Remote Scotland - getting up the hills

Wind Dancer

Guest
Someone (my brother) told me I have no chance of getting up some of the hills in my MH.
I drive a 1993 Talbot 2 Ltr turbo diesel Elddis 5 berth.
We were talking in particular about the road to Applecross. He said I had no chance of getting to Loch Inver either :mad1:
Soooo....... do I need to rethink my trip and avoid the steeper inclines? :confused: Or do you think I'll manage?
There seem to be plenty of members touring Scotland, and not all in wee vans, so how have others found it?
 
If you take the coastal route from Sheildaig to Applecross you will have no problems. With the route to Lochinver if you avoid the road which follows the coast and take the rooad which goes off the main road north you'll get to Lochinver fairly easily
Margaret and David
 
mardee said:
If you take the coastal route from Sheildaig to Applecross you will have no problems. With the route to Lochinver if you avoid the road which follows the coast and take the rooad which goes off the main road north you'll get to Lochinver fairly easily
Margaret and David
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Thank you :)

Is that just an easier option, or is it the only sensible one? Do MH's actually meet their match on these inclines?
 
We have used these roads using a car, and are going to be using them soon in our self build LDV convoy lwb 2.5 diesel (21 feet), and don't expect to have problems, though it will be interesting if we meet anything! The problem is not just the gradient, (1:5 and 1:4) but the hairpin bends on single track road and the small humps which can 'belly' a long vehicle. The coastal road to Lochinver does not recommend that vehicles longer than 26 feet use it. Remember that if you break down up there, the phone signals are patchy, and it takes a long time (5 hours) for help to arrive. (Hubby's experience in pouring rain in work car with broken wipers!)

Alison
 
wind dancer said:
Thank you :)

Is that just an easier option, or is it the only sensible one? Do MH's actually meet their match on these inclines?
Click to expand...

On Google Streetview there are two reasonable sized motorhomes parked in the carpark at the summit; whether they stayed there cos they didn't fancy going down again, I don't know!! There is a thread on General Chat about this, called Road to Applecross whch has got quite a lot about it. Rubbertramp has a good video about it, but if you are nervous don't watch, as his ex-wife got a touch agitated during filming!!

‪Round Britain Sorebumathon Part 4 - Sue and Mark at Applecross‬‏ - YouTube

We hope to do this too, in the Autumn! :have fun:
 
We were talking in particular about the road to Applecross. He said I had no chance of getting to Loch Inver either :mad1:
Soooo....... do I need to rethink my trip and avoid the steeper inclines? :confused: Or do you think I'll manage?
There seem to be plenty of members touring Scotland, and not all in wee vans, so how have others found it?[/QUOTE]

Hi Wind Dancer,
Don't be put off by what people say and please don't miss out on the drive up and over to Applecross, it is one of lifes great experiences and the view from the parking area at the top is amazing.
We did it in November 2009, it was damp, but no snow or ice, it was quiet and we sailed up in a twenty nine footer. There are loads of passing places and we made the hairpin bends in a single turn.
Enjoy it.
Dave.
 
the road over the Pass from Kishorn to Applecross should be OK if you are sensible, although without seeing or hearing your vehicle I don't know if it is mechanically healthy etc :)

the bends are ok for reasonably sized vehicles

the Lochinver road from the Achiltibuie Peninsula again is alright with care. there is a narrow twisty section, where width and length are an issue. but I followed a Central heating oil taker through thee a few years ago, it was tight, he may have scraped, but it was about a 10 tonner

and don't forget the Lochinver to Kylesku road as well, via Clachtoll
 
Don't worry, we had no problems in our 1991 Talbot 2 litre petrol complete with motorbike on the back and outboard motor inside!! Drove from Applecross to Sheildaig over the pass and made it no problem apart from the radiator hose bursting!! That was a seperate issue and nothing to do with an under-powered vehicle (which it undoubtedly is!!!)

Makes us laugh on motorways when we pass all the lorries on the downhills and then are overtaken by the very same ones on the uphills time and time again!
 
Only you know what your vehicle will climb and how 'on edge' you will be - but - I can say that we've done both the roads you mention this year in a 6m PVC and they were worth it. So worth it that they are on 'the route' now for Western Scotland.

The video doesn't show the best bits - the hairpins or the view from the top.

Like all single track roads there is only a problem if you meet someone coming the other way who can't manoeuvre their vehicle and you can meet them anywhere!

I would say go for it.

Dave
 
kernowprickles said:
Take a look for yourself! (Courtesy of Google Streetview & ProShow Producer!!)

‪Virtual Travel for the Nervous Motorhome Owner - Applecross to Tornapress‬‏ - YouTube
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Swiss Alps: Simplon Pass. On our way to Spain via the Swiss Alps.
DSC00335.jpg
 
wind dancer said:
Someone (my brother) told me I have no chance of getting up some of the hills in my MH.
I drive a 1993 Talbot 2 Ltr turbo diesel Elddis 5 berth.
We were talking in particular about the road to Applecross. He said I had no chance of getting to Loch Inver either :mad1:
Soooo....... do I need to rethink my trip and avoid the steeper inclines? :confused: Or do you think I'll manage?
There seem to be plenty of members touring Scotland, and not all in wee vans, so how have others found it?
Click to expand...

Don't worry, you'll have no problem as long as you have a first gear. I did Applecross (as you know) and all the way up to Cape Wrath, including Lochinver, in my 23 year old Transit and she didn't even get hot. One word of advice for The Applecross pass though....If you have plastic water containers on board, unscrew the lids a little as the air pressure difference from sea level to 2,500 feet in a short space of time can blow them off. Ours were squealing like banshees when we reached the top.
 
What it is to be a Southerner! Why do you imagine this is an area of such risk and danger? Even the Applecross road was driven in the 60's by A35's and cars produced just after WWII?
 
sagart said:
What it is to be a Southerner! Why do you imagine this is an area of such risk and danger? Even the Applecross road was driven in the 60's by A35's and cars produced just after WWII?
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Cos us Southerners are dead soft, and don't see hills that go up to 2053 ft very often, if at all!! Definitely not in Cornwall!! :cry::bow::bow:
 
Rubbertramp said:
One word of advice for The Applecross pass though....If you have plastic water containers on board, unscrew the lids a little as the air pressure difference from sea level to 2,500 feet in a short space of time can blow them off. Ours were squealing like banshees when we reached the top.
Click to expand...

I hope this doesn't apply to cassette toilets as well, as I have heard of THEM blowing off when the pressure got high in them!! The thought of ours squealing like a banshee and blowing its contents all over the toilet compartment will give me nightmares! !:scared:
 
kernowprickles said:
I hope this doesn't apply to cassette toilets as well, as I have heard of THEM blowing off when the pressure got high in them!! The thought of ours squealing like a banshee and blowing its contents all over the toilet compartment will give me nightmares! !:scared:
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I suppose it does apply to the bog too...although mine has an automatic valve which releases an awful whiff when pressure builds. Chief suspects were usually me or the dog!
 
i've got a 20yr old 27ft talbot express and I struggled on some of the hills especially when you have to stop and there's hairpin bends going uphill oooooooo scary, i burnt my clutch out on one visit so you do have to be careful:banana:
 
Burnt clutch? Does that not come under the heading "Women's Problems"?;)
 
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