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

All that in one day? No way I'd try that.

Plugged that into www.theaa.com and got 26 hours & over 700 miles of driving

When you check in for the flight dont forget to load the car

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

Just to say I've knocked off 15 hours & 400 miles from the route - so it's now "only" 11 hours & 400 miles.

I'd overnight on Harris

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).

Insane doesn't even come close to describing this trek. WHY on earth are you trying to cover half of northern Scotland plus two Islands in ONE day????

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

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

Watch out for sheep-there's millions of them. BMK

I'm slightly baffled by how one could be disappointed by Callanish.

Shirly, can you reconfigure what's around this to make it a two day trip? It is truly worth it.

Keep in mind that many of the roads in the Highlands are one lane with pullouts. Not the kind of roads you can make good time on. I think some compromises need to be made.

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.

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!

Awesome! I know you will have a wonderful time, and safe travels. Bring us back a kilted Scotsman and a dram of whiskey :)

tut tut GreenDragon -- that'll have to be <u>whisky</u> (not whiskey - a different animal altogether) :)

Travelling2: Have a GREAT trip!

Yikes! I forgot - mea culpa! I have spent too much time in Ireland.. (well, ok, there is no such thing - but it is high time to give Scotland (and whisky) equal time!)