A82, scottish highlands help

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 3 Oct 2018 at 12:41

Hi,

Hopefully some of our Scots can help me out on this one.
In just under a year my other half is doing a 2 day run/bike/paddle rat race coast to coast event.

Its starts in Inverness, day 1 finishes around fort augustus, and day 2 around fort william.

We will be driving up on the Friday to stay at Inverness.
Then we hit the tricky part, there isn't that much seemingly around fort augustus, neither of us fancy a tent much (can pay to camp) so looking at options.

I was wondering about getting something sort of North of Glasgow/stirling, so day 1 at the end I would pick her up and drive her down there, stay in a half decent hotel. Day 2 drive her back to Augustus, and then again collect at Fort William to drive down to stay in same place in Glasgow, then travel home on the Monday.

The real crux is how good is the A82, as I wont want to be having to allow massive time to travel on the day 2 morning, if the road is really busy then I would probably try to find something more mid point for day 1 night and then travel somewhere else on the day 2 night for the stop before driving home on the Monday.

Any suggestions for places to stay above comments on the road itself, highly appreciated!

dod · 3 Oct 2018 at 12:47

You'd be better staying in Inverness and commuting from there. Loads better, about an hour Inverness to Fort Augustus, minimum of three to glasgow.

Roland Butter · 3 Oct 2018 at 12:55

Plenty of hotels and BBs in the Fort Augustus/Fort William area, Inverness to Fort William is only 66 miles, a 90 minute drive at best.

The A82 is fairly fast , but obviously the obligatory roadworks will slow slow things down, plus the canal bridges might have queues.

touch · 3 Oct 2018 at 13:00

Roland Butter said:
The A82 is fairly fast

I dont agree. Along the side of Loch Ness there are limited overtaking opportunities and it's common to get stuck behind caravans/campervans or just tourists driving slow.
In my experience, it takes nearer 2 hours to get from Inverness to Ft William but over the summer when it's busier can easily take over 2.5 hours.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 3 Oct 2018 at 13:00

Thanks, actually there are some half dcent places around augustus it seems. Was trying to avoid 3 nights switching but it seems its practically inevitable, so we may as well stay close to Augustus and drive to somewhere around Glasgow after the event.
ready to drive home on the Monday.

Thanks guys, if the A82 is fairly fast then I think i will just stay in the middle somewhere.

Now I need to plan assortde tea shops etc for me. I will have lots of time to kill myself as its probably 6-8 hours a day she will be involved in the event

dod · 3 Oct 2018 at 13:08

touch said:
I dont agree. Along the side of Loch Ness there are limited overtaking opportunities and it's common to get stuck behind caravans/campervans or just tourists driving slow.
In my experience, it takes nearer 2 hours to get from Inverness to Ft William but over the summer when it's busier can easily take over 2.5 hours.

Agreed, I make that drive almost weekly, the A82 isn't quick unless you're very early or very late.

Roland Butter · 3 Oct 2018 at 13:15

touch said:
I dont agree. Along the side of Loch Ness there are limited overtaking opportunities and it's common to get stuck behind caravans/campervans or just tourists driving slow.
In my experience, it takes nearer 2 hours to get from Inverness to Ft William but over the summer when it's busier can easily take over 2.5 hours.

Sorry I meant it's quick enough for non aggressive drivers, tourists and drivers who are happy to go at the NSL for that road

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 3 Oct 2018 at 13:16

Thanks guys, staying near fort augustus it is. Last night less of an issue as I don't mind driving a bit south so Glasgow or Stirling or Edinburgh all options.

The_Abyss · 3 Oct 2018 at 14:05

Fantastic road to drive, even better to ride on a bike. You can overtake pretty much anywhere on the latter.

Abyss · 3 Oct 2018 at 14:23

What about hiring a motor-home for the weekend?

Something like this:
https://www.suffolkmotorhomerentals.co.uk/

Roland Butter · 3 Oct 2018 at 14:23

The_Abyss said:
Fantastic road to drive, even better to ride on a bike. You can overtake pretty much anywhere on the latter.

On the Tarbet to Crianlarich section there are still a few places that are narrow with a few even narrower bridges, for a country that relies
on tourism our transport infrastructure is pretty crap north of the central belt and with the A9 getting all the funds Scotland's alternative Gla-Inv trunk
road is starved of finance.

Rant over.

Street · 3 Oct 2018 at 14:41

Roland Butter said:
Sorry I meant it's quick enough for non aggressive drivers, tourists and drivers who are happy to go at the NSL for that road

I've been stuck behind people doing far far less than NSL and not been able to over take. Although I did go up late on a Friday night last winter to get a days climbing in and the road was empty all the way, the journey back took a lot longer though.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 3 Oct 2018 at 19:59

Abyss said:
What about hiring a motor-home for the weekend?

Something like this:
https://www.suffolkmotorhomerentals.co.uk/

Nice thought but 2 things, she wants to be able to soak in a bath after each day. Bearing in mind September and Scotland I can give her that one, and the drive OMG
I am debating taking my TT vs her X1 even because I don't want to have the 1000 miles or so in an X1, so that would be my worst nightmare!
Only issue is she has to take a bike which she hasn't purchased yet, some sort of cross thingy as its on and off road and you are only allowed one bike
I will not, on pain of death, allow a roof rack on the TT so its got to fit inside!

Quartz · 3 Oct 2018 at 20:15

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
Thanks guys, staying near fort augustus it is. Last night less of an issue as I don't mind driving a bit south so Glasgow or Stirling or Edinburgh all options.

Those are all a long way away. It's 100 miles from Aberdeen to Inverness, and 150 miles - over 3 hours - from Inverness to Edinburgh. And it's 109 miles or two and a half hours from Fort William to Glasgow. It's not motorway, either. And it might be raining or worse which could easily double your travel time. Do yourself and your lady a favour and stay locally.

iamdjdz · 4 Oct 2018 at 08:51

I actually stayed in a caravan park run by HoSeasons near fort Augustus in June. It was reasonably priced, immaculate and I believe it's open all year round. Think it was called Loch Ness Lodges.