Scotlandmac I've just been reading some of your blogs (and deciding I probably need two months in Scotland lol) and I think you've sold me on Torridon. Would it be reasonable to drive to Inverness this way from Skye (Day 9) or should I take a day off of Inverness for an overnight there?

Funnily enough,when I saw the time you have in Inverness, I’d almost posted about going there via Torridon and enjoying an overnight in or around that area!

Torridon is magnificent BUT, it’s not easy getting one night’s accommodation there.Assuming that 5 star The Torridon is a bit OTT re budget, then there are less expensive options mainly in Shieldaig…booking.com or Airbnb.Most accommodation in that general area is self- catering for at least three nights or more likely, one week.We visit at least once per year, one of my happy places.

The drive from Skye via the Bealach na Ba mountain pass, down to Applecross, round the coast to Shieldaig and Torridon is IMO possibly THE finest drive I’ve been on anywhere.Stunning.

Applecross is well worth a stop with a great buzzy atmosphere and good pub food served in the ever busy Applecross Inn; there’s also the very pretty Walled Garden, a lovely stroll away though I don’t think it’s new offering of Small Plates is terribly appealing.

If time allows, don’t miss the drive even part way along the road from Torridon village to Diabaig which gives outstanding views of Loch Torridon, surely our finest sea loch for scenery.The Torridon Stores and Cafe is a lovely wee stop for cake /a light lunch - best Carrot Cake I’ve ever tasted!

"The drive from Skye via the Bealach na Ba mountain pass, down to Applecross, round the coast to Shieldaig and Torridon is IMO possibly THE finest drive I’ve been on anywhere. Stunning."

Big (BIG) ditto to that ^^^. The drive from the Skye Bridge to Torridon around via the coast is just about 75 miles - 75 miles of the most glorious scenery. It is a sloooooow drive - just the drive without the thousand places you'll want to stop for photos, will take at least three full hours.

My ex and I and the two dogs drove it in a roadster (in the opposite direction) a few months before the bridge opened and there were a lot fewer visitors/less traffic in that part of the country. Leaving our B&B in Torridon after breakfast - we arrived in Dunvegan just before dinner - 125 miles took us nearly 8 hours.

ps: I wouldn't want to take that road in ugly weather . . .

Thanks! That’s a firm yes from both of you ;)
As you suspected though, accommodation an issue….closest I can get a single night is just out of Applecross? (That I’m willing to pay anyway) Would that be workable?

It would be workable though it’s more likely that you would then spend the next day as you head to Inverness, doing the drive around the coast to Torridon and through Glen Torridon to Inverness.Otherwise, a lot of backtracking albeit wildly scenic.

Applecross is a lovely wee place to be with some lovely easy walks and of course the drive itself up the Bealach before you reach Applecross, is a stunner.If you want any more detail on relatively easy walks, let me know.

in Applecross, we’ve stayed at this place for one night, very attractive indeed…

https://clachan-applecross.co.uk

Another poster mentioned the Loch Maree hotel which is not long reopened and beyond Torridon.Not stayed, great location albeit all on its own by the beautiful loch so check reviews.That would at least allow an explore of Torridon on that day’s drive from Skye.Plus a look at Loch Maree, often hailed as our loveliest fresh water loch.Not sure I totally agree with that but it’s certainly beautiful.

From Torridon you’re only 90 mins drive to Inverness, slightly less from Loch Maree hotel area.

Loch Maree reviews are a little off putting so I’ve booked the Applecross accom that I found, it has free cancellation so if something else pops up I can adjust.
DH not keen on long strenuous hikes but also doesn’t mind reading a book in the car to wait for me lol
Suggestions would be most welcome Scotlandmac if you have time 😊

If only they could get the Loch Maree hotel running properly:unsure:

Walks….from the top of the Bealach na Ba , at the viewpoint pull in, walk across the road and follow the big track up to the transmitter paraphernalia for wonderful views of the mountains for miles all around, which you don’t see from the Bealach itself.Takes about 25 mins to go up to the highest point.

Beyond the church at Applecross(seen across the bay as you arrive) there is a small car park and info board.Opposite that is a track which goes all the way to lovely Sand Beach.We usually just walk for a short way along it, halfway at most, then return.It climbs a bit then flattens out.Gorgeous views.You can of course also simply drive to Sand Beach, a few miles from the village and walk there.Beautiful spot with fab views to Skye.

You can walk from the Applecross Inn car park to the Walled Garden bistro via a good path.Takes about 15 mins.Various other little trails are signposted from the Walled Garden which even if you don’t eat there, is lovely to walk around.I walked it most recently on a sunny day with my wee grandson, all of us enjoying ice cream from the Inn ( they have an excellent takeaway van too) - a local chap there makes all their ice cream and it’s the Real McCoy! Nothing artificial in it, just great flavours.

There is also a short stroll from the campsite above the village which takes you to a restructured ancient round house with fine views over the sea.

A map of walks here:

https://applecross.org.uk/assets/Lea...and-trails.pdf

Also check Walkhighlands excellent website:

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/torr...plecross.shtml

Thank you so much! Was watching a Ben Fogie episode on the Scottish Isles last night and he visited some stunning locations so I’ve got to get the books and maps out for specifics 😉

I watched that series with interest, given I love the islands (Outer and Inner Hebrides) - happy researching!

