Road trip suggestion
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Joined: Jan 2011
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From: North Hampshire
Road trip suggestion
Got next week off.
Thinking about getting away and doing some driving for a few days to get away from it all.
Passport expired so limited to the UK. - where should I go?
Was thinking isle of man or maybe scotland? Already going to north wales in the summer but it bloomin good there so might have to be done
open to suggestions! would be for a few days b&b sort of thing.
Where would you go? any "must drive" places it would be good to spend some time at?
Thinking about getting away and doing some driving for a few days to get away from it all.
Passport expired so limited to the UK. - where should I go?
Was thinking isle of man or maybe scotland? Already going to north wales in the summer but it bloomin good there so might have to be done
open to suggestions! would be for a few days b&b sort of thing.
Where would you go? any "must drive" places it would be good to spend some time at?
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,138
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From: Lothians
North of Scotland if you have as much as a week.
Stick mainly to North and West of the Great Glen (Loch Ness faultline/Caledonian Canal).
Don't make the mistake of not bothering to go as far north as you can on the mainland as many do - the roads and scenery get better the further north you travel.
Get a cheap road atlas that includes the unclassified roads, as many of these are well worth doing. There aren't enough roads to allow you to get lost without a satnav.
There are relatively few roads in that North West corner of scotland, so work out routes that mostly cover them - you can reckon on doing 250 plus if you are on your own.
Book B&B's as you go, perhaps a few in advance using google. Don't leave it too late to find one in the evenings though as the next available place could be 20 miles away.
Make sure you fill up fairly regularly as fuel is not that common for obvious reasons, and will not be open late. You won't get Super unleaded north and West of Ullapool either, but don't worry about that unless it is critical for a modded engine.
On the East side of Scotland the A93 perth to Braemar, Tomintoul, Grantown on Spey is well worth doing - one way to get north or south to the North and West. I would avoid the A9 if you can right now - series of road works make it very, very slow at the moment.
Western route to the north and West is via Glencoe.
Make sure you incorporate the Bealach na Ba hill pass to Applecross, and also the Lairg to Tongue road.
Avoid travelling along Loch Ness side - very dull and slow - turn off or on at Invergarry which is south of there.
Don't drive fast at night in the Highlands, tempting as it can be on deserted roads - lots of red deer around. Take care early morning, and dusk for the same reason.
Stick mainly to North and West of the Great Glen (Loch Ness faultline/Caledonian Canal).
Don't make the mistake of not bothering to go as far north as you can on the mainland as many do - the roads and scenery get better the further north you travel.
Get a cheap road atlas that includes the unclassified roads, as many of these are well worth doing. There aren't enough roads to allow you to get lost without a satnav.
There are relatively few roads in that North West corner of scotland, so work out routes that mostly cover them - you can reckon on doing 250 plus if you are on your own.
Book B&B's as you go, perhaps a few in advance using google. Don't leave it too late to find one in the evenings though as the next available place could be 20 miles away.
Make sure you fill up fairly regularly as fuel is not that common for obvious reasons, and will not be open late. You won't get Super unleaded north and West of Ullapool either, but don't worry about that unless it is critical for a modded engine.
On the East side of Scotland the A93 perth to Braemar, Tomintoul, Grantown on Spey is well worth doing - one way to get north or south to the North and West. I would avoid the A9 if you can right now - series of road works make it very, very slow at the moment.
Western route to the north and West is via Glencoe.
Make sure you incorporate the Bealach na Ba hill pass to Applecross, and also the Lairg to Tongue road.
Avoid travelling along Loch Ness side - very dull and slow - turn off or on at Invergarry which is south of there.
Don't drive fast at night in the Highlands, tempting as it can be on deserted roads - lots of red deer around. Take care early morning, and dusk for the same reason.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 8,076
Likes: 86
From: Costa del Cornwall
North of Scotland if you have as much as a week.
Stick mainly to North and West of the Great Glen (Loch Ness faultline/Caledonian Canal).
Don't make the mistake of not bothering to go as far north as you can on the mainland as many do - the roads and scenery get better the further north you travel.
Get a cheap road atlas that includes the unclassified roads, as many of these are well worth doing. There aren't enough roads to allow you to get lost without a satnav.
