planning highlands tour
Discussion
clive f said:
I know its a long way off, but I`m getting bored so I 
thought about myself and my good lady taking the griff up around the scottish highlands next may or june.
has anyone here done this, I am looking for tips on best roads, sights, places to stay ect, any info gratefully received.
Anywhere with a distillery would do it for me thought about myself and my good lady taking the griff up around the scottish highlands next may or june. has anyone here done this, I am looking for tips on best roads, sights, places to stay ect, any info gratefully received.
I'm planning a tour next year with my best mate, so would be interested in any comments.
Isle of Mull has to be done, Giant's Courseway, Loch Ness (obviously - the smaller road to the south of it looks fun).
Graham, the General Manager of Glenmorangie is a big fan of TVRs, so you'll be welcomed there if you're around Tain that'd be worth popping into.
Done this many times. Its a wonderful time/place to go up there. We often go up in June and enjoy the long, long days, terrific scenery and fine food and drink obtainable in so many of the excellent hotels.
Particularly recommended locations are:
Isle of Skye - generally. The Chimneys restaurant (book *now*!)
Torridon - loch, the finest hotel in Scotland www.lochtorridonhotel.com
Inverewe Gardens,
Loch Maree,
Fort William is a good place to stop on the way up. If you just need someplace inexpensive they have a Travelodge and nearby restaurants. From there you can do Ben Nevis or go up the mountain next to it (forgotten name) in a cable car.
If you are brave when in the Torridon area you can drive over the Applecross pass - quite an experience. You could also try the road to Diabaig. If you do these you'd better have a head for heights and some spare underwear...you won't be going quickly...
So many great places...
A word of warning at that time of year the midges are out. Everything you have heard is true. You will not want to stop the car with the roof off in places they congregate. You *will* want insect repellant - wear it at all times. If you intend walking you should seriously consider an anti-midge "net" or "hood". They really are horrible little buggers and are the only downside to the Highlands at that time of year.
Particularly recommended locations are:
Isle of Skye - generally. The Chimneys restaurant (book *now*!)
Torridon - loch, the finest hotel in Scotland www.lochtorridonhotel.com
Inverewe Gardens,
Loch Maree,
Fort William is a good place to stop on the way up. If you just need someplace inexpensive they have a Travelodge and nearby restaurants. From there you can do Ben Nevis or go up the mountain next to it (forgotten name) in a cable car.
If you are brave when in the Torridon area you can drive over the Applecross pass - quite an experience. You could also try the road to Diabaig. If you do these you'd better have a head for heights and some spare underwear...you won't be going quickly...
So many great places...
A word of warning at that time of year the midges are out. Everything you have heard is true. You will not want to stop the car with the roof off in places they congregate. You *will* want insect repellant - wear it at all times. If you intend walking you should seriously consider an anti-midge "net" or "hood". They really are horrible little buggers and are the only downside to the Highlands at that time of year.
Oh 
Isle of Mull very nice. We found a GREAT place that was a hotel AND a self-catering place...I'll try and dig out the name tonight...
If you *really* want to get "way out there" go to the Isle of Lewis (ferry from the Isle of Skye) see the Callanuish Stones (Smaller Stonehenge. Go when a tour bus isn't there and you can have them to yourself - so much more atmospheric that Stonehenge in those circumstance). You can see ancient Brochs (home/castle affairs). They have HUGE golden beaches. WIth glorious white sand under them so the sea goes Turquoise. And, one July, I was the *only person* on the beach. There again it was bloody freezing!
Up there they actually speak Gaelic (Although English is a given...) and the signs are bi-lingual. Very atmospheric.
If you are National Trust members the National Trust for Scotland properties are all open to you as the two trusts have an agreement...
Isle of Mull very nice. We found a GREAT place that was a hotel AND a self-catering place...I'll try and dig out the name tonight...
If you *really* want to get "way out there" go to the Isle of Lewis (ferry from the Isle of Skye) see the Callanuish Stones (Smaller Stonehenge. Go when a tour bus isn't there and you can have them to yourself - so much more atmospheric that Stonehenge in those circumstance). You can see ancient Brochs (home/castle affairs). They have HUGE golden beaches. WIth glorious white sand under them so the sea goes Turquoise. And, one July, I was the *only person* on the beach. There again it was bloody freezing!
