Dukes Pass - starting to look like a rally stage!

[Oldsparky]

I was driving back to Livingston from Oban this morning and decided to take a detour via the Dukes Pass. Unfortunately, I was in a Mondeo estate rather than the Elise..... I can't believe the poor condition of the road now, especially from the Kilmahog side until you start to climb up the hill. A good 6 or 7 miles of potholes and temporary repairs. There are still a few smooth sections on the higher parts of the Pass and it's a cracking drive, especially as it was so quiet today. However, the condition would make it a lot less fun in an Elise than it used to be. Maybe a deliberate tactic of the local cooncil to keep speeds down? The Mondeo still took a spanking though! Pulled in to let a convoy of a Golf (R?) and a couple of Beemers (M140?) pass me, obviously out enjoying a run.
Cheers
Harvey

[Corranga]

Not been down there for a while, but is it worse than the (now repaired) Glenshee, old Military road was? That was always a bit of a bone shaker in the Elise, and whilst the new surface is much, much nicer to drive, part of me actually quite liked the rough, bumpy , increased sense of speed from the old one !

[111Robin]

Some sections have just been resurfaced. Going towards Brig o Turk along the side of Loch Venachar as you pass by the cafe has been done as has a short section just as the road rises out of Aberfoyle. I cycle the Dukes at least once a week so know every single pot hole on the road and there are still a lot of real bone shaker sections. It isn't the worst in the area though. I know well by now which roads to avoid on the bike.

[mik]

I felt the same when I drove the A93 last year - Blairgowrie upto the Ski Slopes was awful - I stopped at one point as I was convinced I'd picked up a puncture. I hadn't.

[ed]

Its been too long since I driven this road. Stupid tourist coaches can't be helping....

[Corranga]

Its been too long since I driven this road. Stupid tourist coaches can't be helping....

Always wonder why they bother with coaches on Dukes Pass. It's not a long road, and there is obviously an alternative that is easier to drive for a coach, and probably quicker. I don't recall the views being all that spectacular either, though being behind the wheel I might be mistaken..

[campbell]

Lochs & Glens Holidays (coach Tour tastic) have a hotel at Loch Achray, at foot of the pass.

Sadly.

[111Robin]

It's great when two meet head to head between Brig o Turk and the Loch Katrine turn off. Last time i saw this it took about half an hour of shunting back and forth to enable them to just squeeze past each other. Really shouldn't be allowed but as they own the hotel i guess they know what they're doing !.

[tut]

The great unwashed, what would life be without them.

tut

[campbell]

Faster.

Cheaper.