Touring the Highlands
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Discussion

WorAl

Original Poster:

10,877 posts

217 months

Tuesday 23rd June 2009
quotequote all
Ok, going to the highlands of Scotland this weekend in the Cerb. Car is running sweet as a nut, just been serviced. But, is there anything i should take precautions on? take with me? look out for? worry about?
Could be heading to such locations as the Isle of Skye, Ullapool, Applecross.
Will the car be ok to run on normal fuel if i cant get to a shell garage? Its a 2005 Speed 6 engine.

Also, any ideas what the weather is going to be like from anyone up there??

Larco

356 posts

299 months

Tuesday 23rd June 2009
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Just did Fort William, Ullapool applecross Durness and Thurso.
Got 97 Ron all over. The only garage in ullapool does 97.
Do applecross as early in the day as you can as its becoming popular and busy. Get stuck behind a camper van and the enjoyment is over. (yes they go up the apple cross road sometimes in 2,s)
Sat nav was very usefully in seeing whats coming up interms of bends on unfamilar roads. lots of single track with passing places.
There is a nice coffee/lunch place just before the only right hand bend in Durness.
Great roads
Enjoy


Edited by Larco on Tuesday 23 June 13:02

Allandwf

1,773 posts

224 months

Tuesday 23rd June 2009
quotequote all
I did 510miles round there a few weeks ago in my Cerb. AA card and Credit card was all I took. You will be ok for Vpower. Apart from Wed. looking good. Enjoy.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/he/ullapool...

Chris71

21,549 posts

271 months

Tuesday 23rd June 2009
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Nothing constructive to add, but I'm very jealous! You'll have to come back with photos. smile

Fume troll

4,389 posts

241 months

Tuesday 23rd June 2009
quotequote all
Forecast is good.
Watch out for deer, rabbits, and sheep, especially near dawn or dusk.
Watch out for some real uneven bits of road, often it is great and changes suddenly, even mid corner, quite unsettling sometimes.
Go up to Loch Inver for the pies.
Go to Applecross early for a pint of prawns.
Skye is not great for driving, tends to be busy as anything. But if you want the "real" experience take the ferry over, feels more like the old days that way!

Cheers,

FT.

LaserTam

2,183 posts

248 months

Tuesday 23rd June 2009
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I have so got to persuade my wife that we should up there again! Jealous.

WorAl

Original Poster:

10,877 posts

217 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
quotequote all
Will come back with some photos of what i get up to.

Can't wait, only going away for 3 nights but it should get me most of the places i want to go.

thanks for the head ups for what to be careful with, was more looking at the car though, any checklists for that before i head off??

cheers
WA.

Fume troll

4,389 posts

241 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
quotequote all
Well besides checking the fluids and pressures, you will sometimes be a long way from a garage, and longer from someone with a replacement tyre for a Cerb. Can of tyre foam?

Spare throttle cable?

Litre of oil?

AA card?

Only a problem if it breaks down!

Cheers,

FT.

FlipFlopGriff

7,144 posts

276 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
quotequote all
Be interested to know the route you're taking as planning a trip up next year, possibly 4-5 days though given we're travelling from south of Birmingham.
FFG

WorAl

Original Poster:

10,877 posts

217 months

Wednesday 24th June 2009
quotequote all
FlipFlopGriff said:
Be interested to know the route you're taking as planning a trip up next year, possibly 4-5 days though given we're travelling from south of Birmingham.
FFG
Depends where you want to go really, i head up the A68 to Edinburgh, over Forth Road bridge then up the M90 then A9 to Aviemore. 1st night at least there.

A9 to Inverness, see my cousin (obviously you cant do this {unless you really want to, it could possibly be arraged}) then down the back of Loch Ness B862 (not A82) to Fort Augustus then to Fort William, Eat, then over to Mallaig, ferry to Skye then stay there 2nd night.

Up sky, back over to Kyle of Lochalsh then head north A890 to Strathcarron, then A896 to here Turn Left then head to Applecross (MUCH FUN-NESS ) then back over to Fort William. 3rd Night.

Heading home through Glen Coe, Rannock Moor (A82/A85) to Crief then head south again, A68.

Perfect plan if everything goes right (which it won't)

Hope this helps biggrin

Yes i know Scotland quite well hehe

ETA: Ullapool, would be too much for 3 nights really, could do it but i do like to get out the car now and then, 4 nights i would have def do it.

Edited by WorAl on Wednesday 24th June 14:27

WorAl

Original Poster:

10,877 posts

217 months

Tuesday 30th June 2009
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OK just got back from this trip, was superb and not a cloud in the sky. Will post plenty pics and videos when i get some time to download them to interweb.

Done the above journey but in different order, Aviemore, Inverness, Applecross, Skye, Mallaig, Fort William, Home.

