NE's best driving back roads...
Discussion
Due to be spending a good few months later this year based out of Huntly with a work contract. Looking for recommendations for the best back roads to enjoy in the GR whilst in the area.
Have driven a wee bit in the area before on the way through and the roads around Dufftown & Alford were great. Looking forward to the narrower, bumpier side of things aswell as the slightly faster runs along Deeside and Cock Bridge to Tomintoul. What would be some suggestions for loops or runs that will give me a a chance to explore the capabilities of the Yaris? Also, is anything north of the A96 worth exploring, looking at some maps I'm not finding too many roads there that look like they have potential.
For framing I really enjoy some of the more naturally twisty, bumpy and at times slightly blind B roads throughout the country. The ones that follow the landscape and are dictated by local terrain rather than newer roads which are cut through it all. The roads with flow, undulating along the loch side and tracing the natural paths of least resistance through the glens. Some of my favourites are roads like the run from Killin through Glen Lyon to Loch Rannoch before looping back east to Pitlochry. The pass over Glen Devon through Dunning. The run from Inverary up the A819/B8074 to Bridge of Orchy. The A708 and B709 from Moffat to Innerleithen etcetc.
Have driven a wee bit in the area before on the way through and the roads around Dufftown & Alford were great. Looking forward to the narrower, bumpier side of things aswell as the slightly faster runs along Deeside and Cock Bridge to Tomintoul. What would be some suggestions for loops or runs that will give me a a chance to explore the capabilities of the Yaris? Also, is anything north of the A96 worth exploring, looking at some maps I'm not finding too many roads there that look like they have potential.
For framing I really enjoy some of the more naturally twisty, bumpy and at times slightly blind B roads throughout the country. The ones that follow the landscape and are dictated by local terrain rather than newer roads which are cut through it all. The roads with flow, undulating along the loch side and tracing the natural paths of least resistance through the glens. Some of my favourites are roads like the run from Killin through Glen Lyon to Loch Rannoch before looping back east to Pitlochry. The pass over Glen Devon through Dunning. The run from Inverary up the A819/B8074 to Bridge of Orchy. The A708 and B709 from Moffat to Innerleithen etcetc.
The B9119 west of Echt is pretty good, and the A97 from Dinnet north is a nice drive as well (and less busy than the Lecht etc).
I'm Alford based and my loop when I fancy a drive is the A980-B9119-A97-A944 clockwise from Alford. If you're Huntly based you could go clockwise Lumsden-Strathdon-Tomintoul-Dufftown.
There are some good roads NE of Huntly but I don't know them that well
I'm Alford based and my loop when I fancy a drive is the A980-B9119-A97-A944 clockwise from Alford. If you're Huntly based you could go clockwise Lumsden-Strathdon-Tomintoul-Dufftown.
There are some good roads NE of Huntly but I don't know them that well
Huntly - Dufftown A920 - Dufftown - Auchbreck B9009 - Auchbreck - Tomintoul B9008 - Tomintoul - Nethy Bridge A939 then up to Dulnain bridge. Dulnain Bridge - Logie B9007 - Logie to Forres - A940.
Couple of options for home. Either follow the coast road across Findhorn, Lossie, out towards Cullen then south to Huntly or just trundle back along the A96.
Couple of options for home. Either follow the coast road across Findhorn, Lossie, out towards Cullen then south to Huntly or just trundle back along the A96.
Huntly > Dufftown > Aberlour and then the A85 to Grantown-on-Spey. Then hit the A939 all the way to Forres, probably my favourite road throughout Scotland. After that, Forres to Findhorn and along the coast to Burghead/Hopeman/Lossie and out the back of Lossie via B9103 and aim for the likes of Cullen, Portsoy, Banff or even Fraserburgh and point your sat-nav to Huntly - there is a massive network of backroads all the way back.
A really nice road I recall from years ago can be found if you hug the coast tightly from Banff to Fraserburgh, a few cliff edge views as you trundle along.
A really nice road I recall from years ago can be found if you hug the coast tightly from Banff to Fraserburgh, a few cliff edge views as you trundle along.
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