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Author Topic: North Coast 500  (Read 4033 times)

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Lagondanet

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North Coast 500
« on: 18 August 2020, 20:59:00 »
Any one done this trip. We are thinking of doing it at the end of October. Thanks.
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Varche

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Re: North Coast 500
« Reply #1 on: 18 August 2020, 21:55:51 »
Did quite a bit of it two years ago .Great fun. Weather was great but changed on our last day.

One highlight was watching otters in a harbour.
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Doctor Gollum

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Re: North Coast 500
« Reply #2 on: 18 August 2020, 23:07:43 »
Never done the west coast, but have done the A9 and a fair chunk of the north coast.

Strathpeffer and Pitlochry both very nice. A9 is a cracking driving road, but watch out for bikes and campers.

Cape Wrath to John O'Groats is pretty desolate.

Late October is a brave choice weather wise, but accommodation should be easier. There is a Tescos in Wick which has a petrol station, otherwise once you're away from Inverness /Perth you might be scratching for fuel in the Northwest, although most villages have a garage of sorts. Also, expect Wednesday afternoons and Sunday to find alot closed.

If you have the time, then take the ferry over to Orkney for a day or two, I would suggest from Gills Bay (JO'G) to St Margaret's Hope. Easy run to Kirkwall and back and plenty to see.

No shortage of distilleries, especially along the A9 and two in Kirkwall, and excellent local produce everywhere.  :y
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456lbft

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Re: North Coast 500
« Reply #3 on: 19 August 2020, 09:12:23 »
Quote from: Lagondanet on 18 August 2020, 20:59:00
Any one done this trip. We are thinking of doing it at the end of October. Thanks.
If you plan on getting out of the car and it is still warm in October, Jungle formula insect repellent spray is your friend...April a better bet for fewer bugs. :y
Also, local traffic police and sneaky cameras are on top of speeders, be warned.
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Lagondanet

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Re: North Coast 500
« Reply #4 on: 19 August 2020, 09:55:34 »
Quote from: 456lbft on 19 August 2020, 09:12:23
Quote from: Lagondanet on 18 August 2020, 20:59:00
Any one done this trip. We are thinking of doing it at the end of October. Thanks.
If you plan on getting out of the car and it is still warm in October, Jungle formula insect repellent spray is your friend...April a better bet for fewer bugs. :y
Also, local traffic police and sneaky cameras are on top of speeders, be warned.


Are midges still rife in October then?
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Doctor Gollum

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Re: North Coast 500
« Reply #5 on: 19 August 2020, 10:50:45 »
You should be ok by then. First frost or two usually sorts them out. Wind and rain will be a bigger problem.
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Kevin Wood

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Re: North Coast 500
« Reply #6 on: 19 August 2020, 19:16:22 »
I've done a lot of driving around that area. One of the last refuges from the scourge of the constant 45 MPH VAG driver.  ;D

If you're after a white knuckle ride bear in mind that a lot of it, especially the section of the West coast North of Ullapool, is single track with passing places. There's some blatting to be had, but you need to head to the hills in the inland parts of Sutherland to play IMHO.

Applecross, Ullapoool, Durness, Tongue and many other places along the way are lovely lunch stops.

As said, need to keep the tank topped up, especially if, like me, you've got a 160 mile range when not being silly. :-X
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Varche

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Re: North Coast 500
« Reply #7 on: 19 August 2020, 20:36:02 »
Not all VAG drivers do 45! 

I remember car sharing once ( only once) with a guy from work. He drove everywhere at 45. In town and down the M69...........
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BazaJT

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Re: North Coast 500
« Reply #8 on: 20 August 2020, 18:03:17 »
That'll be some fuel bill with the Lagonda :D
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Kevin Wood

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Re: North Coast 500
« Reply #9 on: 20 August 2020, 21:11:16 »
Quote from: BazaJT on 20 August 2020, 18:03:17
That'll be some fuel bill with the Lagonda :D

about those single track sections... :-\
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456lbft

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Re: North Coast 500
« Reply #10 on: 20 August 2020, 21:18:33 »
Quote from: Kevin Wood on 20 August 2020, 21:11:16
Quote from: BazaJT on 20 August 2020, 18:03:17
That'll be some fuel bill with the Lagonda :D

about those single track sections... :-\
The North Coast 500 is not exactly the Pacific Coast highway,  there are some fun inland roads with spectacular views....and sheep!!
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Lagondanet

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Re: North Coast 500
« Reply #11 on: 20 August 2020, 21:42:04 »
Not taking the Lagonda on this one, but the Antara. Both end in A.

ps. How not to treat your Lagonda.

https://youtu.be/ifIa3YdjHvs
« Last Edit: 20 August 2020, 21:44:47 by Lagondanet »
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Doctor Gollum

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Re: North Coast 500
« Reply #12 on: 20 August 2020, 21:59:04 »
That gold looks like it might actually have been a nice car once.

Miami Vice is about all that can be said of the white one :-\
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Re: North Coast 500
« Reply #13 on: 21 August 2020, 15:41:36 »
The other year, we drove from Merseyside to Loch Lomond, then to Oban, Ferry to Mull, Couple of days in Balamory, then Ferry back to the main land, across to Mallaig, onto Skye, up to the top end, for a few more days, then across to Loch Ness, and then eventually back home.
All in a Nissan Juke.
My previous trip, 30 years ago, involved running in the Engine of a newly rebuilt RD350LC (was 375 cc af5er the oversized pistons were fitted), by riding to Aviemore, then Ullapool, then Skye, then the Mull of Kintyre, then Arran, and then back home to Merseyside, all in a week.
Guess which was more fun ?


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terry paget

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Re: North Coast 500
« Reply #14 on: 21 August 2020, 15:48:26 »

I don't know anything about North Coast 500. In November 1969 I met the above comely lass ten pin bowling at Reading, and invited her to join me for a drive to Scotland; she agreed.

In November there was no trouble with midges, but there was ice, snow and fog. Hotels that looked closed for the winter chased after us as we drove away and dragged us inside. We did not go to Orkney, but we did cross to Skye by the ferry.

A week ago our 46 year old daughter went to Skye with her boy friend in a campervan. Tomorrow we shall hear how that went.
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