Road trip up north

[DJ]

Having never been north of Ullapool before, four of us went on a wee road trip at the weekend. We found some fantastic roads and the scenery is simply awesome. Here was our route if anyone is thinking of a long weekend trip. I can recommend this and it worked well leaving roughly at 9/10am each day and getting to accomodation around 5pm/6pm with plenty of stops for photos, coffees, lunch, fuel etc.

Fri: left Edinburgh, and along to Stirling to go up through Tyndrum, Glencoe, Fort William, then as a novelty took the road to Mallaig and got the ferry over to Skye at Armadale rather than travel up through Kintail past Eilean Donan Castle (although that's a great road too). Back over the Skye bridge to the mainland then via Plockton to Lochcarron, over the Bealach na Ba and an overnighter in Sheildaig (284 miles).
Sat: To Kinlochewe then up the side of Loch Maree (fantastic road) through Gairloch, Dundonnell and Ullapool. A wee detour around Stac Polly then up through Scourie to Durness. The beaches and sands up there are stunning. Along to Tongue (another fantastic road) then down to Altnaharra and to Lairg (246 miles). Roof off all day.
Sun: Down to Bonar Bridge and Evanton and unfortunately onto the A9 through Inverness only as far as Carrbridge. Then down the Tomintoul/Cockbridge road and over Glenshee. Managed to keep the roof off in the morning but by Braemar it was chucking it down and a lot of standing water on the roads so last part was aborted for a straight trip down the A93 to Perth then M90 home (250 miles).

My wee point 'n' shoot camera doesn't do the scenery any justice but hopefully you will get the idea. If you have never been up north in your Elise, make sure it is something you do before you even think about selling/trading/etc.

1. Typical Glencoe weather


2. Tight squeeze on the ferry


3. Plockton bay


4. Stac Polly in the distance


5. Sands at Tongue


6. and 7. Stunning beaches at Durness & at Bettyhill

[VXJON]

Looks like a cracking route for a weekend on the road:)

[mainsy]

I done a similar trip in april, was my first time in Plockton. Great wee village. Not been to tongue yet though, looks nice. Great shots too

[campbell]

DJ,

Don't knock the wee compact, done a great job. Perfect route too

Thinking of a final fling of the year to Achmelvich in mid-Sept...will probably use a selection of the route you followed...stay tuned for further details anyone who might be interested.

Campbell

[Scotty C]

shame you didn'y get the elise on the rainbow one.

Scotty

[J-Man]

Very nice trip I must say! I've done a similar jaunt twice, in opposite directions - is your preference to go N up the W coast or to get up to the top and come S? Not quite as daft a question as it may seem perhaps?

[campbell]

I tend to find myself driving up the west then returning south from Laxford Bridge to Lairg more often than not

[Walter Mclachlan]

Tis Gods Country and glad to live there.
Who needs to go anywhere else.
Next time you are up in my neck of the woods pop in to Thurso for a coffee.

[DJ]

shame you didn'y get the elise on the rainbow one.

Scotty

you mean like this

.. is your preference to go N up the W coast or to get up to the top and come S? Not quite as daft a question as it may seem perhaps?

As Campbell says, up the west and down the east/middle is how I have done similar trips before to Skye and Torridon. Just seems more natural that way somehow, don't know why. Had heard the Bealach na Ba was best done that way and also it leaves the A9 escape route home if things overrun or weather gets particularly bad, which we used to some extent.

Tis Gods Country and glad to live there.
Who needs to go anywhere else.
Next time you are up in my neck of the woods pop in to Thurso for a coffee.

Lucky man

[VXJON]

shame you didn'y get the elise on the rainbow one.

Scotty

you mean like this

One for the 2010 callender

[jason]

One for the 2010 callender

[pete039]

sounds like you had a great trip . Was looking at doing almost the same route myself in sept (weather permitting) . nice photos , makes me want to leave now and drive.