Up there they actually speak Gaelic (Although English is a given...) and the signs are bi-lingual. Very atmospheric.
If you are National Trust members the National Trust for Scotland properties are all open to you as the two trusts have an agreement...
Clive -
Try
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=117301&f=118&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=294849&f=118&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=311038&r=4109113&hm=38660#4109113
and
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=292185
Should provide plenty to think of and I can advise on hotels if needed. Also recommend you review the Scotland forum as there are some superb links there to boot.
Finally - www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm - superb map and recommendations for roads from Steve Carter.
Enjoy
Try
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=117301&f=118&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=294849&f=118&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=311038&r=4109113&hm=38660#4109113
and
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=292185
Should provide plenty to think of and I can advise on hotels if needed. Also recommend you review the Scotland forum as there are some superb links there to boot.
Finally - www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm - superb map and recommendations for roads from Steve Carter.
Enjoy
thanks guys, that hotel looks fantastic, if a little out of my budget, I`ll need a few pennies for petrol as I`m going up from the ilse of wight, so a real south to north adventure!
I`ll have to get the road atlas out, see where some of these places are, and search for hotels etc, love the sound of the high twisty roads, and probably pick your brains later on Don so I don`t miss anything.
I`ll have to get the road atlas out, see where some of these places are, and search for hotels etc, love the sound of the high twisty roads, and probably pick your brains later on Don so I don`t miss anything.
Kyle of Lochalsh ( & hotel) is a fab place, theres a castle (Eilean Donan castle i think it is) there that was in highlander on the edge of the loch...awesome photo shoot! if u can twist the guys arm to let u drive your car in to the castle that is! roads up to there and beyond (onto isle of skye)are amazing
Edited by woody-oTT on Tuesday 10th October 18:41
This page is about Suilven beside Lochinver, and gives an idea of the beauty of the area. I climbed it a few years ago and it was hard work but well worth it for the staggering views.
[url]www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lochinver/suilven/index.html[/url]
Undiscovered Scotland is a good site for info of all sorts, about where to go in Scotland.
[url]www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/lochinver/suilven/index.html[/url]
Undiscovered Scotland is a good site for info of all sorts, about where to go in Scotland.
Edited by pooh on Tuesday 10th October 19:34
When I did my degree I spent a lot of time up the West Coast so let's see what I can remember
Mull is great and a visit to McaAigs folly in Oban whilst you're waiting for the ferry is a good thing to do. On Mull the things to do include drink in the Mishnish in Tobermory and do the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry ( on foot) to Coll and Tiree.
A road worth driving on the mainland is Bealach na Ba - the pass of the cattle. This spectacular road takes you over the mountain to Applecross ( which is opposite Skye) It climbs to about 2500 feet in about 2-3 miles - just like a mini Stelvio really
Don't miss Gairloch and go and look at a mountain called Slioch, one of the finest of the Munros
Ullapool is nice - where the mountains run out really. The falls of Measach in Corrieshalloch gorge are worth a short hike - tallest waterfalll in the UK I believe From Ullapool the road to Inverness is quite good and whist Inverness is quite dull, cromarty and the peninsula are interesting. You can also go to the site of Culloden - but bewara- the Vistorians built all the so called relics ( you can see a date inside the lintel of the coarttage where the highlander made thair last stand it says 18something - fully as the battle was in 1745 I recall- or wasit 1746?)
Coming down - avoid the A9 and Aviemore - the coast via Aberdeen is much more fun
Mull is great and a visit to McaAigs folly in Oban whilst you're waiting for the ferry is a good thing to do. On Mull the things to do include drink in the Mishnish in Tobermory and do the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry ( on foot) to Coll and Tiree.
A road worth driving on the mainland is Bealach na Ba - the pass of the cattle. This spectacular road takes you over the mountain to Applecross ( which is opposite Skye) It climbs to about 2500 feet in about 2-3 miles - just like a mini Stelvio really
Don't miss Gairloch and go and look at a mountain called Slioch, one of the finest of the Munros
Ullapool is nice - where the mountains run out really. The falls of Measach in Corrieshalloch gorge are worth a short hike - tallest waterfalll in the UK I believe From Ullapool the road to Inverness is quite good and whist Inverness is quite dull, cromarty and the peninsula are interesting. You can also go to the site of Culloden - but bewara- the Vistorians built all the so called relics ( you can see a date inside the lintel of the coarttage where the highlander made thair last stand it says 18something - fully as the battle was in 1745 I recall- or wasit 1746?)
