 | Home > Expedition & Overland > Scotland's west coast by defender |
 
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| Cheshire110 Member Since: 26 Jul 2013 Location: Cheshire/London Posts: 2724  
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So I've finally persuaded dad to sort some time for us to do a bit of a first 'overland' (if it can be so called) trip. Plan to do a lot in the future, but for a first we have 4 days and plan to do Scotland's west coast/islands area.
Brief: have 4 whole days (4th->7th July) but assuming days 1 and 4 will be travel from/back to Cheshire so really have 3 nights/2 whole days to explore. We want to get as much interest in as possible, not just trundling along motorways and a roads through boring fields: ferrys/beaches/greenlanes/viewpoints/rickety old bridges/castles/ etc are a must, the more the better. Quite fancy the thought of trundling along beaches or getting a little ferry between islands etc. Also dads a keen whisky-a-holic so was thinking of getting in a distillery viewing, maybe Talkisker (Skye)? on that note- I've been reading the LRO mag article in which the couple in the old V8 disco travel from northern Scotland along the west coast down to Ireland, and along the west coast of Ireland - its an interesting read. does anyone know, can you still get the little ferry mentioned in the article from Glenelg onto Skye? looked an experience! Also thought that Tobermory (and the island of Mull) might be interesting to visit (maybe even stay a night in?). On that note we'll need B&Bs/inns for the 3 nights, or some sort of accommodation anyway, if anyone can suggest any? If anyone can suggest an interesting (interest is better than long distance, island hopping sounds fun) route that could span over 3 nights/2 days that'd be great, or a selection of must see locations in that area to join together. Also feel free to just reminisce/ramble (  ) about your own trips to the area!
Cheers in advance guys, David Cheers, David Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8. |
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15th Jun 2014 11:11pm |
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| Cheshire110 Member Since: 26 Jul 2013 Location: Cheshire/London Posts: 2724
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also- quite fancy some water driving? fords/flooded roads exposed at low tides/beaches/river roads etc etc !!
the more off the beaten track, the better. We don't need to make the overall thing too long distance wise, if we're exploring interesting places more slowly then great. Cheers, David Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8. |
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15th Jun 2014 11:15pm |
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| Dave T Member Since: 07 Jun 2013 Location: Glasgow Posts: 487 
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Have a check over on Disco4, that is a question that has been answered many times. Remember the roads are far from being motorways once past Glasgow so allow plenty of time. Heres a couple of threads for starters
http://www.disco4.com/forum/topic111125.html?highlight=scotland http://www.disco4.com/forum/topic86040.html?highlight=scotland 2015 RRS Autobiography SDV6 1994 Def 90 300tdi |
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16th Jun 2014 7:00am |
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| jomara Member Since: 26 Oct 2009 Location: Lanarkshire Posts: 1756  
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Hi David
Had a look at a the topics on Disco4, lots of great advice. One thing to remember is that a lot of the Scottish Isles still have Sunday as a day of rest & worship meaning that nothing including pubs & restaurants open! Ask me how I know 
Have a look at the SLROC forum as they run green road runs all over Central Scotland during the summer and you should be able to join on the day and tag along. http://slroc2.co.uk/forum/ Hope you have a great trip. Cheers John 2014 110 2.2TDCi XS Station wagon 1971 Bowler Tomcat 88 4.2 V8 Auto 2022 110 250D XS |
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16th Jun 2014 7:11am |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2664 
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There's a few posts already on this forum:
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic8690.html?highlight=scotland http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic20905.html?highlight=scotland Some of the villages and areas are wonderful: The Bealach na Ba over to Applecross:  Click image to enlarge Shieldaig Plockton Click image to enlarge If you DO go to Skye, it's great to go by ferry from mallaig, and maybe use the bridge on the other direction...the road from Fort William to Mallaig passes 2 spectacular places - Arisaig and Morar. The White Sands of Morar are well worth a glance:
The other way (using the Bridge), you pass the wonderful Eilean Donan: Click image to enlarge On Skye, in Glen Brittle there are a few bridges over the river...some have fords next to them which I have driven. Pretty good 
Also on Skye, the Stien Inn is a lovely place, and the oldest Inn on Skye I've spent the last 20 years exploring Scotland by land Rover, Motorbike, mountain bike & sea kayak since moving her in 1992...like garethmorgan says, you'll not scratch the surface in a few days, but you can pick-off some highlights 
If you want to go wading...you need this page: http://www.wetroads.co.uk/highlands.htm Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) Last edited by MartinK on 16th Jun 2014 1:45pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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16th Jun 2014 8:39am |
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| Dave T Member Since: 07 Jun 2013 Location: Glasgow Posts: 487
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Unfortunately theres not a GRR onthat weekend, but if you look towards the bottom of this page you will see a link to the year planner, for anyone visiting the area, arrangements are normally able to be made to avoid joining for the year if you want. http://www.slroc2.co.uk/ 2015 RRS Autobiography SDV6 1994 Def 90 300tdi |
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16th Jun 2014 12:42pm |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10360
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Hi, have a look at my pics from my west coast trip.
