|
Post by rogerjonesisgod on Mar 15, 2018 11:50:48 GMT
IDEAS WANTED.....
Thinking of doing a bit of a road trip. Head North and keep going.
I've been to Edinburgh, Aviemore/Inverness area and Fort William but I haven't seen Glasgow or the Western Isles. Or even the mad top bit. Is Aberdeen any good?
I'm obviously going to take a photo of the Loch Ness monster but has anyone got any suggestions for do's and don'ts whilst meandering North of the wall??
I might take a tent but I'm happy enough to play the pub/B&B/hostel accommodation thing by ear.
Thanks in advance.
|
|
|
Post by raythesailor on Mar 15, 2018 12:41:50 GMT
Some stunning train journeys. Try Oban. you can takke ferries to Mull, Sky etc.
Once you are N of Loch Ness it can be bleak in places.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2018 12:42:49 GMT
I’ve never been north of Newcastle so I’ll be showing my arse at this point ...... isn’t it all a bit Roaches?......windswept nothingness?
I’ve heard loads talking of the highlands natural beauty but, seen little that convinces me to go
I do love welsh snowdonia ....lots of trees mountains, valleys and most important....some sunshine and warmth
Pulls pants up and walks away
|
|
|
Post by Northy on Mar 15, 2018 13:38:04 GMT
stay away from the west in midge season 'bitten to death' www.smidgeup.com/midges/midge-season/must-see-scotland.com/midges-in-scotland/beware of ticks, my lad got lymes disease whilst working up there Pitlochry to see the salmon runs Stirling Perth Battle of culloden site near Inverness Inverness is OK The black Isle is nice The falkirk wheel and the kelpies Jedburgh Abbey, Jedburgh and small towns of the borders area, coldstream etc. are worth a quick stop for a brew and wander about loch of strathbeg rspb reserve north of peterhead is a nice area and a great wild beach nearby, and no midges. and you have to drive through auchtermuchty in fife, just because it's an ace name dundee is a bit of a shithole, aberdeen is ok
|
|
|
Post by felonious on Mar 15, 2018 13:46:12 GMT
IDEAS WANTED..... Thinking of doing a bit of a road trip. Head North and keep going. I've been to Edinburgh, Aviemore/Inverness area and Fort William but I haven't seen Glasgow or the Western Isles. Or even the mad top bit. Is Aberdeen any good? I'm obviously going to take a photo of the Loch Ness monster but has anyone got any suggestions for do's and don'ts whilst meandering North of the wall?? I might take a tent but I'm happy enough to play the pub/B&B/hostel accommodation thing by ear. Thanks in advance. I can't help you much I've only been to Edinburgh and Glasgow however I will say that Glasgow is a fine city. The inhabitants that I met were friendly as well.
|
|
|
Post by lawrieleslie on Mar 15, 2018 13:51:43 GMT
NC 500 is on my bucket list. It’s short for the North Coast 500 mile coast road that starts at Inverness and runs anti clock wise following the coastline to Apple Cross then follows the road across the Highlands to Inverness. Just google NC 500 there’s a web site, decent interactive map and good FB Page if you’re into that. Take Northy's advice about midges though.
|
|
|
Post by cerebralstokie on Mar 15, 2018 13:53:11 GMT
Try going to the North West Highlands. Stunning mountains The Torridons, An Teallach, Stac Polaidh etc). There are a few watering holes and Inverewe Gardens a surprise (May, June the best time to go). Watch out for the midges, though, they are a torment, especially around dawn and dusk and in still conditions. Skye is also stunning, but a bit overrun by tourists. Mull has lots of wild life, and if you have young kids, take them to Tobermory (Balamory of the T.V. series)
|
|
|
Post by Northy on Mar 15, 2018 14:01:18 GMT
get a boat across to rothesay, isle of bute, and go into lena zavaroni's chip shop The isle of Arran and brodick bay are also good for a visit and wander about.
|
|
|
Post by raythesailor on Mar 15, 2018 15:44:42 GMT
The advice about Midgies is spot on . Do not underestimate them. They can be very bad and spoil your trip.
|
|
|
Post by DunnetHeadMoonraker on Mar 15, 2018 16:17:23 GMT
As my user name implies I live on the north coast of Scotland and have done so for all of my post graduation working life and now retirement.
As others have mentioned the midges in summer can be a problem. Other problems we have up here are deer crossing the road to go from the forest to the beach for their seaweed snacks and the cyclists in the summer going to and from John O'Groats who are unfamiliar with our narrow winding roads and cause traffic hold ups.
The North Coast 500 is becoming very popular and there have been quite a lot of improvements in the provision of accommodation and visitor attractions. If you decide to visit the John O'Groats and Caithness area then I would recommend the following for your consideration.
Visit the lighthouse on Dunnet Head and get a magnificent view of the Orkney Islands and Scapa Flow ( a former naval anchorage in World Wars 1 and 2 ). A day trip from John O'Groats to the Orkney Islands which includes a visit to Skara Brae which is a stone built settlement about 5000 years old. The Old Pulteney whisky distillery in Wick and the small gin distillery in Dunnet. If you are interested in science and engineering there is Nucleus which is the national archive of the British nuclear industry in Wick. The Wick Heritage Centre which is fascinating. There is also a smaller heritage centre at Caithness Horizons in Thurso. If you really want to get away from it all then go to Altnabreac which is a request stop on the Inverness to Wick train line. There is nothing there apart from Forestry Commission tracks and trees. Driving or cycling there is not recommended ! The Duncansby Lighthouse near John O'Groats and then a short walk to the Stacks of Duncansby. And finally a visit the wooden sculpture in Dunnet Forest shown in the photo beneath my user name which was erected as a tribute to Arsene Wenger.
|
|
|
Post by felonious on Mar 15, 2018 16:19:09 GMT
The advice about Midgies is spot on . Do not underestimate them. They can be very bad and spoil your trip. If it's any help I didn't encounter any midges in Glasgow.
|
|
|
Post by cooper67 on Mar 15, 2018 16:22:54 GMT
We went to Mull last year. Lovely island and went to Iona and Staffa as well.The midges weren't a problem until the evening.
