Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

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Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by waynedance »

Been thinking about this for a while now and since i like a nice drive thought it would be a good idea.

Never really driven round Scotland only for work dropping of a few cars so fancied chucking some supplies in the car and leave the misses at home while I go for a drive for a few days.

Would certainly be a few miles since I live near Leicester, am I mad?
Be nice to give the 2.2 a nice drive as it feels like a new car since changing the injectors and now getting over 45mpg on mixed driving.

Thoughts please ( nice ones).



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Re: Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

Don't know much about the route 500---circular route round the North of Scotland? A friend of mine did a similar thing first in his van for planning purposes and then on his bike covering the entire coast as well as the northern most bit. The bike bit went fine until just after leaving Bettyhill, he collided with a wandering cow, and ended up in the ditch with a broken collar bone and the ride came to a premature end.

Never mind the route 500....go for something more pioneering like the Scotland AA Box Tour! Here's your iterinary for the Magnificent Seven!....

Scotland

746 Loch Allen, Dava, Highland: at junction of A940 and A939 (Grantown on Spey-Nairn), south of Forres
472 Cambus o’ May, Aberdeenshire: on A93 (Aberdeen-Braemar) near junction with Strathdon A97
504 Ardgay, Highland: at junction of A836 (Bonar Bridge-Tarlogie) and B9176
631 Brachla, Highland: on A82 (Fort Augustus-Inverness) around 4 miles north of Drumnadrochit
714 Threapland, Elgin, Moray: on A96 (Elgin-Fochabers) east of junction with B9103, Threapland Wood, 3.5 miles west of Fochabers
753 Glen Dye, Strachan, Aberdeenshire: between Bridge of Dye and Strachan on B974 at junction with Old Military Road
..and just a bit further south
723 Cappercleuch, Borders: at St. Mary’s Loch on the A708 (Moffat-Selkirk)

All you need to do is string them together in a nice little tour and take some pics at each of the seven. Now if you choose to go up the west side you could even take in "Dunmail Rise" near Grasmere in Cumbria on the way up!

Regards Neil
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Re: Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by bobins »

Just do it !!

I've done most (if not all) of it back in the day on both motorbike and car and I'd do it again if they hadn't put it so far away from Sussex :) You definitely don't want to do it in midge season, so now would probably be good, but you want to get your skates on before it gets really grim and cold and short days. There's no point in doing it 'against the clock' as there's far too much gorgeous countryside, desolation and views to pass by in a hurry, so allow yourself a good few days. Make sure you keep your tank topped up for the north western section - we came across the most expensive petrol station I've ever seen up there - at the time I needed a splash more in the bike for a bit of insurance, so I said "put a fivers worth in" - the attendant merrily sailed passed £5 worth and then with the (no doubt well rehearsed) " Oh, sorry, I wasn't paying attention", put over £6.00 worth in. Cheeky bugger :-D
On one of the occasions I travelled that way, I was after finding all the old Royal Observer Corps posts http://www.subbrit.org.uk/category/nucl ... ring-posts which gave me a good excuse to see the countryside and views combined with a treasure hunt. If you're going to do the route, set yourself a purpose to ensure you stop off in a few places and don't just zoom past in order to get to the end. Grab a pebble from each beach every 50 miles, or something equally obscure !!!
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Re: Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by Peter.N. »

There aren't that many roads in the far north of Scotland but some beautiful scenery the A836 probably having the greatest variety. We go up there every year for a holiday staying at Rogart but usually include the A836, Torrisdale bay and John O Groats and sometimes the NW Coast. Its a great place to drive, a lot of single track roads but not much traffic.

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Re: Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by waynedance »

Looks like a plan, possibly setting off tomorrow midday. Will be having some stop off's and taking some nice pics but mainly going for the driving, will be able to get some pics from the in car camera.
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Re: Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

When you get to the Dornoch Firth on the route 500, instead of crossing it on this


https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@57.83625 ... 312!8i6656

A 27 mile detour via Ardgay and Bonar Bridge will take you past this

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@57.85357 ... 312!8i6656

and a well earned glass of old engine oil for a pic, with motor, on the AA Box Challenge thread.

