Scotland and Hebrides Road Trip

[K50 DEL]

I'm not sure if there'll be any interest on here, nor do I know how much Internet access I'll have but over the next 10 days or so I'm taking my elderly Mum and my Sister on a 2k mile road trip from our home in the SouthWest up North... firstly to Oban and then over to the Outer Hebrides, starting in Castlebay and wending our way Northward before eventually catching the ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool.

Once back on the mainland we're heading on the NC500 route to John o'Groats and then down via Chanonry Point to Edinburgh for a couple of days before driving back South.

We've got a fairly good idea of what we want to see and do and if there's any interest in (hopefully) scenic photos then I'm happy to continue this thread... any suggestions of things to see and do also appreciated as none of us have been this way before so we don't want to miss anything!

[sherman]

No real suggestions apart from pack a decent coat. Summer is definetly over up in the far North. I would also pack the ice scrapper for the car windows.

[sherman]

First snow on the Cairngorms mountain range yesterday.

https://www.strathspey-herald.co.uk/news/brace-you...

[Speed addicted]

I live near Aberdeen and have been zooming around the (now NC500) north for years on motorbikes.

Be aware that high daily mileages are not possible if you actually want to see stuff, the roads are winding, the views are amazing, the many camper vans are slow and don’t stop to let you past.
Even on a motorbike when I have no intention of stopping for anything bar food and fuel I’d put 150-200 miles as a comfortable daily distance.

Fuel, petrol stations on the Hebrides used to close on Sundays, others on the mainland can be quite far apart. I once pulled into the petrol station I was aiming for to find a note saying they’d closed early, then ran out near Fortwilliam.
On another occasion the station at tongue ran out as we filled up because the tanker was late.

Obviously book accommodations ahead, the days of just turning up and getting a room are long gone.

Take a big coat as it’s already somewhat chilly.

[K50 DEL]

Thanks chap, I'm hoping that our daily mileages are realistic, the only day I'm a touch concerned about is when we come back to the mainland we're aiming to do
Ullapool to John o'Groats via the coast road then down to Edinburgh via Chanonry Point all in the one day.

We've made a good start though, just over 3hrs after leaving home we're 232 Miles North!!

[dxg]

I loved tooling around the Isle of Lewis a few years back. Some great driving to be had up there.

But I was surprised by just how much driving there was. Seems blindingly obvious when you look at the size of the place on the map, but everything is a long way apart.

So, the downside is the chewing up of time, but the upside is some great driving.

If you're tlking your mum, it's worth noting that it's more scenic / mountainous to the south, but there's more historic man-made things to the north.

[J6542]

K50 DEL said:

Thanks chap, I'm hoping that our daily mileages are realistic, the only day I'm a touch concerned about is when we come back to the mainland we're aiming to do
Ullapool to John o'Groats via the coast road then down to Edinburgh via Chanonry Point all in the one day.

We've made a good start though, just over 3hrs after leaving home we're 232 Miles North!!

That could an easy 12 hour day with only a couple of quick stops, it’s dark by about 7.30pm and the A9 south isn’t ideal at night with tired eyes.
You would be better off looking at accommodation around Inverness and driving to Edinburgh the next day through the Cairngorms.

[GetCarter]

K50 DEL said:

Thanks chap, I'm hoping that our daily mileages are realistic, the only day I'm a touch concerned about is when we come back to the mainland we're aiming to do
Ullapool to John o'Groats via the coast road then down to Edinburgh via Chanonry Point all in the one day.

We've made a good start though, just over 3hrs after leaving home we're 232 Miles North!!

That is a MONSTER drive. No way I'd attempt that in one day (and my drive to the local Tesco is a 124 mile round trip).

Why John o'Groats? It's really not worth the time spent getting there.

[Speed addicted]

GetCarter said:

K50 DEL said:

Thanks chap, I'm hoping that our daily mileages are realistic, the only day I'm a touch concerned about is when we come back to the mainland we're aiming to do
Ullapool to John o'Groats via the coast road then down to Edinburgh via Chanonry Point all in the one day.

