Sheila |
Jun 20th, 1999 03:03 AM |
OK. Here goes. Sorry about the redundant Aberdeen info. <BR> <BR>Can I make some suggestions, based on your proposed route. <BR> <BR>The main road wes from Aberdeen (A93) along deeside will be busy at the time of year you describe. If your intention is to get to Inverness fast, I wouldn't go that way. I guess, therefore, you are looking at doing some sightseeing along the way. That being the case I would suggest you go out the south Deeside road, rather than following the main road..quieter, a little slower, and more scenic. <BR> <BR>You stay on the south Deeside road as far as Bridge of Feugh- very pretty- then turn south as though you were going to Fettercairn. When you get to Strachan, you do not take the Fettercairn turn but follow the back roads which will bring you out on the south side of the river at Aboyne. Stay on that side of the river. fwe miles further on you pass the entrance to Glentanar, where you could take a short detour and go for a walk in the remnant Scots Pine forest. <BR> <BR>Stay on south Deeside till you get to Ballater when you need to cross over and get on the A93. You are now driving west along the north bank of the river and a few miles along you get to Crathie which is where you fid Balmoral Castle where the Windsor's go to masacre birds in the summer. (June/July is too early, so the grounds are open to the public). <BR> <BR>At this point either decide if you want to go on up to Braemar and the Linn of Dee for the scenery (At the Linn of Dee there is a very pretty walk up the river or up the Lui river, in really quite stunning surroundings- from Glentanr on you are in serious walking (hiking) country but I guess you are too close to where you started to want to stop here) or turn right towards Tomintoul. If you do go up to Braemar you have to come back here. The road crosses moor and pretty rivers and brings you out at Corgarff on Donside, where you coss one of the Country's highest passes- the Lecht. Atthe Donside en there is an 18th century castle built by general wade as a barracks for the soldiers who were sent here to subjugate the populace, which is unspoilt and is open to the public. <BR> <BR>Drive over the Lecht to Tomintoul- very good whisky shop- and then follow the road signs north and west to Grantown on Spey then Nethy Bridge. Oe of my perjudices is that I do not much like Inverness. It's in an important place and is OK, I suppose but it's a real "nothing" town. I would stay overnight somewhere about here, Nethy Bridge has B&Bs, a bunkhouse and hotels. Boat of agrten, which is nearby has a campsite. <BR> <BR>The forest at Abernethy and at Rothiemurchus and at Glen Morlich are riddled with very walkable trails. <BR> <BR>Then get Inverness out of the way. A quick zap up the A9- do the tourist stuff (20 minutes max) then go over the Kessock Bridge and on to Dingwall where you turn left to go to Garve, then Achnasheen. Lots of lovely hills to walk on along this road. <BR> <BR>From Achnasheen, drive on to Shieldaig, which is next to Gairloch, next to Poolewe, next to Mellon Udrigle. There's a campsite at Gairloch and one at Mellon Udrigle. The locations here are superb; but you are also now in the sort of are, where, if you get off the beaten track a bit, and off cultivated land, you can simply stick a tent up. That's what I mean by wild camping. <BR> <BR>In the shops in this are you can buty a booklet about local walks, but my would suggestions would include walking round Red Point- you cans ee it on the maps, walking in the Beinn Eighe National Naure Reserve- it has a visitor centre at Kinlochewe, or walking along the tracks n the north side of Loch Maree <BR> <BR>To get down to Skye go back down to Kinlochewe and then west to Shieldaig (that's the other Shieldaig) and right round the peninsula to Applecross. The road is spectacular and looks over the Inner Sound to Raasay and Skye itself. You then drive back round Loch Kishorn to Lochcarron and south again to Kyle of Lochalsh via Plockton. <BR> <BR>The bit from Kinlochewe to Shieldaig takes you through Torridon which has stunning mountains; the sea lochs are very pretty and Plockton is picture postcard stuff. Lots of places to stop pff and walk. <BR> <BR>Cross the bridge to Skye an settle down to enjoy our most spectacular Alpine ridge- the Black Cuillin. <BR> <BR>You can camp at Sligachan, Portree, Glen Brittle, and on Raasay on campsites. But you can pitch a tent just about anywhere you do no harm. <BR> <BR>Dunvegan Castle is worth a visit. Suggesting places to walk on Skye is like mentioning shops in New York. Choose your own!!!! <BR> <BR>Come off Skye on the Mallaig ferry and drive round the Ardnamurchan peninsula and Morvern peninsulas to get to Lochaline. The scenery here is very mixed, with huge flat beaches, but mountain ranges beyond.You come through Morar and Arisaig, then south to Ardnamurchan itself.(Don't leave mallaig without a tank of petrol!!) Try to see the movie "Local Hero" before you come. The beach scenes were filmed here. <BR> <BR>Try to get out to Ardnamurchan point, for the view over the Small Isles- if you get visibility- then come back up Loch Sunart to Strontian then you cross the head of the loch and come south to Lochaline. There is no camp site here, but you will find a pitch if you want. The Hotel is a dive- don't stay there if you can avoid it. <BR> <BR>Take the ferry to Fishnish from Lochaline, then go round to Tobermory. After that it really depends how long you want to stay on Mull. <BR> <BR>You can cross on the little ferry to Ulva, and spend the day there walking on this unspoilt little island or you can go down to Carsaig and walk for a few miles along the bay. <BR> <BR>When you leave Mull come off on the Oban ferry from Craignure. There's a camp site at Glenshallach, but at better one (I think) at Gallanachmore. <BR> <BR>You can do the coast rout back to Glasgow or the inland route. <BR> <BR>I think, after all taht water, I would recommend you go down to ballachulish and through Glencoe, the Glen of Weeping, and if you are not blown away by it, you have the constitution of an ox. <BR> <BR>When you reach Crianlarich, you can either go south past Callendar to Stirling and zip in to Glasgow from there; or you can opt to go down Loch Lomond and stay there before your trip to the airport- try the campsite at Balloch at the bottom end of the Loch, <BR> <BR>I issed the "eat" question earleri. <BR> <BR>I will revisit the route with restaurants later. Now I must go out to lunch <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>
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