Who has a Paradise Purple Chimaera? passed them on the way from Mallaig to Fort William, down the old coastal route, couldnt believe it. hehe

ETA: Done 880 miles without a hiccup, apart from the clutch master cylinder running out of juice. Sorted that out in 10 mins.

Edited by WorAl on Tuesday 30th June 08:55

WorAl

Original Poster:

10,877 posts

217 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
Ok Here goes, here's the trip i've just been on, hope you enjoy. Mods can you add "pic heavy" to the title please.

Just a note: the pig in some of the photos is our mascot, he goes everywhere.

So we set off from Newcastle and hit the border. (you just have to have a photograph here)



First stop was at Blair Atholl and the falls of Bruar



First night we camped at Aviemore, near Loch Morlich.



In the Morning we went up the Cairngorm Mountain

View from Bottom


View from top (carpark)


Then we went up to Inverness then down Loch Ness




Then popped up to the top of Glen Garry for this view



Round the back of Glen Garry



Next stop was at Eileen Dunan Castle (sp?) (setting for Highlander films)



We then set off toward Applecross and the clutch master dylinder ran out of fluid hehe Luckily I had a beautiful assistant to help me.



Eventually we got to the top of the Applecross pass



Second night at Applecross Campsite.



Next Day, went to Toscaig (just down from Applecross)



Then we head to Skye



Coulin Moutains at Glen Brittle



3rd Night Camping at Sligachan Campsite



On way home we got the ferry from Armidale to Mallaig



We then called in to the Spean Bridge Memorial site



We then head down Glen Coe on the way back toward Stirling



Stopping off at the Green Welly Shop on the way



We then passed through Dalkieth on the way down the A68



laugh


Hope you enjoyed, was a fantastic trip and hope it will give any potential goers some ideas.

Cheers
Al

amazon

3,704 posts

240 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
Incredible scenery and your Cerbera made some good weather for you too! Bit worried about 'your beautiful assistant' in the last picture though - was she alright? smile

WorAl

Original Poster:

10,877 posts

217 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
amazon said:
Incredible scenery and your Cerbera made some good weather for you too! Bit worried about 'your beautiful assistant' in the last picture though - was she alright? smile
Yeah she had fallen down a cattle grid the day before (not drunk, just clumsy) and she was inspecting the cut on her leg.

ETA: weather was beautiful the whole time and it was absolutely red hot.

Edited by WorAl on Wednesday 1st July 09:25

Timmy2TARs

656 posts

239 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
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Looks a great place to tour - definitely on the cards for me after I did a few days around Ireland last summer. What are the roads like in terms of pot holes and ruts?

WorAl

Original Poster:

10,877 posts

217 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
Timmy2TARs said:
Looks a great place to tour - definitely on the cards for me after I did a few days around Ireland last summer. What are the roads like in terms of pot holes and ruts?
its fantastic place to tour. roads are ok and are getting better as time goes by, but, that sort of takes the magic away for me. caught my exaust a couple of times going up to applecross, but litterally just skimmed it off the floor.

amazon

3,704 posts

240 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
WorAl said:
amazon said:
Incredible scenery and your Cerbera made some good weather for you too! Bit worried about 'your beautiful assistant' in the last picture though - was she alright? smile
Yeah she had fallen down a cattle grid the day before (not drunk, just clumsy) and she was inspecting the cut on her leg.

ETA: weather was beautiful the whole time and it was absolutely red hot.

Edited by WorAl on Wednesday 1st July 09:25
Ouch! It does rather look like after you blasting round some great roads, you stopped, she got out and was sick..... Sorry, just the immediate impression! redface

WorAl

Original Poster:

10,877 posts

217 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
quotequote all
amazon said:
WorAl said:
amazon said:
Incredible scenery and your Cerbera made some good weather for you too! Bit worried about 'your beautiful assistant' in the last picture though - was she alright? smile
Yeah she had fallen down a cattle grid the day before (not drunk, just clumsy) and she was inspecting the cut on her leg.

ETA: weather was beautiful the whole time and it was absolutely red hot.

Edited by WorAl on Wednesday 1st July 09:25
Ouch! It does rather look like after you blasting round some great roads, you stopped, she got out and was sick..... Sorry, just the immediate impression! redface
You're not the first person to make that comment hehe she was only scared once or twice wink

rev-erend

21,621 posts

313 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
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Had no idea you could camp up there too ..

It does look like your glamorous co pilot is having a hewie .. must be your driving hehe

Must admit that I really fancy a Scotish tour next year when my new car finally arrives.. don't you hate waiting lists furious

Far Eastender

1,362 posts

247 months

Wednesday 1st July 2009
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I'm planning a trip to Loch Ness from Kent this month. I've had my S6 rebuilt and it needs to be run in. Is Inverness worth a visit?