We've made a good start though, just over 3hrs after leaving home we're 232 Miles North!!

That is a MONSTER drive. No way I'd attempt that in one day (and my drive to the local Tesco is a 124 mile round trip).

Why John o'Groats? It's really not worth the time spent getting there.

Agreed, I once rode from Aberdeen to Ullapool via JOG in one hit, but I left at 6am and was knackered by the time I got there!
It’s a lot of single track roads, average speed is maybe 40?

[J6542]

Speed addicted said:

GetCarter said:

K50 DEL said:

Thanks chap, I'm hoping that our daily mileages are realistic, the only day I'm a touch concerned about is when we come back to the mainland we're aiming to do
Ullapool to John o'Groats via the coast road then down to Edinburgh via Chanonry Point all in the one day.

We've made a good start though, just over 3hrs after leaving home we're 232 Miles North!!

That is a MONSTER drive. No way I'd attempt that in one day (and my drive to the local Tesco is a 124 mile round trip).

Why John o'Groats? It's really not worth the time spent getting there.

Agreed, I once rode from Aberdeen to Ullapool via JOG in one hit, but I left at 6am and was knackered by the time I got there!
It’s a lot of single track roads, average speed is maybe 40?

I borrowed my dads GS Adventure when he got it in 2015,
And done St Andrews> Perth> Tyndrum> Fort William> Dornie> Strathcarron> Shieldaig> Poolewe> Ullapool> John o groats> St Andrews.
Leaving at 5.30 am and getting home at 10.30 pm after 700 odd miles. Totally knackered when I got home and my arse was aching but it was a great experience.

[GetCarter]

J6542 said:

Speed addicted said:

GetCarter said:

K50 DEL said:

Thanks chap, I'm hoping that our daily mileages are realistic, the only day I'm a touch concerned about is when we come back to the mainland we're aiming to do
Ullapool to John o'Groats via the coast road then down to Edinburgh via Chanonry Point all in the one day.

We've made a good start though, just over 3hrs after leaving home we're 232 Miles North!!

That is a MONSTER drive. No way I'd attempt that in one day (and my drive to the local Tesco is a 124 mile round trip).

Why John o'Groats? It's really not worth the time spent getting there.

Agreed, I once rode from Aberdeen to Ullapool via JOG in one hit, but I left at 6am and was knackered by the time I got there!
It’s a lot of single track roads, average speed is maybe 40?

I borrowed my dads GS Adventure when he got it in 2015,
And done St Andrews> Perth> Tyndrum> Fort William> Dornie> Strathcarron> Shieldaig> Poolewe> Ullapool> John o groats> St Andrews.
Leaving at 5.30 am and getting home at 10.30 pm after 700 odd miles. Totally knackered when I got home and my arse was aching but it was a great experience.

..and bear in mind if that was done this week, over 4 hours would be in the dark.

[Vasco]

K50 DEL said:

Thanks chap, I'm hoping that our daily mileages are realistic, the only day I'm a touch concerned about is when we come back to the mainland we're aiming to do
Ullapool to John o'Groats via the coast road then down to Edinburgh via Chanonry Point all in the one day.

We've made a good start though, just over 3hrs after leaving home we're 232 Miles North!!

Ullapool - JOG - Edinburgh is far too much in one day. The roads may well be quiet but they're not fast or easy.

[The Road Crew]

K50 DEL said:

Thanks chap, I'm hoping that our daily mileages are realistic, the only day I'm a touch concerned about is when we come back to the mainland we're aiming to do
Ullapool to John o'Groats via the coast road then down to Edinburgh via Chanonry Point all in the one day.

That's a punishment not a pleasant day out!

Rethink it or put an overnight stop into the schedule. You'll be absolutely knackered and you're passengers won't enjoy it - no time to stop and enjoy things en route.
Don't add to the incidents on the A9 this past week!

[sherman]

Vasco said:

K50 DEL said:

Thanks chap, I'm hoping that our daily mileages are realistic, the only day I'm a touch concerned about is when we come back to the mainland we're aiming to do
Ullapool to John o'Groats via the coast road then down to Edinburgh via Chanonry Point all in the one day.

