Route for touring the west coast in a motorhome - Help

[r055]

Calling routemeisters... Campbell?

I pick up my in laws motorhome on Wednesday and have not had the chance to properly plan the route we will take..

I had provisionally thought:

1. camusdarach arisaig
Skye
Ullapool
Inverness-ish
Home

Dont want to go too far, will have dogs and only want to do Wed/thurs to Wednesday.

Any real gems I should head for?

Ross

[C7Steve]

Your own route looks good enough.

I would take the Gairloch road around to Ullapool though, with plenty of places to stop with the dogs and the scenery is stunning too.

Hope you get good weather and have a nice break.


Steve.

[DJ]

Going as far west and north as you can in the time is probably my tip. Agree with Steve that in the route you mention I would say between Skye and Ullapool are the best bits. The area up by Loch Maree is great if you come off the coast.

Motor home with in laws? I just can't get scenes from Meet the Fockers out my head!

Have fun and remember the midge cream.

[bertieduff]

Ross, if you're heading up the A82 on the way to Arasaig, Glen Etive is a hidden gem of a detour...dead end and single track, but stunning scenery for an overnight stop. Been down a couple of times in the Lotus on the way to or from camping trips. Both times encountered an amazing amount of wildlife at close quarters: herds of deer, huge stags, buzzards, eagles...seals, porpoises and salmon in the loch

[a4drk]

Kinlochbervie / oldshoremore
Durness / tongue
Applecross

[campbell]

Well, whilst it goes against my deepest rooted religious principles to offer encouragement to a campervan driver, here are my thoughts

In many ways, for scenery as opposed to "driving roads" (for those are last thing on your mind...), you can't go wrong up there.

If I had a week, I'd balance maybe 2-3 key locations for pitching, with some nice tours.

This is THE route, give or take. But I think you'd need two weeks to make it work in a Campervan

http://goo.gl/maps/E5G0W

[r055]

Thanks all...
Campbell, I'd love 2 weeks, but Alison would much rather be at home playing with her horses.
Will start with 7 days first of all and see how that goes.

[campbell]

In which case maybe take the route as far as Skye then cruise home.

Can tackle Kyle to Ullapool then Assynt another week.

Oh, and..."Please use laybys to let queues clear"

[r055]

You really don't like caravans and motor homes, do you?
I also managed to close part of the A1 a few weeks ago towing the horse box - will I be banned from here soon?

[Dominic]

I don't mind campervans or caravans using the roads, as long as the let other's past. The bigger issue is the drivers who sit right behind them, with no intention of trying to overtake, and end up creating a train of cars, that is much more difficult to over take than one or two.

Enjoy the trip Ross!... and try not to spill too much of your stuff when chucking the 'van round the twisties

[campbell]

I think you are one of a fortunate minority, Ross, who understand the other perspectives when lugging a horsebox or campervan around at 50mph (at best...?!).

I actually really appreciate what towing a horse involves and seem to have come to terms with my demons on that one!

I realise it's a stereotype to accuse all campers of holding up the traffic (but they do don't they?), so before anyone shouts me down I accept that they have as much right to a piece of tarmac as I do. I think Dom's point is very insightful. If you approach one, either pass it promptly. Or leave a decent gap to let others filter in between you. Many of the unwitting tailgaters actually fail to realise that leaving a bigger gap gives them a better chance of getting past. It's the fisics of line of sight. But they don't geddit.

You remain very welcome here Ross. Just make sure you pull over regularly though. LOL.

[r055]

I was only jesting just in case its looks otherwise. Some of them wind me up too

I pulled over a few weeks ago through no choice of my own (the fuel injection pump died on my defender!)
Its just a shame I had no where to pull over to and effectively shut down a lane on a Friday afternoon, much to everyones annoyance and was subject to alot of abuse from passing cars which I think was unfair and extremely dangerous given we had a nervous horse inside as it was.

Anyway, thanks again for route.. I have changed it slightly as we have holiday home in Inveraray and are often in Oban so not going there and I travel the A9 every week for work so ideally want to avood that too!

:

[campbell]

A9 was really just an "escape route" after having done the best bits. Enjoy.

[Dominic]

Most peeps have a few bikes strapped to the back of their campervan. I look forward to your pic of the horse strapped on the back