Plus Tobermory is as good as it looks on Balamory.
|
|
|
Post by cooper67 on Mar 15, 2018 17:02:00 GMT
Also lots of wild camping as well.
|
|
|
Post by chuffedstokie on Mar 15, 2018 19:18:12 GMT
Dumfries and Galloway is a fine part of the world. Apart from the fantastic forests and walking you've got Kirkudbright (fine fish and chips) Newton Stewart but avoid the curry house and Gatehouse of Fleet, my favourite little town.
|
|
|
Post by richie22 on Mar 15, 2018 20:07:58 GMT
Did a lot of work up there at one point, I recommend Oban... the road south out of Oban A816 in a village called kimmelford, The cuilfail Hotel. The owners had an amazing whisky collection and played Runrig nice an loud. Further south it heads into the lochs of submarine country and Tarbert (get your shellfish nice and fresh) Stunning country.. Scotland is God’s country ignoring Glasgow and Edinburgh. One day I want to sail the calledonion canel( I don’t own a boat which is an issue) and also do the sleeper train from fort William down .. heavan
|
|
|
Post by partickpotter on Mar 15, 2018 20:12:45 GMT
Make sure you take in Skye.
|
|
|
Post by felonious on Mar 15, 2018 20:41:45 GMT
....and don't forget the Mull of Kintyre.
|
|
|
Post by DunnetHeadMoonraker on Mar 15, 2018 21:25:38 GMT
|
|
|
Post by pearo on Mar 15, 2018 21:26:52 GMT
The advice about Midgies is spot on . Do not underestimate them. They can be very bad and spoil your trip. If it's any help I didn't encounter any midges in Glasgow. Not even Jimmy Crankie?
|
|
|
Post by Mr_DaftBurger on Mar 15, 2018 22:22:15 GMT
There's plenty to do up north. Call in at Inverness and drive over to Aberdeen. Plenty of places to stop inbetween and if you play golf it's a paradise. The whiskey trail and as has been mentioned, Culloden, the most eerie place I have ever been!
|
|
|
Post by innocentbystander on Mar 15, 2018 22:48:01 GMT
I've done many cycling trips all over Scotland. I too recommend Skye outside of peak season, it's a wonderful landscape . I also enjoyed making my way through the Hebrides from Barra to Butt of Lewis. If you're into archaeology - and who isn't- then the wealth of sites around Kilmartin are a well kept secret.
|
|
|
Post by rogerjonesisgod on Mar 15, 2018 23:18:23 GMT
....and don't forget the Mull of Kintyre. That's a made up one isn't it? By the chap from the Beatles
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2018 23:36:41 GMT
Drive up to Rest and Be Thankful which is not too far north of Glasgow. Glorious countryside and lovely views.
As Chuffed said Dumfries and Galloway is lovely and he's named the best places.
Tyndrum is also very nice but the midges in summer (I worked there in June on the Scottish Rally a few times) drive you crazy in you nostrils, ears, mouth, eyes - horrendous.
Fort William, Oban, Pitlochry, Blair Atholl are all worth a visit as well.
Also the Borders - Selkirk, Peebles, Hawick, Kelso, Melrose, Jedburgh - lovely area and not too far from Edinburgh.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2018 23:43:28 GMT
I spend a lot of time in the Highlands and Islands. I have a lot of favourite routes. But my number 1 is drive to Ullapool, take the ferry to Stornaway. Camp at he top of Lewis then make your way down the Outer Hebrides using the small ferries all the way to Vatersay. Then ferry from Castlebay to Oban. Some good campsite and plenty of wild camping too. The scenery is as good as I have seen anywhere in the world.
|
|
|
Post by felonious on Mar 16, 2018 7:45:20 GMT
....and don't forget the Mull of Kintyre. That's a made up one isn't it? By the chap from the Beatles Just like Knotty Ash.... google is your friend
|
|
|
Post by Northy on Mar 16, 2018 14:53:49 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Northy on Mar 16, 2018 15:00:06 GMT
Ive just returned from the week's cultural tour of the south, Basingstoke, Bracknell and Stevenage, such sites to behold !
|
|
|
Post by rogerjonesisgod on Mar 16, 2018 15:47:25 GMT
I spend a lot of time in the Highlands and Islands. I have a lot of favourite routes. But my number 1 is drive to Ullapool, take the ferry to Stornaway. Camp at he top of Lewis then make your way down the Outer Hebrides using the small ferries all the way to Vatersay. Then ferry from Castlebay to Oban. Some good campsite and plenty of wild camping too. The scenery is as good as I have seen anywhere in the world. As daft as it sounds, how long would you take for that trip? How long's a piece of string and all that but if I kept mooching along.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2018 15:56:12 GMT
The first time we did it it took 8 days. The second time I did a few days fishing and had a trip out to St Kilda, so we spent 15 days on it. The trip to St KIlda was magical. Also on the way back we took the opportunity to sail across the Corryvreckan whirlpool with Seafari. Both were life time experiences. St KildaCorryvreckan
|
|
|
Post by richie22 on Mar 16, 2018 17:04:23 GMT
Holy fucking shit them photos are amazing, last week we drove down to Cardiff over the mountains , the views were stunning. My lady just didn’t get it.... I did a lot of work in Scotland once and desperately want to go back up there to have a good tour around
|
|