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Post by alf on Aug 9, 2021 9:15:56 GMT
Another year of holiday weirdness.... I really feel I need something not involving watching other people's kids fighting, or saying "no" to anything the adults are vaguely interested in. I didn't get my arse in gear before the school holidays, then a guy in my team was signed off for a month giving me another (third) full time role to add to my collection, meaning September is my last chance of good weather. Tina is on jury service. If I don't just take a mountain bike to Coed Y Brenin for a few days, I'm likely to do a Scottish road trip of some sort. I've been to the Cairngorms on a winter mountaineering course, but otherwise never been north of Edinburgh/Glasgow. What do we recommend? I found this which is very helpful watchmesee.com/blog/the-best-scenic-drives-in-scotland/ but obvs its one person's views. I was thinking Skye and so on, but it seems that was too busy even before lockdown! The North Coast 500 seems a bloody long way to drive/get to and I have also heard from a colleague in Scotland that its become something of a busy route as well. That said, the far north - mountains and few people - I do need to see some time. If the weather is good then I would not be averse to more ambling about / taking photos than just driving, something smaller like just the Kintyre peninsular or Isle of Mull might suit. Or the south west coastal 300... I rarely use the proper camera much these days so it would be great to spend some time taking photos for once, which can take an age to get right. Anyway, any thoughts? Will I get bitten to madness by midges on the west coast? Would banging up to Inverness from Glasgow then back through the Cairngorms make a good compromise, and leave the north coast 500 for another, longer, trip? Also - which car? Noisy cars are annoying on long motorway schleps - but this is holiday, not work - I don't need to be on the phone, I can take breaks, if I arrive tired then so what? I imagine the Boxster would be a lovely thing to truly enjoy the views in up north, and if I'm doing the odd walk I'll be in warm and waterproof clothes anyway. |
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Post by ChrisM on Aug 9, 2021 9:43:21 GMT
If you want to combine hill walking and a bit of photography, I can suggest visiting Stonehaven and trekking up to Dunnottar Castle just south of Aberdeen. Plenty of other interesting places to explore around here... Dundee, Arbroath, Edsel (motoring connection by name only)
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Post by johnc on Aug 9, 2021 9:49:09 GMT
That's a really difficult conundrum James. I really love Glen Coe, I find Skye a bit boring and I found many of the Mull roads to be too narrow to be driven aggressively without excessive danger of meeting someone doing the same thing in the opposite direction. I think by September the NC500 will have cooled down a bit tourist wise but there is also no guarantee the weather will even remotely hospitable.
If you decided to drive up to Inverness, the A9 is the most direct route but average speed cameras also make it one of the most boring. The road through Glen Coe up to Fort William and then up the Great Glen past Loch Ness is far more scenic and enjoyable although the scamera vans are out regularly.
By September midges will largely be gone unless it stays very mild and damp. However even a little wind gets rid of them and September is seldom without the early signs of winter with shorter cooler days and a bit of wind.
If I was on my own, I think I would take the Boxster because if the weather is decent, roof down motoring will give you so much more of an experience except on the motorways.
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Post by Boxer6 on Aug 9, 2021 9:53:13 GMT
Well, you don’t want much do you?  I have never done either the South West 300 (never heard of it til now in fact!) or the NC500, but I have driven many parts of both, judging from looking at that lassie’s maps. NC500 is a fair old schlep even for us going to Inverness from near Glasgow; the A9 is one of the most boring roads in the world IMO, though there are many stretches where you get some truly spectacular views – some bits, you can even stop and snap away! The A82 is much the better route for scenery plus, perhaps more relevant to you than me, there’s the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge to stop off at on that route. It’s a lovely road most of the way, and better the further North you get. As you say, though, it is extremely busy and full of caravans/campers apparently. No thanks. Skye is a nightmare this time of year, though in September things might have eased off a bit. Booking somewhere to stay might be a bit of an issue, and also pretty expensive from what I’ve heard! There are also about 10.5 gazillion midges per cubic inch of air at this time of year, EVERYWHERE, not just on the West coast, and they’ll still be about in September I’m afraid. I use a product called Smidge, which seems to work round our central-belt way fairly well, also Avon’s Skin-so-soft is said to work now they re-re-jigged the formula! You’ll never stop the wee buggers completely though. As for the South West; Ayrshire is where I’m from originally, and I’ve done quite a bit of driving around there over the years. As ever, the towns can be a pain in the rear, but outside of that the roads are generally pretty nice to drive. Kintyre, Mull & the islands, all that side of the country has some terrific driving roads, though there are a few on the East coast too; Tim would be more informative in that regard I think. If you book in advance, you can do the '3 Islands tour' from Oban, which takes you to Mull then on to Fingal's cave on Staffa (by boat, plenty of puffins and gannets out there!) then over to Iona. It takes pretty much a full day, and it's on the ferry/bus, but we thoroughly enjoyed it. Wee tip: Avoid the A77 at all costs, if you head for the South West from Glasgow way; it’s a 50mph limit for miles and miles and miles .. .. utterly soul destroying! As for choice of car; if it were me, I think I’d go for the Boxster IF you can fit all your gear in it comfortably. Being on your own I can’t see that being an issue right enough. I dare say I’ll think of plenty more later – hope that helps for now though. |
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Aug 9, 2021 10:03:27 GMT
Organising holidays for us was difficult for us this year and we didn't know where to go so, in the end, I got a map of the UK and said to Mrs.Sacamano; "throw a dart and wherever it lands we'll go there for our hols".
