Ireland to Scotland road trip advice

[d8666]

Looking at planning a road trip to Scotland from Ireland including the western branch of the NC500 with my girlfriend who has not been in Scotland before, I have lived in Edinburgh for a year in Uni but didn't get any further north than Aberdeen.
The transport will either be a Mini Cooper SD, m135i or Volkswagen CC.
Interests apart from driving are small hikes and good scenery., good food and pints!
Any advice on the itinerary below?

Day 1 - Monday 10th October
Leaving Sligo to Larne, Ferry over to Stranraer and staying the night in Glasgow city centre.

Day 2 - Tuesday 11th
Glasgow to Loch Lochy via the M9 A84, A85 A82

Day 3 and 4 - Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th
Isle of Skye staying in Ardvasar

Day 5 - Friday 14th
NC500 to Ullapool (or some BnB close to it)

Day 6 - Saturday 15th
Dundonnell to Thurso

Day 7 - Sunday 16th
Thurso to Inverness & Loch Ness

Day 8 - Monday 17th
Will either stay in Thurso or Inverness for two nights to break up the driving, any thoughts on which is better?

Day 9 -Tuesday 18th & Day 10 - Wednesday 19th
Inverness to Edinburgh and sight seeing in Edinburgh.

Day 11 Edinburgh to Stranraer - Larne to Sligo

Thanks in advance.

[flatlemon]

Sounds a great trip!

One tip when travelling from Inverness to Edinburgh is to cut onto the Old Military Road off the A9 to come down via the ski resorts (the Lecht and Glenshee). A bit longer but well worth it imo. It'll spit you out at Perth and then an easy drive to Edinburgh.

I think you're route will take in the Bealach na Ba at Applecross but if it doesn't definitely get it ticked off when you're coming so far.

My preference is always the North West of Scotland as the scenery is incredible. Plenty of good walking too - from short waterfalls (Wailing Widow Falls), to proper hills like An Teallach, or even Buachaille Etive Mòr in Glencoe (this is quite a short walk with plenty parking even though the car park has seen better days!).

If you need any other insight let me know. You'll have a blast whatever you end up doing.

[sherman]

Day 6. Stop at Cocoa Mountain for hot chocolate at Durness

Day 8. Dont spend 2 nights in Thurso. You will be bored.
A night in Tain would be preferable. You could then visit the Glenmorangie distillery.
Golspie would alsk be a good stop to go see Dunrobin castle.

[flatlemon]

sherman said:

Day 6. Stop at Cocoa Mountain for hot chocolate at Durness

Are they back open? I know they closed due to staff shortages, but this was only going to be temporary (hopefully, as it is so good!).

The one in Dornoch still remains open.

[Katzenjammer]

Remember to use Stena and boycott P&O !

[sherman]

flatlemon said:

sherman said:

Day 6. Stop at Cocoa Mountain for hot chocolate at Durness

Are they back open? I know they closed due to staff shortages, but this was only going to be temporary (hopefully, as it is so good!).

The one in Dornoch still remains open.

The website says both are open as of 11th april 2022?

[Fitz666]

How about Glen Etive for the obligatory Skyfall pic?

[d8666]

Thanks for the replies, will look up those walks and found the Skyfall location on the map and added it to the list…excited about that!

Will avoid two nights in Thurso for two nights and stay in Tain instead for one.

I assume PO boycott is due to the poor treatment of their UK workforce, will decently go with Stena.

Any advise on the best route from Glasgow? I read here that the Loch Lomond route is best avoided.

Is booking.com/hotels.com/Airbnb best for finding accommodation or is there a better alternative?

[Gilhooligan]

Day 2: M9 will be pretty boring. I’d drive up via Callander and go over the Duke’s Pass. Ben A’an is en route near Callander that would provide an excellent short hike. Very scenic wee hill. The Duke’s Pass is a cracking bit of driving road also.

Heading back to Stranraer I’d make sure you drive the A702 from Abington to Thornhill. Fun road called the Dalveen Pass. Or Edinburgh to Moffat on the A701 is nice. There’s plenty other good driving roads down that way too.

[MercedesClassic]

For the avoidance of doubt if you're sailing from Larne you only have the choice of P&O. Stena sail out of Belfast which will be closer for you too.

Both sail into Cairnryan not Stranraer as it was mothballed years ago.

I did similar 20 years ago, don't think it was called NC500 then but I just got out the paper map thought that be good craic. I sailed Belfast to Stranraer with Stena. First night Glasgow then did the route all the way round to Thurso and dined in Inverness. Stayed in I think Dingwall or Black Isle. Hell of a days driving but I was 28 and on my own. Started out early and didn't stop much.

I think I stayed in Edinburgh the next night then home via ferry.

Something like this would be my preference to a package holiday in the Costas at the mo with the way airports, flights and prices are. Enjoy it.

[hiccy18]

Gilhooligan said:

Day 2: M9 will be pretty boring. I’d drive up via Callander and go over the Duke’s Pass. Ben A’an is en route near Callander that would provide an excellent short hike. Very scenic wee hill. The Duke’s Pass is a cracking bit of driving road also.

