Top of Scotland

[martintd5]

Ok, I know its not far but I have never been to Scotland.
Distance: 562.18 miles, about 12 hours 22 mins.

Would I need anything but a well maintained Landrover Discovery 2, TD5, Year 2000 that has 105,000 miles clocked, With new enhanced brake pads and Discs all round, a coil conversation, New handbrake setup, New tyres, New intercooler, New Radiator, New rad' Pipes, New Header tank, New timing chain, and a spencer reconditioned cylinder head.

I have a new spare starter motor, lol

or am I paranoid?:D

[Newsreader]

You'll be fine, tis lovely up north, great driving country :)

I would just add an AA card to the list :D Keep your tank topped up at every opportunity, garages can get a bit thin on the ground ;) Carry food drink and warm clothing, if you do break down it can be pretty nippy in isolated / high locations

[jkelly]

Ok, I know its not far but I have never been to Scotland.
Distance: 562.18 miles, about 12 hours 22 mins.

Would I need anything but a well maintained Landrover Discovery 2, TD5, Year 2000 that has 105,000 miles clocked, With new enhanced brake pads and Discs all round, a coil conversation, New handbrake setup, New tyres, New intercooler, New Radiator, New rad' Pipes, New Header tank, New timing chain, and a spencer reconditioned cylinder head.

I have a new spare starter motor, lol

or am I paranoid?:D

East Yorkshire - Where abouts - cant be too far from me...

You'll love the top end. Everyone tells me that even better is the far north west. Ive never been but if you get time on your side, Id suggest exploring that bit.

Rather than head noth up the full length of the A9, past Tain, Dornoch, & Bora before you come to Helmsdale take the road at NC 94338 10432. It eventually meets up with the road that runs from Helmsdale to Melvich Bay (the east west road right at the top). Fantastic road all the way to the top. Its like turning into a different country.

If you want a hotel up that way - the "Forsinard Hotel" is excellent. Rooms are OK, but the food and hospitality is excellent. John is a real character too.

If the weather is with you it'll be great.

[grantc]

This time of year.... LOTS of midge repellant.:( That is the downside!! If it wasn't for them, it would be heaven!! and mobbed !!! And ,of corse, the weather can be "Variable" :eek: But that is part of its charm. Going up Glen Coe, where there was such Slaughter, on a Damp wet day will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck!!! Its not quite the same when it is sunny! The West Coast is more Scenic, although the East has its charms too. Enjoy (If you can, go over the Applecross Road :eek::eek::D:D)
Grant

[V8_Disco]

I would second the comment about filling up when avalible esp in bigger towns the price in the villages can be .... concerning. in addtion my car runs on LPG I phone ahead to some garages to make sure they are open and they have some:eek:

The North West is incredible, if you give people an idea about what you want to do and where I am sure some nice places will be recomended

Och and just for intrest I am hopinng to move to Howden in a few weeks ....

Aidan

[Big Sandy]

Be warned, there is no fuel between Brora and Wick on the A9. Helmsdale filling station closed last year, and IIRC (as I dont use it...) there is lpg at The Tall Pines, near Dornoch, but none in Brora any more, so if thats your choice of fuel fill up there.

Scenery, yes, I wholeheartedly agree...But in further to Jons post about the turn to Melvich in Helmsdale, if you wanted a more impressive road, you could turn left at Lothbeg (put that name into Ordnance Survey (http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk))...means missing Helmsdale though...but it's worth it. This road joins with the A897 Helmsdale to Melvich road, at Kildonan. Turn right, and go to Baile an Or, scene of the Kildonan Gold rush (you can still pan for gold here) Or left to Melvich...

Just shout if you want any info....

[Madoobri]

Here`s a Scottish road trip for you:-

Come up through Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, Fort William, Invermoriston, Kyle of Lochalsh, (Skye if you have time) Plockton, Strathcarron, Lochcarron, Applecross, :eek: Sheildaig, Kinlochewe, Gairloch, Poolewe, Laide, Ullapool, Achmelvich, Durness, Bettyhill, Thurso, Wick, Helmsdale, Brora, Golspie, Tain, Inverness, Tomatin, Aviemore, Kingussie, Pitlochry, Perth, Edinburgh (via The Forth Road Bridge) Dalkeith, Jedburgh & back down to Yorkshire.

Or do the reverse of the above. ;)

[toppa]

Funny enough, myself and a pal are planning the same trip, we want to do it in winter though to add to the adventure :)


Cheers

[jkelly]

...If you can, go over the Applecross Road :eek::eek::D:D

Any grid references of start and end??

[jkelly]

...But in further to Jons post about the turn to Melvich in Helmsdale, if you wanted a more impressive road, you could turn left at Lothbeg (put that name into Ordnance Survey (http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk))...means missing Helmsdale though...but it's worth it. This road joins with the A897 Helmsdale to Melvich road, at Kildonan. Turn right, and go to Baile an Or, scene of the Kildonan Gold rush (you can still pan for gold here) Or left to Melvich...

