Which place do you like best as a base to explore for a few days? We're thinking of booking at The Eddrachilles Hotel or The Summer Isles Hotel.

>>Which place do you like best as a base to explore for a few days? We're thinking of booking at The Eddrachilles Hotel or The Summer Isles Hotel.<<

Well - it certainly depends on what you want to see & do while there. Both are a long way from 'places' but Summer Isles is at least a little closer to more 'stuff'. The settings of both hotels are beautiful . . . the Eddrachilles just a little more so.

Thanks Janis. We'd like to take day trips out to Candlewood Bay, Stoer and Drumbeg loop -- and then places along the coast on the way to Torridon (our next overnight.) I was already leaning toward Eddrachilles.

We'll be coming from 2 nights up north. Which location do you prefer, Tongue or Strathy Point (B&B nearby.)

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

I had to google to see where Strathy Point was; I guess I've been past it but had no recollection.

The landscape gets a lot more scenic (IMO) as you travel west and south from Tongue. The A836 toward Ben Loyal is a wonderfully scenic road; on the other hand the A838 west toward Durness is too. Here's the view down the A836 from Tongue.



You could also take a detour off the A838 at Loch Eriboll and travel south on an un-numbered road past Ben Hope to the Dun Dornaigil broch, a prehistoric fort set in one of the loveliest and loneliest glens in the country.



Question - when will this be taking place? What comes before and after the north coast and Torridon?

You seem to be following at least part of the NC500 route. You don't say when you are going but you should be aware it can get very busy, with not only locals and visitors cars but motorhomes, motorbikes and cyclists. Rooms fill up fast in high season, and remember places close early up there.
A lot of it is single track with passing places. You need to know how to drive such roads.
Have a look at Northcoast500.com for some ideas, though they do like you to pay up to get full details of stuff (not really worth it imho).

Thanks all for your feedback and insights.

The night before the north coast, we'll be staying in Aviemore. Then two nights, probably Tongue, two nights Eddrachilles, one night Ullapool area, two nights Torridon Inn, one night Glencoe, one night near Glasgow airport. The northwest is the focus of the trip. Any suggestions?

We'll be travelling the the end of September-beginning of October.