The Not NC500 Scotland Trip

[Housey]

I suppose it depends on what you're in and if you get lucky with the timing of oncoming traffic but I have never really had too much of an issue with overtaking things up there. Multi-car overtakes are very often completely 'on' with a bit of forward visibility and good planning.

With walkie talkies across a group makes those easier. Leader calls the road.

 

[magicroundabout]

I'd advise you don't do a silly large convoy, both for your enjoyment and for the sake of everyone else driving in the NW Scotland area.

Some of the "must do roads" further North or hugging the coastline are not meant for large groups of cars nose to tail with the passing places being big enough for only a few cars.

Also, be wary as the roads up there can be unpredictable in terms of their state of repair.

I'd be doing the trip at short notice in the off season, when you can find a decent pocket of good weather. It's more beautiful, the roads will be empty and you won't have to deal with midges.

ah cheers for the info. What would you class as an off season there and when do the midges bugger off.

Maybe just me and the GF take a trip on our own first. My daughter wants to do it with me at some point too

 

[magicroundabout]

With walkie talkies across a group makes those easier. Leader calls the road.

I've watched a few videos with this sort of thing. Calling for on oncoming traffic etc to make safe overtakes. Made it seem that bit safer

 

[-Ad-]

ah cheers for the info. What would you class as an off season there and when do the midges bugger off.

Maybe just me and the GF take a trip on our own first. My daughter wants to do it with me at some point too

Happy to help. Lived up in the NE for quite some years, still miss it.

Midges generally are are their worst when warmer, so June-August. They're not as bad in May or September, so those months are good or aim for better weather periods in April or October.

You also get to avoid all the tourists in buses, caravans and ruddy campers.

Walkie-talkies work well as mentioned also.

It's a stunning place to visit, although I'd not bother with the stretch from John O'Groats to Inverness, it's pretty boring and inspiring. Better to cut back south at Tongue.

 

[DRZ]

With walkie talkies across a group makes those easier. Leader calls the road.

I've done a lot of (very) fast road drives in groups with this sort of thing going on. I'd rather be on my own, frankly. People make mistakes, bad calls, badly timed calls etc. Unless you're absolutely willing to trust your and some potential random 3rd party's life to that radio call, you should treat every overtake as if the radio didn't exist.

That might be different if you're in a group of people who you absolutely trust completely and have done many thousands of miles as just that group, but in general I won't trust it.

 

[Housey]

I've done a lot of (very) fast road drives in groups with this sort of thing going on. I'd rather be on my own, frankly. People make mistakes, bad calls, badly timed calls etc. Unless you're absolutely willing to trust your and some potential random 3rd party's life to that radio call, you should treat every overtake as if the radio didn't exist.

That might be different if you're in a group of people who you absolutely trust completely and have done many thousands of miles as just that group, but in general I won't trust it.

i did it twice in 4 road tours. It’s not something you rely on, it helped when stuck a couple of times that’s all. The people i trust are those i know well not those i just met also.

In most road tours ive done there are the few who can peddle and everyone else and those of us who can peddle tend to run together. Most of the time you’re just getting from a to b at normal traffic pace and when the roads and conditions allow you enjoy.