Road Trip - Scotland - any thoughts?

[PMacanGTS]

I'm planning a road trip to Scotland for late Spring. Here's the first draft of the itinerary. I would appreciate any feedback on the routes etc.

Day 1
A660 Leeds to Otley
A65 Otley to Ingleton
B6255 Ingleton to Hawes
A684 Hawes to Killington Lak
M6 Killington Lake to Carlisle via Penrith
M74 Carlisle to Glasgow


Day 2
M8 Glasgow to Dumbarton
A82 Dumbarton to Fort William


Day 3
A82 Fort William to Fort Augustus
B862 Fort Augustus to Inverness
A862/A832/A835 Inverness to Gorstan
A832/B8056 Gorstan to Shieldaig


Day 4
B8056/A832 Shieldaig to Ullapool
A835 Ullapool to Ledmore
A837 Ledmore to Lochinver
A837 Lochinver to Ardvreck Castle
A894 Ardvreck Castle to Laxford Bridge
A838 Laxford Bridge to Durness


Day 5
A838 Durness to Tongue
A836 Tongue to Bonar Bridge
A836/B9176 Bonar Bridge to Alness
A9 Alness to Daviot
B9154/A9/A938 Daviot to Grantown-on-Spey


Day 6
A939/B976 Grantown-on-Spey to Crathie
A93 Crathie to Bridge of Cally
A924 Bridge of Cally to Pitlochry
A9/A827 Pitlochry to Killin
A85 Killin to Crieff


Day 7
A822/A823 Crieff to Dunfermline
A90 Dunfermline to Edinburgh
A68 Edinburgh to Corbridge


Day 8
A69/A686 Corbridge to Alston
B6277 Alston to Barnard Castle
A66/A1/M1 Barnard Castle to Leeds



Thanks

[PMacanGTS]

Lotobear said:

You really should try to miss out Killington lake and M6 on day 1 and do Ingelton, Hawes, Kirby Stephen, Brough, Middleton in Teesdale, Alston, Hartside, Penrith then back to M6 (or A6 is better) up to Carlisle. It's a detour but I guarantee you will be rewarded.

Even better continue from Alston to Haydon Bridge and then hack across country via Keilder, Newcastleton and the borders (or A69 to Carlisle if you're pushed for time) then on to Glasgow.

Brough to Middleton and on to Haydon Bridge is a truly epic drive through some stunning upland wilderness

PS: sorry, i've just read on and see you're incorporating some of this into the return leg!

Thanks, it might be better to do it on the outward leg, I'll give it some thought.

[PMacanGTS]

That’s great, many thanks. It’ll be my first road trip to Scotland, so that’s exactly the kind of advice I was after.

[PMacanGTS]

coppice said:

I have written a short guide to Scottish trips which quite a few people have found helpful. I first drove up to the far north west in '83 and have returned many times since - drop me a pm if you'd like a copy.

That would be ideal, thanks. I'll send a pm.

[PMacanGTS]

Thanks again to all. Some more great advice. And yes, you were right, I planned a stop at Shieldaig Lodge at the end of day 3.

The plan is being revised, and it's shaping up nicely I think.

[PMacanGTS]

Here's a revised plan. Again, any thoughts and feedback would be appreciated.

Day 1
https://goo.gl/maps/BaHcbrz6ByD2

Day 2
https://goo.gl/maps/JDiWUdpgTfn

Day 3
https://goo.gl/maps/yVUc9BJH7Ls

Day 4
https://goo.gl/maps/Mvf8FLSSwov

Day 5
https://goo.gl/maps/eyfPEpJ4wM52

Day 6
https://goo.gl/maps/dJvzBKN3WB22

Day 7
https://goo.gl/maps/rVw5kyZEJVQ2

Day 8
https://goo.gl/maps/4z1h3eXP7to

Thanks

[PMacanGTS]

Thanks again, I've revised the route to include the coastal route from Applecross. Your photos are incredible by the way, I can't wait to see some of those landscapes in person.

[PMacanGTS]

Red Devil said:

For your consideration. I would recommend 'driving' them using Google Street View.
It will help you decide whether they 'fit the profile' of your trip. I like 'em. YMMV.

Day 2
Alternative route to Tarbet - https://goo.gl/maps/aNmPiFZ3rbu
Take this turning onto the A817 Haul Road to Garelochhead - https://goo.gl/maps/heke1w7Wycw
At the roundabout turn right onto the A814 along Loch Long to Arrochar. Then the A83 to Tarbet.
The A82 can get pretty busy. There is an awkward TOTSO in Tarbet which can cause tailbacks.
Approaching from the A83 you have priority and the left turn is a lot easier.

Day 3
As GC said, definitely go from Applecross to Shieldaig via the coast road - https://goo.gl/maps/19GgCPMgbW72
Stop at the layby here (scroll through 360° for why) - https://goo.gl/maps/JQmn9ZvH4KM2
Several more places further on including GC's first pic.

Day 4
Alternative route to Lochinver - https://goo.gl/maps/BqKSzuaFN6B2
Look for this sign. In spring the gorse on the first] section past the lochs is a blaze of colour.

Alternative route after Lochinver - https://goo.gl/maps/evV5VPQoKdU2
The B869 is narrow and quite challenging in places: it's not everyone's cup of tea.
Some parts seem impossibly remote: the road is like a ribbon draped over the terrain.

You could even do both if you fancy it, but it would omit Ardvreck Castle.

Day 6
Decided against the B950 short cut? And Kenmore to Crieff via Auchnacloich?

Day 7
Sightseeing in Edinburgh? Can't think of any other reason to go that way.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g186525-c179510...
Don't know if it has changed much in the last couple of years.

Have you decided on your dates yet?

Thanks again. Good advice on the street map, as I'm probably going to find the likes of the B869 too narrow and potentially nerve-wracking.

As regards Edinburgh, I think I'll try and avoid as I wasn't planning on stopping anyway.

As regards dates, nothing firm as yet. I want to wait until the weather at least has a chance of being decent. I want to avoid crowds too, so no bank/school holidays etc. So early May might be the best time? Any recommendations?

[PMacanGTS]

Thanks again to all the above. I’m going to look at March or April, as I didn’t want to wait until May if I could get away sooner.

I think the route planning is just about there. But do you have any advice/tips for a first time road trip of this nature, such as essential kit etc.?

Thanks

[PMacanGTS]

coppice said:

All you need is a road atlas - really - it is far more interesting plotting routes that way and (critically)being able to identify what that funny shaped mountain near Lochinver is called so forget sat nav , especially as there so few roads in NW Scotland . Pair of binoculars to verify that the big bird you can see is really an eagle . Waterproofs etc and that's it- don't treat it just as a drive, there is so much more to the adventure than just sitting in the car . And talk to people- everybody north of the Gt Glen seems borderline bonkers , but in the best of ways ... .

Thanks. I'm looking forward to meeting the locals.