Scotland - the must visit list?

[eyup]

Now then,

A very open question but as I know quite a few of you have done a driving tour of Scotland - what/where do you consider the must visit sites, places etc?

I've got some good ideas from the other post already but it never hurts to ask.

We are quite open minded with regard historic sites, natural beauty, landscapes etc and quite keen to take in a boat tour to see the sites and also the whales if we are lucky. Plus opportunity for some good walking always appreciated. First timers to Scotland, probably have a week to ten days starting from south of the border in Northumberland national park or the Farne Islands/Bamburgh area. First suggested date is April (does anyone care about the wedding but an extra day off is appreciated!) or maybe June time. Will be taking the Z but imagine the good roads will naturally get covered

So, budding tour guides.......any ideas (and suggestions for accommodation, including the odd camp site, on the way)?

If I get there with the missus will provide a write up.

Cheers

 

[a11y]

The A82 north of Balloch to Fort William crosses Rannoch Moor - stunning scenery

Skye in general (like nothing else, totally unique scenery) - great walking too (the Old Man of Storr is a good walk without being too long). Also Talisker Beach is stunning.

Bascially following the north-west coast north from Ullapool right around to Durness - just scenic and probably takes you to the areas where you'll get a boat trip for whales (I think?).

There's a cracking campsite at Durness on the north coast - is literally on the cliff edge.

Edinburgh Castle

The Forth Rail Bridge and Falkirk Wheel if you appreciate good engineering!

Have a look through my photos from Scotland in HERE and if you see somewhere you want to visit let me know and I'll identify it

Sorry, that's only for starters - hard to think where to start TBH!

 

[Anonymous]

Glencoe is a must.
Haven't done it in my Zed yet - I only got it in September.

 

[paddy wright]

pilochary and the surrounding area

 

[Anonymous]

pilochary and the surrounding area

Or even Pitlochry.

Where you'll find the smallest distillery in Scotland at Eradour.
Also in Pitlochry is the Blair Atholl Distillery
Once you've done the distilleries take the road alongside Loch Tummel and over the Braes of Foss to Loch Tay. From there head west via Crianlarich to Glencoe then onward to Fort William.
The Queen's View @ Loch Tummel.

The Buchaille Etive Mhor in Glencoe.

 

[monkadill]

pilochary and the surrounding area

Or even Pitlochry.

Where you'll find the smallest distillery in Scotland at Eradour.
Also in Pitlochry is the Blair Atholl Distillery
Once you've done the distilleries take the road alongside Loch Tummel and over the Braes of Foss to Loch Tay. From there head west via Crianlarich to Glencoe then onward to Fort William.
The Queen's View @ Loch Tummel.

The Buchaille Etive Mhor in Glencoe.

Woower - what is that, it's not a Z!

 

[Zed Five]

Essential to have a breakfast at the Green Welly Stop at Tyndrum.

Rannoch Moor - Glencoe (good road, but watch for camera vans trying to convict you for doing 67mph).

Clachaig inn is also good for grub. - a great spot at the end of Glencoe.

The road from Fort William to Mallaig - v. good (though Mallaig is not special).

The drive from Fort William to Skye (and Skype itself) - v. good.

 

[Zed Five]

Skype is good, but Skye is nicer in summer

 

[Anonymous]

If you like walking and fancy bagging a few munroes, Or have a 10 mile walk round the base of 4 of them, Drive to Rannoch Station, abandon the car and get the train to Corrour, about 10 - 15 mins on the train, Corrour is the highest train station in Britain, Get off at Corrour and take your pick of Munroes Or walk around Loch Ossian, You are allowed to camp overnight But I believe the estate run a strict no fires policy, You can do the walk and stay at the lodge at the station Or go back to Rannoch station, Either way a great walking area with Jaw dropping Scenery.

 

[eyup]

Cheers all. Planning the route now. Appear to be some good sounding places in there.

