Another Highlands jaunt (with a welcomed surprise!)
- Thread starter junglist
- Start date
Definitely worth the long slog up there though eh! Writing up my trip and going through my photos just makes me want to set off in the morning and do it all over again! 
Day 5: Inverness to Dumbarton
Day 5 would be the last day of "proper" driving. It had to come eventually! The majority of today would be spent heading through the Cairngorms National Park. I really enjoy this part of the trip, the scenery and roads are top notch just like the previous 4 days but something stands out about this section.
Leaving Inverness on the B9006 / B9090 / B9091, I headed past Cawdor and picked up the A939. It's amazing how Inverness is classed as the capital of the Highlands, yet just a few miles out of the city centre you can be driving great roads with very little traffic. Quite a contrast to the previous days as the mountains and coastal views have been replaced with woodland and dense forestry yet it's remains picturesque. I kept the Z in third gear pretty much all the way, which gave me a combination of acceleration out of the bends, and a decent speed along the straights. Lots of burbling and popping lifting off before going in to the corners which sounded awesome! And there's lots of corners!
(He says posting a photo of a completely straight road :lol
At the end of the B9091, I turned right on to the A939, an amazing road that climbs right to the top of the Cairngorms, past the Glenshee Ski Centre and then back down all the way to Rinloan in the heart of the park.
The sun was shining, the roof was down and roads pretty much to myself. Bliss. 8)
And how it looked 4 weeks previous:
At Rinloan I picked up the B976, before the A93 which took me through Ballater and on to Dalrulzion where I turned right on to the B950, and eventually the A924 to Pitlochry.
Whilst at Pitlochry I thought I'd break the day up and had a mooch around the hydro-electric dam.
From Pitlochry it was the A827 and then the A85 / A84 heading back towards Dumbarton.
Just before Callander, I took the A821 to Aberfoyle, incorporating the Dukes Pass which I believe sees it's fair share of cycling events. Luckily, nothing going on today! Lots of tight, technical corners meant plenty of overrun and that addictive exhaust burble.
After letting the car cool down it was the final stint along the A811 and A82 back to Dumbarton for the night, thankful of such a great driving experience yet slightly sad the trip was coming to an end!
Total miles: 216
Day 5: Inverness to Dumbarton
Day 5 would be the last day of "proper" driving. It had to come eventually! The majority of today would be spent heading through the Cairngorms National Park. I really enjoy this part of the trip, the scenery and roads are top notch just like the previous 4 days but something stands out about this section.
Leaving Inverness on the B9006 / B9090 / B9091, I headed past Cawdor and picked up the A939. It's amazing how Inverness is classed as the capital of the Highlands, yet just a few miles out of the city centre you can be driving great roads with very little traffic. Quite a contrast to the previous days as the mountains and coastal views have been replaced with woodland and dense forestry yet it's remains picturesque. I kept the Z in third gear pretty much all the way, which gave me a combination of acceleration out of the bends, and a decent speed along the straights. Lots of burbling and popping lifting off before going in to the corners which sounded awesome! And there's lots of corners!
(He says posting a photo of a completely straight road :lol
At the end of the B9091, I turned right on to the A939, an amazing road that climbs right to the top of the Cairngorms, past the Glenshee Ski Centre and then back down all the way to Rinloan in the heart of the park.
The sun was shining, the roof was down and roads pretty much to myself. Bliss. 8)
And how it looked 4 weeks previous:
At Rinloan I picked up the B976, before the A93 which took me through Ballater and on to Dalrulzion where I turned right on to the B950, and eventually the A924 to Pitlochry.
Whilst at Pitlochry I thought I'd break the day up and had a mooch around the hydro-electric dam.
From Pitlochry it was the A827 and then the A85 / A84 heading back towards Dumbarton.
Just before Callander, I took the A821 to Aberfoyle, incorporating the Dukes Pass which I believe sees it's fair share of cycling events. Luckily, nothing going on today! Lots of tight, technical corners meant plenty of overrun and that addictive exhaust burble.
After letting the car cool down it was the final stint along the A811 and A82 back to Dumbarton for the night, thankful of such a great driving experience yet slightly sad the trip was coming to an end!
Total miles: 216
Nice one Junglist - enjoying your write ups - it's unexpected moments that make such road trips memorable.
Definitely an inspiration - will be up there soon!
Definitely an inspiration - will be up there soon!
Ha ha. There are worse places to be than Scotland. I'm lucky enough to have been born and stayed all my life up here. Some world beating scenery all over, not just on the west coast where the OP is travelling right now. I'm actually on the east coast (Aberdeenshire).
Great thread here. Glad you enjoy our country.
Great thread here. Glad you enjoy our country.
What a great trip and a great post - you've certainly done a grand job of promoting Scotland - especially as a driving destination and you've covered pretty much all of the best parts including much that we've done on Scottish forum meets plus a fair few bits we've not, so very well done indeed to you and tagging along with another group is pretty cool.
Just for reference, off the top of your head and for the benefit of more southern members how many speed cameras and/or traffic cops do you think you've seen in the whole route ? Probably not as many cameras as on a 10 mile stretch of the M25 methinks. Any really nasty traffic jams where you've been held up for say 15 mins even ? Some nicely framed pictures too.
Just for reference, off the top of your head and for the benefit of more southern members how many speed cameras and/or traffic cops do you think you've seen in the whole route ? Probably not as many cameras as on a 10 mile stretch of the M25 methinks. Any really nasty traffic jams where you've been held up for say 15 mins even ? Some nicely framed pictures too.
Thanks all, glad you've enjoyed reading.
I could have done with your knowledge for my last day as I was planning on heading back through Northumberland / Cumbria. I know you've posted a fair bit about your trips so was looking forward to getting the low down on some recommended routes, but I'd ran out of data on my phone!
I've not done a tally of the total miles yet but I'd say around 1400, and I didn't pass ONE speed camera! In regards to traffic police, I noticed one parked up on the B7078 on the first day but that was it. Not bad going eh? No traffic jams, although I did come across a few stubborn truckers and caravans who refused to move over.
I'll get Day 6 typed up ASAP, I included the A708 to spice up the drive home, and took a certain picture based on your previous post.
paulgs1000 said:Nice one Junglist - enjoying your write ups - it's unexpected moments that make such road trips memorable.
Definitely an inspiration - will be up there soon!
I could have done with your knowledge for my last day as I was planning on heading back through Northumberland / Cumbria. I know you've posted a fair bit about your trips so was looking forward to getting the low down on some recommended routes, but I'd ran out of data on my phone!
jaxZ4 said:What a great trip and a great post - you've certainly done a grand job of promoting Scotland - especially as a driving destination and you've covered pretty much all of the best parts including much that we've done on Scottish forum meets plus a fair few bits we've not, so very well done indeed to you and tagging along with another group is pretty cool.
Just for reference, off the top of your head and for the benefit of more southern members how many speed cameras and/or traffic cops do you think you've seen in the whole route ? Probably not as many cameras as on a 10 mile stretch of the M25 methinks. Any really nasty traffic jams where you've been held up for say 15 mins even ? Some nicely framed pictures too.
I've not done a tally of the total miles yet but I'd say around 1400, and I didn't pass ONE speed camera! In regards to traffic police, I noticed one parked up on the B7078 on the first day but that was it. Not bad going eh? No traffic jams, although I did come across a few stubborn truckers and caravans who refused to move over.
I'll get Day 6 typed up ASAP, I included the A708 to spice up the drive home, and took a certain picture based on your previous post.
