Roads to Fort William
Discussion
A few of us will be heading to Fort William in September to do some riding at the Nevis Range (assuming Covid free by then) does anyone recommend a decent route?
My in-laws used to live in Inverness then Fort Augustus and we usually went A9 all the way to Inverness or to Dalwhinnie across the A86 to Augustus. We came back once the A82 all the way back to Glasgow and for some reason I remember it taking a lot longer.
Is this the quickest way to Fort William? Also considering M9 to Stirling then A84/85 back to the A82.
I’d rather a more pleasant/quiet drive on some nice roads/scenery (unless it adds significant time).
Anyone any suggestions?
Cheers
Edit to add il coming from Chorley lancs so M6/74 to Glasgow so only need from Glasgow on.
My in-laws used to live in Inverness then Fort Augustus and we usually went A9 all the way to Inverness or to Dalwhinnie across the A86 to Augustus. We came back once the A82 all the way back to Glasgow and for some reason I remember it taking a lot longer.
Is this the quickest way to Fort William? Also considering M9 to Stirling then A84/85 back to the A82.
I’d rather a more pleasant/quiet drive on some nice roads/scenery (unless it adds significant time).
Anyone any suggestions?
Cheers
Edit to add il coming from Chorley lancs so M6/74 to Glasgow so only need from Glasgow on.
The A82 past Loch Lomond and through Glencoe would be your quickest route. While this way does have some excellent scenery, it is the main route from west central Scotland to the north west and the road can be reasonably busy with slow drivers, camper vans, and limited overtaking opportunities once you have passed Bridge Of Orchy. However if you’re looojg for a relaxed drive, this is your winner.
Alternatively you could take the longer alternative west route via the A85 and A828 which can yield some quieter roads and good scenery.
The least preferable route (to me anyway) is M73/M80/A9 via Perth, then on to the A889 and A86, which I’d say is not only longer by much less scenic, but it has many miles of average speed cameras along the A9.
Alternatively you could take the longer alternative west route via the A85 and A828 which can yield some quieter roads and good scenery.
The least preferable route (to me anyway) is M73/M80/A9 via Perth, then on to the A889 and A86, which I’d say is not only longer by much less scenic, but it has many miles of average speed cameras along the A9.
I'm biased against going up Lomondside as I've spent yonks doing it and it's gone from being a great run to a chore of strings of cars refusing to overtake the guy doing 45MPH and from Tarbet to Inverarnan it's twisty and slow going which should be great but you will be stuck behind a load of dawdlers.
From the south rather than following the M74 through Glasgow the M73/M80/M9 to Stirling is a nice enough run and then you can take A84/A85 through Callander to Crianlarich. Google reckons it only adds 10 mins on compared to going up the A82 and Kilmahog to Crianlarich is a nice run. Loch Lubnaig is bonny too, although it's no Loch Lomond.
From the south rather than following the M74 through Glasgow the M73/M80/M9 to Stirling is a nice enough run and then you can take A84/A85 through Callander to Crianlarich. Google reckons it only adds 10 mins on compared to going up the A82 and Kilmahog to Crianlarich is a nice run. Loch Lubnaig is bonny too, although it's no Loch Lomond.
This route is probably adding on 30 mins but I’d head up to Aberfoyle and do the dukes pass then onto Callander and up through Glen Ogle then back towards Crianlarich and onto the a82 again. Dukes pass is a great driver’s road and glen ogle is also a nice spot, same with loch Lubnaig.
hiccy18 said:
I'm biased against going up Lomondside as I've spent yonks doing it and it's gone from being a great run to a chore of strings of cars refusing to overtake the guy doing 45MPH and from Tarbet to Inverarnan it's twisty and slow going which should be great but you will be stuck behind a load of dawdlers.
From the south rather than following the M74 through Glasgow the M73/M80/M9 to Stirling is a nice enough run and then you can take A84/A85 through Callander to Crianlarich. Google reckons it only adds 10 mins on compared to going up the A82 and Kilmahog to Crianlarich is a nice run. Loch Lubnaig is bonny too, although it's no Loch Lomond.
This is what I seem to remember last time (it was a good few years ago mind) that coming down past Loch Lomond area was very busy, slow even down to a crawl at some points with trucks passing each other. I think I like the look of the A84/85 with only 10 mins longer on google but may actually be quicker if less traffic and itl also be new road to me. From the south rather than following the M74 through Glasgow the M73/M80/M9 to Stirling is a nice enough run and then you can take A84/A85 through Callander to Crianlarich. Google reckons it only adds 10 mins on compared to going up the A82 and Kilmahog to Crianlarich is a nice run. Loch Lubnaig is bonny too, although it's no Loch Lomond.
Il check out some of the other routes mentioned also, cheers
Gilhooligan said:
This route is probably adding on 30 mins but I’d head up to Aberfoyle and do the dukes pass then onto Callander and up through Glen Ogle then back towards Crianlarich and onto the a82 again. Dukes pass is a great driver’s road and glen ogle is also a nice spot, same with loch Lubnaig.
