Touring North of Scotland

TheStens19

Interested in a 3 week trip to Northern Highlands with caravan and car in September. We know there are few sites but what concerns us are the roads a lot of single track roads we presume. We have a Bailey Seville about 6.45 long and Nissan X-trail. Any one any experience and recommendation for favourable routes and one to avoid.

thebells

We did a tour last year up to the Cairngorms then across to Skye then down to Appin with a 4 berth sprite and Mitsubishi L200.

No real issues at all (other than when a foreign motorhome came at us on wrong side of road on the A82 leaving Fort William area!!)

The strongest piece of advice I'd give is avoid the A82 alongside Loch Lomond when travelling in either direction: hubby still has nightmares about it😂.

There are lots of members on here who know that area pretty well so hopefully someone can give you more info about the more northerly region.

Good luck😊

KjellNN

It is not In the northern Highlands, but may be on your way there or back, so I would  agree about avoiding the narrow road up Loch Lomond, the south end is fine, but the north end is still poor.

In the far North there are a lot of single track roads, but visibility is good, passing places frequent, and the buses and lorries manage fine, so they should not cause a problem.  Just look out for some of the steep bits, and of  course take note when it says "unsuitable for caravans"!

You can "drive" many of the scenic routes on U Tube, so that  could  be a good tool, and check maps for steep sections, there is one I think you should avoid, need to look up the name though.

 

KjellNN

It is called Bealach na Ba  I think......Pass of the Cattle in English

https://www.visitwester-ross.com/bealach-na-ba.asp

SteveL

I personally prefer much of the single track to some of the narrower twin. At least you can pull into a passing place to let oncoming traffic past, or faster vehicles behind to overtake. Often on the twin tracks by the time you allow for the pot holed edges there is insufficient room to comfortably allow caravans / MH's to pass without the risk of mirror contact. OK if folk are prepared to slow down a bit. However, often they are not. 

harryb

Just bear in mind that year in, year out many caravanners have used these roads to get to sites. That should tell you not to worry, if they were that problematic then no-one would go.

flatcoat

It depends what you mean by ‘far north’! In my book Fort William isn’t, Ullapool is. We have taken a t/a 8.0m caravan to Inverness and Gairloch (Wester Ross) more than once and survived and Ullapool is easy too. 

brue

Far North is NW Sutherland and Caithness (to me) otherwise you'll have to swim to Orkney.  There are reasonable roads around the perimeter, better on the eastern side but slow in all directions. If you're not used to hilly narrow terrain I'd go up the eastern edges first, along the top and then take it gently down the western side. Due to the NC500 popularity you'll meet coaches, motorcycle "convoys" and delivery lorries. Just take your time, use sites to drive out from rather than a short stop tour at a lot of sites. It's lovely up there but not as quiet as it used to be. 

It's easier than some of the very narrow high banked lanes found in the southwest of the uk! In most places you can see ahead.

Celeste152

Have family in Lochcarron so know area well. Main advice is stay on the road, do not pull over for anybody unless it is into a passing place. There are quite steep gullies down the edges, usually well hidden by undergrowth! Oh, and don’t rush it, too much to see.