking at it I feel I'd want to spend several hours just getting a feel of the place, soaking up the atmosphere. That sounds a bit "hippie" doesn't it! But then, we are getting married in the Ring of Brodgar, so you shouldn't be surprised

It's the Stag do that I'm focusing on at the moment. I'm hoping that one of the distilleries might prove a good venue.

As usual I'm leaving everything until he last minute to arrange.

Darren

[TR5tar]

I appreciate the extra information, thanks Kiltie. I can see I've got a lot to pack in.

I think I might have found a place for the Stag do JM. That looks like a fantastic selection of single malts in that hotel. But can I risk it the night before the wedding?

[TR5tar]

I'll definitely post some picture Kiltie.

Thanks for the info Matchmaker. I try to keep my right foot under control, but I'm not always successful. It's useful to know where I need to be particularly watchful.

Darren

[TR5tar]

Thanks for the link Kiltie. No, I hadn't seen that news. What an incredible place Orkney is.

Good tip on the A822, PotatoSalad. I've had a look on Google maps and I'll take that road. As it'll be the middle of the night I guess I won't see much (unless the Northern Lights kindly put on a show for us), but a more interesting road might help keep me more alert. Does taking that road also avoid some of the average speed cameras?

As you might have read on my original post, I had thought about taken the A82 because it looks wonderful, but in the end the advice to take the quicker route won out. However, as I've not got any ferry deadline to meet on the way home and it'll be in daylight, that's the route I'll take. The Drovers Inn looks great.

Darren