Scotland scurry! Any Quick visit suggestions?

[Andyrew]

With a bit of a shite weekend had, a last min week was booked off. Monday i collected the gearbox for @puddlethumper . Monday i also decided bollocks to it im going on a drive this week.  With a bit of a late start this morning arrives and it was time to GTF.

Tank brimmed!

540 ish miles with 2 piss stops later the Astra of desire sends shivers down the spines of the people of Inverness! Its a tad nippy!

Tonights digs!

 

[iainrcz]

A nebby round Loch Ness?

[davehedgehog31]

There's a Wimpy in Dingwall 

[somewhatfoolish]

Depending on the weather the road to Applecross might be spectacular, lethal or simply impassable. A lot of tourist stuff is shut for winter but you could try for a distillery tour or 2, there's bound to be some still running in Speyside.

[inconsistant]

If I may, I'd like to suggest a day out north of Inverness to the bit beyond the Black Isle. 

 

1. Tarbat Ness Lighthouse

2. Walk along the beach at Portmahomack

3. Visit Glenmorangie Distillery, because Dalmore Distillery is currently closed.

4. Have lunch in Tain. Either Harry Gow for a Scotch Pie and a Dream Ring, or across the road if you want posher/warmer.

5. Walk from Contullich up Fyrish to the Monument. Not for the monument but for the view across Cromarty Firth

 

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Actually, go anywhere, do anything. Whatever you do, enjoy it, that's a fantastic part of the country to be in.

 

Edit to add: If you fancy a day of spectacular driving you could do a lot worse than head across to Ullapool then down the coast road to Gairloch (taking in the Russian Arctic Convoy Museum at Lock Ewe, obvs.) then head back via Kinlochewe and Achnasheen and Garve.

[Split_Pin]

Agree on North of Inverness as the town itself is looking quite downtrodden these days (I used to live there in the mid 2000s when it was nicer) there's a local museum which is free and really interesting as the weather is pish just now. There's quite a lot to see there.

Personally I'd be taking a trip down the side of Loch Ness to try and see if Steve Feltham's seemingly immortal Commer Walk-Thru is still there.

[puddlethumper]

1 hour ago, inconsistant said:

If I may, I'd like to suggest a day out north of Inverness to the bit beyond the Black Isle. 

 

1. Tarbat Ness Lighthouse

2. Walk along the beach at Portmahomack

3. Visit Glenmorangie Distillery, because Dalmore Distillery is currently closed.

4. Have lunch in Tain. Either Harry Gow for a Scotch Pie and a Dream Ring, or across the road if you want posher/warmer.

5. Walk from Contullich up Fyrish to the Monument. Not for the monument but for the view across Cromarty Firth

 

1

 

2

 

3

 

4

 

5

Actually, go anywhere, do anything. Whatever you do, enjoy it, that's a fantastic part of the country to be in.

 

Edit to add: If you fancy a day of spectacular driving you could do a lot worse than head across to Ullapool then down the coast road to Gairloch (taking in the Russian Arctic Convoy Museum at Lock Ewe, obvs.) then head back via Kinlochewe and Achnasheen and Garve.

Agreed about Ullapool. I would add, a little bit North to Lochinver. Some excellent mountain shite. A835 to Drumrunie and turn left to Achiltibuie. Spectacular scenery. There's a right turn about ten miles along that then goes to Lochinver.

[Andyrew]

Thanks guys! 

Ullapool is the stop off for tomorrow night. 

Tomorrows plan is up early, head to JOG, maybe dunnet bay/light house then over to smoo cave working my way round and down to the hotel and see what catches the eye on the way down. 

Weathers supposed to be a bit junk so ill see how it goes.  

[Andyrew]

5 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Inverness as the town itself is looking quite downtrodden these days 

Have to say it did feel a bit run down when i was wandering about. Although plenty of stuff going on and it is a rainy weekday so maybe a bad time to judge it.

Accommodation wise.

The wee container is good , Plesant enough for the money. Tho i think im the only one not on a naughty weekend! Its a no kids site.  Very peaceful and 29 quids a bargain, its clean and warm.  The sound of the rain on the container falling from the big surrounding trees aswell put me straight to sleep.  Shame a pointless phone call just woke me back up!

 

 

 

[Andyrew]

[Split_Pin]

Looks great! I'd like to visit the far North of Scotland one day, perhaps Orkney too.

[juular]

49 minutes ago, Andyrew said:

Did you go on the boat trip?

