On the hunt out of Fort William

[EggChaser]

If a Western Celt was planning a trip up to Fort William what are the best locations to the North West of there for going hunting snakes of tarmac through nice hilly scenery. Not averse to the odd snake with a grassy centre or forest trails and could do with some info on any establishments where I can murder a good haggis on the way. Oh and if there are any sections of road where it is a good idea to top up with fuel first then that would be useful too.

Oh and now they have built that new fangled aerial road around Glasgow (that is not on my maps or GPS) what is the best way to get from South of Glasgow on the M74 to either Loch Lomond or Callander (bear in mind I already know about the route from the Campsie's and over Duke's Pass after advice on a previous trip)

Thanks

Colin

 

[EggChaser]

OK I now know that the M74 continuing along the new elevated section and joining the M8 for the Clyde Tunnel will get me around Glasgow to Loch Lomond so unless there is a good way of getting to the Campsies/Callander then I probably only need advice for stuff North West of Fort William.

 

[andy1201]

Hi mate,stay on the A82 to Invergarry then onto the 87,stop at view point at loch garry(it's the shape of Scotland)the 87 will take you up to Eileandonan Castle and the Skye bridge,love this road.From there anywhere up the west coast is superb,either up the coast taking in Applecross,or inland on the A890 to Achnasheen then A832 to Gairloch(great views as you come into Gairloch.The further up the west coast you go the better it gets,also single track road to Plockton or Rattagan pass to the Glenelg ferry to Skye
hope this helps
Andy

 

[John Armstrong]

Anything single carriageway

And that's not one lane each way either!

 

[EggChaser]

Anything single carriageway

And that's not one lane each way either!

From my last trip over the border (just to give an idea of what I like)

and

BTW I was already thinking about Applecross and it is already in my GPS

 

[boatman]

Applecross mmmmmh do it ! hope fr good weather!
if you get te 2 together well ________________that is ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[G.C.]

When are you coming ?
Where are you staying ?
How long are you here for ?
You looking for 4/6/8/10 hour runs from the fort ?
I might know where some decent, local, wild Haggis is to be sourced.

I probably only need advice for stuff North West of Fort William.

That's it right there, stick to that plan and you cant go wrong.

 

[EggChaser]

Still planning thinking about next week weather might scupper things a tad.

Looking at maps

A Trip to Skye via the Glenelg Ferry and then Applecross looks like a plan

The roads round Lonchinver look interesting if I can get up that far (via Gairloch)

Might do a blast up to Thurso (just as I have never been) but will cut off at Allness, past Falls of Skin and to Loch Naver and then across if I do that.

Was hoping to do at least one day not on the bike (hill walking)

Would expect to do more than 4 hours every riding day, can do 10 hours (part riding part looking at scenery ) - but won't be doing that every day.

 

[G.C.]

3 or 7 hours
A830 Mallaig road, take a left at Lochailoirt A861 Glenuig/Strontian/Ardgour. You might want to do the Strontian/Ardgour bit again, in fact you might want to do the whole thing again, its a superb bit of road.
You could make this trip the longer version with a birl out to Ardnamurchan
B8007 (Most westerly point.) Hang a left, signpost Salen.
Back on the A 861, Corran Ferry from Ardgour, hang a right, then over the Ballachulish bridge to Glencoe village, take a left and do the loop around Kinlochleven. Nice (expensive) seafood restaurant there on the way out of Kinloch you could stop for lunch or just buy some Oysters on the way past, they farm them there (I could help if you need shown how to open them.) Then back on the A82 to the fort, the only bad 12 miles of this run.

Skye via the Glenelg ferry should be a must for everyone visiting the West Coast, but Skye deserves at least a full day. Head for the Bealach Na Ba (Applecross) another day, the most common mistake folk make is trying to cram too much into their visit, take your time and enjoy each day

Ill add some more runs over the next few days if you want, but seriously, if you stick to North and West, you really cant go wrong.

 

[Klanky]

.....

The roads round Lonchinver look interesting if I can get up that far (via Gairloch)

Might do a blast up to Thurso (just as I have never been) but will cut off at Allness, past Falls of Skin and to Loch Naver and then across if I do that.

Was hoping to do at least one day not on the bike (hill walking)

Would expect to do more than 4 hours every riding day, can do 10 hours (part riding part looking at scenery ) - but won't be doing that every day.

Regarding your plan for Thurso:

TBH, if i didn't have time to cover the whole of the North coast, I'd follow your plan to come off the A9 at Alness and follow the B9176 to Ardgay and Bonar Bridge (good road), up to Lairg (fuel) via Falls of Shin and then as you say up through Altnaharra.

But instead of going to Thurso, I'd continue up to Kyle of Tongue (fuel) and head west for Durness (fuel). Then back down the West side taking the small coast roads all the way down to Ullapool (fuel) via Lochinver (fuel and pie shop).
The road from Altnaharra up the side of Loch Naver to Bettyhill is a lovely little road, Thurso and back down the A9 is still a good run (and the A9 is a good road North of Tain) but, given the choice, carrying on through Altnaharra up to Kyle and then the West side run is the one to go for, it's a cracker.

