Scotland trip - first adventure, any help most appreciated!

[Sagbrit]

Off to Scotland in early June with 3 cars and 1 bike, looking for recommendations on accommodation (with secure car park) and any best routes. Overnights will be Crianlarich, Skye, Tomintoul, Lockerbie. Can be flexible though as these are first thoughts, if there's a great pub then happy to travel.

Day 1
Manchester to Crianlarich area - read that the A82 along Loch Lomond is good drive but busy

Day 2
Crianlarich to Skye (via Mallaig) - read this is one of Top 10 drives in Scotland. Any recommendations for best roads on Skye?

Day 3
Skye to Tomintoul (via Applecross). - any recommendations on that route for good roads?

Day 4
Exploring Cairngorms and travel south avoiding the busy roads ideally. Possible places to stay on A74 route home, Lockerbie/Gretna Green?

Day 5
Heading home.

Thanks guys, any recommendations for accomm and roads hugely appreciated for this newbie to Scotland!

Cheers
Chris

[Sagbrit]

Thanks gents, that's most appreciated. I will adjust our plans to take in some of those roads to get off the beaten track.

Just one other question, is the ferry from Mallaig to Skye pretty reliable? I appreciate if it's blowing a gale then we should avoid but I don't want to head from Fort William to Mallaig to then learn that ferries not running and then we have to make our way back..

I've read that it's a great drive to Mallaig but then so is Fort William to Skye via Fort Augustus. Any thoughts most appreciated.

[Sagbrit]

Thanks, great to know that both routes are good options. I've read somewhere on here that the guys on the ferry are used to loading low slung cars so hopefully we can get on and off with splitters still intact!

[Sagbrit]

Stunning photos and useful route recommendations guys. Really appreciated, wish I could just drive there now!

I'm looking at accommodation this weekend. Will try to find places near water as nothing like a morning brew with a view. Trying to stick within a budget so nothing too fancy.

Looking at Inveraray, Portree (any good pubs/B&Bs people can recommend for Skye?), and Tomintoul.

My thinking is to stick to roughly 200/250 miles a day to allow for traffic/photo taking/coffee!

I have a feeling this will be the first trip to Scotland of many...

[Sagbrit]

Have booked all the accom, you were right there's a lot already taken. Portree is packed out, managed to get some great deals..av price around £40 each per night. Now we just need the weather.

Thanks for all your tips chaps

[Sagbrit]

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Red Devil, thanks for your route suggestions for our recent road trip to Scotland. Inveraray was excellent, The George pub was rockin with great whisky and a live band :-)

Fort William to Mallaig was a blast and the route around the Northern end of Skye great fun.

Staffin to Tomintoul via Applecross was mile after mile of ribbon roads. The best roads I've ever driven with stunning views. Thanks again, we will be back!

[Sagbrit]

[Sagbrit]

[Sagbrit]

[Sagbrit]

[Sagbrit]

Scotland does breakfast!!