Photo Archive
Building: confidence and miles with smiles
posted on 17/1/14 at 09:04 PM
Visiting Scotland - Advice and must do?
There have been a few "visiting London" threads on here which living and working in London I have contributed to.
Its now the time of you bonnie gents up there to give some advice down south.
Me, my wife and our (will be) 1 year old want to do some holidays in the UK. Scotland is top of the list but we are very flexible.
We are looking at going in June for a week or two. I have free Diesel so will be driving.
We love to walk and be outdoors. I have been to Edinbough before and want to go again. I would like to go and see the west, Isle of skye looks like it
should be in New Zealand and so would like to go and see the rugged coast. We want to stay in a really picturesque log cabin at some point. We have
been watching George Clarke's Amazing Places so anything like that would be great.
Any advice or ideas?
Track days ARE the best thing since sliced bread, until I get a supercharger that is!
We get a cottage once a year right up north by the coast, Scotland is an amazing place and I'd recommend the usual tourist places like Loch
Ness, Edinburgh etc.
I would highly recommend a distillery tour as you get to drink far more monies worth of whisky than the tour costs.
Skye is a beautiful island and one of my favourites is Islay.
A drive through the highlands deer spotting is also great fun and usually amazing driving roads. We like to stop and watch the fly fishermen catch a
salmon or hire a little row boat for the day and catch trout in a loch. A spinner rig is about £15
Photo Archive
Building: BMW M52 Haynes Roadster-Quantum ST170
posted on 17/1/14 at 09:19 PM
West coast is stunning, roads are amazing. Isle of Skye, Applecross, Kyle of Lochalsh, Oban etc etc Used to do it all the time on my bike.
Also stopped in a log cabin years ago at the bottom of Loch Lomond (Balloch) which was nice and a shortish train journey into Glasgow.
If your doing the west side, Glasgow is full of culture and on a par with Edinburgh. Next jump up if your doing Oban etc is Crinan. Pretty little
harbour. Views across to Jura. Its all pretty good up there.
I stayed at a B&B owned by an ex Navy diver, place was full of stuff off the seabed, the Crinan Hotel is right on the waters edge, serving good
food.
Photo Archive
Building: miles of wild uncontrolled grins
posted on 17/1/14 at 09:46 PM
the most important thing is to get out of the car,.... get out of the car and walk,. walk up the hills,. walk away from the roads go and see the
views,...
and pray for good weather
Howard
Fisher Fury was 2000 Zetec - now a 1600 (it Lives again and goes zoom)
Photo Archive
Building: BMW M52 Haynes Roadster-Quantum ST170
posted on 17/1/14 at 09:56 PM
Properly remote and well worth a visit for a meal or even a stop over - http://www.applecross.uk.com/inn/
Glass bottomed boats around Skye are great too.
quote:Originally posted by dave
The rain will be warm in June. Beware the midges.
Very true, may seems to be better than June weather wise and the midges aren't as bad. Lots of good advice above, Skye took my breath away the
first time I went it's beautiful.
Photo Archive
Building: Robin Hood series 3 + new project old Fury
posted on 17/1/14 at 10:37 PM
I do work around Loch Lomond and the Gareloch have done the drive to the Kyle of Lochalsh and would definitely recommend the west coast drive to Fort
William, the drive through the mountains is stunning however found Fort William disappointing
I eat to survive
I drink to forget
I breath to pi55 my ex wife off (and now my ex partner)
Photo Archive
Building: Matchless G3LS. As now minus the V8 Viento :-(
posted on 17/1/14 at 11:03 PM
quote:Originally posted by dave
The rain will be warm in June. Beware the midges.
+1 for that.
I have been to Mull 3 times, Harris 2 times, and going to Lewis with a day trip to the Shaints, or if the pocket is deep enough St Kilda this year.
Mull is nice, but the Outer Hebrides reminds me of Cornwall in the 1950's - UNSPOILT.