 

[Anonymous]

Incidently the drive to Rannoch station is QUITE SPECTACULAR from Pitlochry onwards, It takes you passed Queens view, as Posted by MalcZ4, About an hour to an hour and half from Edinburgh to Pitlochry, mainly motorway / Dual carriage way, but the drive to Rannoch will take about another Hour at least, but its not a drive you will want to hurry anyway :wink:

[The Queen's View @ Loch Tummel.

 

[Rach*]

Spey Bay to see the seals, then along to Findhorn to annoy the hippies at the commune.

Stop at Tarvie on the A835 for a bacon butty and a brew at the "services", there's a bench there dedicated to 2 of my old friends


Hoon up to Ullapool, lurvely bit of road

 

[ZermattV]

Another vote for Rannoch mor and through glencoe ......

 

[Rolf-Dieter]

My daughter and I did the road trip around Scotland after she completed her studies at Kings Collage in London. The main objective was to visit as many castles as possible, Isle of Man and the wonderful country site.

We set out by train form London to Edinburgh rented a car right at the train station. We saw many castles (never did see the The Loch Ness "monster" ). We did drink some of the fresh water running down from the mountain tops, until some one mentioned there are many a sheep up them there hills so we stopped that practice.

We stayed in B&B's every night and enjoyed ourselves immensely over breakfast every morning while meeting people from all over the world. I highly recommend staying at B&B's I found the Scottish Hospitality A1.

All in all it was a very memorable trip, one I like to repeat with my wife very soon.

Enjoy your trip

 

[cj_eds]

Go up the A9 past Inverness, just to go here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=berriedale&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=11.018942,33.881836&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Berriedale,+Highland,+United+Kingdom&ll=58.18247,-3.501549&spn=0.076746,0.264702&z=12&layer=c&cbll=58.182802,-3.500179&panoid=KYuvY2KmZMsYXRXe2yFz0g&cbp=12,19,,0,6.26

And make sure you go to Applecross:

As said, A82 is stunning. A9 Perth->Inverness is nice, but nowhere near as good.

I grew up in Thurso so should really sell going to John O' Groats, but seriously there's nothing there and I can't bring myself to recommend it other than a gateway to Orkney for the day. Up that far North go to Dunnet Head (real most Northern point) and Duncansby Stacks.

And if you go to Skye and time it right, you might see a submarine...


Or on a side note I've wanted to drive the Applecross Pass one day so any other Z drivers up for a Scotland trip out?

 

[cj_eds]

Oh and for picture post card castles Urqhart Castle on Loch Ness and Eilean Donnan

 

[Swift76]

I drove to North East England from Ayr through Galloway Forest park today 30/01/2011. Its pretty and worth a look if you're in the area but not as dramatic as the highlands. I thought I had a wheel bearing away but the whining turned out to be coming from the wife in the passenger seat, somthing about being cold, hair getting tangled etc.

 

[eyup]

I drove to North East England from Ayr through Galloway Forest park today 30/01/2011. Its pretty and worth a look if you're in the area but not as dramatic as the highlands. I thought I had a wheel bearing away but the whining turned out to be coming from the wife in the passenger seat, somthing about being cold, hair getting tangled etc.

I know the feeling, not the cold, hair getting tangled etc whine but the slow down alternative which is quite annoying especially as I dont tend to drive that quickly in the first place!

Looks like you've got the classic "not another picture of the bloody car look". Seen that one before

 

[Ben.]

Applecross (already said I know) is my favourite road...

 

[Swift76]

I drove to North East England from Ayr through Galloway Forest park today 30/01/2011. Its pretty and worth a look if you're in the area but not as dramatic as the highlands. I thought I had a wheel bearing away but the whining turned out to be coming from the wife in the passenger seat, somthing about being cold, hair getting tangled etc.

I know the feeling, not the cold, hair getting tangled etc whine but the slow down alternative which is quite annoying especially as I dont tend to drive that quickly in the first place!

Looks like you've got the classic "not another picture of the bloody car look". Seen that one before

You know the score :lol: