Driving to Scotland (Forres)
Driving to Scotland (Forres)
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Discussion

Shamu

Original Poster:

147 posts

196 months

Wednesday 15th May 2013
quotequote all
Good Afternoon Chaps, after some advice and recommendations really.

Me and the girlfriend are travelling to Forres in Scotland in Mid June.

Having recently picked up my new C250, we deided on taking my car, for the MPG as much as anything!

Can anyone recommend any good routes through the Higlands, that are relatively direct, also good roads/locations to head out to once we are settled in Forres?

Start point will be Nottingham , however not really interested in stopping until we have reached the borders.

Thanks in advance :]

Regards,

Shamu

alangla

5,715 posts

197 months

Wednesday 15th May 2013
quotequote all
Straight up the M74/M73/M80/A9 to Perth then the A93/A939/A940 I think!

http://goo.gl/maps/d2khB

The A93/939 is a fantastic route, I've never travelled the part north of the Grantown, but I believe it's every bit as spectacular as what comes before.

Edited by alangla on Wednesday 15th May 13:07

Apache

39,731 posts

300 months

Wednesday 15th May 2013
quotequote all
Id use the A9 all the way, taking the A95 to Granton on Spey then left to Forres on the A96. Loads of good roads between Granton, Aviemore and Inverness.

Drive out to Aviemore then past Loch Morlich to the ski lift, lovely scenery

whirligig

941 posts

211 months

Wednesday 15th May 2013
quotequote all
From Forres basically what you want to do is head west! Have a read through this thread for some great recommendations and inspiration: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Red Devil

13,308 posts

224 months

Wednesday 15th May 2013
quotequote all
alangla said:
Straight up the M74/M73/M80/A9 to Perth then the A93/A939/A940 I think!

http://goo.gl/maps/d2khB

The A93/939 is a fantastic route, I've never travelled the part north of the Grantown, but I believe it's every bit as spectacular as what comes before.
^^This^^

Infinitely superior to the A9 north of Perth. I wouldn't describe the A939 north of Grantown as spectacular though. As compensation its good for maintaining swift progress. I haven't driven the A940 from Dava to Forres as I have always been heading to/from destinations north and west of Inbhir Nis. A quick tour using Google Streetview shows more bends and solid/double white lines. I might be tempted to stay on the A939 to Ferness and turn right onto the B9007.

To reach the M74 I would use
M1/A1(M)/A1 to Scotch Corner.
A66/B6277 to Barnard Castle
B6277 to Middleton-in-Teesdale and Alston
A689 to Brampton
A6071 to Longtown and Gretna

The B6277 section from the Langdon Beck Hotel over the fells between the valleys of the rivers Tees and South Tyne is a brilliant drive. A feast of sweeping bends, some very challenging direction changes and excellent sightlines.

Edited by Red Devil on Wednesday 15th May 15:14

sjabrown

2,007 posts

176 months

Wednesday 15th May 2013
quotequote all
Any of the routes across Dava Moor. Mixture of tricky tightening bends and flat out straights. Normally free from tourists too. There are plenty of good roads in and around the Spey Valley too. Really any road other than the A9 or A96.

Spitfire2

1,936 posts

202 months

Wednesday 15th May 2013
quotequote all
alangla said:
Straight up the M74/M73/M80/A9 to Perth then the A93/A939/A940 I think!

http://goo.gl/maps/d2khB

The A93/939 is a fantastic route, I've never travelled the part north of the Grantown, but I believe it's every bit as spectacular as what comes before.

Edited by alangla on Wednesday 15th May 13:07
This is the correct answer. Will blow you away. If heading up North and not in a rush, this would be my choice every time.

ianrb

1,610 posts

156 months

Sunday 19th May 2013
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It may be worth going via the A68; The speed cameras on the Scottish bit are being replaced, and at the moment almost all have been removed (I don't know when their replacements will be installed), so you have a once in a lifetime chance to drive that road as it was intended!

Rockape

280 posts

195 months

Sunday 2nd June 2013
quotequote all
A9 to Aviemore. Onto the A95 towards Grantown. Left onto the B9135 to Carrbridge. Right onto A938 then left B9007 to Logie. Cracking bit of road and great scenery.. Then onto the A940 into Forres. Much better and not much longer than following the A95 and onto the A940.