I'm pleased to say we're going to spend two weeks in Sept down by the skirting boards.
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Post by racingteatray on Aug 9, 2021 10:04:39 GMT
I'll leave the road suggestions to others who know them better than me. But I'd take the Boxster - I drove up to Islay about a decade or more ago in the Z1 and it was great having a small roadster up there.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2021 10:51:11 GMT
No idea of road trips up north but the A9 strikes as another to avoid. I did London to Orkney in the late 80's by public transport which was an eye opener. I climbed through the circular underground entry of a round house and cycled through ten miles of fantastic scenery. Clearest sea water I have seen outside of the med and had a thoroughly agreeable time. Knackered definitely but great times. Last time I was up there a lot had changed with folk moving into the towns out of the small communities and I barely recognised the place. The second distillery (Orkney) has been restarted under the same company ownership of the team who own Highland Park which is the most northern traditional distillery, the tour was bloody good even with their new visitor centre. They used to have the entry and exit doors right next to each other and one year I went round five time before they noticed. You get a 'dram' at the end of each tour........ Well, you USED to. The big draw is the ability to get right in there with the history and not be at a huge distance from it.
Highland park is not as good at the lower end of the price range, policy on including higher year barrels into the 12 year old product which just does not happen any more but some others like the 18 year old are truly wonderful. Priced in the eye watering bracket though. Orkney do not as far as I know, have their own distillery now but the product is a fair one price wise.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Aug 9, 2021 11:04:19 GMT
They used to have the entry and exit doors right next to each other and one year I went round five time before they noticed. You get a 'dram' at the end of each tour........ Well, you USED to. The big draw is the ability to get right in there with the history and not be at a huge distance from it. That was on an episode of Still Game. Great comedy series. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2021 11:13:13 GMT
No idea if they still have the dram. I might go back one day.
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Post by Martin on Aug 9, 2021 13:27:46 GMT
I'll leave the road suggestions to others who know them better than me. But I'd take the Boxster - I drove up to Islay about a decade or more ago in the Z1 and it was great having a small roadster up there. Same here, no idea about the best roads, but 100% has to be the Boxster. |
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Post by alf on Aug 9, 2021 13:48:35 GMT
Great comments, thanks.
I think it will be the Boxster unless I decide to take a bike - which is unlikely. Yes it will be a bore on the motorway, but I covered some serious distance in the Caterham (in winter, and without a hood - it basically just filled up with water when it rained, especially the bucket seats) and although I was younger then, the Porsche is a very different beast.
Kit is no problem. I can fit in the front boot, crouched down - its huge. The rear boot is sort of what you expect of a small sports car, and then there is the passenger seating area, area behind the passenger seat, etc. It has ample room for too much luggage for two - as long as its in soft bags...
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Post by Martin on Aug 9, 2021 15:21:02 GMT
Great comments, thanks. I think it will be the Boxster unless I decide to take a bike - which is unlikely. Yes it will be a bore on the motorway, but I covered some serious distance in the Caterham (in winter, and without a hood - it basically just filled up with water when it rained, especially the bucket seats) and although I was younger then, the Porsche is a very different beast. Kit is no problem. I can fit in the front boot, crouched down - its huge. The rear boot is sort of what you expect of a small sports car, and then there is the passenger seating area, area behind the passenger seat, etc. It has ample room for too much luggage for two - as long as its in soft bags... Plenty of space in a Boxster for trips away, we had many long weekends in ours. Not just soft bags, 2 x carry on size suitcases fit perfectly in the front boot plus room on top for Jackets etc irrc and as you say it has a decent size rear boot, which is the same roof up or down. |
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Post by Boxer6 on Aug 9, 2021 19:53:51 GMT
They used to have the entry and exit doors right next to each other and one year I went round five time before they noticed. You get a 'dram' at the end of each tour........ Well, you USED to. The big draw is the ability to get right in there with the history and not be at a huge distance from it. That was on an episode of Still Game. Great comedy series. It was indeed, and set in the Glen Goyne distillery which is about 15 miles from us - and a lot closer to JohnC!! |
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Post by ChrisM on Aug 9, 2021 20:01:02 GMT
If you're going on your own because your OH is on jury service you needn't go that far north. The Borders has some great driving roads that you would enjoy in the Boxster, and there are plenty of interesting small towns and villages -0 you may not need to book hotels for every night in advance.
