Scotland

[boxsterflyboy]

Hello,
We did a tour with the Boxster register last year and loved it so much we are coming back this year.

So we are starting our one Boxster tour in Fort William, then Inverness and onto Aberdeen to stay with a friend.

What are the places and fabulous drives that we shouldn't miss.

 

[John H]

I hate to say it but Fort William/Inverness/Aberdeen hardly takes you through the best Scotland has to offer. Ideally you want to go north and west of this area to get the most dramatic scenery. The roads up to Gairloch/Poolewe and Ullapool are far better.

Fort William itself is worth avoiding, Scotland's equivalent of Blackpool. And whatever you do, do not stop at Drumnadrochit on Loch ness ... the "Loch Ness Monster" centre, unless of course you enjoy coach parties of pensioners and plastic models of Nessie [:'(]. Fort Augustus is nice, but prone to be busy.

Inverness is quite vibrant these days with some good restaurants, and the Black Isle is an interesting diversion. Cromarty is nicely historic, and you can watch dolphins from the point at Rosemarkie. Better than plastic Nessie monsters any day.

Lots of other good roads and places to go, depends on how much time you have.

 

[boxsterflyboy]

John,We are going back to Fort William because we liked the hotel there and we have a few places we would like to see in the area.The hotel is out of the town.We are going to visit Loch Ness on the way to Inverness. We will take your suggestion and and avoid the tourist bit. We are staying slightly north of Inverness, so we will be able to driveto the north and west as you suggest. I'll relook at the maps. thanks for your help. Best wishesTerry joyce

 

[John H]

I wrote this some years back http://www.arthurlea.com/Backyard.htm which might amuse you, although it won me no friends with the Fort William tourist board! []

Any of the roads to the west are fabulous; the A830 to Mallaig, better still the A87 to Kyle of Lochalsh, but best of all is the loop of the A832 from Achnasheen thro Poolewe and eventually on to Ullapool on the A835. If you have time, a detour down to the beach at Mellon Udrigle is magical, especially if the weather is clear. North of Ullapool is fabulous, the least real wilderness left in the UK, but allow lots of time for exploring as these roads take a lot longer than the map suggests.

All of this is so much better than Loch Ness which is greatly over-rated, very busy, and has a nasty dangerous road along it as well.

Enjoy! []

PS ... where are you staying north of Inverness?

 

[jenpot]

If you're eating out, the Mustard Seed in Inverness has had good reviews from friends.

 

[John H]

My favourite hotel/eating place in Scotland ...

http://www.theanderson.co.uk/

 

[944s2]

Back already guys!

 

[Pastry]

if you get a chance i'd recommend going here;

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/applecross/peninsula/index.html

the pass through the applecross mountains is worth a look

i'd also recommend inverewe botanic gardens

 

[911sse]

Thats where I am going next weekend!!

Great area and up to the roads John mentioned.

 

[calisa]

All depends how you are getting to Fort William in the first place and then you can have fun stitching together your overnight locations.
From the south, go west as early as possible and enjoy any of the roads from Crinan up through oban and up the west to Fort William.
From Fort William, all the west coast stuff mentioned is great, you really are spoiled for choice. Fort William to Inverness, the A82 is the least interesting route, the A 86 and then into spey side has less traffic but all the west options will be far more fun.
From Inverness to Aberdeen, at all costs, avoid the A96. A boring tractor infested, inadequate route joining two major cities.
Instead, go to Forres, head shouth across the moor to Granton on Spey and then take the A939 cockbridge to tomintoul route across the cairngorms. Through the lecht ski area and then down into donside.Head for Kildrummie castle and then alford, but the exact route doesn't really matter, as you can go a bit further south and cut across through Deeside instead.
Only warning: At this time of the year there is a lot of potato seeding, ploughing, harrowing and general sowing/fertilising going on so this means a lot more tractors on the roads than would normally be the case, particularly once you get into Aberdeenshire. Lots of big, wide heavy implements going slowly in odd places.

 

[dougster]

I'm just back from the Fort William area last weekend.

It was a nice run up the A82 'till Tyndrum then A85 to Connel and up the A828 and A82 to Fort William. The road to Mallaig is fantastic then we got the ferry to Skye and drove up to Portree.

I would have liked more time on Skye but such is life.

Thouroughly enjoyable and the scenery is stunning.

 

[boxsterflyboy]

John,
Just got back from the Leukaemia Research conference in Bristol.

I believe it's a hotel in North Kessock.

 

[boxsterflyboy]

I'd like to thank everyone that has supplied information for our trip to Scotland.
I'm looking at Googlre Earth and checking the places out.

Best wishes
Terry Joyce

 

[John H]

ORIGINAL: boxsterflyboy

I believe it's a hotel in North Kessock.

Good location. Kessock is of course is on the Black Isle, itself a little known jewel of a place. Visit the Black Isle brewery for the best beer in Scotland. Beauly, Fortrose, Cromarty, Tain and Dornoch are all worth a visit too. This is also a great jumping off point for exploring the north west coast as this is of course where Scotland conveniently narrows, but there are no midgies on the east coast. Do not bother going to John o Groats, it's a long tedious journey, and a serious let down once you get there.

Enjoy! []

 

[kitchens]

John H for Minister of Tourism for Scotland [][] just don't expect a vote from the good people of Fort William

Why is Port Glasgow next to Greenock ?? just to make Greenock look good [][]

 

[chfs911]

Sounds like a work trip to me! Black Isle then down Loch Ness and back via Laggen. 300miles and I get paid for it! :O)