If you take the most direct route to Aberfoyle you go through some right Weegie s
tholes, I'd aim for Kilsyth via 4A on the M80 then head for Strathblane and up, a pleasant drive from Kilsyth.hiccy18 said:
From the south rather than following the M74 through Glasgow the M73/M80/M9 to Stirling is a nice enough run and then you can take A84/A85 through Callander to Crianlarich. Google reckons it only adds 10 mins on compared to going up the A82 and Kilmahog to Crianlarich is a nice run. Loch Lubnaig is bonny too, although it's no Loch Lomond.
This is the right answer. The Lomond road is awful.deckster said:
hiccy18 said:
From the south rather than following the M74 through Glasgow the M73/M80/M9 to Stirling is a nice enough run and then you can take A84/A85 through Callander to Crianlarich. Google reckons it only adds 10 mins on compared to going up the A82 and Kilmahog to Crianlarich is a nice run. Loch Lubnaig is bonny too, although it's no Loch Lomond.
This is the right answer. The Lomond road is awful.deckster said:
hiccy18 said:
From the south rather than following the M74 through Glasgow the M73/M80/M9 to Stirling is a nice enough run and then you can take A84/A85 through Callander to Crianlarich. Google reckons it only adds 10 mins on compared to going up the A82 and Kilmahog to Crianlarich is a nice run. Loch Lubnaig is bonny too, although it's no Loch Lomond.
This is the right answer. The Lomond road is awful.hiccy18 said:
If you take the most direct route to Aberfoyle you go through some right Weegie stholes, I'd aim for Kilsyth via 4A on the M80 then head for Strathblane and up, a pleasant drive from Kilsyth.
No you don’t lol. From the M74 you’d go through the Clyde tunnel then up past either Bearsden or Milngavie. tholes, I'd aim for Kilsyth via 4A on the M80 then head for Strathblane and up, a pleasant drive from Kilsyth.If OP has more time then another slight detour via the Crow road towards Fintry is also a cracking bit of tarmac with car park high up on the hill offering good views.
Back in May 2019 we drove 530 miles from the East Midlands to Garve. With an early 5am start we just took the quickest route that included the A9, which was mercifully quiet. As we were staying overnight at North Queensferry on the way back, I chose to go scenic and take the A82, A85 and the A84. I have had some good runs using that route.
However, this particular journey felt like one of those trips where every dawdler in the west of Scotland was waiting in hiding for us to approach, then they would pull out in front and, well, you know - dawdle, almost professionally. As soon as we managed to get past one, another one would emerge from a side road or lay-by. I just about managed to keep my patience even when we were came out of Callendar when Doris in a Civic desperately shot out in front of us and drove at a sonic boom inducing speed of 32 mph on NSL stretches whilst veering all over the place. Traffic was busy coming the other way, so it was like this for a good few very long felt miles before finally getting past. I was relieved when we eventually reached the M9 - never been so glad to get onto a motorway.
If you go this way, be prepared for what will feel like tag team dawdling! Equally you might be lucky enough to have a good run.
However, this particular journey felt like one of those trips where every dawdler in the west of Scotland was waiting in hiding for us to approach, then they would pull out in front and, well, you know - dawdle, almost professionally. As soon as we managed to get past one, another one would emerge from a side road or lay-by. I just about managed to keep my patience even when we were came out of Callendar when Doris in a Civic desperately shot out in front of us and drove at a sonic boom inducing speed of 32 mph on NSL stretches whilst veering all over the place. Traffic was busy coming the other way, so it was like this for a good few very long felt miles before finally getting past. I was relieved when we eventually reached the M9 - never been so glad to get onto a motorway.
If you go this way, be prepared for what will feel like tag team dawdling! Equally you might be lucky enough to have a good run.
Edited by stogbandard on Tuesday 12th January 20:54
deckster said:
hiccy18 said:
From the south rather than following the M74 through Glasgow the M73/M80/M9 to Stirling is a nice enough run and then you can take A84/A85 through Callander to Crianlarich. Google reckons it only adds 10 mins on compared to going up the A82 and Kilmahog to Crianlarich is a nice run. Loch Lubnaig is bonny too, although it's no Loch Lomond.
This is the right answer. The Lomond road is awful.Gilhooligan said:
hiccy18 said:
If you take the most direct route to Aberfoyle you go through some right Weegie stholes, I'd aim for Kilsyth via 4A on the M80 then head for Strathblane and up, a pleasant drive from Kilsyth.
No you don’t lol. From the M74 you’d go through the Clyde tunnel then up past either Bearsden or Milngavie. tholes, I'd aim for Kilsyth via 4A on the M80 then head for Strathblane and up, a pleasant drive from Kilsyth.If OP has more time then another slight detour via the Crow road towards Fintry is also a cracking bit of tarmac with car park high up on the hill offering good views.
Edited by hiccy18 on Tuesday 12th January 23:18
As someone who lives just outside Glasgow and has travelled many times to Fort William I would say the only way to go is up to Stirling then the A84 and A85 to Fort William. Loch Lomond route is not advised especially if it's a holiday weekend unless you like sitting in slow moving traffic. A decent satnav should help with avoiding the speed cameras.
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