One Day Road Trip in Scotland

[assadahmed]

I will be travelling to Edinburgh at the of the month to attend a family wedding. I will be there for four days but have set one of those days aside for a road trip.

I would be grateful for suggestions on a nice route to take. I plan on an early start to get as much drive time as possible.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

[alangla]

There's a few options, what do you like? Seaside, ups & downs through fast twisty roads, stunning loch & mountainscapes or massive river bridges?
How many hours do you want to drive for? Is there anywhere you'd really like to visit?

[clunkbox]

Short-ish: http://goo.gl/maps/hTzEM

Medium: http://goo.gl/maps/T38oJ Edit: Detour down Glen Docherty

Endurance: http://goo.gl/maps/bYzZq

Once you get to inverness, you can skip Braemar and just go straight down the a9 if you are feeling gubbed!

Edited by clunkbox on Wednesday 7th August 11:27

[assadahmed]

Thanks for the links. I will have a look at them when I get some time.

I don't mine a good 8 to 9 hours of driving. Just got back from a Wales Road Trip and was driving 9 to 10 hours a day with no problems.

[Kronstein]

clunkbox said:

Short-ish: http://goo.gl/maps/hTzEM

Medium: http://goo.gl/maps/T38oJ Edit: Detour down Glen Docherty

Endurance: http://goo.gl/maps/bYzZq

Once you get to inverness, you can skip Braemar and just go straight down the a9 if you are feeling gubbed!

Edited by clunkbox on Wednesday 7th August 11:27

I like your medium flavoured route.

I'd opt for a relatively leisurely A823. A822. A826. A827 (East). A93. A939. Aviemore for lunch and return via A939 (again) or A9.

[GetCarter]

assadahmed said:

Thanks for the links. I will have a look at them when I get some time.

I don't mine a good 8 to 9 hours of driving. Just got back from a Wales Road Trip and was driving 9 to 10 hours a day with no problems.

Assuming it's decent weather, Applecross is a must.... And Glen Coe the other.

[assadahmed]

clunkbox said:

Short-ish: http://goo.gl/maps/hTzEM

Medium: http://goo.gl/maps/T38oJ Edit: Detour down Glen Docherty

Endurance: http://goo.gl/maps/bYzZq

Once you get to inverness, you can skip Braemar and just go straight down the a9 if you are feeling gubbed!

Edited by clunkbox on Wednesday 7th August 11:27

The shortish route looks nice and seems suited for the one day that I have set aside!

[Red Devil]

assadahmed said:

The shortish route looks nice and seems suited for the one day that I have set aside!

I would make some detours which keep you off the A9 as much as possible. It's not only rather boring but can be a real pain if you're stuck in a freight train behind an artic.

At the end of the B851 turn left instead of right. Turn right on to the B9154 to Moy. Follow this all the way to its end and turn left onto the A9. Take the right turn signposted local services Tomatin. Go past the Distillery, then through Tomatin village , across the bridge over the River Findhorn and rejoin the A9. Take the right turn signposted Slochd. Follow this road to its end and turn left onto the A938.

[skatty]

Red Devil said:

At the end of the B851 turn left instead of right. Turn right on to the B9154 to Moy. Follow this all the way to its end and turn left onto the A9. Take the right turn signposted local services Tomatin. Go past the Distillery, then through Tomatin village , across the bridge over the River Findhorn and rejoin the A9. Take the right turn signposted Slochd. Follow this road to its end and turn left onto the A938.

SSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Don't tell everyone it will start to get busy,

[JM]

Red Devil said:

I would make some detours which keep you off the A9 as much as possible. It's not only rather boring but can be a real pain if you're stuck in a freight train behind an artic.

At the end of the B851 turn left instead of right. Turn right on to the B9154 to Moy. Follow this all the way to its end and turn left onto the A9. Take the right turn signposted local services Tomatin. Go past the Distillery, then through Tomatin village , across the bridge over the River Findhorn and rejoin the A9. Take the right turn signposted Slochd. Follow this road to its end and turn left onto the A938.

That route doesn't exactly use a lot of the A9, but as an alternative I'd turn right just before Farr on the B851 and head over the hills to Strathearn/Tomatin then it's just the A9 over the Slochd summit.

[Red Devil]

JM said:

That route doesn't exactly use a lot of the A9, but as an alternative I'd turn right just before Farr on the B851 and head over the hills to Strathearn/Tomatin then it's just the A9 over the Slochd summit.

Ah, you mean this one. Brings you out by the river Findhorn here. Head for Tomatin and turn right (onto my detour route) here. By taking the right turn I suggested at Slochd the A9 will only be traversed for a grand total of 1 mile.

There will be even more reason to avoid the A9 starting next year when the opportunities to get past the HGVs will be reduced - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-is...

[craig2003]

If you do take the Garbole road to Tomatin be aware of the fairly deep ruts. I found out the hard way and had to replace the sump!