Need advice about driving in Scotland
Aug 30th, 2007, 11:48 AM
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Need advice about driving in Scotland
We are planning a trip to Scotland in September. Most of our time is well planned, but there is one day that worries me...the plan is to drive from Inverness to Ullapool, take the ferry to Stornoway, visit the Callanish standing stones, drive to Tarbert and take the ferry to Uig (on Skye), then drive to Fort William where we have accomodations booked for the night. Is this do-able? Anyone have any idea how long this will take?
Many thanks,
Shirley
Many thanks,
Shirley
Aug 30th, 2007, 01:45 PM
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Plugged that into www.theaa.com and got 26 hours & over 700 miles of driving
Aug 30th, 2007, 02:07 PM
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Shirley,
Absolute madness. And impossible on Lewis and Harris.
Assuming you arrive in Stornoway to time at 1315 it will be about 1330 off the ferry.
Check in at Tarbert for 1600 sailing is 1530.
AA driving time Stornoway to Tarbert via Callanish is 1h 59m.
Even if you could do it, on arrival at Uig you'd still have four hours drive to Fort William, some of it in the dark.
Michael
Absolute madness. And impossible on Lewis and Harris.
Assuming you arrive in Stornoway to time at 1315 it will be about 1330 off the ferry.
Check in at Tarbert for 1600 sailing is 1530.
AA driving time Stornoway to Tarbert via Callanish is 1h 59m.
Even if you could do it, on arrival at Uig you'd still have four hours drive to Fort William, some of it in the dark.
Michael
Aug 30th, 2007, 05:55 PM
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Microsoft Autoroute tells me its 235 miles of driving, and with those kinds roads, you'd be really lucky to average 40 miles per hour (and 8 hours of driving time). Your problem is the ferries.
As mentioned, your only ferry option from Ullapool to Stornoway leaves Ullapool at 10:00 gets you to Lewis at 1315. From there, you've got a 17 mile drive to the stones, where I would assume you'd want to spend some time, then a 38 mile drive to the ferry to Skye. Autoroute (which is sometimes overly optimistic) says that you would have 45 minutes to spend at the Stones assuming your ferry arrives on time at Stornoway, and you can traverse the island in the time required to check in for the 1600 ferry.
Of course, the 1600 ferry assumes that you are traveling on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday when the 1600 ferry is available-you can't even contemplate it on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday.
Best case, you'd get to Skye at 1740 and end up arriving at Fort William 3 or 4 hours later (Autoroute says you get there at 20:36, with no stops).
As mentioned, your only ferry option from Ullapool to Stornoway leaves Ullapool at 10:00 gets you to Lewis at 1315. From there, you've got a 17 mile drive to the stones, where I would assume you'd want to spend some time, then a 38 mile drive to the ferry to Skye. Autoroute (which is sometimes overly optimistic) says that you would have 45 minutes to spend at the Stones assuming your ferry arrives on time at Stornoway, and you can traverse the island in the time required to check in for the 1600 ferry.
Of course, the 1600 ferry assumes that you are traveling on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday when the 1600 ferry is available-you can't even contemplate it on a Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday.
Best case, you'd get to Skye at 1740 and end up arriving at Fort William 3 or 4 hours later (Autoroute says you get there at 20:36, with no stops).
Aug 31st, 2007, 04:58 AM
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Thanks so much to all who have responded. What I am hearing is a resounding "NO WAY"! I have sent your responses to my sister, who is the one who wanted to see the stones, and I have a feeling we will be skipping this "little" detour!
Many thanks,
Shirley
Many thanks,
Shirley
Aug 31st, 2007, 07:46 AM
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Shirley,
Glad you're listening to people.
I have been to Lewis several times and love the island. On my first trip I was really looking forward to Callanish but have to say that on that occasion - and several since - I have been disappointed by them.
If you're in Inverness and want stones I assume you know about Clava: http://tinyurl.com/yqth9s
Michael
Glad you're listening to people.
I have been to Lewis several times and love the island. On my first trip I was really looking forward to Callanish but have to say that on that occasion - and several since - I have been disappointed by them.
If you're in Inverness and want stones I assume you know about Clava: http://tinyurl.com/yqth9s
Michael
Sep 5th, 2007, 06:57 AM
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I agree, this is madness. We are making that trek as well, but in 7 days, not one 
We will be looking at a long travel day anyhow, getting to Stornoway from Orkney - but we will have three days to rest from that while on Lewis.
Please don't make your vacation into a 'plaid blur' tour. Stop and see the beauty, that's one of the best parts of Scotland. You can't really feel the land from behind a steering wheel.
We will be looking at a long travel day anyhow, getting to Stornoway from Orkney - but we will have three days to rest from that while on Lewis. Please don't make your vacation into a 'plaid blur' tour. Stop and see the beauty, that's one of the best parts of Scotland. You can't really feel the land from behind a steering wheel.
Sep 13th, 2007, 03:13 AM
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Thanks to all for your helpful advice. We have amended our plans somewhat and have allowed more time between stops so that we are not so rushed. We leave this afternoon, I am very excited!
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