Macseasider
Well-known member
Anyone done this before?
Doing it as a little road trip over 4 days in April. Looking forward to it.
Doing it as a little road trip over 4 days in April. Looking forward to it.
Wholly agree. I think it’s something to do with there being a monastery there back in the early Middle Ages around 700AD, founded by Irish monks. It was very difficult to reach and was a sanctuary for many who could reach it. In fact, the surrounding district is known as A’ Chomraich, 'the sanctuary' in Gaelic. It’s very peaceful.The Applecross Inn on a summer’s eve is the best place on the planet.
As a slight aside, we went to the Kielder Observatory last December. Fantastic dark sky zone and we got to use the telescopes.We are on our way up to Skye for the Spring Equinox in March, to go Aurora Borealis spotting. Apparently, the Spring Equinox is the best time because the tilt of the planet means that the cosmic particle flux comes down into Scotland and there are 12 hours of darkness for observation.
Also, northern Skye is one of the darkest places in the country, no big towns with their light pollution. Being on the coast we hope there will be less cloud cover, but we have trust to luck.
Couldn’t agree more. I can’t keep away. Pushed further west last year to the outer Hebrides and went back to Vatersay which is beyond fantasticThe North West Coast bit is the most beautiful bit of the UK in my opinion. Most of the roads are OK, but some of the single tracks, particularly Lochinver to Kylesque, can be a nightmare with large camper vans travelling in both directions, and unable to manoeuvre easily.
The scenery around here, the discrete mountains of Stac Poillaid, Quinag, Suilivan, with their glacial carved sides sticking out of square miles of moorland, wow. Durness is great, but can get really busy, don't rely on every cafe being open. If you detour to Kinlockbervie, the cafe opposite the fish market did the best haddock I've had in a long time.
Torridon, Gairloch, Ullapool ( good place to stock up on everything as tiny shops for 100 miles afterwards). Good idea to fuel up when you see it, as we found odd ones closed or out of fuel (not uncommon here in the Highlands)
Across the top, amazing beaches with some great surf, dominated by Dounray, stopping you getting onto close beaches. Back down the east coast, bit more boring but tiny churchyards with the most ornate huge grave stones and statues.
Were up in a cottage north of Ullapool back end of last year, saw the most amazing Aurora display, for about 4 hours, worth keeping an eye out for. A lot of it is great light free sky, the stars too are amazing.
Enjoy, I hope the weather is fair for you
My sister owned a cottage on the Isle of Lewis. Used to go a couple of times a year till she sold it. It is truly a very special place. As is Skye.Couldn’t agree more. I can’t keep away. Pushed further west last year to the outer Hebrides and went back to Vatersay which is beyond fantastic
Vatersay might just be my favourite place in the UniverseCouldn’t agree more. I can’t keep away. Pushed further west last year to the outer Hebrides and went back to Vatersay which is beyond fantastic
Look up Charge Place Scotland who are excellent and their national network leaves England looking like a country governed by a bunch of childish tw**sThought about it and watched a fair few You Tube videos but not sure of EV charging provision up there which puts me off
Fancy doing it. Looks greatAnyone done this before?
Doing it as a little road trip over 4 days in April. Looking forward to it.
Stayed at Kinlochbervie Hotel on night 2. Old fashioned but the nicest people you could meet owning and running it. We did east to west. A lot of people say the East is a bit boring. We loved that East coast. Spent a day in and around Inverness going to the Culloden battlefield, Ardesier (gorgeous) and Fort George. We also found some incredible little ancient harbours near Dunrobin Castle. Latheronwheel especially beatiful.The North West Coast bit is the most beautiful bit of the UK in my opinion. Most of the roads are OK, but some of the single tracks, particularly Lochinver to Kylesque, can be a nightmare with large camper vans travelling in both directions, and unable to manoeuvre easily.
The scenery around here, the discrete mountains of Stac Poillaid, Quinag, Suilivan, with their glacial carved sides sticking out of square miles of moorland, wow. Durness is great, but can get really busy, don't rely on every cafe being open. If you detour to Kinlockbervie, the cafe opposite the fish market did the best haddock I've had in a long time.
Torridon, Gairloch, Ullapool ( good place to stock up on everything as tiny shops for 100 miles afterwards). Good idea to fuel up when you see it, as we found odd ones closed or out of fuel (not uncommon here in the Highlands)
Across the top, amazing beaches with some great surf, dominated by Dounray, stopping you getting onto close beaches. Back down the east coast, bit more boring but tiny churchyards with the most ornate huge grave stones and statues.
