Applecross

D40David
D40David Forum Participant Posts: 39
edited November 2016 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Anyone any experience of coming out of Applecross up the pass with a motorhome.

We are driving when time allows anticlockwise around the UK.  Next year we start in Invergordon and hope to get round to Skype in a couple of weeks. I get various reports about the pass from Applecross.

Comments

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #2

    Try this and see what you think. Wink

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited November 2016 #3

    D40D,  That  depends  on  the  size  of  your  M/h 

    I've  never  had  a  problem,  just  the  occasional  foggy  trip,  but  I  only  ever  used  a  Panel Van  Conversion.

    Reasonable  driving  ability  &  Common  Sense  is  really  all  you  need !  Oh yes  and  a  knowledge  of  the  weather  conditions  'cos  it  gets  closed  in  times  of  heavy  snow  etc.

    Remember  that  you  start  the  climb  at  a  tiny  smidgeon  above  sea  level  &  end  up  at  another  tiny  smidgeon  above  sea  level.  But  there  are  many  worse  climbs  in  Scotland.

    Should  you  succeed  in  the  trip,  and  there  is  no  reason  whatsoever  that  you  should  not,   stop  at  the  bottom  &  take  a  few  photo's  of  the  Road  Signs  especially  the  one  that  reads  :--  This  Road  is  not  to  be  used  by  inexperienced  drivers  etc  etc  etc.  Its  a  good  memory  for  your  old  age  !

    Brian  A B M

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited November 2016 #4

    Thank  You  for  that,  Brue,  takes  me  back  to  my  most  recent  visit  in  2013,  in  my (then ! )  Romahome  Dimension  !!

  • Brian1
    Brian1 Forum Participant Posts: 242
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    edited November 2016 #5

    We went up in a small-ish MH a few years back. If you're a confident/competent driver it's fine.  The bends are the bits that need care - and if you're in a big MH may not be do-able.

    (Having said which SWMBO was not a happy camper and I've been told we can't do it again
    Laughing)

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited November 2016 #6

    If  you  want  some  practice,  B1,  you  can  always  try  the  Summer  Only  ferry  route  onto  Skye  from  Glen  Elg  !

    Stop  &  watch  the  Otters  while  you  get  your  breath  back  !!  Wink

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #7

    Been up and down the Pass of the Cattle several times. On the first occasion I waited at the bottom and tucked in behalf a delivery van and followed him. It really isn't a problem at all, just look ahead and choose your passing places wisely and use the full width of the road where needed. Well worth it, beautiful scenery and vistas. 

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited November 2016 #8

    "Pass  of  the  Cattle"  for  us  English ,  Mickysf,  but

    "Bealach  Na  Ba"  for  Map  makers  to  tease  us  with  !!

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #9

    "Pass  of  the  Cattle"  for  us  English ,  Mickysf,  but

    "Bealach  Na  Ba"  for  Map  makers  to  tease  us  with  !!

    Smile

     

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
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    edited November 2016 #10

    We have made this journey a few times, but only by Car. I remember watching a TV program, I think it was on Channel  5.It showed this road being cleared of heavy snows, using a 4x4 Gritter and Snowplough, the driver did not seem to be fazed by it. So I think
    you should be OK as long as the road is free from ice and the MH not excessively long.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #11

    The snow gates are used in bad weather so you could find yourself having to turn back.

  • thebroons
    thebroons Forum Participant Posts: 165
    edited November 2016 #12

    Firstly great choice of route.

    Secondly be prepared to reverse and try again at some of the bends depending on the length of motorhome.

    Thirdly hope for a clear day.

     

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited November 2016 #13

    Brief  glance  at  the  weather  on  TV  today  indicates  cold  weather  with  temps  down  below  freezing,  with  a  possibility  of  some 
    SNOW  !!  So  ifyou  do  get  stuck,  you'll  soon  have  company  --  a  burly  bloke  driving  a  digger / bulldozer  for  starters  !!

     

     

    No, no,  sorry   only  joshing,   They  close  the  gates  at  both  sides  if  its  going  to  be  bad,  and  you'll  see  the  locals  coming  out  to  watch  the  fun  --  tickets  are  quite  cheap 
    Money Mouth

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited November 2016 #14

    Tomintoul road closed today so winter has started. Wink

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited November 2016 #15

    Fish in Applecross regularly.However always approached from Shiledaig side. Thats easy access

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited November 2016 #16

    Just  south  of  the  turn  for  Applecross  is  one  of  my  favourite  daft  road  signs  ==>  STROMEFERRY  { No  Ferry}

    Still  makes  me  giggle  every  time  I  pass  it  tho'  !!Cool

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited November 2016 #17

    We have made this journey a few times, but only by Car. I remember watching a TV program, I think it was on Channel  5.It showed this road being cleared of heavy snows, using a 4x4 Gritter and Snowplough, the driver did not seem to be fazed by it. So I think you should be OK as long as the road is free from ice and the MH not excessively long.