Excellent scenery, and the beaches on the Outer Hebrides can be like a Carribean paradise... As long as its sunny and not windy!
If you want to get away from it all, the Hebrides are nice.
Sailing from Uig to Tarbert (halfway between Harris and Lewis) takes you across Skye, so you get another Island in for free!
Just remmeber that there are no shops open on the Outer Islands on a Sunday, and some shops are like stepping back 60 years!
So stock up with beer if you want some!
If you go to UIG on Skye, you will almost certainly pass the Loch Fyne eatery at Loch Fyne.
Damn expensive, (Lunch was £85 to two of us), but stupefyingly GOOD!
Couldnt afford to eat there often, but once in the 7 years of going to Scotland, was worthwhile.
Especially if you like Fish and Oysters etc.
Keep away from the main centres and get to the backroads, and the hills.. Fantastic scenery, and some of the women arent bad either
Distilleries are always a good visit, interesting, but I learnt to buy the products elsewhere, as it can work out cheaper.
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
quote:Originally posted by keith777
Have you concidered a few days in sw Scotland on the way up?
Some beautiful countryside there .
Scotland starts at perth...............
Some people can never handle the truth and always try to shoot the messenger instead of taking an honest look in the mirror (its always easier to
blame another than to face reality), but secretly they wish they could grow a pair and be the messenger !!!
Staying on the west coast of Scotland I should be able to give pretty good suggestions, but at the moment my head is fried and I'm far too
tired, will add a better response in the morning. What I will add is go to Islay for a distillery tour, plenty to choose from and drive there via the
rest n be thankful!
I though the Falkirk Wheel was worth the visit.
My Scottish mates swear by Avon Skin so Soft (read the
description in the link) as an insect repellent.
Having Driven it many times I would support starting Around Stirling Castle area, Head up through Dukes pass then make your way up over a day or two
up the west coast to Applecross (Pass of the Cattle, Uk's best Alpine style road)
There is a Westfield gathering in Applecross over the weekend of 20 -22nd June which is always good for a hangover.
Photo Archive
Building: BMW M52 Haynes Roadster-Quantum ST170
posted on 18/1/14 at 07:15 AM
quote:Originally posted by hkp57
Having Driven it many times I would support starting Around Stirling Castle area, Head up through Dukes pass then make your way up over a day or two
up the west coast to Applecross (Pass of the Cattle, Uk's best Alpine style road)
There is a Westfield gathering in Applecross over the weekend of 20 -22nd June which is always good for a hangover.
Photo Archive
Building: Stuart Taylor ST1100 V4 BEC (built)
posted on 18/1/14 at 07:31 AM
We drove up to the West Coast last year. We went to Skye initially then went to Applecross then went to Glenfinnen Hotel.
Just my opinion but for me Skye was amazing. I'd go back in a tick although next time I want to go to the Outer Hebrides. But of the three parts
to our trip Skye was the best.
Photo Archive
Building: confidence and miles with smiles
posted on 18/1/14 at 12:21 PM
Thanks for all of the replies.
Its nice to know that the west is the place to go. We are restricted by the time of year that we are going as its when the child minder is on holiday
so we are taking that time to go away.
Please remember that we have a 1 year old. My wife and I would love to get drunk in a distilleray for a day but unfortunatly them days have gone!
Same for long hikes and mountain biking, both we would love to do but just cant.
Keep the advice and comments coming, mozzies and Edinburgh Vs Glasgow is interesting. My perception of Glasgow is probably boardering raciest! I have
the perception that Edinburgh is clean, historic and worth visiting and Glasgow is where Super T and Buckfast is guzzeled!
No offence meant, Ill visit Glasgow and form a new opinion!
Track days ARE the best thing since sliced bread, until I get a supercharger that is!
Your view on glasgow is interesting, but in some parts you're correct. But the same could be said for the rougher parts of Edinburgh and in fact
any uk city.
