Another Scotland Trip

[AlistairF]

Having just completed a year of Boxster ownership what better way of celebrating than an anticlockwise NC500 ! Great weather in May and just fantastic roads with little traffic...just when we thought it
was all over and travelling home South, there was the absolutely brilliant Nairn Durness Road and then the B9008 through the Cairngorms. Wow.

 

[AndrewT]

It sounds as though you were there around the same time as me, the weather was great in May. Why not add some pictures to your thread? I created a thread following my trip ( here ).

 

[AlistairF]

Good thought. I've been a bit put off posting pics due to the site restrictions. most of my files are large.

 

[AlistairF]

I've reduced the file sizes... Badachro Inn near Ullapool. First night after leaving Loch Lomond. Apologies for the Jag

 

[AlistairF]

Inverewe

 

[AndrewT]

I see that Jag's following you again! How many days did you take for your trip?

I'm curious about by your route, you said you drove the NC500 anti-clockwise, did you drive from Loch Lomond to Badachro Inn and then across to Inverness to start the NC500?

 

[AlistairF]

I'll post the full route.

..next instalment Ardveck Castle

 

[AlistairF]

As promised our itinerary…

Arrochar
A82 (wow)
Fort William
Invergarry
A87
Achnasheen (buzzed by a GTS and Integrale along here)
A832 Badachro Inn (Night 1)
A832/835
Ullapool
A835/837/894
Kylesku
A838
Durness
A838
A836
Altnaharra (Night 2)
Lairg
Tain
A9 (dull)
Inverness
A939 (dull)
Nairn
A939 (nice)
B9007 (worth the diversion)
A938 Grantown
A939 Ballater (stunning)
A93
A9
Dunblane (nice stop over) Night 3

This wasn’t quite how we planned it as missed a couple of junctions on the way. Everyone said go to Applecross. I’ve seen the videos on YouTube, and gave it a miss.
Most days we arrived at stopovers by 4.00 (we generally left by 09.00 AM) so actually had more time to take longer routes or actually do some sightseeing.
North of Fort William was quiet, with the odd campervan/ hire car to nip past. I’m hoping to do it again next year as driving here in Hertfordshire feels very claustrophobic now.

 

[AlistairF]

 

[AlistairF]

Who needs a hybrid ? Run home stats...

 

[Gorsh]

I was puzzled by your anticlockwise description too with Ullapool area being your first stop after Loch Lomond.... so it was clockwise and not the complete NC500 which explains it!

Great roads though wherever you go in the Highlands and always a very enjoyable road trip - good to take in the A82 and the Nairn to Perth on the way North and back rather than the A9 - although the A9 has good scenery too particularly between Bruar and Aviemore. Loads of other routes you can enjoy on your next trip - I've been going up there for many years and never tire of it.

 

[gordy70]

Great stuff Alistair?? Just completed NC500 last weekend myself from Muir of Ord (12 miles West of Inverness) heading clockwise over the Bealach Na Ba unfortunately weather was shocking heading up and over summit with wind, rain and zero visibility(see photo??) but better once we descended to Applecross, now heading North we stopped at the Dundonnell Hotel on the Friday night.

Better weather on Saturday morning and spotted a group of Porsches???? at Kylesku Bridge that gave us a nice fly past shortly afterwards, with the wind and rain returning when heading towards Tongue in the late afternoon before stopping overnight at the Bettyhill Hotel.
Sunday was a far nicer day weather wise but not as scenic heading down the long road(A9) back to Muir of Ord (185 miles via Inverness) An amazing trip with stunning roads and scenery! Hopefully next time I’ll get to do it in my Cayman R as this time I was taking part in a epic 3 day cycling challenge.

 

[AlistairF]

Yes, of course we were travelling clockwise !...anti the normal NC500 direction.

 

[AndrewT]

Yes, of course we were travelling clockwise !...anti the normal NC500 direction.

Thanks for clearing that up, it did puzzle me when you said you went from Loch Lomond to Badachro Inn. I thought perhaps you had a digital clock

 

[farleton]

We are just back from a 12 day trip to Scotland. Not as ambitious as yours. We spent 2 days in St Andrews, 3 days in Ballater and 2 days in Callander Followed by 3 days in North Yorkshire. Loved every minute of it. We did the A939 snow road in both directions. what a fantastic road, so little traffic and generally long views of the road ahead. Had an interesting encounter on the way north on A939. I glanced in the rear view mirror and found it full of a Nissan GT R. As we went up a steep rise I counted at least 9 of them in convoy. I decided not to compete and pulled over to allow them all to pass. Great noise but not as good as a flat 6!!! You need to be aware of the lack of petrol stations in parts of Scotland. I had my sat nav updated about three years ago but many that showed up turned out to be closed or changed to Highland. Very difficult to find 97 Ron. I suggest that you top up wherever you can. The net is more accurate in locating petrol stations than the Porsche sat nav. Beware of speed cameras in Scotland. There seem to be far more than in England particularly in the Borders and some of the longest average speed section that I have encountered. I heard a great deal from my Road Angel. A word of warning if you are using the sat nav to navigate in the Edinburgh area. As I said earlier I had mine updated a few years ago but it did not know about the new Queensferry Crossing so too late I realised that I had navigated away from the M90 and was treated to some very interesting cobbled streets not entirely compatable with 19in wheels. What a beautiful country!!

 

[Brian_Innes]

Alistair,

Speaking as a "local", I thought you did very well with your version of the clockwise NC500 route. Including the Applecross peninsula to your chosen route adds considerable time and distance, so I can understand why you omitted it on this occasion. For future interest, the best views of the Pass of the Cattle are achieved from west to east, Applecross to Kishorn in my opinion. Good that you also had time to stop at Ballater, in Aberdeenshire. This charming victorian town is often missed out by NC500 tourists due to pressures of time.

I'm amazed at your Boxster mpg stats shown in the photos. My 2019 718 Cayman GTS PDK never reaches anywhere near those mpg figures on similar journeys.

Having made the long journey south to Hertfordshire last year when visiting friends, I know what you mean about it seeming claustrophobic compared to the roads in my backyard.

Good luck with planning next year's Scotland tour. It's big place. I'm hoping you don't need a passport next time!

Brian