Best route from Glasgow area to Skye
Hi All.
am travelling from west wales to Skye on 12th Aug.
My ? is what is your recommended route towing a twin axle from the Glasgow area to Dunvegan on Skye?
Various route planners suggest either west from Glasgow and via Crianlairich A82 and over the bridge onto Skye.
Or via Perth then west to Skye.
I regularly go to Arbroath via Perth so have intimate Knowledge of that route "to Perth" but not west from Perth
It would seem a long way round via Perth with the A82 route being shorter, but is it a good driveable road and any quicker?
Two weeks of wildlife photography and fishing "solo" heaven!
Any advice appreciated. Thanks
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If you're west or north west of Glasgow the A82 Loch Lomond route is ok although it has some narrow stretches. Some people might also direct you via Stirling and Callander if you're coming up from the south on the M74. You don't need to go to Perth. It's a fair old haul so allow plenty of time once you leave the motorways.
Have a good time.
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Thanks Brue,
I had also thought of Sterling - Callander to avoid the mway through the Glasgow bit, A long haul as you say, leaving Carmarthen area in the early hrs of Sat and M74 area early Sunday. plan to be on site about 4 pm fingers crossed,
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I would definitely use the Stirling/Callender route. The A82 alongside Loch Lomond in twisty in places with rocks protruding from the hedge/cliff. It’s not ideal for a large T/A caravan, in my view, especially when a lorry comes hurtling in the other direction.
Stirling/Callender might be a bit further but the roads are far better and faster.
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You will definitely be better on the Stirling/Callander route if you want to avoid routes through Glasgow. All roads meet at Crianlarich anyway so you'll find this is a popular route used by many. Stirling is about two hours from the border, a bit longer if towing.
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Used the Loch Lomond road last year and didn't find it a problem. Coaches, trucks, caravans and MH use it all the time. The North end from Tarbet heading north is a little twisty and narrow in places but shouldn't cause and difficult to a competent, confident driver.
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I like the Loch Lomond route too, especially if you haven't seen it round there and there are laybys along the Loch. But I can understand why some aren't keen to drive through Glasgow on busy roads, easier if you're coming up from the western side.
I found this Driving Route to Skye which might be useful for first time visitors, seeing Glencoe from this route is a real bonus.
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Take A82 to Tarbert, turn Left onto A83 to Inverary. Go right thru the arch onto A819 and drive on here till you join the A85 at Kilchurn Castle. Go Left on to A85 to Connel then over bridge onto A828 to join onto A82. Route given to me by brother in law who lives near loch ness and we followed it up to Oban a couple of years ago. We did come back A82 all along loch lomoand and it was twisty but perfectly OK as other say coaches lorries et al all travel along it but it is a bit tight in places. Would definitely follow the above route rather than A82 as it is nice and scenic with decent roads (well as decent as Scotland has out of the cities).
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Please don't tell everyone, that's our route too...........
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We live NW of Glasgow, not far from Loch Lomond. I would not use the road up LL with our twin axle, and I have been towing since 1971, and learned to drive on trucks in the army in the 60s
I did tow on that stretch of road with previous smaller single axle vans, but I would not risk our present van there just to save a few miles. Fine when solo.
Yes, you will get lots of logging lorries and buses there, especially in the holiday period, that is part of the problem. The drivers mainly do not own and insure the vehicle and can have a tendancy to bulldoze their way through leaving others to take evasive action.
On the other hand, I have no problem towing through Glasgow, the through routes are all M way or dual carriageway, and I think you will find that most drivers are more considerate and disciplined than in England where the roads are more crowded.
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Ouch! 😧
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Always nice to get north of Lancaster on the way home, the drop in traffic volume is quite marked!
However, solo drivers are still prone to the "it's a caravan, must get out in front of it" syndrome.
On a weekend, there will not be so many lorries around, but plenty of tour buses.
I think our schools go back the following week, so could be plenty of people heading homeward.
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Agreed. Crianlarich to the Green Welly Stop and the A82 north.
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You won't see Oban unless you've got a very good pair of binoculars.......
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Could stop the night at North Ledaig going that way. There you go, it’s got an advantage after all. 👍🏻😀
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You pass the entrance to the 3 finest sites on the Club network if you are heading for Skye that way (via the bridge) , North Ledaig, Bunree & Morvich....
Or do it the traditional way to Skye (on a boat) past the Glenfinnan Viaduct and on to the Mallaig to Armadale ferry.....
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again thanks to all.
As I am making for skye as direct as possible, I am not really looking for the tourist trip.
I travelled from Wales to Lochawe some 5years ago and used the m74 and m'ways to Sterling then Crianlarich. and A82 from there.
I am leaning to this route as I will probably be in the sterling area, in the early hrs of Sunday morning, with the M74 M8 to the A82 as a second choice, so am assuming I could be on the twistier areas of the A82 at the quiet time. perhaps making this route my first choice!!
As I am sure many of us will have set out with a plan in mind for our journeys,we then spontaneously make a decision to change it rightly or wrongly on route !
Decisions Decisions
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If you do decide to try the road up the side of Loch Lomond, coming up the M74 you should follow the signs for Glasgow airport.
This will take you south of the city on the relatively new bit of the 74, and onto the M8 heading west. Stay on that past the airport then cross the Clyde on the Erskine Bridge, no tolls, and continue to Loch Lomond.
SatNav reckons this is slightly longer than going straight north till you pick up the M8, but it is a much better and quieter road. We always use this route.
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Loads of it.👍🏻 They have a takeaway, a restaurant, fuel pumps and a shop.
Also at the woollen mills at Kilmahog just west of Callender where we often stop and use their shop or cafe.
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