Road trip end of October - Scotland or Europe?
Discussion
Our lass is going away on a girls trip.
I've always, always wanted to a proper road trip but I feel like every opportunity passes me by.
Me, a map, a camera and my MX5.
I have some spare holiday to take. I will be on my own - I can take a tent or use cheapest of the cheap B&B's. I might only get 4 days, naybe 5? And I'm starting from Yorkshire.
will it be too late in the year to enjoy Scotland? I would want the roof down at every opportunity!
What about Germany/Northen Europe? What should I go see/do?
I've always, always wanted to a proper road trip but I feel like every opportunity passes me by.
Me, a map, a camera and my MX5.
I have some spare holiday to take. I will be on my own - I can take a tent or use cheapest of the cheap B&B's. I might only get 4 days, naybe 5? And I'm starting from Yorkshire.
will it be too late in the year to enjoy Scotland? I would want the roof down at every opportunity!
What about Germany/Northen Europe? What should I go see/do?
Scotland.
Spend what you save on a ferry on places with a roof and leave the tent behind.
The weather will be very weatherous. You will probably have sun, rain, snow all within the same afternoon. In any event if the weather is crap, there'll likely be some different weather along in a bit.
You can leave Leeds and get above Loch Lomond in 6 hours with a tail wind...
Spend what you save on a ferry on places with a roof and leave the tent behind.
The weather will be very weatherous. You will probably have sun, rain, snow all within the same afternoon. In any event if the weather is crap, there'll likely be some different weather along in a bit.
You can leave Leeds and get above Loch Lomond in 6 hours with a tail wind...
A tent ,in FW, it could be either heaven or hell. if it's dry, and the midges have ceased, it's heaven. if it rains, then you will find out why Inverness maternity care said to be able to tell FW babies by their feet (said to be webbed 
). There's a youth Hostel in Glen Nevis ,or bunk house accommodation at the Spean Bridge Hotel (no recommendation, just info). Or you can ask at Lochaber Tourist info in FW.
). There's a youth Hostel in Glen Nevis ,or bunk house accommodation at the Spean Bridge Hotel (no recommendation, just info). Or you can ask at Lochaber Tourist info in FW. This is the route I tend to do over 6 days, starting from Yorkshire. Hopefully be of some use. I tend to stop at Travelodges, comfortable enough and pretty cheap. To reduce the time to 5 days you could do Yorkshire up to Fort William on the first day?
Day 1: Doncaster > Dumbarton via Dales (could also go through Pennines but the chippy at Hawes always makes a nice lunch stop!)
http://goo.gl/maps/5ydRX
Day 2: Dumbarton > Fort William (prefer to go via Oban rather than the A82 over Rannoch Moor, includes loop round Loch Leven)
https://goo.gl/maps/Mcghu
Day 3: Fort William > Ullapool (Applecross Pass and a blitz from Kinlochewe and back)
https://goo.gl/maps/3q3XE
Day 4: Ullapool > Inverness
https://goo.gl/maps/pBek2
Day 5: Inverness > Dumbarton / Helensburgh (only a few miles between the two, depends which Travelodge comes out the cheapest)
https://goo.gl/maps/LGdLV
Day 6: Home (usually with a detour to the A708 for the Moffat to Selkirk run.
Enjoy!
Day 1: Doncaster > Dumbarton via Dales (could also go through Pennines but the chippy at Hawes always makes a nice lunch stop!)
http://goo.gl/maps/5ydRX
Day 2: Dumbarton > Fort William (prefer to go via Oban rather than the A82 over Rannoch Moor, includes loop round Loch Leven)
https://goo.gl/maps/Mcghu
Day 3: Fort William > Ullapool (Applecross Pass and a blitz from Kinlochewe and back)
https://goo.gl/maps/3q3XE
Day 4: Ullapool > Inverness
https://goo.gl/maps/pBek2
Day 5: Inverness > Dumbarton / Helensburgh (only a few miles between the two, depends which Travelodge comes out the cheapest)
https://goo.gl/maps/LGdLV
Day 6: Home (usually with a detour to the A708 for the Moffat to Selkirk run.
Enjoy!
Definitley Scotland!
Just got back yesterday from a 1100 mile trip to the west coast of Scotland for the first time. Living in mid Wales we have some great roads on my doorstep but the Scotish roads and scenery are something else! Don't know about camping but the weather could be very changeable. They've just a terrible summer but after a week the first proper rain we had was when we got back into Wales!