https://picasaweb.google.com/letsoffroad/HighlandsRoadTrip2012 |
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16th Jun 2014 1:05pm |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2664
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GREENI - some lovely pics in your album - I like this one of the Bealach ne Ba
Click image to enlarge I see you've mentioned PLOCKTON as a favourite place  Plockton could also be on your list because it's only a 10-15 minute drive from the Skye bridge...
Lovely & moody piccie in the mist Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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16th Jun 2014 1:44pm |
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| bob neville Member Since: 30 Apr 2009 Location: Marbella Posts: 3247  
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About half way down this page you can see my pictures from the Applecross area last year.
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic2032-8550.html Bob 2015 Jaguar XE240 R Sport - goes like ....... !! 2013 Defender 90 CSW - sold 2009 Defender 110 Double Cab - sold 2001 TD5 90 CSW - offroad project - sold to a forum member 2011 Porsche Boxster - for the sunny days ! |
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16th Jun 2014 2:26pm |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10360
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MartinK, it was your info that inspired me
Let's hope davidw gets to go  |
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16th Jun 2014 5:15pm |
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| keith Member Since: 15 Aug 2012 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 2162
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I live on the west Coast . I am on and off the most beautiful islands in the world all the time . I look at Arran every day and can see right up the west coast . There are many beaches with pure white corral sand and crystal waters with no one there . Here is my recommendation for you guys traveling from the South .
1. Take the west Coast tourist route after the border at M74 , this will eventually bring you to Turnberry , Ayr and the port for Isle of Arran . 2. Visit Arran and distillery for day 1 . 3. Take the small ferry off the back side of Arran and travel up the mull of Kintyre visiting Tarbert and the crinan canal on the way to Oban ( gateway to the isles ) 4. Take ferry from Oban to Amazing Mull . Drive around the island with lots to see , visiting Tobermory and Calgery beach . If time allows then visit isle of Staffa . 5. Back to Oban and take the ferry to lochboisdale on Uist . Drive up the islands of the outer Hebrides to Stornoway ( you will be blown away with what you see ) 6. You can now either take the ferry to Ullapool on the mainland west coast and the drive back home OR ferry to Uig on the isle of Skye . 7. If arriving on Skye then get to Dunvegan castle and the old man of Storr and head off by the Skye bridge and your journey South back home . There are many distilarys , castles , mountains beaches and amazing places to visit along your route . If you look at the map then you will see a perfect west coast circular route that I have mentioned . If short of time then simply miss a section out . I am available as a private tour guide for those with a little extra cash to spare . Landrover , champagne and camping included in your costs . Keith |
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16th Jun 2014 6:35pm |
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| Spruce Pirate Member Since: 08 Feb 2013 Location: Stirlingshire Posts: 124 
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I don't think two days is enough to cover much of the west coast. I'd suggest picking an area and sticking to there, Galloway; Argyllshire; Lochaber; Mull; Ross-shire; Assynt? Apologies to all the other areas I've forgotten. It should be possible to drive up the west coast in two days, but if you're following the coast, driving is probably about all you'll do. I wouldn't worry about motorways, you're unlikely to find any.
If you can, pick a date when the forecast is good, the weather can turn the west from a nice place to be to a stunning place to be, although bad weather has its own charm too! Whatever the weather, hope for a breeze to keep the bity beasties at bay. My advice would be pick a general area, head for there and see what you find. That's the idea of exploring isn't it? Dirty Deeds - Done Dirt Cheap |
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16th Jun 2014 8:52pm |
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| timbar Member Since: 30 Jul 2013 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 245 
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We've just planned two weeks at end of July, stopping in the lakes, then in Oban, and off onto Mull, camping.
Am looking forward to the midges
David, I'll be watching for photos and some destination inspiration -- have a great trip! 2009 110 XS Station Wagon |
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16th Jun 2014 10:53pm |
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| Cheshire110 Member Since: 26 Jul 2013 Location: Cheshire/London Posts: 2724
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Thanks for all the advice guys, given us a lot to think about.
Will make decisions etc and keep filling you all in with plans, any more 'must sees' please keep em coming Cheers, David
Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8. |
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16th Jun 2014 11:00pm |
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