Routes around the Highlands

[rocket]

We're off to the Highlands for our summer holiday this year. We've already booked a cottage near Loch Ness for the first week. At the moment, a rough plan for the second week is to spend a few days drivng around the Highlands and then stop at Fort William for a couple of days before heading home.

We're after fantastic scenary, good driving roads and places of interest to visit.

Question is....does the following sound like a reasonable route around the Highlands during our 2nd week, and how many days should we take to do it?
Head north from Inverness
up the east coast to John o'Groats
along the north coast to Durness
down the west coast to Ullapool
down to Skye
and then on to Fort William

Or would we be better inland rather than trying to follow the coast?

Any advice/recommendations greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Neil

[miniandy]

Hi mate,

I drove from Skye to Glasgow via Ullapool at the summer. You can see details here. I would also have a look at the route that Steve Carter talks about. Have fun, but watch out for the tourists!

Cheers

[skyedriver]

miniandy said:

Have fun, but watch out for the tourists! Cheers

And the deer once it gets dusk!
But yes, the Continental tourists sometimes seem to forget which side of the road they should be on and the British tourists just seem to forget they are driving a car and that there are others on the road at all.
Oh and bring a brolly, it occasionally gets a bit inclement on Skye.
Enjoy, it's adifferent way of life up here.
Tony H

[heebeegeetee]

Done a lot of miles in Scotland, finally got to do the top bit last year. Compared to the rest of Scotland, I thought the east coast was boring. If I do JoGroats again I'd go and return via the west coast.

I've also come to think that the very best of Scotland is above Fort William, but thats relatively speaking. If you haven't been before you'll love it wherever you go. Fort William can be a bit of a bottleneck though, which means there can be heavy traffic around that area.

[joncastle]

Hi

I'd say that's pretty much the perfect route - stick to the coast all the way round. Very much worth taking some detours off the coast road as well, f'rinstance:

At John O'Groats, drive/walk East away from the tourist tat down the road that goes to Duncansby Head lighthouse. It's the top corner of Scotland, and the views are amazing, especially the Stacks of Duncansby.

Now go West, and drive out to another lighthouse, on Dunnet Head. This is actually the most northerly point on the British mainland, and a truly wild, awesome place. On a clear day you can see all the way across the top of Scotland to Cape Wrath.

Keep going west. The road just gets better and better (or worse and worse depending on your point of view!!) - from Melvich onwards it's mostly single track with passing places. Ever driven on an A class road with passing places?

All of Durness/Torridon/the far north west is magical. Take as many side roads as you can. Go to Lochinver. Go to Drumbeg. Go to Sheildaig. Take your time, take a camera, and have a blast!

Best regards

Jon

[KB_S1]

The route is sound but Fort William is a pretty dull place to spend a couple of days.
Aviemore, Glencoe, Perth are all nicer.

[getcarter]

West is best! (all the way up to Durness)

The route Andy mentioned here >> www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm

What will you be driving? I'll look out for you.

Steve



>> Edited by getcarter on Monday 16th January 12:44

[ian2144]

I have driven all the routes mentioned with the QOC on the Highland tours, and great driving roads they are...... But here's one road you should drive. The road to Applecross "The pass of the cattle" Built by thr Royal Engineers in the early sixty's, Very narrow with some tight hairpins on the way up.Once you get over the top the views across to Skye are stuning, at sunset it's even better.
You can stop at the Pub in Applecross for your super.
This is not a five minute run, give your self about 2 - 3 hours but it's worth it.

Ian.....

[rocket]

Folks, thanks for all the advice. I'll definitely be trying to incorporate some of these routes and places into the trip.

Steve, will be driving a silver Monaro (see profile pic) and will definitely be covering some of your route. Look out for us July/August time.

Cheers,

Neil

[aliged]

Stay clear of Fort William....it's a sh*thole. Other than that, stay West and be ready for roads that the Great God of Driving made personally. Visit Boleskine house on the shores of Loch Ness. Once owned by Jimmy Page, sold, and now rumoured (with substance) to have been bought again by him to preserve Zep history. Spooooooooky place.


Take a camera.

[cj_eds]

If your planning on driving back down the West coast from Caithness then leave a few days for it - its mainly all single track! The A9 north of Inverness is fun if there isn't much on it to get in your way.
Dunnet Head is worth going to as well (most Northernly point - John O' Groats is just furthest from Lands End). Driving around there you'll see some impressive scenery.
Beware the lack of scamera's once you're into the highlands - the hiding behind a hedge with the radar gun is favoured!

This is one of my mate's websites [url]www.alanmoar.flyer.co.uk/[/url] Have a look if you want a preview of some of the views...
Or the roads: [url]www.alanmoar.flyer.co.uk/Caithness/Berriedale/003.htm[/url] (its a 1 in 7 gradient in case the size of the houses doesn't give it away.

>> Edited by cj_eds on Monday 16th January 17:30

[skyedriver]

aliged said:

Fort William....it's a sh*thole.

A bit harsh!!!!
Not the prettiest I'll agree but....
If you need a decent cheap B&B in FW try "Hillview", I have stayed there a few times and they are nice folk.
Tony h

[skyedriver]

ian2144 said:

But here's one road you should drive. The road to Applecross "The pass of the cattle" Built by thr Royal Engineers in the early sixty's, Very narrow with some tight hairpins on the way up.Once you get over the top the views across to Skye are stuning, at sunset it's even better. You can stop at the Pub in Applecross for your super. Ian.....

Agree.
Make sure it's a fine clear day though or you'll see nowt.
Also (here I go again) there are deer coming out of the woods about a mile outside of Applecross, at dusk.
Also I concur re meals at Applecross Inn. They are good.
Also the seafood stew at the pub in Shieldaig. (Thats the more southerly Shieldaig rather that the more northerly one. (Look at a map and you'll see what I mean))(North of Kishorn and south of Torridon).
Rockvilla at Lochcarron used to be good for meals during the summer but not sure if it has changed hands.
"Off the Rails" at Plockton is some of the best food around too.
Have you come here to drive or eat!?!

Tony H

[aliged]

skyedriver said:

aliged said: Fort William....it's a sh*thole. A bit harsh!!!! Not the prettiest I'll agree but....

You're right. It WAS a bit harsh. Still wouldnae catch me staying there and I'm from Greenock!!!!!!!