Coldstream, Melrose, Galashiels... call in at Duns and see the Jim Clark museum, then go to Chirnside and spot the sign in my avatar ;-)
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Post by johnc on Aug 10, 2021 7:31:18 GMT
It was indeed, and set in the Glen Goyne distillery which is about 15 miles from us - and a lot closer to JohnC!! About 5 minutes from me! |
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Post by Tim on Aug 10, 2021 10:01:17 GMT
There are some fantastic driving roads in the Borders - it seems one of EVOs favourite places.
Ref further north, we love going up past Inverness to Ullapool, Durness, etc but all reports from up there are of gridlock caused by folk who've hired big campers and have no idea how to drive them.
I'm certainly praying for holiday destinations abroad to open up so folk can go there rather than here!
I'm not sure about the A82 recommendations, whenever I've been on it there's inevitably a long queue of slow moving traffic behind a caravan or tour bus. There are VERY limited overtaking options as well but if you're happy to dawdle and take in the scenery it'd be ok.
I'd suggest avoiding the A9 unless, again, you're happy to sit at 60 and look at the scenery. My recommendation would be the A93 Old Military Road from Perth up to Braemar then cross country.
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Post by johnc on Aug 10, 2021 10:12:31 GMT
My recommendation would be the A93 Old Military Road from Perth up to Braemar then cross country. I can't deny that is a good shout. By September though the A82 should be a bit quieter. |
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Post by Tim on Aug 10, 2021 11:01:01 GMT
Scroll about halfway down the photos in this link to see part of the current problem on the North Coast 500 www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-58081513A very large motorhome trying to negotiate the Cattle Pass on the road to/from Applecross. |
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Post by Boxer6 on Aug 10, 2021 11:32:43 GMT
My recommendation would be the A93 Old Military Road from Perth up to Braemar then cross country. I can't deny that is a good shout. By September though the A82 should be a bit quieter. That road (A93) takes you past where our caravan is sited, about half a mile up a side road! I just found out that the weekend just gone was the Cateran Yomp run; it was cancelled last year, of course, and we hadn't heard anything about it this year or we may well have gone up for a peruse. |
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Post by johnc on Aug 10, 2021 12:45:32 GMT
Scroll about halfway down the photos in this link to see part of the current problem on the North Coast 500 www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-58081513A very large motorhome trying to negotiate the Cattle Pass on the road to/from Applecross. Caravans and trailers used to be banned from that road for good reason. There is no good reason they couldn't do that again. I'm just glad that Gino, Gordon and Fred weren't driving that! |
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Post by chocy on Aug 11, 2021 11:16:57 GMT
There are some fantastic driving roads in the Borders - it seems one of EVOs favourite places. Ref further north, we love going up past Inverness to Ullapool, Durness, etc but all reports from up there are of gridlock caused by folk who've hired big campers and have no idea how to drive them. I'm certainly praying for holiday destinations abroad to open up so folk can go there rather than here! I'm not sure about the A82 recommendations, whenever I've been on it there's inevitably a long queue of slow moving traffic behind a caravan or tour bus. There are VERY limited overtaking options as well but if you're happy to dawdle and take in the scenery it'd be ok. I'd suggest avoiding the A9 unless, again, you're happy to sit at 60 and look at the scenery. My recommendation would be the A93 Old Military Road from Perth up to Braemar then cross country. Tim beat me to it. The A93 is a fantastic road, not passenger friendly but great for the driver. Some parts are so wide and we'll sighted, 70mph feels like 20. If I remember correctly. That's where Evo took the McLaren Senna. |
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Post by Tim on Aug 11, 2021 12:24:05 GMT
I thought they took the Senna up past Ullapool?
However, the latest mag has them in the borders with the 911 GT3, McLaren something or other and, my favourite, the Nissan GT-R Nismo
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Post by Roadrunner on Aug 14, 2021 16:24:58 GMT
This is a very useful thread, since we shall soon be heading up to Plockton. The Cattle Pass, Mam Ratagan and Glen Garry are all possible excursions while we are there.
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Post by Boxer6 on Aug 14, 2021 19:01:39 GMT
This is a very useful thread, since we shall soon be heading up to Plockton. The Cattle Pass, Mam Ratagan and Glen Garry are all possible excursions while we are there. Very picturesque part of the world - enjoy. |
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Post by johnc on Aug 16, 2021 8:01:06 GMT
I've only ever sailed into Plockton and then rowed ashore for some bread and milk. It does have a certain "non Scottish" feel about it with Tropical plants which survive because of the Gulf Stream. It's a very pretty village.
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Post by Roadrunner on Aug 16, 2021 9:00:09 GMT
I've only ever sailed into Plockton and then rowed ashore for some bread and milk. It does have a certain "non Scottish" feel about it with Tropical plants which survive because of the Gulf Stream. It's a very pretty village. I understand it is a very pretty village, but we shall be out and about most days to see some more 'normal ' Scottish scenery. In particular, I am very much looking forward to the boat trip from Elgol to Loch Coruisk. |
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Post by johnc on Aug 16, 2021 9:33:40 GMT
If the weather is kind to you, it is beautiful. If not, it is grey unfortunately.
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