Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

Hi guys,
Am planning a Scottish road trip for the long jubilee weekend and wonder if any of you guys and girls have any advice on roads we should try out and places to visit.

My planned route is as follows:

Fri Night:
Blackpool - Prestwick (hotel booked)

Saturday
Prestwick - Fort William (hotel booked)

Sunday
Leave Fort William - Drive to and visit Loch ness which is about an hour away.

Then we want somewhere in Scotland to visit after Loch Ness that brings us back south west or south east with one more overnight stay on Sunday night, So that we can get home for tea time on Monday, ideally no more than 5hrs ish drive from the hotel.

Over to you guys.... amaze me!

greenonedave

Do the loop road up cattle pass to Applecross then follow the coast road Northwards, Lovely scenery

stonefish

Not one that i have done myself,, but this seems to be a popular route

chief-long-shin

Look at loch lomond, there is a route that runs adjacent on east side heading back down to callendar. Really nice

speedking

Drive up the east side of Loch Long, you will not be disappointed.

Big Pete

I've driven round Scotland many times and to be honest wherever you go you'll love it! It's just so ace to drive up there!

500

Take in the electric brae if you are in the area

SwissTony

iTrader: (19)

go and visit sally, she lives on some god forsaken scotch mountain

SirFozzalot

I thought Stirling was nice.

Stirling Castle, The Wallace monument and the Old Town Jail are worth a visit.

Some of the roads up around there are great. The run through Glen Coe is nice.

We stayed at Inversnaid, right on the banks of Loch Lomond.

g7prs

iTrader: (5)

Stirling would be a good idea. Loads of great roads / sights near by. Loch Earn / Callender / Dukes Pass.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

Cannot agree more with this

I know I've shown this photo before, but if you need convincing....

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

Oh and Stu, if you've never driving on Scottish Roads before:

A Roads... aren't
Don't think about being ANYWHERE at a certain time, you'll get there when you do.
Check your brakes

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

Thanks guys, been pouring over Google maps all afternoon trying to figure out how best to plot my route and precious days. have maanged to book two hotels, in Stirling and Fort William.

So far I have this as a potential plan. (Prestwick now removed from it.)

• Friday evening - Blackpool - Stirling.

Stay here overnight. Can then visit Stirling castle in the morning.
Driving Time - 4hrs

• Saturday Morning - Stirling - Callender - Killin

Drive North from Stirling up the A84 through Callander to Killin and have lunch there by the river all being well.
Driving Time - 1hr

• Saturday Afternoon -Killin - Fort William

Take the A85 then A82 past Loch Leven and up through Fort William.
We are staying here Saturday Night.
Driving Time - 1hr 45mins

• Sunday morning.

Take the A82 right the way up to the top of Loch Ness. Stop for visit.
Driving Time - 1hr

• Sunday Afternoon

Take the A82 back south, all the way down through Fort William, along the shore of Loch Lomond to Duck Bay - Stop here.
Driving Time - 2.5hrs

And that, so far, is the master plan. I am very open to suggestions on alterations to this route... I also need to find somewhere to stay the Sunday night and somewhere to visit Monday morning prior to setting off home, Ideally, no more than 3.5hrs from home.

I really wanted to squeeze in Applegate but its a hellish drive in the middle of nowhere off our proposed track.

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

That Image has just pretty much convinced me the route needs changes to include Applecross!

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

Stu - if you want somewhere on the way back.. Hadrians Wall is always worth a look.

If you do Applecross from the South, you would drive UP that road, loop through the village and go 'round to the North then come back on yourself.

StrikE

iTrader: (3)

Stu i have sent you a pm with some info on applecross i think you might enjoy

Dark

iTrader: (1)

The A82 along the north side of Loch Ness is busy & boring with poor views and limited opportunities to stop.

Much better to take General Wade's Military Road from Fort Augustus to Dores along the south side. It's quiet, much more interesting driving and loads of great photo opportunities!

Remember that once north of Glasgow you'll only find 97 RON SUL at Fort William, Ullapool & Inverness. Maybe also at Oban and Broadfoot or Portree on the Isle of Skye. There's no 98 RON V-Power or equivalent.

Enjoy!

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

Thanks, will Google it and see if it can be tied in. Damn the woman for having to work Tuesday, my original trip plans had us out for all 4 days, not 3 which has really limited us.

Your right, I did mate, am going to try and fit this in somehow.

Thanks, will look at that option right away.

Thankfully my car runs just fine on 95 if I have no other option. The biggest issue is my 250 miles per tank MAX.

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

Thanks Guys, its pretty much finalised now... My final route is as follows:

• Friday evening: Blackpool - Stirling.

Stay here overnight. Can then visit Stirling castle in the morning.
Driving Time - 4hrs

• Saturday Morning: Stirling - Callender - Killin

Drive North from Stirling via Aberfoyle and the dukes pass. Through Callander to Killin and have lunch there by the river all being well.
Driving Time - 1.5hr

• Saturday Afternoon: Killin - Fort William -Dores - Fort William
  

Take the A85 then A82 past Loch Leven and up through Fort William. At Fort Augustus take the B862 along the south side of Loch Ness up to Dores via general wades Military Road. Stop for lunch.
Driving Time - 3hrs

Head up to Inverness then drop down the north side of Loch ness on the A82 all the way back to Fort William, where we are staying the night.
Driving Time - 1.5hrs

• Sunday morning: Fort William - Applecross
  

Take the A87/ A890 /A896 to Applecross. Stop for lunch etc.
Driving Time - 2.5hrs

• Sunday Afternoon: Applecross - Loch Leven
  

Head back the same route from Applecross, drop down onto the A82 and follow right back through Fort William to a hotel we have booked for Sunday night on the Shore Of Loch Leven. Get drunk.
Driving Time - 3hrs

• Monday morning: Loch Leven - Duck Bay
  

Take the A82 south, all the way down the north shore of Loch Lomond to Duck Bay - Stop here.
Driving Time - 1.5hrs

• Monday Afternoon: Duck Bay - Blackpool
  

Straight run home to Blackpool...
Driving Time - 4hrs

Tuesday...
Driving to Wales to go diving in a quarry...

How does this route sound to you Scotland fans now?

g7prs

iTrader: (5)

Stu on the Stirling to Callender section i would strongly advise you to go via Aberfoyle and the dukes pass! Its an amazing section of roads!

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

Thanks mate, just checked, and since its only 30mins or so longer have pencilled it in and edited the post.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

Stu - TAKE A PHOTO when you get to the road to Applecross off the A896.

Trust me, you'll p*ss yourself when you see it. You'll be thinking... "what the HELL am I driving into???"

Then you'll pootle up some hills and think "Meh, what's the fuss..."

and then you won't

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

My 7D will be going crazy this weekend mate... I expect no less than 2000 images.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

....and all your driving time estimates HAVE taken into account the photo stops....

and then Stu goes "Ah."

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

This fuel bills going to hurt!

Evolution Stu

iTrader: (2)

An M5 negates the photo stop times all on its own...

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

You HAVE seen the A896 haven't you??? Mate it's TEENY!

(Oh, if you can't get food in Applecross, I ate in Lochcarron at a little cafe and it was great)

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

That's why I like my A4 (3.0TDI)

Leaving Derby with a full tank I filled up at the Border (just cos) drove to Sal's, filled again in Thurso and then on the way home South of Glasgow

SirFozzalot

Agreed. The Dukes Pass is a nice section.

chief-long-shin

I think this is the bit i was thinking of. +3