Sightseeing in Scotland

August 10, 2008 3:52 PM

I'd love to look at the fantastic Highlander-like scenario while traveling by car through Scotland. Any recommended route?

I have vivid memories of the first Highlander movie and have managed to find out their location thanks to the web. As I will be moving by car, I'd like to know which route would allow me to both travel safely, relatively quickly ( I'd rather avoid the single lanes with stopping isles, used to let the incoming traffic pass) and enjoy breathtaking scenarios, such as the ones I saw when reaaching Vindolanda from Newcastle.

I was considering following the a85 from Perth to Fort William, but I am open to any suggestion.

Cheers!

posted by elpapacito to travel & transportation (5 comments total)

I'm not quite clear whether you are looking for ways to pass through a very specific part of the Highlands (in which case I can't help) or if you're looking for stunning drives through the Highlands in general, in which case I'd recommend, in a heartbeat, the Road to the Isles, more romantically known as the A87. Heading west, it goes to Kyle of Lochalsh and over the bridge to Skye. It's not dangerously narrow anywhere that I recall.
posted by game warden to the events rhino at 5:21 PM on August 10, 2008

The road from Callander to Fort William via Lix Toll and Crianlarich is what you're after. If Callander is too far out a starting point then Crianlarich to Fort William will be more than enough. An unsurpassed journey through the best scenery Scotland has to offer. A similar but even more spectacular route is Glasgow to Fort William by train, it goes places cars can't reach.
posted by fire&wings at 6:43 PM on August 10, 2008

If you avoid B roads and smaller country lanes, you'll miss some incredible views. They're perfectly safe unless you're an idiot driver.. Main roads can be worse: the A9 for example is a main trunk road north but has a habit of occasionally killing people.

Back on topic, the A85 is a good drive and you can then join the A82 up through Glencoe and Fort William and onto the A87 mentioned above which takes you out to Skye. Alternatively, head north on the A9 to Dalwhinnie and then the A86 across to Spean Bridge, then the A82 up to the A87 and Skye.

Coming back, take the ferry from Armadale to Mallaig, then the A830 south to the A82. If you want to head further north, the A82 to Inverness is an option and you can then join General Wades Road on the south side. I also like the A835 - I do it 3/4 times a year to Ullapool.

Just depends on what you want to see, but remember that 'A' roads are usually faster than 'B' roads and so you'll see the views but they'll pass by quicker and you won't be able to truly appreciate them.
posted by Nugget at 12:24 AM on August 11, 2008

Seconding the A87. It is a stunning road. Road through Glencoe is not to be missed either.

It really depends where you are starting from and how long you want to be driving. Callander-Crainlarich-Fort William-Kyle of Lochalsh is very pretty. It's all main roads, so the driving is nothing to be worried about (the biggest danger with single track road and passing places is remembering which side of the road you should be on when it goes back to 2 lane!).

If you want to see some breathtaking scenery you need to go a little further afield; up to Sutherland ans Assynt in the far North West of Scotland. South of Ullapool it's just pretty, North of Ullapool it's stunning!
posted by BadMiker at 5:38 AM on August 11, 2008

It does depend when you are travelling. The A85 does get fairly busy in the summer and it is possible to find yourself either frustrated by slow traffic holding you up or faster traffic trying to get past when you want to go slowly. For maximum driving pleasure, either way, it can be worth setting off early in the morning or relatively late at night.

I would absolutely agree with Nugget about deliberately taking some single track roads. They are the most scenic routes and there is actually a kind of cameradie amongst those who drive them (most people wave to the relatively few fellow travellers that they meet for example). One of the most famous roads of this type is the Bealach na Ba - or pass of the cattle.

Finally - if you are especially interested in finding Scottish movie locations then this page is a good starting point.
posted by rongorongo at 6:54 AM on August 11, 2008