There are relatively few roads in that North West corner of scotland, so work out routes that mostly cover them - you can reckon on doing 250 plus if you are on your own.
Book B&B's as you go, perhaps a few in advance using google. Don't leave it too late to find one in the evenings though as the next available place could be 20 miles away.
Make sure you fill up fairly regularly as fuel is not that common for obvious reasons, and will not be open late. You won't get Super unleaded north and West of Ullapool either, but don't worry about that unless it is critical for a modded engine.
On the East side of Scotland the A93 perth to Braemar, Tomintoul, Grantown on Spey is well worth doing - one way to get north or south to the North and West. I would avoid the A9 if you can right now - series of road works make it very, very slow at the moment.
Western route to the north and West is via Glencoe.
Make sure you incorporate the Bealach na Ba hill pass to Applecross, and also the Lairg to Tongue road.
Avoid travelling along Loch Ness side - very dull and slow - turn off or on at Invergarry which is south of there.
Don't drive fast at night in the Highlands, tempting as it can be on deserted roads - lots of red deer around. Take care early morning, and dusk for the same reason.
Stick mainly to North and West of the Great Glen (Loch Ness faultline/Caledonian Canal).
Don't make the mistake of not bothering to go as far north as you can on the mainland as many do - the roads and scenery get better the further north you travel.
Get a cheap road atlas that includes the unclassified roads, as many of these are well worth doing. There aren't enough roads to allow you to get lost without a satnav.
There are relatively few roads in that North West corner of scotland, so work out routes that mostly cover them - you can reckon on doing 250 plus if you are on your own.
Book B&B's as you go, perhaps a few in advance using google. Don't leave it too late to find one in the evenings though as the next available place could be 20 miles away.
Make sure you fill up fairly regularly as fuel is not that common for obvious reasons, and will not be open late. You won't get Super unleaded north and West of Ullapool either, but don't worry about that unless it is critical for a modded engine.
On the East side of Scotland the A93 perth to Braemar, Tomintoul, Grantown on Spey is well worth doing - one way to get north or south to the North and West. I would avoid the A9 if you can right now - series of road works make it very, very slow at the moment.
Western route to the north and West is via Glencoe.
Make sure you incorporate the Bealach na Ba hill pass to Applecross, and also the Lairg to Tongue road.
Avoid travelling along Loch Ness side - very dull and slow - turn off or on at Invergarry which is south of there.
Don't drive fast at night in the Highlands, tempting as it can be on deserted roads - lots of red deer around. Take care early morning, and dusk for the same reason.
Glenfinnan to see where loads of Harry Potter was filmed(and see the Hogwarts express). And to Mallaig to hop over to Skye for a day!
Regarding the Red Dear, nearly got wiped out by one a couple of years ago, would be like the Monty Python bit where the Frenchman thows the cow from the castle!
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Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Berkshire
If the weather is good as it has been today, then I'm always a sucker for Cornwall. Good time of year as it hasn't been bombarded with your caravan travellers and lots to do once you get there.
However, Euan suggestions sounds awesome.
However, Euan suggestions sounds awesome.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2011
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From: North Hampshire
thanks guys, good info.
Has anyone done isle of man out of interest? Worth it?
So far im leaning towards scotland although its like 800 miles away and i'll probably be fed up by the time i get there
Has anyone done isle of man out of interest? Worth it?
So far im leaning towards scotland although its like 800 miles away and i'll probably be fed up by the time i get there
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,009
Likes: 36
For the most demanding drive in the UK you can't beat the M25.......
I find it challenging not to just end it all following another traffic jam caused by someone wanting to admire the central reservation and slowing the outside lane to do so!
On a sensible note; that giants causeway in Ireland looks good, as do a great number of the Scottish roads as mentioned. On your way up there you could swing by either the peak district for snakes pass or to the dales for some of the big scenery.
I find it challenging not to just end it all following another traffic jam caused by someone wanting to admire the central reservation and slowing the outside lane to do so!
On a sensible note; that giants causeway in Ireland looks good, as do a great number of the Scottish roads as mentioned. On your way up there you could swing by either the peak district for snakes pass or to the dales for some of the big scenery.