    There  have  been  a  couple  of  versions  of  this  one,  JCB  --  I  prefer  the  one  where  the  snowplough  got  trapped  and  a  digger  had  to be  sent  out  to  shift  the  snow  to  release  him  !  Its  always  good  to  see  these  problems  re-run  on  TV  at  this  time of  year.  If  nothing  else  they  should  remind  us  to check  tyres,  windscreen  washers  etc  etc  even  in  this  little  island.  Up  in  the  hills  is  no  place  for  complacency  !

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited November 2016 #18

    Tomintoul road closed today so winter has started. Wink

    The  first  time  I  used  that  route, brue,  I  saw  the  'No  Caravans'  sign  &  wondered  what  I  was  letting  myself  in  for.  No  problems'  til  I  had  to  dive  into  a  gateway  to  let  the  approaching  convoy  of  Wallace  Arnold  coaches 
    come  thro'  !  It  was  only  after  I  'escaped'  back  into civilisation  that  I  realised  the  problem  was  that  small  but  steeply  hump-backed  and  angled  bridge.  Glad  to  say  that  was  no  trouble  for  the  'Trooper'  I  was  driving  then  Laughing 
    !

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
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    edited November 2016 #19

    We have made this journey a few times, but only by Car. I remember watching a TV program, I think it was on Channel  5.It showed this road being cleared of heavy snows, using a 4x4 Gritter and Snowplough, the driver did not seem to be fazed by it. So I think you should be OK as long as the road is free from ice and the MH not excessively long.

    "There  have  been  a  couple  of  versions  of  this  one,  JCB  --  I  prefer  the  one  where  the  snowplough  got  trapped  and  a  digger  had  to be  sent  out  to  shift  the  snow  to  release  him  !  Its  always  good  to  see  these  problems  re-run  on  TV  at  this  time of  year..."

    Haven’t seen the version where the plough gets stuck!! Worried   I will need to keep a lookout for it as I expect it will be shown again some time soon. Just hope it wasn’t too dangerous a situation for those concerned.

     

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited November 2016 #20

    We have made this journey a few times, but only by Car. I remember watching a TV program, I think it was on Channel  5.It showed this road being cleared of heavy snows, using a 4x4 Gritter and Snowplough, the driver did not seem to be fazed by it. So I think
    you should be OK as long as the road is free from ice and the MH not excessively long.

    "There  have  been  a  couple  of  versions  of  this  one,  JCB  --  I  prefer  the  one  where  the  snowplough  got  trapped  and  a  digger  had  to be  sent  out  to  shift  the  snow  to  release  him  !  Its  always  good  to  see  these  problems 
    re-run  on  TV  at  this  time of  year..."

    Haven’t seen the version where the plough gets stuck!! Worried   I will need to keep a lookout for it as I expect it will be shown
    again some time soon. Just hope it wasn’t too dangerous a situation for those concerned.

     

    Sunday  13th  Nov

    JCB4X4  --  Just  noticed  a  prog  on  channel  5  on  Monday  14th  at  7:00  pm  Battered  Britain,  winter  road  rescue    This  could  be, 
    I  said  Could  Be,  the  one  to  watch  but  no  promises  !!

    Brian

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
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    edited November 2016 #21

    Thanks!!  ABM I will give myself a reminder to look out for this program in the hope that it contains the footage you mention. 

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited November 2016 #22

    Don't  forget  your  thermals Surprised !!

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
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    edited November 2016 #23

    Aye!!  Winter Draws On !!  Cool

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited November 2016 #24

    That's  a  very  old  joke  sir  !Laughing

     

     

    { But  as  the  cartoonist  said,  they  are  very  old  Draw(er)sEmbarassedInnocent  }

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
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    edited November 2016 #25

    Well !! having pencilled in a reminder to watch this program (pun intendedEmbarassed ) – the computer 'wot’s-it'  has reminded me that I already have a meeting scheduled for tonight, ironically it’s for a 'Response Group' that assist essential services during bad weather conditions  CoolCool, so I now need to ask OH if she will set-up the 'thing-umy–jig' to record it.The odds are now very much against this program making any reverence whatsoever to the  "Bealach  Na  Ba" , never mind showing footage of the snowplough in difficulty. FrownFrown

  • ABM
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    edited November 2016 #26

    It  was  not  the  programme  I  remember,  but  still  a  reminder  of  the  problems  it  poses  in  the  winter.

    And  the  Pass  even  got  a  mention  on  "University  Challenge"  Tonight  ==  and  the  student  who  got  the  answer  wrong  is  named  ,,  ,,  ,,  ,,  ,,  ,,  ,,  Sutherland  !!