 

[G.C.]

The ski run run. 6/8 hours.

Sometimes the weather can be a wee bit damp North and West, this run starts heading South then East and takes in the 5 Scottish Ski Centres.

A82 south from An Gearastan (thats the Fort) through Glencoe and over Rannoch Moor. Straight on at Crianlarich. The road is now the A85 left again at Lix Toll onto the A827 (head up to Glen Lyon Post Office for coffee and a mid morning Scone at Boxertools Bench.) Loop back onto the A827 to Balinluig, few miles up the A9 to Pitlochry then its up the hill on the
A924 through Kirkmichael left again onto the B950 then left onto the A93 Past Blacklunans (hic) and up through Glenshee, past Braemar then left again onto the B976 which takes you onto the A939 left again (its a loop) up the hill past the Lecht and onto Granton on Spey.
Then take the A95 down to the B9152 through Aviemore and on to the A86 all the way down to Spean Bridge and back onto the A82 past Nevis Range and back to the Fort.

That there is a nice wee run.

 

[Ronno]

Sometimes the weather can be a wee bit damp North and West, this run starts heading South then East and takes in the 5 Scottish Ski Centres.

A82 south from An Gearastan (thats the Fort) through Glencoe and over Rannoch Moor. Straight on at Crianlarich. The road is now the A85 left again at Lix Toll onto the A827 (head up to Glen Lyon Post Office for coffee and a mid morning Scone at Boxertools Bench.) Loop back onto the A827 to Balinluig, few miles up the A9 to Pitlochry then its up the hill on the
A924 through Kirkmichael left again onto the B950 then left onto the A93 Past Blacklunans (hic) and up through Glenshee, past Braemar then left again onto the B976 which takes you onto the A939 left again (its a loop) up the hill past the Lecht and onto Granton on Spey.
Then take the A95 down to the B9152 through Aviemore and on to the A86 all the way down to Spean Bridge and back onto the A82 past Nevis Range and back to the Fort.

That there is a nice wee run.

Oooosha. That's a nice run

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

The west road from Ullapool to Lonchinver it tight and twisty if that's you thing. Its all single track and some of it is pretty enclosed/blind which I wasn't very keen on. I had a couple of 4x4 coming bombing round the other way which made things interesting. Some spectacular views in the more open bits though.

 

[Deleted User O]

The west road from Ullapool to Lonchinver it tight and twisty if that's you thing. Its all single track and some of it is pretty enclosed/blind which I wasn't very keen on. I had a couple of 4x4 coming bombing round the other way which made things interesting. Some spectacular views in the more open bits though.

We'll see if they will upgrade one of Scotlands best biking roads to dual carriageway for ye

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

We'll see if they will upgrade one of Scotlands best biking roads to dual carriageway for ye

Single track is fine so long as inconsiderate twats that take up the whole road don't drive round blind corners at 50mph.

 

[EggChaser]

Single track is fine so long as inconsiderate twats that take up the whole road don't drive round blind corners at 50mph.

Seen that problem in the Lake District earlier this year

 

[EggChaser]

Skye via the Glenelg ferry should be a must for everyone visiting the West Coast, but Skye deserves at least a full day. Head for the Bealach Na Ba (Applecross) another day, the most common mistake folk make is trying to cram too much into their visit, take your time and enjoy each day

I have just been plotting Sky + Applecross out and realized it is a tad of a long route in terms of time so thanks for the warning.

BTW for everyonethis has given me plenty of ideas so probably don't need more. Thanks for the informative response

Also already done the run to the Boxertools Bench so might keep that for if I get any spare time.

 

[EggChaser]

Well I spent 6 nights in Fort William with 4 days riding and one climbing Ben Nevis. Wasn't exactly a dry week but enough clear spells to make it a good trip even so.

Will post some pictures when I get a moment - but basically I want to go back and spend more time on Skye and around Ullapool.

Loved the sequence of A386 from Melvich running along to A838 at Tongue onto the A894 and A835 into Ullapool.

Had to do Applecross twice, as the first time I did it could not see anything at all at the top with rain and low lying cloud. So I went back early evening after visiting Skye as it was clear then (went up and down on the same side due to time limitations) What an awesome descent on the Loch Carron side if you are lucky enough, like I was, to hit it with no one ascending and dry

Thanks for all the advice given before the trip.

Oh and A roads that are single track with passing places are a tad of a surprise - can't remember finding any of them in Wales or England and they really mess with any estimated arrival times on the GPS

Colin

 

[wully]

Hope you get the weather next time you visit

 

[Packer]

Oh and A roads that are single track with passing places are a tad of a surprise - can't remember finding any of them in Wales or England and they really mess with any estimated arrival times on the GPS

Colin

You'll get quicker with practise but then you'll find that it really messes with your fuel consumption, brake and tyre life