Any suggestions ?

[victor2vt]

The ex and my 3 children are away for 2 weeks.
I just feel like taking a few days off and getting away, giving my RS4 a bit of a blast.
Anyone got any suggestions on where I could enjoy some open roads and any interesting places to visit, with a good hotel to stay in at the end of the day ?
Live in Newcastle on Tyne, any ideas very welcome
Thanks

[SR71]

I'd head up north...

A87 from Invergarry to the Kyle is a fantastic road.

Stay somewhere on Skye.

Throw your dive gear in the boot and dive the Doris, Chadwick and Port Napier. Might even see an orca.

Carry on up round the Western Cape.

[rs4v8]

Yep. you'll really not go wrong up there. That's right in my back yard Try this too for an absolute peach of a road if you're up our way. Just don't tell anyone ok?! A832 Achnasheen to Gairloch

http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/ ... priseH=450 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QlACZl_nyY

You will probably have this place to yourself (and the road to garve from Achnasheen is awesome too). Keep going through Gairloch and head up to Ullapool.

This is another great one too and the Applecross Inn at the end does great grub too. Lochcarron to Applecross over the hill. Not kidding when I say this but it's the closest thing you'll get to the Stelvio in the UK.

http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/ ... priseH=450

Here's a youtube clip so you know I'm not kidding! (watch to the end it gets better as it goes!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-YhP9gbOy4

I'd go this way Newcastle --> Glasgow --> Fort William via Glencoe -->Kyle of Lochalsh via the Great Glen --> Skye --> Gairloch (after visiting Applecross) --> Ullapool after that you can keep going north to Cape Wrath or home via Inverness (where I stay)

Enjoy!!

[victor2vt]

rs4v8, Gairloch, that brings back memories !!!
Stayed at the Gairloch Hotel, opposite the beach, for many years with my parents then there's the little village of Strath.
I had a 1000cc mini then, with twin carbs and skimmed head, of course, and remember driving north past Inverewe Gardens to the "end of the road"
In those days, they had very narrow roads with "Passing Places" not the best when you were following a caravan who met a caravan coming in the opposite direction, in between the passing places and one had to reverse !!!!
But agree, with the roads opened up and the fantastic scenery be a great drive in RS4

[rs4v8]

Yeah, the south approach road to gairloch from achnasheen (not the inverewe side) used to be a horrible single track. They've replaced that with a racetrack down through the glen Not kidding!! Awesome in a car, even better on a bike Has to be my favourite area for hooning around in the uk.

AND there's no-one there!!

[victor2vt]

What's the score re super unleaded supplies ?

[rs4v8]

Not so good i'm afraid as there's hardly anyone lives there!! So there's not too many stations. Enough though if you fill right up each time. petrolprices.com are showing Kyle of Lochalsh, Ullapool and Dingwall. There's a filling station in Durness if you head north of Ullapool but not sure if it sells super.

[victor2vt]

Thanks

[CHRISKL]

Victor - I would fully agree with rs4v8 - those roads are superb and the one into Applecross from Lochcarron has to be one of my all time favourites. Everybody should do it at some time, its that good! If you want to stay in Applecross itself best to check with them (Applecroos Inn) first as its a brilliant village to stay but very limited on places!
In your situation (no missus or kids to get in the way for a few days) there aren't too many better places to go and drive and please yourself - you're guaranteed to enjoy it, i'm pretty sure.

[rs4v8]

Thanks

No problemo! Hope you enjoy if you do go

[Iain_S4]

Sounds good so far......but don't miss out on going North from Ullapool if you come this far North. Included below is the suggested route south again

Go North from Ullapool up to Durness on the A835, A894 and A838 - one small section at Ledmore and the last 10 miles or so into Durness are singletrack. All is fun though.

Durness to Tongue, A838 - IIRC 36 miles by road, 13 miles as the crow flies. Probably about 2/3 is singletrack and then doubletrack from the east side of Loch Eriboll to Tongue. If you remember the Land Rover Discovery test on Top Gear some of the bits of road will start to look familiar. Tongue Hotel is good to stay in.

Tongue, Lairg, Bonar Bridge, Ardgay, A836 - all singletrack from Tongue to Lairg, about 40 odd miles. However most of it is open so you can make good progress. About 4 or 5 miles past Ardgay don't miss the right turn onto the B9176. This is the old A9 before the Dornoch bridge was built which has taken away a lot of the traffic. The B9176 takes you south to join the A9 at Evanton.

Durness & Tongue have only unleaded petrol, no super and don't have extended opening hours. Evanton is first place on this route for super unleaded and is 24hrs.

Take the A9 south. Can't remember how far, about 20 - 25 miles past Inverness and then take the A938, through Carrbridge, towards Granton on Spey, Join the A95 for a short while, skirt the edge of Granton and soon after crossing the bridge turn right and take the A939 through Tomintoul to Ballater. This is usually the first road in the country to be blocked by snow in the winter. You'll see why.

Join the A93 at Ballater and head East towards Aberdeen/Banchory. In Banchory turn right onto the B974 which will take you over the Cairn o' Mount road and onto the A90 dual carriagway to head south again.

enjoy

[rs4v8]

About 4 or 5 miles past Ardgay don't miss the right turn onto the B9176. The B9176 takes you south to join the A9 at Evanton.

This is an absolute belter too! Not to be missed if you're coming south from Caithness & Sutherland

Take the A939 through Tomintoul to Ballater.

The cops use this for their advanced driving training it's so challenging. A great road. Indeed plod crashed into an ambulance travelling the other way here recently

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scot ... 063434.stm

Not that I'm suggesting you'd break the law but it often pays to have a look to see where plod might be when you're up.

Have a look here http://www.nscp.co.uk/site/locations/

[ChrisRS4]

Take the A9 south. Can't remember how far, about 20 - 25 miles past Inverness and then take the A938, through Carrbridge, towards Granton on Spey, Join the A95 for a short while, skirt the edge of Granton and soon after crossing the bridge turn right and take the A939 through Tomintoul to Ballater. This is usually the first road in the country to be blocked by snow in the winter. You'll see why.

Join the A93 at Ballater and head East towards Aberdeen/Banchory. In Banchory turn right onto the B974 which will take you over the Cairn o' Mount road and onto the A90 dual carriagway to head south again.

One of my favourite bits of road, ever!

[klauster]

Take the A9 south. Can't remember how far, about 20 - 25 miles past Inverness and then take the A938, through Carrbridge, towards Granton on Spey, Join the A95 for a short while, skirt the edge of Granton and soon after crossing the bridge turn right and take the A939 through Tomintoul to Ballater. This is usually the first road in the country to be blocked by snow in the winter. You'll see why.

Join the A93 at Ballater and head East towards Aberdeen/Banchory. In Banchory turn right onto the B974 which will take you over the Cairn o' Mount road and onto the A90 dual carriagway to head south again.

One of my favourite bits of road, ever!

that looks special indeed

[ChrisRS4]

Some slightly better photos, borrowed of a friend.