We've made a good start though, just over 3hrs after leaving home we're 232 Miles North!!

Ullapool - JOG - Edinburgh is far too much in one day. The roads may well be quiet but they're not fast or easy.

No chance I would be doing that drive.
JOG to Edinburgh is a long hard 6 hour drive on its own.
I would be doing Ullapool to JOG (Wick) and then coming to Edinburgh the next day.
Ullapool to JOG is hard enough driving and also absoultely stunning scenery (white sand beaches crystal clear blue seas.

[TCX]

Possibly bit out of the way,but coast road via castle Douglas,glen Luce,mull of Galloway up by port Patrick is a beautiful part of world,tropical gardens on coast,gulf stream misses top of Ireland,gives the area its own micro climate

[bern]

I go to Lewis and Harris often. Doing in South to North stick to the west coast of Harris. There is a lovely cafe called Temple at Northton and you'll see all the amazing beaches like Seilebost and Horgabost. If you have time Luskentyre is a must. Hushinish is my favourite beach on Harris but it's 14 miles down a crazy single track road! The mountain pass leaving Harris is also spectacular. Lewis' interior is basically a massive peat bog but there are some incredible places that just need a bit of seeking out. The beach with a tidal bell and iron age house at bosta is one. Instead of going straight up to Stornoway you could either go up to the Butt of Lewis and then across the Stornoway or cut across the pentland road which is a arrow straight road that cuts across the island.

Enjoy, it's my favourite place in the world.

Edited by bern on Monday 19th September 19:14

[K50 DEL]

Thanks Bern, we're enjoying the rain in Castlebay at the moment but a fair amount of what you've noted is on our list already (including the crazy 14 mile road lol)

[GetCarter]

K50 DEL said:

Thanks Bern, we're enjoying the rain in Castlebay at the moment but a fair amount of what you've noted is on our list already (including the crazy 14 mile road lol)

Just FYI

On said road, you'll drive through the grounds of Amhuinnsuidhe Castle (which feels rather odd!). It's regularly on TV as the backdrop for TV dramas etc.

The last house on the left before you reach Hushinish beach is the holiday let we regularly stay in.

As you were.

[bern]

GetCarter said:

K50 DEL said:

Thanks Bern, we're enjoying the rain in Castlebay at the moment but a fair amount of what you've noted is on our list already (including the crazy 14 mile road lol)

Just FYI

On said road, you'll drive through the grounds of Amhuinnsuidhe Castle (which feels rather odd!). It's regularly on TV as the backdrop for TV dramas etc.

The last house on the left before you reach Hushinish beach is the holiday let we regularly stay in.

As you were.

Nice spot!

And the world's most remote tennis court?!

[yellowbentines]

K50 DEL said:

Thanks Bern, we're enjoying the rain in Castlebay at the moment but a fair amount of what you've noted is on our list already (including the crazy 14 mile road lol)

On Lewis and Harris just don't underestimate how long it will take to drive some of the roads and factor that in - if you go to Huisinis or Luskentyre beaches (which I would recommend) then they are slow single track roads off the 'main' roads.

If you have time in Stornoway I'd recommend a walk around the Lews Castle Grounds, and go up into the Castle for a wander around - it's free and there's a wee cafe, giftshop and a great short but informative exhibition on the history of the Hebrides - an hour of your time spent here is worth it IMO.

In Harris, as said Temple Cafe in Northton is great, Talla Na Mara's cafe/restaurant slightly further up the Harris West coast road is a nice stop also for the view.

In Lewis, take your pick of more stunning beaches - Bosta on Gt. Bernera , Uig (Uig Sands restaurant does great seafood and has spectacular views, booking recommended) or further up at the Butt there's Eoropie which you can combine with a walk from the lighthouse. If time isn't on your side and you want to squeeze in a stunning beach then Traigh Mhor/Garry Beach is on the North-East coast not too far from Stornoway.

I've been visiting for 40-odd years (Mum is from Lewis) so happy to give any further recommendations if you're in an area and looking for things to see and do.