Bit of help with a 4 day trip to Scotland

malibudave · Post by **malibudave** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 9:33 pm

Hi all,

I have taken on the responsibility of planning a four day trip for my petrol headed friends into Scotland and if possible I would like some ideas from you chaps(esses). The cars involved (just in case you were interested:

911 turbo (I think he might be the quickest)
Z4 Coupe (me...clearly have the most taste

Rx8 (mpg..ouch)
Mx5 (Midges!)

The loose plan so far is to leave early Friday morning from the Crewe area and travel round Scotland arriving back Monday night. Staying in B&Bs. We will be doing this in April.

We want to take in some of the best roads (with as little traffic as possible) however we dont want to be driving all of time, so I would like to split the journey up with some key waypoints. Ideally I would also like to spend a night in Edinburgh.

If you could give some suggestions of really good roads and really good touristy things to do, perhaps even nice places to stay, I would really appreciate it.

Ta Dave.

Zed Five · Post by **Zed Five** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 9:35 pm

A stay in the Clachaig Inn - Glencoe. - Great (pub) food/setting/whiskies

Darren Slone · Post by **Darren Slone** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 10:01 pm

I use the Dean Park Hotel in Kircaldy, just above the Forth Road Bridge

Their is a lovely road off the M74, think it's the A70? The local guys know the one I'm on about, mini Nurburgring, goes from the M74 to the FRB, fabulous!!!!

Adamski · Post by **Adamski** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 4:29 pm

A68 would be a good route but too many speed cameras (22 at last count)

How far north will you be coming? There are some great roads up near Blairgowrie, Glenshee, good route through the hills past Fettercairn etc with plenty viewpoints and stops

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Bing · Post by **Bing** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 5:46 pm

Darren Slone wrote:I use the Dean Park Hotel in Kircaldy, just above the Forth Road Bridge

Their is a lovely road off the M74, think it's the A70? The local guys know the one I'm on about, mini Nurburgring, goes from the M74 to the FRB, fabulous!!!!

The A70 is a great road, wish I had more excuses to leave the motorway on my way home when I get up that way

You could also leave the M74 at Moffat onto the A701, then head onto the A721 and pick up the A70 at Carnwath. Straight up to the Edinburgh bypass, hang a left, over the Forth Bridge and stopped for beer in the evening. Bit of a roundabout route, and I've not been down the roads for years, but some great borders scenery and twisty roads

I'm sure the 'local' boys will pick me up if I've recommended a dog...

malibudave · Post by **malibudave** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 10:58 pm

I would like to take in the Isle of Skye if possible and I think that we will also take in Loch Ness. Not sure whether to go further north. What do you think?

a11y · Post by **a11y** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:41 pm

IMO the roads get better and better the further north you go (unfortunately). An idea might be to blast up the M74 as far as Glasgow purely to get quicker access to the best roads. From there, over the Erskine Bridge on the M8 to Balloch, A82 up the side of Loch Lomond then continue on it through Glen Coe to Fort William. From Fort William take the road to Mallaig (f**king epic!) and the ferry onto Skye. Quick tour around Skye - all roads are OK but the scenery is epic - then back over the Bridge onto the mainland. Once back on mainland, head north via Lochcarron and take the Belach Na Ba pass over to Applecross. Continue north around the coast to Sheildaig. And if that's not far enough then keep heading north to Ullapool and beyond.

On the way back the road from Spean Bridge (on the A82 just north of Fort William) that heads east to Dalwhinnie, the A86 I think, is a favourite too. That leads to the A9 which is a drag, but some forum users on here (Malcz4) should be able to give you a route that avoids the tedium.

I love this trip planning

malibudave · Post by **malibudave** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 7:01 pm

Thanks for the tips gents!

Hows about things to actually visit that can work as waypoints, i.e. castles, distilleries or other interesting places.

Zed Five · Post by **Zed Five** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:53 pm

Commando memorial at speak bridge
Distillery on Skye. Name??
Glenfinnan memorial
Fort Augustus - canal locks

Zed Five · Post by **Zed Five** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 10:54 pm

Spean bridge. Damn predictive text!

Dave1971 · Post by **Dave1971** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:54 am

a11y wrote:IMO the roads get better and better the further north you go (unfortunately). An idea might be to blast up the M74 as far as Glasgow purely to get quicker access to the best roads. From there, over the Erskine Bridge on the M8 to Balloch, A82 up the side of Loch Lomond then continue on it through Glen Coe to Fort William. From Fort William take the road to Mallaig (f**king epic!) and the ferry onto Skye. Quick tour around Skye - all roads are OK but the scenery is epic - then back over the Bridge onto the mainland. Once back on mainland, head north via Lochcarron and take the Belach Na Ba pass over to Applecross. Continue north around the coast to Sheildaig. And if that's not far enough then keep heading north to Ullapool and beyond.

On the way back the road from Spean Bridge (on the A82 just north of Fort William) that heads east to Dalwhinnie, the A86 I think, is a favourite too. That leads to the A9 which is a drag, but some forum users on here (Malcz4) should be able to give you a route that avoids the tedium.

I love this trip planning

I would defo take a11y's advice on this one, I do 2 or 3 trips a year up there on the bike and can confirm these roads are great you will not be dissapionted

.

malibudave · Post by **malibudave** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 12:28 pm

Right then, the trip has changed slightly so I am now heading up there with SWMBO. So plan is:

Easter Sunday steam up to Glencoe staying at the Clachaig inn that someone recommended and stop there for two nights. Reckon on the Monday we might go to Oban and check out the distillery there.

Tuesday it's off up to Inverness via loch ness and although it's slightly out of the way the castle at Dornie. Not too sure what there is to see at Inverness so any tips welcome.

On Wednesday after doing whatever in Inverness we are off to Balmoral.

Thursday we haven't booked anywhere, we were thinking of going to Stirling, but I would be grateful for any other ideas as I have heard mixed things about it.

Friday we head to Edinburgh where we are staying in the Edinburgh residence for three nights courtesy of the parents.

Can't wait to head off, just wish the weather had held out for a little bit longer. There seems to be a few Zs up in Scotland so if you see a blue coupe hairing along with the passenger looking a bit green give us a flash!

ZermattV · Post by **ZermattV** » Sat Mar 31, 2012 11:20 pm

when you go to Balmoral I would stop off at the Distillery next door Royal Lochnagar ... worth a visit

Rather than stirling I would opt for Perthshire somewhere around Dunkeld/Loch Tay that way you can head down through Glenshee ... pretty good road.

Or Another option which is not to far from edinburgh and drivable in an afternoon from Balmoral is St Andrews.. you don't need to be a golfer to enjoy it.

Geeman · Post by **Geeman** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 7:22 am

RichardG · Post by **RichardG** » Sun Apr 01, 2012 8:38 am

I see you and everyone else is ignoring Scotland's forgotten corner

Check out the recent Moffat meet thread, think it's fair to say everyone loved the route, roads and lack of traffic.
Beyond that got to agree with Ally, Skye is a must and as for the A86 I'm still looking for excuse to go back up there. We went from Islay last year upto Inverness along the side of Loch Ness and to be honest you are heading into prime Tourist country and all the she'd dragging morons that brings. At the end of the day it all depends how much time you want to spend behind the wheel and how much time sightseeing.

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