Image

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Re: Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by white exec »

The Western Highlands and the North West of Scotland is one of the most stunning places to drive and explore. Many, many happy times there, at all times of year.
Try starting off at Stirling, then heading for Crianlarich, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, Ballachulish and to Fort William. That will be a day and drive you won't forget. From Fort William, try Mallaig (by car or train). Then north towards Applecross, and up the Belach na Ba - one of the steepest roads in Britain.
You won't do it all on a first visit, but you should get properly smitten!
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Re: Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by CitroJim »

NewcastleFalcon wrote: Never mind the route 500....go for something more pioneering like the Scotland AA Box Tour! Here's your iterinary for the Magnificent Seven!....

Scotland

746 Loch Allen, Dava, Highland: at junction of A940 and A939 (Grantown on Spey-Nairn), south of Forres
472 Cambus o’ May, Aberdeenshire: on A93 (Aberdeen-Braemar) near junction with Strathdon A97
504 Ardgay, Highland: at junction of A836 (Bonar Bridge-Tarlogie) and B9176
631 Brachla, Highland: on A82 (Fort Augustus-Inverness) around 4 miles north of Drumnadrochit
714 Threapland, Elgin, Moray: on A96 (Elgin-Fochabers) east of junction with B9103, Threapland Wood, 3.5 miles west of Fochabers
753 Glen Dye, Strachan, Aberdeenshire: between Bridge of Dye and Strachan on B974 at junction with Old Military Road
..and just a bit further south
723 Cappercleuch, Borders: at St. Mary’s Loch on the A708 (Moffat-Selkirk)

All you need to do is string them together in a nice little tour and take some pics at each of the seven. Now if you choose to go up the west side you could even take in "Dunmail Rise" near Grasmere in Cumbria on the way up!
Now that's something I fancy doing on my bike ;)
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Re: Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by Tamstein »

I actually did the NC500 with a couple of friends back in July. I took one of our classic mini's and thoroughly enjoyed it. The scenery is just spectacular, I actually got to the point I stopped getting the camera out as I just didn't feel I was taking it in enough through the lens.

I personally feel it is a better drive going clockwise around it but I have spoken to a lot of people who do it the other way. Just take your time and soak up as much as you can. Guarantee'd you will finnish up wanting to do it again ;-)
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Re: Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by waynedance »

Image

Current location...get to Inverness and call it a day ready for early start tomorrow.

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Re: Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by bobins »

waynedance wrote: Current location...get to Inverness and call it a day ready for early start tomorrow.
Don't forget the dolphins off Chanonry Point on the Black Isle. First stop tomorrow morning ? :)
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Re: Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by myglaren »

bobins wrote:
waynedance wrote: Current location...get to Inverness and call it a day ready for early start tomorrow.
Don't forget the dolphins off Chanonry Point on the Black Isle. First stop tomorrow morning ? :)
And the Polar bears!
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Re: Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by NewcastleFalcon »

bobins wrote: Don't forget the dolphins off Chanonry Point on the Black Isle. First stop tomorrow morning ? :)
One hour or so after Low Tide is the best time for seeing dolphins at Chanonry Point.. a clear night and a big bright moon must be superb backdrop for seeing dolphins, although we did see them in good old Scottish drizzle back in May.
Tonight anytime after 9pm when the tide is turning could be the best time for seeing Dolphins or tomorrow morning 9.00am. Another hotspot is just over the bridge at North Kessock only 10 minutes from Inverness.

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Re: Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by DHallworth »

My folks did this route in May this year and thoroughly enjoyed it. They said it was definitely worth doing :)

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Re: Anyone done the Scotland route 500 on 4 wheels?

Post by white exec »

Certainly avoids all that nasty scenery in the west...! :?
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