Scotland West Coast

rugbyreddragon

rugbyreddragon

Full Member
Posts
190
Likes
128
Hi All

We are planning a trip to Scotland later in August. We are visiting friends in Glasgow for 1 night and will then have about 7 nights to explore as we need to be in Newcastle to go to a friends birthday celebration on the 27th. We intend to head up towards the West coast. We have not been before and therefore not sure how much we could do or how far we could go in the relatively short space of time we have. Does anyone have any recommendations of:

1) Where should we aim to get to before starting journey back e.g. Skye

2) Any must do/see things

3) Any great POI's e.g. great views

As always thanks for the great suggestions/advice that will be received.
 
7 nights would be a relaxing trip to Applecross and back. Great views in some stops on the road from Sheildaig to Applecross then the fun of the Bealach with great views too. Loads of places to stop in the pois.
 
2cv said:
7 nights would be a relaxing trip to Applecross and back. Great views in some stops on the road from Sheildaig to Applecross then the fun of the Bealach with great views too. Loads of places to stop in the pois.
Click to expand...

Thanks 2CV for the advice which is spot on. I have just had a look at images of the places you mention and they all look great. A relaxing trip taking in some great sights and photo opportunities is exactly what we are after.
 
If you get to Skye you must go via the Glenelg turntable ferry, the oldest ferry crossing to the island. Very quaint but it is a community run service and you stand a chance of seeing a Sea Eagle.

David
 
to travel from sky to newcastle will take 7 hours or more depending on
traffick on m8.
 
And you may just feel like staying on the beach just before the Kylerhea ferry and never leaving.
 
Sheildaig to Applecross road wilding. ;)

image.jpg
 
Just back from doing the NC500 and west coast. When we went past the turnoff for the Bealach na ba, they where queuing up to go over. :drive:
The Jacobite steam train from Fort William to Malaig is a great way to view the scenery, it goes over the Glenfinnan viaduct, a must do if you're a Harry Potter fan or just like steam trains. If you book in advance you have to do it by phone or online, we tried and it was fully booked till the 27th August, but if you turn up early on the day go to the guards van, coach D, which the keep empty for same day travel. Take cash because they don't accept credit cards.
If you are going over to Skye, go via the Malaig/Armadale ferry, it's a half hour crossing and is £15 for under 6m Motor homes, always a chance of spotting some sealife. Staffin's a nice place to stop, see if you can find the dinosaur footprints.
 
Don't go to Skye, it's overpriced and there are much nicer places further up the west coast. Just stick to the coast and keep heading north.
 
caledonia said:
Don't go to Skye, it's overpriced and there are much nicer places further up the west coast. Just stick to the coast and keep heading north.
Click to expand...

Idle curiosity, as from Skye, how do you define "overpriced" in relation to a request for information about wildcamping?
Food & fuel, for example, is dearer in Ullapool and Lochinver as well as up the West side
 
AndyR said:
There are going to be significant roadworks on the M8 and M74 around Glasgow in the coming months with the press warning of horrific delays!

Roadworks on M8, M73 and M74 begin - here's everything you need to know - Glasgow Live

Why not come back Skye -> Inverness -> Edinburgh -> Newcastle. You'll pass through Glen Shiel and drive along the shores of Loch Ness that way. Then, after Inverness, pass through the Cairngorm National Park. That would be around a 10 hour drive if done non-stop!
Click to expand...

yes
thats the way i sometimes go but i go to spean bridge cut over the a86 to
dalwinnie distilery then onto a9 and down to perth and forth road bridge.
 
sagart said:
Idle curiosity, as from Skye, how do you define "overpriced" in relation to a request for information about wildcamping?
Food & fuel, for example, is dearer in Ullapool and Lochinver as well as up the West side
Click to expand...

Skye is ok if you want tourist tat and park up beside the tinkers. Ok it has the Cullins and Uig has he ferry to the Hebs, but there are far nicer places on the mainland with far nicer wild camping spots. Overpriced and over rated. Imo.
 
caledonia said:
Skye is ok if you want tourist tat and park up beside the tinkers. Ok it has the Cullins and Uig has he ferry to the Hebs, but there are far nicer places on the mainland with far nicer wild camping spots. Overpriced and over rated. Imo.
Click to expand...

I find it hard to believe that anyone would view Skye as over-rated! 50 miles long, 25 at its widest, around 500 miles of coastline, and you're never further than 5 miles from the sea! It has far more to offer than The Cuillin (No 's' by the way!!) though that in itself should be reason enough for anybody to visit. Skye is a stunning island (particularly if you get the good weather) and has two of the most picturesque campsites you could wish for in Glen Sligachan and Glen Brittle. To quote from Ralph Storer's book on Skye, "Many visitors to Skye remain blissfully ignorant of many of its attractions,"
 
You could go the other way and head to the Isle of Arran. We have been on the island nearly 4 weeks now. Been here many times but not for six years as the draw of Europe was always too strong. The island is stunning and the best wilding ive seen anywhere in the UK.

No midges at the moment. The only thing thats a disappointment is the Scottish Weather. I remember now why the Alps, Pyrenees and the south of France and northern Italy were such a draw.

Ferries are cheap as chips now as well.
 
Definitely Isle of Islay.... especially if you enjoy a wee dram....
Ardnamurchan peninsula is also spectacular... you can even drive through an extinct volcano... Sanna Bay Sands are epically beautiful too...
keep an eye on fuel as top ups are few and far between in places.









 
I have visited nearly all the islands and been round the Highlands lots and in my opinion Skye isn't as good as further up the west coast. Glen Brittle campsite is highly overpriced and the fairy pools would be OK if the car parks were not full of rubbish and human poo. At this time of year limited time would be better spent on the north west coast. As I posted earlier it's only my opinion.
 
AndyR said:
You really are doing Skye a great disservice here. Parts of the island, particularly the northern end, are truly beautiful. The Black Cuillin is absolutely spectacular, having climbed on it extensively I can assure you that there's nowhere else like it in the UK. Visit Dunvegan Castle, walk out to the Quiraing, see Kilt Rock, eat fish and chips at Portree Harbour ...... I could go on and on and on!

As with everywhere, it has its' 'tourist tat' shops and overpriced whisky shops and woollen mills, but, the reason it's so busy is because it's so beautiful and there's so much to see. It's all personal opinion, some find it better than others, but you'll never know if you don't go.
Click to expand...

Yes, Skye indeed has a lot to offer, but of course we all have different preferences; If you like birds, only Mull can rival Skye with its eagles, both golden and white-tailed. (Well worth a trip from Portree to see them being fed fish in the bay!) Barely a day passes on Skye without seeing an eagle somewhere. Glen Brittle and Glen Sligachan I have mentioned, and you don't have to pay! We tend to visit Glen Brittle in the autumn when the site is closed, it's much quieter with plenty of room for overnighters just outside the gates. We were there last October watching climbers' head-torches on the In-Pin at midnight, and a trail of lights descending from the ridge. On the other side of The Cuillin at Sligachan it's worth knowing that campers are welcome to use the site after it closes at the end of September: No facilities but a great place to stay (with an excellent pub opposite that does great food!) We are currently waiting on our new van next month, and Skye could very well be our first destination!)
 
I second Andy on the road works. We sat on the M74 for hours ten days ago. Took us 40mins to travel 1mile at one point.
 
If you would prefer covering less miles there is always Mull with its Sea Eagles and Iona or the Mull of Galloway and the Solway coast.
 
Another vote for Mull and if it's a campsite your after Fidden Farm beats any site on Skye. IMO.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top