Coming down - avoid the A9 and Aviemore - the coast via Aberdeen is much more fun
Mustang Baz said:
Clive -
Try
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=117301&f=118&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=294849&f=118&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=311038&r=4109113&hm=38660#4109113
and
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=292185
Should provide plenty to think of and I can advise on hotels if needed. Also recommend you review the Scotland forum as there are some superb links there to boot.
Finally - www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm - superb map and recommendations for roads from Steve Carter.
Enjoy
Try
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=117301&f=118&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=294849&f=118&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=311038&r=4109113&hm=38660#4109113
and
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=292185
Should provide plenty to think of and I can advise on hotels if needed. Also recommend you review the Scotland forum as there are some superb links there to boot.
Finally - www.stevecarter.com/bestuk.htm - superb map and recommendations for roads from Steve Carter.
Enjoy
bah - the only one you didn't mention was mine!!!
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=200085&f=118&h=0
Steve's the man though - cracking route.
You just gotta do it, but do it early in the year, ie April/May. As those damn miggies start getting about sooner every year, believe me we went later one year than we have done before, and regreted it just a bit because of the bl
dy things!!
The roads are fantastic, hardly any cops/Gatsos, in fact i dont remember seeing any of either, you might be hard pressed to get shell V power, or BP Ultimate in the highlands, so remember to take a few cans of octain improver with you.
Have a safe trip, its well worth the long drive up.
Dave
dy things!! The roads are fantastic, hardly any cops/Gatsos, in fact i dont remember seeing any of either, you might be hard pressed to get shell V power, or BP Ultimate in the highlands, so remember to take a few cans of octain improver with you.
Have a safe trip, its well worth the long drive up.
Dave
Hi
www.broomhallcastle.com
My hotel and am a griff 500 owner to boot
Also if you make it the first eekend of the month we host the tvr central scotland meet so tvr's aplenty
have a great trip
tvr driver
www.broomhallcastle.com
My hotel and am a griff 500 owner to boot
Also if you make it the first eekend of the month we host the tvr central scotland meet so tvr's aplenty
have a great trip
tvr driver
Don't know if the situation has changed since we were up there in the Chimaera, but in 2003, you couldn't get Optimax north of Inverness/The Black Isle, so if you are going right to the top, pack some octane booster! We did drive up a fabulous road, the A836 from Lairge to Tongue, which is single width with passing places but you can see for miles ahead. Stopped for a drink at a hotel in Tongue www.tonguehotel.co.uk/ which looked very nice, and we've been meaning to go back but haven't made it yet!
I agree with every comment, esp Don/Hilti/Valhala. My parents live up there overlooking Sky. It is beautiful and you will not regret a moment (except the mig) if you go too late. Stick to the coasts as much as possible as these roads tend to be the best for views and use the roads that run through the ry to make up ground quickly. Virtually no cops and deffinately no Gatsos north of Inverness (I think), but be carefull on the A9 as there are plenty from Edin to Inverness! Also, if you drive up the country from the South on the East coast and use the A68, this has Gatsos on virtually every straight where you would want to overtake, from the start of it on the A1 all the way to Edinborgh!
I'm planning a similar venture for YellowP's perusal for a Mid Essex tourer in 08.
Enjoy.
ry to make up ground quickly. Virtually no cops and deffinately no Gatsos north of Inverness (I think), but be carefull on the A9 as there are plenty from Edin to Inverness! Also, if you drive up the country from the South on the East coast and use the A68, this has Gatsos on virtually every straight where you would want to overtake, from the start of it on the A1 all the way to Edinborgh! I'm planning a similar venture for YellowP's perusal for a Mid Essex tourer in 08.
Enjoy.
If you are in the area and need feeding and watering you won't go far wrong with the Oyster Brewery and Restaurant on the Isle of Seil.
Run by Andy and Mandy Gascoigne (from Yorkshire), the beer is excellent and so is their food.
www.oysterbrewery.com
Run by Andy and Mandy Gascoigne (from Yorkshire), the beer is excellent and so is their food.
www.oysterbrewery.com
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