Scotland members. is this a good route.

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

Hello Scotland.

 

I am looking at going from Applecross over to Inverness and back again. 

 

I have travelled on some of the roads around Applecross before and also around Inverness, but I have never travelled across between the two.

 

I know it is very scenic around Applecross but is the route below what you would recommend.

 

This will form the basis of a days driving as part of my Scotland trip next year.

 

Comments good or bad are welcome.

 

[Higgy]

Hello Geoff,

 

Yes, looks good to me!  If possible go in the direction Achnasheen to Kinlochewe on that section of the A832, i.e. westwards.  I know you did that last time but hopefully the weather will be better next time.  Going in this direction means the best views are in front of you.  Again, for the majority of the Applecross road the best views will be in front of you when coming back down from the highest point.  There is a view point / car park at the high point, near the transmitter mast.  If you are feeling fit you can walk up the track towards the mast.  Some interesting rock up there!  I built my fireplace out of it!

 

The Shieldaig - Kinlochewe road is quite slow in places (single track) but takes you through the Torridon mountains and well worth the drive if the weather is half decent.  Jurassic type scenery through Torridon which looks amazing if the weather is good! 

 

If the weather is good and you fancy a longer run to (or from) Inverness you could also go from Kinlochewe to Gairloch to Poolewe and follow the A832 to the A835 near Braemore.  From there south down to Garve, Contin, Tore and from there to Inverness.  I know this is considerably longer but the roads are good (fast).  The road from Braemore down to Garve isn't (in my opinion) quite as scenic as the Gairloch to Braemore part of that route but it is a good blatting road so you won't be disappointed. All do-able in a days drive.  Again, I think you covered some of that route last time.  When I lived in Gairloch we often had to use this route during winter when the  Achnasheen-Kinlochewe road was closed.  Due to snow or landslides, or just for a change because the Kinlochewe to Inverness route used to be mainly single track road and very slow.

 

You can of course go from Applecross to Shieldaig via the coastal route, not a fast road but well worth the extra miles on a nice day. 

 

I think it all comes down to the weather on the day and any time constraints you may have.  What you propose is great but there are a couple of possible detours above if time and or weather is favourable.

 

Regards,

John.

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

Thanks Higgy for the great reply.

 

I will plot your route onto my revised map.

 

if its as good as what you recommended last year, I will be one happy man.

 

I am just working on and researching some other routes so will be calling on your advice again.

 

The long routes are no problem for me either.

 

Thanks again.

 

Geoffrey.

[Higgy]

You are welcome!  I have been living in various parts of the Highlands and driving on these roads for the past 35 years and I never tire of the roads or the constantly changing scenery.   At the moment the snow line is down to a few hundred feet.

 

Oh, and thanks for the mention in your excellent magazine article by the way!  I enjoyed the slide show on youtube too.  From the photos I could see the weather wasn't a total disaster but hopefully better luck next time.  You are certainly doing your bit to promote Scottish tourism!

[Doug Dastardly]

If you're happy with a longer route, I would head home by turning off at Garve and heading to Ullapool then south again to your destination.

 

Dingwall to Ullapool is one of my favourite roads, and Ullapool's a nice town.

 

Or even start by heading south to Kyle then Inverness, Conan Bridge, Garve, Ullapool then south again.

 

To be honest you can't really go too far wrong just getting in your and driving!

[Geoffrey Carter (Buttercup)]

Hello Doug.

 

Thanks for the advice.

 

I will also have a look at those routes you suggest.

 

I have been to Ullapool a few times and I fully agree with what you said.

 

"To be honest you can't really go too far wrong just getting in your and driving!"

 

I wonder if it really is worth planning everything as everywhere is stunningly amazing.

[S2T]

This is from the viewpoint looking towards Kinlochewe (with the McLaren from Evo's Car of the Year in foreground) 

[S2T]

Geoffrey I have been involved with the North Coast 500 since inception and indeed last week in September was with the Evo magazine guys doing their Car of the Year on the route though we did base ourselves out of Gairloch for 3 days. http://www.surf2turf.com//ECOTY/index.html   Suggest you grab a copy of Evo before the current issue is replaced. If you need to bounce anything off me please feel free. |My favourite 20mile + sections are Gairloch to Ullapool and Ullapool to Kylesku