Heading back to Stranraer I’d make sure you drive the A702 from Abington to Thornhill. Fun road called the Dalveen Pass. Or Edinburgh to Moffat on the A701 is nice. There’s plenty other good driving roads down that way too.

Some good advice there, to get to the Dukes Pass you head for Aberfoyle then follow the A821 to Kilmahog. If you've never been to Loch Lomond, it's lovely. But, it's a commuter road, and tourist road, and there's always a string of cars doing 40MPH so it's really frustrating to drive if you are actually going somewhere. If you can stomach a low speed drive from Milton to Crianlarich and want to see some really lovely scenery then Luss is the normal stopping point.

Depending on where you stay in Glasgow affects your route out: if you stay in the north then heading for Aberfoyle is a no-brainer. If you're staying more central or south to head for Aberfoyle means Anniesland Cross and Milngavie, urban commuter roads and no fun; in this scenario M80/M9 is a relatively painless route, if not fun. Either way, the Green Welly at Tyndrum is a good stopping point for breakfast/brunch.

A day going from Glasgow to Loch Lochy will leave you a lot of spare time, Ullapool to Thurso not so much. I've not been (they were full!) but the Inchnadamph Hotel looks good and is well placed for some exploring. The Store Cafe at Bettyhill is handily placed and hospitable.

Tain, hmm... if you like Glenmorangie, find it a bit bland personally, but.... Platform 1864 is a nice place for a meal. Alternatively you could stay in Brora, visit the rather swanky new Clynelish visitors centre (opened last year), or if you've deep pockets, get a tour at Brora. I enjoyed the trip towards Lairg and back, the roads featured plenty of medium speed well sighted corners. Didn't make it along Struie Road, the views are meant to be really good, but it was chucking it with low clouds when we were there.

Grantown on Spey > Braemar > Perth completely worth it, as is Dalveen Pass, then from Thornhill head for Moniaive, St Johns Town of Dalry then the Queens Way to Newton Stewart.

[d8666]

Thanks for all the info.

[Hoofty]

Day 5 is a bit of a monster. It's do-able, particularly following a couple of days staying put, but it's over 5 hours driving, and on fairly demanding roads at that. Plenty (and I mean plenty!) of opportunities to stop (you'll be taking photos every 5-10 mins), just worth being prepared for a long day.

You'll love it though, great itinerary and advice from others.

[loskie]

Why don't you leave out Glasgow. Cairnryan up the Ayrshire cost to Ardrossan. Ferry to Arran. Off the other side of Arran to Skipness down the east coast of Kintyre back up the west coast. Take the Kilberry road from Tarbert to Lochgilphead and head north to Oban. then Fortwilliam to Mallaig

In fact a trip from Stranraer south to Mull Of Galloway (Scotland's most southernly point) is fantastic too. That Rhins peninsular is very nice. Unspoiled. Stay in Portpatrick.

Edited by loskie on Thursday 4th August 21:32

[d8666]

I’ll have to get the map out and mark out all these suggestions, plenty of good knowledge on here.
That time of year is it better to book well in advance or else leave it until a. Day or so before hand which gives some flexibility with the itinerary.

[d8666]

I’ll have to get the map out and mark out all these suggestions, plenty of good knowledge on here.
That time of year is it better to book well in advance or else leave it until a. Day or so before hand which gives some flexibility with the itinerary.

[sherman]

d8666 said:

I’ll have to get the map out and mark out all these suggestions, plenty of good knowledge on here.
That time of year is it better to book well in advance or else leave it until a. Day or so before hand which gives some flexibility with the itinerary.

I would still book even though you will be at the far end of the season. Some places will shut around 1st October for the winter and wont reopen until April 1st.

[Kenty in Weardale]

Cocoa Mountain Durness wasn't open in June; locals said that "they had had problems with staff retention". Polite version

[Nico Adie]

loskie said:

Why don't you leave out Glasgow. Cairnryan up the Ayrshire cost to Ardrossan. Ferry to Arran. Off the other side of Arran to Skipness down the east coast of Kintyre back up the west coast. Take the Kilberry road from Tarbert to Lochgilphead and head north to Oban. then Fortwilliam to Mallaig

In fact a trip from Stranraer south to Mull Of Galloway (Scotland's most southernly point) is fantastic too. That Rhins peninsular is very nice. Unspoiled. Stay in Portpatrick.

Edited by loskie on Thursday 4th August 21:32

This is excellent advice. The views on the Kilberry road are fantastic, and if you hit it at the right time it's absolutely rammed with brambles on both sides.

Actually on second thoughts it's a rubbish part of the world and people should avoid it at all costs.

[flatlemon]

Glad you managed the trip.

That doesn't surprise me about the pothole in Edinburgh, the roads are a disgrace in the capital.

How did the scenery and driving roads compare to what you have in Ireland? I'm keen for a trip to Ireland for a driving holiday.