OK, inbound flights booked, we will come into Edinburgh, spend a full day to recover and then drive to Fionnphort over two days. I'm thinking of maybe staying in Killin overnight and traversing Glen Etive and Glencoe en route to Mull? Would that be reasonable or should I stop further along than Killin?

Killin works - and the Falls are AMAZING. Collecting the car out at EDI in the morning you could visit Stirling Castle, eat lunch there and be in Killin in the early to mid afternoon. You'd even have time to explore up Loch Tay/Fortingall. The drive EDI to Killin is about 2 hours give or take.

Then the next day Killin to Oban going up via Glencoe takes about 2.5 hours. With maybe aa couple of hours in Glencoe you could make a mid to late afternoon ferry and in to Fionnphort by dinner time. The problem is Glen Eitve -- the drive out and back will eat up a a lot of time not so gettin to Oban pretty late in the afternoon.

IF the Glen Etive drive is important to you (and it is marvelous) what I'd do instead is drive EDI > Stirling > short detour in to Killin and back out to the main road > Glencoe and stay the night there. Because daylight will last sooooooo long, you could easily do the Glen Etive drive that late afternoon/evening either before or after dinner.

That makes the next day easier -- to Oban in the morning and arriving in Fionnphort in time for lunch and fit in Iona that afternoon.

Thanks janisj, food for thought… I had included Glen Etive after seeing recommendations elsewhere but I guess the bottom line is ‘you can’t do everything!’ Having to book a ferry will mean we have to time keep pretty well and don’t want to be stressed so I’ll give it some more thought.

Oh -- I don't think you have to skip Glen Etive at all. Just keep Killin as a short stop. Even if you have a meal in the village and clamber out into the Falls - it still wouldn't take much more than an hour from the A85 in to Killin and back out to the A85. The Falls are less than 3 miles off the main road so under 6 miles round trip. If you don't have a meal in the village the whole excursion can be done in 30 to 40 minutes. Then on to Glencoe/Ballachulish. Sometime late in the afternoon or early evening do the drive down Glen Etive and back. Plan on 2 to 2.5 hours for the scenic drive out and back to allow for multiple photos stops.

Ok cool. OMG can't believe the rates for accommodation! Not helped by the strength of the GBP against the AUD, I know that is not Scotland's fault but it is eye watering in AUD 😒

yes -- rates for any sort of accommodations - not just in Scotland but all over the UK have skyrocketed. In Scotland it is partly a combination of greatly increased demand and a lot of small B&Bs and self catering accommodations leaving the industry due to new tax and licensing rules north of the border.

Ladies, I think I can manage an extra night. Should I stay in Applecross two nights and explore around past Torridon to Diabaig for example or should I use it somewhere else en route to Inverness?

If you overnight somewhere else, then for scenery that means going further north via Gairloch.It will boil down to whether you want to do that and the loop round to Gruinard Bay, Dundonnell and Braemore Junction/Ullapool.

It certainly works to have that extra night in Applecross as after your 1st overnight enjoying the area immediately around Applecross, next day you can explore Torridon initially going via the coastal route(one of the most outstandingly scenic drives there is- anywhere) then on the return, you can cut in via Shieldaig and travel across country and back over the Bealach road to Applecross.When leaving for Inverness, you can either return to Shieldaig that way for another dose of Torridon or make for Lochcarron and head that way for a different route.

An advantage of staying longer in the area is to up your chances of actually seeing it all in good weather!
A disadvantage is potentially traveling back and forward largely the same route - never a drawback to me as the scenery is outstanding plus the ever changing light and weather means it can all look very different in the afternoon compared to morning etc!

On my blog, you’ll have already seen the many and varied places you can visit and enjoy, short strolls too so I won’t repeat here.

Also, exactly what you do will be weather dependent but 2 nights allows that…eg if an absolute belter of a day as you travel from Skye then do your exploring that day(on the basis that things aren’t looking so great the 2nd day) …vice versa applies too of course.

That driving loop from Torridon(where we usually base) to Applecross via the Bealach then round the coast back to our cottage, has take us all day very often.Stopping to ooh and aah at the same points, strolling Sand Beach, lunch in the Inn…admiring the view from the top of the Bealach, maybe walking up to the Transmitter mast on a good track for even better views…I never tire of it.

I’ll add my tuppence worth into your journey to Mull query when I get a chance later.

‘ps: I wouldn't want to take that road in ugly weather . . .’

It’s fine though I admit I could probably drive it blindfold(well not quite!😀) It’s very well barriered. I’ve driven it in a minibus in snow and it was fine.It’s a main access route for residents and businesses to and from Applecross , is used a lot by commercial vehicles and so is kept well gritted and cleared in snow /ice.Not that those conditions are likely in mid summer! (Though we have had snow for one day in June , occasionally - never July , in my memory.)

Ok great. DH not over keen on single nighters so I think we will extend Applecross to two nights and good point re better weather options then too!
Cannot thank you ladies enough for your generosity in time and advice :)