Just shout if you want any info....

This is the road (if you can call it that - more of a tar track!!) I went on to mention. Lothbeg is at the GR I said earlier. You gave a better description though!! If I remember there is an OK B&B oposite the Lothbeg road end!

[Big Sandy]

This is the road (if you can call it that - more of a tar track!!) I went on to mention. Lothbeg is at the GR I said earlier. You gave a better description though!! If I remember there is an OK B&B oposite the Lothbeg road end!

So you did...I am no good with grid refs.:D

I was down that road earlier today...Only met one other vehicle, and that was a defender. It would be fair to say its as close as you can get to offroading without going off tarmac...Straight off the A9 and into second gear. Grass down the middle of a lot of it, and plenty of red deer to chase out of the way. I stopped about 5 feet from a Buzzard earlier, sat on a post at the side of the road. Of course, no camera....:o

B&B at road end, is decent and clean. There are quite a few around. Some decent campsites too if you are tenting it. Plenty of B&Bs in Brora, and two campsites. Also a camp site at Loth, (a bit further on from road mentioned above) but it's a bit basic. Plenty of old gun emplacements and spotting towers along that bit of coast, a few on the campsite. (Psst...its reckoned to be a nudist beach too... Don't think there are many that use it as such though...too many midgies!)

If you are taking a dog, make sure you have it dosed up with spot on or similar..lots of ticks around this year. (deer...vermin laden critturs they are...) And take a bottle of original listerine to dose your gaitors with to keep them off you. (put it in a small pump spray..it works, honest. It's either that or a vapona spray..) And, a bottle of Avon 'Skin So Soft'...keeps the midges away. A bit.:D

I don't know if you saw the article in LRO, with the AA SI? Quite a few of the photos were taken in the Brora area, especially the one with the SI in the ford...

Across the top...past Cape Wrath.. and down the west coast...that would be a cracking holiday. Lots to see.

[martintd5]

http://www.midgeforecast.co.uk/2008/

i hate midges! useful website link above:eek:

[Big Sandy]

If you can recognise Bog Myrtle, you'll be fine. Crush the leaves and rub it on your skin...keeps them at bay...well, 'til you sweat it off.....:rolleyes:

[Big Sandy]

Was looking for an image, but found this link (http://www.bogmyrtle.com/) instead.

[nomoreleafs]

We drove (a ferry helped a bit as well)to Orkney last year and are going again in August.
The road that sticks in my mind was the A82 from F.William to Glasgow.Amazing scenery,and Loch Lomond is huge!

[charliedenny]

Here`s a Scottish road trip for you:-

Come up through Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Crianlarich, Tyndrum, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, Fort William, Invermoriston, Kyle of Lochalsh, (Skye if you have time) Plockton, Strathcarron, Lochcarron, Applecross, :eek: Sheildaig, Kinlochewe, Gairloch, Poolewe, Laide, Ullapool, Achmelvich, Durness, Bettyhill, Thurso, Wick, Helmsdale, Brora, Golspie, Tain, Inverness, Tomatin, Aviemore, Kingussie, Pitlochry, Perth, Edinburgh (via The Forth Road Bridge) Dalkeith, Jedburgh & back down to Yorkshire.

Or do the reverse of the above. ;)
you forgot balmoral, braemar, glenshee, then to Edinburgh!:D

[charliedenny]

on the road to Balmoral from Strathdon!

[nomoreleafs]

Definatley doing the applecross road on our forth coming trip,BUT as I really want to go in the 90 and the head gasket is leaking is there an uphill and down hill route for applecross road?
The lanny gets very hot when having to climb for a long time.
Dont really want to go in the boring super reliable CRV.

[jkelly]

Do the head before you go... Doesnt take too long.

[adrianandkate]

Definatley doing the applecross road on our forth coming trip,BUT as I really want to go in the 90 and the head gasket is leaking is there an uphill and down hill route for applecross road?
The lanny gets very hot when having to climb for a long time.
Dont really want to go in the boring super reliable CRV.

It's a while since we did it (in SIII), but I think we went into Applecross the long coastal route way round (great views out to the islands) and then did the hill stuff on the way back.

It was a long climb up (by UK standards) even with a V8, and coming down, some strange guy in a tiny Eurobox seemed to think he needed all the road. Suddenly realised he was smaller than us and ended up reversing into the barrier with one wheel, well, hanging over the edge.

Enjoy it. :)

Kate

PS. It might have changed. It could be a dual carriageway for all we know.

[nomoreleafs]

Do the head before you go... Doesnt take too long.
You are right,I am being lazy.:rolleyes: