10 Day Road Trip To Scotland
#47
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Join Date: Oct 2010
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Great trip report and it brought back memories of our 10 day driving trip in Scotland in 2013. We went towards the end of September to try and get away from tourists but of course then you might get lots of rain as we did. But what a beautiful, unspoiled country, so different from driving in the US. Although my husband was freaked out by the narrow roads and driving on the "other" side plus random sheep crossing. And I had to laugh when you said your average speed on one day trip was 35 mph - so true! Tip on Portree - if you want the absolute best, freshest fish and chips, there's a little hole in the wall shop down at the docks. We ate there after taking a scenic boat trip. I still dream about those fish and chips. I see you didn't go on the whiskey trail! That's one of the things I really loved and got a taste for single malt peated Scotch, especially from Islay. But of course it can be dangerous to one's energy level when tasting during the day.
Since I sprained my ankle while mountain biking in the Highlands, I do want to go back and not have to hobble around. Such a beautiful, wild place seems made for outdoor activities as long as you have your rain gear handy.
Thanks for all the photos. You really did capture the country and its wildness.
Since I sprained my ankle while mountain biking in the Highlands, I do want to go back and not have to hobble around. Such a beautiful, wild place seems made for outdoor activities as long as you have your rain gear handy.
Thanks for all the photos. You really did capture the country and its wildness.
Thanks for a great trip report. It has been a very long time since we did a similar trip and your photographs were a splendid reminder. Three of my memories are: climbing a hill by the road along the north shore to get a better view of some warships that were close in only to find ourselves right above some concealed tanks - we were in middle of a NATO exercise; staying at the Inchnadamph Hotel and having oatmeal crusted trout for breakfast - it is a fishing hotel and guest have to surrender their catch to the kitchen; being caught in a July blizzard on Ben Nevis.
You have touched on my youth with this trip report. I spent much of my life in Caithness, in Dunnet near Dunnet Head. I used to regularly wander down onto the expanse of Dunnet Beach. I went to school in Wick, which was a dire place back then. At lunchtimes I used to go down to the castle of old Wick. The cliffs and slate rock formations made amazing patterns. The sea was scary, especially in the Caithness wind.
I know most of the places you went to. The Boat Hotel is a well known black hole for the traveller, it's a real hark back to Scottish hotels of the 1970s. Hotels were to be avoided, B&Bs were the way to go.
I am very scathing of this North Coast 500 rubbish, it smacks of a stupidity invented south of the border. The way to do it is to follow the old, existing road numbers, such as the A836, and improvise detours to see what you want to see, which is what you did. I like following road numbers in Scotland, some of them are truly epic (A85, A87, A939).
Check out Banffshire and Aberdeenshire sometime. That whole east coast area is full of understated beauty and the tourists hardly go there. The towns, with houses made of granite stone, have changed little since the days of my grandparents.
I know most of the places you went to. The Boat Hotel is a well known black hole for the traveller, it's a real hark back to Scottish hotels of the 1970s. Hotels were to be avoided, B&Bs were the way to go.
I am very scathing of this North Coast 500 rubbish, it smacks of a stupidity invented south of the border. The way to do it is to follow the old, existing road numbers, such as the A836, and improvise detours to see what you want to see, which is what you did. I like following road numbers in Scotland, some of them are truly epic (A85, A87, A939).
Check out Banffshire and Aberdeenshire sometime. That whole east coast area is full of understated beauty and the tourists hardly go there. The towns, with houses made of granite stone, have changed little since the days of my grandparents.
#49
#50
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Join Date: Feb 2002
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I really enjoyed this TR.
Next time you travel to the far north (or for others considering it) a marvelous loop that can be added easily. It entails heading south from Tongue past Ben Loyal to Altnaharra, then back to Loch Eriboll and Durness via an un-numbered road (one of the loveliest and loneliest in Britain IMO) which passes an ancient broch near the foot of Ben Hope. Map - https://goo.gl/maps/8TquEBbym382 . This detour takes around 2 hours and covers some stunningly beautiful country, e.g.
Next time you travel to the far north (or for others considering it) a marvelous loop that can be added easily. It entails heading south from Tongue past Ben Loyal to Altnaharra, then back to Loch Eriboll and Durness via an un-numbered road (one of the loveliest and loneliest in Britain IMO) which passes an ancient broch near the foot of Ben Hope. Map - https://goo.gl/maps/8TquEBbym382 . This detour takes around 2 hours and covers some stunningly beautiful country, e.g.
#51
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland / Estonia
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I really enjoyed this TR.
Next time you travel to the far north (or for others considering it) a marvelous loop that can be added easily. It entails heading south from Tongue past Ben Loyal to Altnaharra, then back to Loch Eriboll and Durness via an un-numbered road (one of the loveliest and loneliest in Britain IMO) which passes an ancient broch near the foot of Ben Hope. Map - https://goo.gl/maps/8TquEBbym382 . This detour takes around 2 hours and covers some stunningly beautiful country, e.g.
Next time you travel to the far north (or for others considering it) a marvelous loop that can be added easily. It entails heading south from Tongue past Ben Loyal to Altnaharra, then back to Loch Eriboll and Durness via an un-numbered road (one of the loveliest and loneliest in Britain IMO) which passes an ancient broch near the foot of Ben Hope. Map - https://goo.gl/maps/8TquEBbym382 . This detour takes around 2 hours and covers some stunningly beautiful country, e.g.
#53
#55
Join Date: Oct 2015
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Posts: 960
Makes me want to go back to Scotland the other day (year..) - was on the Outer Hebrides, let alone the beach landing in Barra is a blast.
I could share a trip report from another forum, but that's in german.
I could share a trip report from another forum, but that's in german.
#56
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
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Posts: 3,906
Somewhat on-topic news report: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-...lands-41621266
#57
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: USA
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Posts: 777
I loved Scotland (2 trips) and Ireland both.
Can't miss the walk in Edinburgh from the Palace to the Castle. Great picture opportunities.
Can't miss the walk in Edinburgh from the Palace to the Castle. Great picture opportunities.
#58
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: USA
Posts: 139
Wow, just a superb report. I was in Scotland for the first time earlier this year with my family (wife, mom, and dad) and we had an amazing time. We went to some of the same places. We want to return, and I am going to use some of your report to help plan our next trip.
My mom loves lighthouses, and has visited 166 of them. We did visit Neist Point, but not any of the other lights in your report. Great work!
My mom loves lighthouses, and has visited 166 of them. We did visit Neist Point, but not any of the other lights in your report. Great work!
#59
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland / Estonia
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Posts: 6,508
Wow, just a superb report. I was in Scotland for the first time earlier this year with my family (wife, mom, and dad) and we had an amazing time. We went to some of the same places. We want to return, and I am going to use some of your report to help plan our next trip.
My mom loves lighthouses, and has visited 166 of them. We did visit Neist Point, but not any of the other lights in your report. Great work!
My mom loves lighthouses, and has visited 166 of them. We did visit Neist Point, but not any of the other lights in your report. Great work!