Hotels very north Scotland Book or wing it??

ZED 1000

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We (myself and my wife) are booked to stay at Fort William for the first week in July then from there we have 1 night booked in at Ullapool then intend touring right up the west coast across the top and back down the east coast returning to For William before we head home.

My question to anyone with local knowledge is should I pre book Hotels or just wing it and take a chance on availability, the first night will be a Sunday, we might make Thurso but might not get that far on the Sunday this is part of the problem with pre booking not knowing how far the days ride might take us.
 
We did this trip 2 weeks ago and decided not to pre-book. Worked out absolutely fine and got some brilliant deals on rooms just by asking for best rate. Loads of B&B's all over the place with vacancy signs. Not booking gives you much better flexibility IMO.

Enjoy your trip:thumby:
 
Wing it, would be my recommendation. Plenty of hotels and B&Bs around Thurso.

Ullapool to Thurso is only a morning's ride - so you will have time to find a place for the night. The Pentland Hotel is okay, but I wouldn't park my bike in the street out front - too many wee neds pass on their way home from the pub.

Places to eat: The Red Onion (part of Holburn Hotel) is good, as is the Pentland's lounge bar. I had fish & chips from the chipshop down by the British Legion in January - it was one of the best pieces of fish I've had.

In Ullapool - the fish & chips from the Seaforth is brilliant, and meals at the Arch Inn are good also.

Cracking roads up there, and the scenery along the northwest coast is stunning.

Al
 
A couple of years ago I rode the A837 from Bonar Bridge to the west coast and struggled to find a hotel as most were filled with fishing folk.

We eventually found rooms at the very strange Oykel Bridge Hotel .....
 
From Ullapool go to Durness. Several to choose from. Don't go straight... take diversions to Achiltibuie, go via the wee mad road to Lochinver for lunch at the Pie Shop....although not sure if open on Sun.... then via coast road calling at Achmelvich beach, to Kylesku, then up past Laxford and Scourie. Call at the hippy village Balnakeil for hot chocolate. thence to Thurso and east coast. Sure you'll be fine winging it.
 
Great response in under 1 hour thanks to you all and thanks for the route advice Gerard, advice from guys with local knowledge is invaluable information pointing out the "not to be missed" tucked away places to see to stop at to eat at and ride through, so often after visiting an area i get home and read on here about something i have missed by only a few miles, with your help i should not miss any.

Please keep the info coming thanks again this site is just fantastic for the help and information available.

don't know if i should admit to the following but hope i can still be accepted on the forum.

I bought A 9 month old 2009 1200GS late in 2009 sold it late summer 2010 after a great ride to Germany and through Italy, then bought a Harley Fat Bob which i still own, had various other touring and Adventure bikes since and now own a 2013 Triumph Explorer.
 
When in FW, try a bar lunch at The Lochy. Mine Host is GC and the grub is first class
 
Stayed in Thurso a couple of weeks ago where we tried this place, really good food, if you're into that sort of stuff... :D
 
For a good seafood meal out in Thurso, try the Captains Table down at Scrabster (right next to the ferry terminal).

Give them a ring first to check if they've any free tables.
 
For a good seafood meal out in Thurso, try the Captains Table down at Scrabster (right next to the ferry terminal).

Give them a ring first to check if they've any free tables.


Captain's Galley:

http://www.captainsgalley.co.uk/joomla/

Not been there for a long time, since they served sprouts with the fish..........:blast

Might have improved by now.

EDIT: just looked at the sample menu...... "Saithe". Sorry - I ate them when I caught them off Scrabster pier when I was 8, but I won't be paying for them in a restaurant....:rob



Al
 
Upper Deck, at Scrabster for a steak.
Probably the best you will ever get £ for £ in UK.
 
Hotels

Less than 2 weeks to departure thanks to you all for the suggestions.

further contributions welcome, most evenings from now will be spent on Map Source route plotting and up loading on to my satnav, would hate to miss a must see/visit spot/road, so feel free to point me to them.

Thanks again.
 
Go to the Crask Inn, just google it to see location and reviews. It's different for sure but I like it. Something a little different
 
The road from Ullapool to Tongue is amazing, also the Tongue hotel is a good place to stop :flag
 


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