forever_travelers

We are visiting Scotland in mid-August and would like to know the approximate travel time by car from Inverness to Isle of Skye, via Dornoch, John O'Groats and Ullapool. We looked at the website "theaa.com" to get an idea, but would like to get a real-life account of actual travel time.

Thank you.

janis

When I saw your title I figured you were asking about how many hours from Inverness to Kyle of Localsh -- only a 1 1/2 - 2 hours plus stops.

But you are talking about how many days - not how many hours. That is a very long route with a lot of terrific scenery, things to see and some slow/single track roads. You can take as long as you want - but I'd give it a minumum of 2 1/2 to 3 days if you want to see anything enroute.

janis

meant to add - some places on that route-- like Inverewe Gardens -- will take several hours by themselves. so 2 1/2 to 3 days is really a minimum.

If you want to do it faster you won't have time to see anything. I wouldn't even think in terms of "drive time" but in how many days you have for the drive.

trvlgrl

Janis is right... it can take as long or as short as you want it too... and while you're up by Ullapool, you might want to consider visiting/driving to Achiltibuie and Lochinver and beyond... a stunning part of the country and very different than the "lower" bits of the highlands... some of the most beautiful drives in Scotland are up there

Craigellachie

The journey times on theaa.com look realistic as driving times. Most of them are based on an average of about 30 miles per hour and on these roads it would be better not to depend on going much faster. The roads are generally OK but if you get stuck behind a slow moving caravan you could wait a long tim to get past. There are still some single track roads (shown as a broken red and white line rather than a solid red line on most maps) where you have to be prepared to pull in to the side every time yu meet someone coming the other way. With the scenery you'll be travelling through, this is not always a bad thing
Assuming you want to spend some time in the places you named, my suggested minimum times would be
Inverness to John O'Groats - allow 4 hours driving, spend some time in and aroung J O'G and it's basically one day gone. You might find accommodation is cheaper if you head out of J O'G.
John O'Groats to Ullapool - you could do it in 4.5 hours but the most direct route means retracing a big chunk of the previous day's journey. Infinitely better is the longer route along the far north coast to Durness then down following lcose to the west coast. This is about 160 miles, the roads are not the fastest so to do it in one go is a day's journey. Better to allow at least two days as there are so many places along the way that you should try and visit. Ullapool to Kyle of Lochalsh for the bridge to Skye, again the quickest route takes you almost back to Inverness. Don't even think about it. The coastal route from Ullapool via Gairloch, Torridon and Plockton will be one of the highlights of this or any other trip. Driving time is about 5 hours, allow at least a full day.
So, my estimate at the minimum time you should allow is 4 days plus whatever time you actually spend on Skye. Maximum time you'd want to spend on the trip - no limits. There are people living in parts of the north west highlands who only went there for a two week holiday and never went home.
Depending on your interests, the must visit places along your route will include Cape Wrath (the north west tip of the Scottish mainland); Sandwood Bay - I've never seen it described as anything less than a magical place; if you're up for several hours hard walking, Eas a'Chuill Aluinn, literally Waterfall of the Beautiful Hair, usually translated as The Maiden's Tresses, is by some definitions the highest waterfall in the country, yet some tourist maps don't even bother to mention it; Knockan visitor centre - right beside the road between Cape Wrath and Ullapool, fascinating information on the local geology - you'll be standing on some of the oldest rocks anywhere in the world; Achiltibuie - totally agree, quite a long detaour but if the sun is shining when you come over the crest of the hill and get your first view of the sea and the Summer Isles you'll be glad you did it; Inverewe Gardens - palm trees this far north?!? I won't continue with the twnety or so others I can think of without looking at a map, but maybe you'll get my drift.
On the down side - in mid August in the north west you will definitely need an effective midge repellant. There's no logic as to who is immune from these wee terrors and who gets their life made a misery. If you haven't been in midge country before, carry several different repellants, find the one that works for you, and make sure you don't run out. Havinig said all that, you'll be visiting my favourite place on this earth, and no number of midges can spoil it.

Craigellachie

Oops, sorry about the typos Honest, when I typed this I wasn't nearly as thunk as you might drink I was. I think they're all decipherable except maybe "following down lcose to the west coast" from Durness. You won't find lcose on the map but if you spell it "close" it makes sense. ;-)

janis

Craigellachie has given you a terrific reponse. My 2.5 to 3 days was an ABSOLUTE minimum - and as you can see from his info, 4 to 6 days would be a lot better.

forever_travelers

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I guess it's back to the drawing board to make some itinerary changes.