Just got back yesterday from a 1100 mile trip to the west coast of Scotland for the first time. Living in mid Wales we have some great roads on my doorstep but the Scotish roads and scenery are something else! Don't know about camping but the weather could be very changeable. They've just a terrible summer but after a week the first proper rain we had was when we got back into Wales!
snotrag said:
What about Germany/Northen Europe? What should I go see/ do ?
Food is better, beer better, weather better and arguably theyspeak better English too than in Scotland.
Only problem is getting there from Yorkshire. You'll have to
endure miles of 50 mph roadworks on the M1 or miles of 60 mph
rolling roadblocks as the lorries overtake each other on the A1.
To say nothing of the utter joy that is the M25.
However, once in La Belle France, it's cruise control at 95 mph
and half an hour later, hello Belgium.
You should be able to get anywhere in Belgium and possibly
the closest bits of Germany in the time available.
And remember, with the Euro weak against the English pound
everything will be much cheaper than usual.
Remember to stock up with a few crates of "cultural supplies"
at the usual vendors in Adinkerke.
We did a big loop of Scotland in late October a couple of years back.
Loch Lomond -> Fort William -> Inverness -> Aviemore -> Ballater
Utterly bloody gorgeous scenery, and the most amazing autumn colours across the Great Glen. We were very, very lucky with the weather - until we crossed the Cairngorms. In snow.
Northern Germany won't be unlike the UK as far as weather goes, and that's going to be your real make-or-break. I'd leave the decision until the last minute, and look at the forecasts. Shouldn't be a problem getting a ferry just by rocking up, and using the hotel websites day-by-day to chase what weather there may be.
Loch Lomond -> Fort William -> Inverness -> Aviemore -> Ballater
Utterly bloody gorgeous scenery, and the most amazing autumn colours across the Great Glen. We were very, very lucky with the weather - until we crossed the Cairngorms. In snow.
Northern Germany won't be unlike the UK as far as weather goes, and that's going to be your real make-or-break. I'd leave the decision until the last minute, and look at the forecasts. Shouldn't be a problem getting a ferry just by rocking up, and using the hotel websites day-by-day to chase what weather there may be.
z4goon said:
This is the route I tend to do over 6 days, starting from Yorkshire. Hopefully be of some use. I tend to stop at Travelodges, comfortable enough and pretty cheap. To reduce the time to 5 days you could do Yorkshire up to Fort William on the first day?
Day 1: Doncaster > Dumbarton via Dales (could also go through Pennines but the chippy at Hawes always makes a nice lunch stop!)
http://goo.gl/maps/5ydRX
Day 2: Dumbarton > Fort William (prefer to go via Oban rather than the A82 over Rannoch Moor, includes loop round Loch Leven)
https://goo.gl/maps/Mcghu
Day 3: Fort William > Ullapool (Applecross Pass and a blitz from Kinlochewe and back)
https://goo.gl/maps/3q3XE
Day 4: Ullapool > Inverness
https://goo.gl/maps/pBek2
Day 5: Inverness > Dumbarton / Helensburgh (only a few miles between the two, depends which Travelodge comes out the cheapest)
https://goo.gl/maps/LGdLV
Day 6: Home (usually with a detour to the A708 for the Moffat to Selkirk run.
Enjoy!
^^This ^^Day 1: Doncaster > Dumbarton via Dales (could also go through Pennines but the chippy at Hawes always makes a nice lunch stop!)
http://goo.gl/maps/5ydRX
Day 2: Dumbarton > Fort William (prefer to go via Oban rather than the A82 over Rannoch Moor, includes loop round Loch Leven)
https://goo.gl/maps/Mcghu
Day 3: Fort William > Ullapool (Applecross Pass and a blitz from Kinlochewe and back)
https://goo.gl/maps/3q3XE
Day 4: Ullapool > Inverness
https://goo.gl/maps/pBek2
Day 5: Inverness > Dumbarton / Helensburgh (only a few miles between the two, depends which Travelodge comes out the cheapest)
https://goo.gl/maps/LGdLV
Day 6: Home (usually with a detour to the A708 for the Moffat to Selkirk run.
Enjoy!
A couple of minor tweaks perhaps.
Day 1.
I would turn right rather than left in Wensley then head for Hawes via Redmire and Askrigg.
A nicer drive with less traffic than via Aysgarth imo. If not stopping in Hawes join the A884 west of Appersett
Day 2.
The A814 from Dumbarton to Garelochhead is a yawnfest. Leave Dumbarton on the B830.
Then up the A82 and left onto the A817 Haul Road.
Days 3/4/5.
Nothing to add other than why does Day 4 begin at at Poolewe?
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