[Andyrew]

[JimH]

22 hours ago, davehedgehog31 said:

There's a Wimpy in Dingwall 

This. Definitely do this. The only reason to ever visit Inverness is that is justifies a visit to Dingwall to step back a few decades and give my valued life partner a Porky Bender. 

[Andyrew]

Oooooffff stuffed.

Lochinver larder visited

pie with mash and gravy consumed.

10/10 would recommend.

[GrumpiusMaximus]

2 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Looks great! I'd like to visit the far North of Scotland one day, perhaps Orkney too.

Highly, highly recommend Orkney.  Although stay away from South Ronaldsay.  You might have the misfortune to run into my Aunt...

[Andyrew]

I forgot to add that i see a seagull steal a multipack of twix bars from a homeless persons stuff yesterday while i was in the town centre of inverness. 

 

 

[davehedgehog31]

And where are we up to with this Wimpy?

[Andyrew]

50 minutes ago, davehedgehog31 said:

And where are we up to with this Wimpy?

About 47 miles away! 

 

[Andyrew]

Today then see me wake up late due to being unable to return to sleep until silly o'clock last night. 

Smith and sniff podcast playing and the Decision was made to skip JOG and head straight for smoo cave for a nosey around and a little wander.  The journey there consists of a mostly single track for 35 odd miles through essentially just bare land and forestry.  

The minds in a 50 50 state of wanting to press on and really enjoy the roads but having not passed another person or car for miles and miles you do have that thought in your head of being a bit screwed should something break or barrel rolling the car off a corner. 

After checking out the cave i headed south towards lochinver and the roads are just lovely.  With no one around for miles its great to get the car wound up a bit and enjoy the roads whilst also taking in the views. Getting those 80 profiles sidewalls tucked in a bit on the corners!

Its a nice reminder of how i do enjoy driving, its just where i live and the people around it that ruin it. 

In the summer something a bit smaller and sportier probably would be better but for mixed surfaces, pot holes and from a bit of sun to sleet and heavy rain. The Astra is nailing it,  65mpg on the journey up yesterday.  Todays driving style will have knocked that down a peg or two im sure. 

[1duck]

2 hours ago, JimH said:

This. Definitely do this. The only reason to ever visit Inverness is that is justifies a visit to Dingwall to step back a few decades and give my valued life partner a Porky Bender. 

there's one in huddersfield

[Andyrew]

Today started late, no real reason i was just so comfy and decided to stay in bed. I had stayed at Croft 17 in ullapool and while it was 75 quid for the night it was spotlessly clean and nice. The host was very pleasant aswell.  Compared to the other options in the area it was the cheapest and id recommend it to anyone. 

After checking out a jolly a few miles down the road see me at Corrieshalloch gorge.  Very pretty and even with a misty drizzle it was a lovely place to stand and sip my morning coffee.

Leaving there i headed towards the applecross pass , stopping of to take in the scenery as i went. 

Found a dam, wandered across the dam. 

[Mrs6C]

As this is now more of a write-up of your Scotland road trip than asking a question about places to go, would you like this thread to go back onto the main forum?

[Andyrew]

Hours later i arrived at the bottom of the pass, 

Up we go! 

The road was as rough as a badgers arse! An interesting drive up with a bit of turbo lag on the steep bits. Arriving at the top and it was pretty much a white out. Snow covering the roads and overall not worth the hassle so i spin round and headed back down which is certainly better than going up it.

From there i headed toward fort william which is about a 2-3 hour drive.

I would regularly check out some of the beauty of the surroundings. I stopped here for 40 odd mins. I climbed up and Sat on the edge of the roof of the car with a bag of cashews to nibble on while i listen to the water flowing. Big warm coat and hat on feeling cozy. It was a slice of Bliss. 

 

[Andyrew]

5 minutes ago, Mrs6C said:

As this is now more of a write-up of your Scotland road trip than asking a question about places to go, would you like this thread to go back onto the main forum?

Yeah can do, or you can merge it into my Awful autos thread. 

Wherever you think it fits best just scooch it over.

[rainagain]

I’m not sure how much longer you have but Fort George is worth a look.

 

[Mrs6C]

13 hours ago, Andyrew said:

Yeah can do, or you can merge it into my Awful autos thread. 

Wherever you think it fits best just scooch it over.

Done! Kept it in its own thread so folk can find it more easily.

[inconsistant]

How did the trip go? Went a bit quiet here...

[Mrcento]

Probably ended up in Fife and has spent the last 2 weeks asking people where in Fife he is and how to get out, only to be told constantly he is in Fife and the closest to an exact location he gets is informed of bits of Fife he isn't in.