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My wife and daughter want to head to northern Scotland for an adventure sometime in the next few months. Originally, my daughter had wanted to go camping on Skye, but what she really wants is to do a few days of hiking/mountain walking - and either camp or stay in B&Bs.
The last time I was farther north than Edinburgh was in 1993, and I have no direct knowledge of the best ways to access remoter areas - or even what regions/specific areas would make for good adventure.
Both of them are very fit, able, and experienced in the outdoors.
Anyway, I would very much appreciate suggestions for one or more possible areas they might enjoy exploring and/or ways of getting around (in terms of if they land at Glasgow or Edinburgh, getting to their remote destination).
Train will get you anywhere on the West Coast up to Kyle of Lochalsh (Skye Bridge) or the top of the east coast.
Bus is also an option, Citylink from Glasgow or Edinburgh via Perth should get you most places.
Once you're really out in nowhere it's a postbus you want. Seems like they head round from either Thurso or Ullapool.
Depends what they would prefer really, bus will be cheaper but comes with the usual disadvantages. Either way they will get a good view. Unless there's rain. Or mist.
As for locations I'd be looking at the west coast myself. Skye, Torridon etc. Scotroutes would be a man to ask as he is from up that neck of the woods I think.
*waves*
Some generic stuff...
We are in fall, approaching winter. Snow forecast this week (on the tops). Trees are just starting to turn. Daylight is fast reducing. Many B&Bs and campsites close at the end of October. Some of the smaller towns and villages will be a bit dead.
Now then, some better idea of what they want to do and I'll point you in the right direction. If it's point-to-point walking that'll be different from being in a location (or two) and looking for day walks.
Might also be handy to have backup plans for those miserable days, so somewhere with touristy stuff around.
West Coast is most remote and hardest to travel around. Also has fewest facilities and places to go when wet.
Inverness area would give options. Great Glen Way, Loch Ness 360 are both multi-day walks with a range of accommodation.
Aviemore area (where I am) has, probably, the best mix of facilities and a range of walking/hiking routes. Scenery not quite as dramatic as the West Coast though.
Get them to have a wee think and get back to me on this thread or by PM.
If you have an area (or areas) in mind then it's worth getting the relevant SMC District guides. They cover much more than just Munros or Corbetts.
There's basically three train lines: the West Highland Line that goes to Oban, Ft William and Mallaig; the main line to Inverness which then splits into two with one line going to Kyle of Lochalsh and the other to Wick.
As Colin says, the winter months tend to see lots of facilities shut down for the duration: a few years ago I stopped in Gairloch which has three hotels , talking to the owner of one he said something along the lines of - "the hotel over the road deals in coach holidays so shuts at the end of September for the winter, the other hotel shuts in October and I only open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until Easter." Ullapool is the only settlement of significant size on the west coast, everything else is a small village or hamlet, some of the named places on the map, well: Laxford Bridge is, err, a bridge!
The weather's turning so there's increased risk that burns will be higher but can be very variable - see Colin's report on his Cairngorm Loop. Camping might be a bit grim but consider using bothies (see the MBA site - https://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/ ) as a way of breaking up walks and getting out of the weather.
The above might sound a bit negative, realistic is a better word, but you can get brilliantly clear spells of weather in amongst the dreich.
Laxford Bridge is, err, a bridge!
See also: Ledmore Junction 😂
Stay in Glasgow's Grand Central Hotel en route, it's a treat.
Don’t want to contradict scotroutes but the east coast north of Dundee is the most remote, there’s nothing there. Even Aberdeen is having an existential crisis. It really is easier to get somewhere meaningful from Glasgow heading west. Go west. From Oban (train) there are buses and more excitingly ferries!
Ha ha, err, um...
OK - so I wouldn't send someone to the East Coast for a wilderness adventure (Angus glens notwithstanding).
Ha ha, err, um…
OK – so I wouldn’t send someone to the East Coast for a wilderness adventure (Angus glens notwithstanding).
I’ve slowly come to love the east coast. But bloody hell its a long way from civilisation.
We are in fall
Its called autumn
(a) it has been known as "fall" for as long as I can remember (Spring Forward, Fall Back when resetting clocks?)
(b) I'm helping out the furriner
Aberfoyle and the QE park? There are lakes around which you can book 'wild' campsites and camp in a manner that would be familiar to a Canadian complete with camp fire. Dunno if you can get there on PT though.
EDIT Seems to be train to Stirling then a 40 minute bus trip to Aberfoyle and walk into the woods from there.
So many options, even in early winter. How about camping and also staying in B&Bs while on a journey? We had superb weather in December for a trip much like this:
Great Glen Way walk, with trains at each end, would then fit.
Hotels in the towns & in the main villages will be open throughout the winter, EG Drum & Fort Augustus; combined with 'Wild' camping spots on the SE shore of Loch Oich & half-way along the north side of Loch Lochy. These have sheltered flat tent pitches & composting toilets. Nowt else. Take matches & firelighters. Must be others along or above Loch Ness but I haven't spotted them.
Walk up the Ben to finish, via Carn Mor Dearg arrete if the weather is perfect, or up Glen Nevis/ take the Chuffin' train to Mallaig..?
Or done the other way around to finish in Inverness, they could then take a bus north and west to have a few days in Torridon/ or by Loch Maree. The Torridon Inn is open year round.
Ihave walked several nice routes off the Inverness to Kyle line. This is walking thru glanns and passes rather than over the tops. Achnasheen to Strathcarron is a favourite walking thru the glen south of the railway line.
I'll suggest the obvious one, walk part or all of the West Highland Way.
B&B or camping options quite well served by the railway as well at various points!
Not really the North of Scotland though 😉
scotroutes
Member
Laxford Bridge is, err, a bridge!
See also: Ledmore Junction 😂
I once met some American tourists that were intending to stock up their camper van at the supermarket at ledmore junction. I don't think they had quite grasped the highlands. "something junction" in the US would be a proper town.
Thanks very much for all this information.
I have passed it on to Mrs SR, who will be in touch with you, @scotroutes, as they start sorting their plans.
I must be more local than I thought. Always assumed Ledmore Junction was just that. Reaching it is always a highlight on a day ride.
Maybe because that tends to be a feature in the colonies - waypoints on the map may be just that.
Glasgow to Oban is a really good shout. There's of options and flexibility from there. There's a lot be Saif for Aviemore and Cairngorm in any season - everything is accessible and laid out on a plate with good accommodation available. There's the old bridge for fun at night too.