Were up in a cottage north of Ullapool back end of last year, saw the most amazing Aurora display, for about 4 hours, worth keeping an eye out for. A lot of it is great light free sky, the stars too are amazing.
Enjoy, I hope the weather is fair for you
Glad you enjoyed it, we're off to near Ulapool in a week or so's time, cannot get enough of the mountains and beachesStayed at Kinlochbervie Hotel on night 2. Old fashioned but the nicest people you could meet owning and running it. We did east to west. A lot of people say the East is a bit boring. We loved that East coast. Spent a day in and around Inverness going to the Culloden battlefield, Ardesier (gorgeous) and Fort George. We also found some incredible little ancient harbours near Dunrobin Castle. Latheronwheel especially beatiful.
Headed on up to John O'Groats which was a little underwhelming. Reminded me of what I think the Falkland Islands would look like. Then we headed all the way West to Kinlochbervie for the night. Day 3 we then did the VERY long West coast and stayed in Fort William. Been to Fort William probably 6 times in my life and had never seen Ben Nevis due to weather. But this time it was absolutely magnificent.
Barely any traffic and amazing weather. April is a great time to do it. We did think that it would be a nightmare in the summer months as there are hours and hours of single track with passing places. We barely had to stop once the whole trip. Just wish we'd have done it over longer. Will do it over a week next time as there is just too much to see.
I'm too old and unfit to do it but it sounds magnificent.Stayed at Kinlochbervie Hotel on night 2. Old fashioned but the nicest people you could meet owning and running it. We did east to west. A lot of people say the East is a bit boring. We loved that East coast. Spent a day in and around Inverness going to the Culloden battlefield, Ardesier (gorgeous) and Fort George. We also found some incredible little ancient harbours near Dunrobin Castle. Latheronwheel especially beatiful.
Headed on up to John O'Groats which was a little underwhelming. Reminded me of what I think the Falkland Islands would look like. Then we headed all the way West to Kinlochbervie for the night. Day 3 we then did the VERY long West coast and stayed in Fort William. Been to Fort William probably 6 times in my life and had never seen Ben Nevis due to weather. But this time it was absolutely magnificent.
Barely any traffic and amazing weather. April is a great time to do it. We did think that it would be a nightmare in the summer months as there are hours and hours of single track with passing places. We barely had to stop once the whole trip. Just wish we'd have done it over longer. Will do it over a week next time as there is just too much to see.
We drove mate!I'm too old and unfit to do it but it sounds magnificent.
Yeah we stopped at Loch Broom for a break. Enjoy. It's an amazing country. Massive. Never realized how big.Glad you enjoyed it, we're off to near Ulapool in a week or so's time, cannot get enough of the mountains and beaches
John O Groats is rubbish, I'm sure they could make more more of it.
Actually, that sounds like a good idea.We drove mate!
We're just back from a week amidst the mountains north of Ullapool. Phenomenal weather (so warm we kept seeing Red deer in the rivers cooling off), no midges, beaches to ourselves, and the Aurora last weekend. We live just north of the Cairngorms, but the mountains from Torridon north are just so raw.Sat outside Applecross Inn. Here til Sunday
Torridon this morning was out of this world.
It’s my happy place. I keep coming back. Nearly moved to Barra 3 yrs ago but even I thought it was a bit of a stretch for away gamesWe're just back from a week amidst the mountains north of Ullapool. Phenomenal weather (so warm we kept seeing Red deer in the rivers cooling off), no midges, beaches to ourselves, and the Aurora last weekend. We live just north of the Cairngorms, but the mountains from Torridon north are just so raw.
Applecross is indeed a wonderful place to go. And Inverewe Gardens also well worth visit. I hope to be doing both in a few weeks time.I challenge you to take a slight detour and take your car up and over the Bealach na Ba. Applecross is the wonderful terminus.
But don’t try the pass at night in a thunderstorm as we once did - although we succeeded, it scared us massively. It’s over 2000 feet high, with a 20% gradient in parts and there are many successive hairpin bends near the top.
Inverewe Garden near Poolewe is worth a visit. If you have your boots with you, Stac Pollaidh (2000 feet) is a good short climb and not into the wilderness, but close to the coast, just north of Ullapool. Ben Hope on the far north coast is a fine ridge also. Be careful though.
Love Vatersay, and Barra is nearly as good, camped there a couple of times. We retire next year and want to make one last trip to the Outer Hebrides top to bottom, before we go.It’s my happy place. I keep coming back. Nearly moved to Barra 3 yrs ago but even I thought it was a bit of a stretch for away games