So, I'm thinking of driving around Scotland, where should I go?

AtomicBanana

AtomicBanana

AtomicBanana

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My friend and I have decided we'd like to take our hair dressers cars touring around some Scottish high lands.

Flicking through an old Evo magazine, they suggest some routes around the Fort William/Durness area. Has anyone from here done anything similar? If so, what's roads should we seek out/avoid, and where's good to stay?

A quick search didn't turn up anything specific, apologies if I missed it.
 
Avoid the tourist routes, although the season's drawing to a close now (Scottish schools go back next week). The A82 up Loch Lomondside can be a nightmare at the weekend if the sun's out.

There are some interesting routes around there though - the A817 from Loch Lomond to Garelochead was originally built as a temporary construction road for the sub bases at Faslane & Coulport but has been upgraded and left as a permanent road. Since it was meant to be temporary it takes the direct route rather than a smooth one so lots of interesting dips and corners. From Garelochead up to Arrochar on the A814 is a classic Scottish road - narrow, winding with a cliff on one side and a deep loch on the other.

If you want to see what they're like go find the old Top Gear Impreza v Evo road test.
 
My suggestion would be Glasgow to Oban (via Crianlarich), Fort William/Corran Ferry to Ardnamurchan, Mallaig to Skye (ferry) Skye to Durness then back down via Thurso, Wick, Dornoch etc.

That is a **** load of driving though and you have to be well prepared when going through Caithness & Sutherland as there's not many petrol stations in that neck of the woods!

It largely depends on how many days you can spare, bearing in mind it could take you roughly 6/7hrs to get to the likes of Durness from Glasgow/Edinburgh.

EDIT: also meant to say I'm sure one of the biking magazine's did a guide on Scottish routes. Have a search for that.
 
Thanks guys, you deliver as always.

That is a **** load of driving though and you have to be well prepared when going through Caithness & Sutherland as there's not many petrol stations in that neck of the woods!
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Yeah, I've heard this from other sources too. It is a concern as realistically I don't get much more than 200 miles out of a tank in the mx5. We'll be taking sizable fuel cans with us I think!

Also, I think you've reminded there was a feature in a recent 'Bike' magazine that I'll dig up too (I subscribe). Realistically I think we have about 4 or 5 days, and we'll be starting from Milton Keynes . . .

Can you recommend anywhere to stay/eat? We're not totally averse to camping but it'd be nice if we could stay somewhere reasonable, literally just to sleep.

From Garelochead up to Arrochar on the A814 is a classic Scottish road
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That looks ace! Will certainly give that a go, and find the top gear footage later today. Thanks for the suggestions.
 
Steve Carter's web site is good:

http://www.stevecarter.com/ansh/driving.htm

The Applecross Pass is a must!

http://www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm

I've done a good chunk of that in a single day in my Scooby, was over 400 miles and no sign of a motorway :D Route was something like

Start in Ballachulish - I stayed here
Up the A82 to Invergarry, then the A87 - quick stop for photo's at Eilean Donan Castle is essential
Right onto the A890 up to Stromeferry
After Strathcarron, left onto the A896 past Lochcarron
Up and over the Applecross Pass and all the way round the Peninsula
Back onto the A896 at Shieldaig and follow that through to Kinlochewe
Left on to the A832 and keeeeeep going, eventually meeting up with the A835
Up to Ullapool for lunch. It used to be a Shell in Ullapool with SUL/Optimax.
A835 north out of Ullapool, then right at the A837.
Across to the A9, cruise down to Inverness and back along the A82 to the start

Agreed a fuel can or two in the boot is sensible - at one point on my route I burnt half a tank in 50 miles :D
 
If you're near Fort William/Invergarry try a trip down past Tomdoun to Kinloch Hourn. It's an amazing drive particularly the last few miles as it zigzags down the hill at about 1 in 5, dead end road so you have to return the way you came.

There's not much there just a few cottages but well worth it for the views.

Applecross & the Bealach definitely +1 but not for the faint hearted and make sure your car, clutch and reflexes are at the top of their game before attempting the passage.

Another road which I only travelled once but found quite surreal (and narrow!) is the minor road that strikes west/north off the A836 north of Altnaharra past Loch Hope coming out at Hope on the North Coast/A838. Think this must get an award for the loneliest road in Britain (thinks of title for new thread...).
 
So, I actually did this. In the end my car wasn't ready and I shared my mates.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27565187@N05/3871550621/sizes/l/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27565187@N05/3871545477/sizes/l/in/photostream/

It was totally worth it. I'll post up a better report when I get home, I just keep forgetting to post anything from the trip.

Made a little mistake near the end of the applecross pass as well ;)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27565187@N05/3871568775/sizes/l/in/photostream/
 
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