Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
7th Jan 2020 8:24 am
RogB
Member Since: 15 Jun 2018
Location: Mansfield
Posts: 1738
why the ?2011 D4 XS 305 MY12 - gone but not forgotten
7th Jan 2020 9:35 am
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23866
I think you’ll have a wonderful time. Please update us all with lots of pics. 2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
2010 D4 HSE (A bit bling)-GONE
2014 D4 HSE (Almost too bling)-GONE
2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Written Off)-GONE
2016 D4 Landmark (Surely the last!) PD1881 rims-GONE
2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
7th Jan 2020 10:06 am
Someone-Gone
Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
Just that you ask for advice ...... and people gave you some good pointers particularly the time of year you visit.
Plus, campsite are generally over run in the Summer, we don’t really have farmers up here, it’s crofters and common grazing, the land isn’t fit for anything else and you’d not get thanked for trying to pitch up per se and half the problem with Camper Vans is they try this in lay-bys, passing places or at the side of Lochs, not forgetting we don’t have any overnight parking in the very few car parks on that route generally speaking. The Council and the Police cottoned onto that a long time ago when people were encamped for weeks.
7th Jan 2020 10:08 am
RogB
Member Since: 15 Jun 2018
Location: Mansfield
Posts: 1738
Ah right got you now
I was only thinking of a summer trip sometime between Easter and August, school holidays aren't an issue for me so could go off peak, but I genuinely hadn't thought about a winter trip as id be camping. Not that being under canvas in winter unduly bothers me but I aint as young as I used to be.
So based on comments regarding everywhere being so packed out ill look at between late April - late July to avoid as many school holidays as possible, leaving standard tourists etc to cope with.
as for the farmers fields, lay-bys etc. I wasn't aware that was now the case so ill stick to prebooked camp sites. Thanks for the heads up
as I said at the start, this is just early thoughts and research and may not happen.2011 D4 XS 305 MY12 - gone but not forgotten
7th Jan 2020 10:24 am
Someone-Gone
Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
Fair enough, that’s sensible, it’s a different situation up here to most other places.
Get in before Highland Council introduce their Transient Visitor Levy. Mind you it’s taken them long enough up to now.
Must go, things to do and 70mph winds up here just now, but at least it’s reasonably dry.
This morning! pretty much sums it up today.
Click image to enlarge
7th Jan 2020 10:31 am
RogB
Member Since: 15 Jun 2018
Location: Mansfield
Posts: 1738
The great outdoors is glorious no matter what the weather
id rather be looking at that view than the 3 22'' monitors im currently sat in front of 2011 D4 XS 305 MY12 - gone but not forgotten
7th Jan 2020 10:44 am
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15269
RogB wrote:
.....ill look at between late April - late July to avoid as many school .
My suggestion would be between Easter and late May ...... you'd surely want to get your trip done before the midges are out in force. ...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
< ‘tis but a mere scratch …….. it’ll polish out.
7th Jan 2020 11:38 am
RogB
Member Since: 15 Jun 2018
Location: Mansfield
Posts: 1738
funnily enough my brother mentioned the midges last night when I was talking to him about the trip
its been a long time since ive been to 'proper' Scotland. As a kid we used to have family holidays most years to Ullapool and Loch Sween and even then I loved the views and remoteness.
a few years back we had a big family holiday at Morroch Bay, near Portpatrick on the West Coast, accessible only by 4x4 but that was only just over the border really.2011 D4 XS 305 MY12 - gone but not forgotten
7th Jan 2020 12:26 pm
galwaygreen
Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: plymouth
Posts: 6525
don't under estimate the distance from Glasgow.....its still a long way north just to get to nc500.without doing the circuit.and the roads are not motorways.
7th Jan 2020 12:39 pm
RogB
Member Since: 15 Jun 2018
Location: Mansfield
Posts: 1738
im not.... its around 450 miles from mine just to get to Inverness so that 900-1000k miles straight off.
its going to be fuel stops that will need planning well the further north I go so I may even get a couple of 20L cans for reserves2011 D4 XS 305 MY12 - gone but not forgotten
7th Jan 2020 12:51 pm
JMack
Member Since: 02 Aug 2014
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 1517
There are plenty of fuel stations on the NC route and at most if not all fuel is available 24 hours.
25th Jan 2020 6:05 pm
highlands
Member Since: 10 Jan 2010
Location: NW Highlands
Posts: 5107
Getting to the stage that the more remote the more likely they'll have 24/7 pay at pump facilities.
Broadford, Kyle, Cluanie (154.9ppl for petrol or diesel though!), Lochcarron, Applecross and many others have 24/7 pumps.Black 05 TDV6 HSE Auto
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54 TDV6 SE Man (killed by me )
25th Jan 2020 6:51 pm
Davethegeo
Member Since: 01 Oct 2015
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 919
ronp wrote:
RogB wrote:
.....ill look at between late April - late July to avoid as many school .
My suggestion would be between Easter and late May ...... you'd surely want to get your trip done before the midges are out in force.
Agreed. it can be glorious from Easter onwards before the midges arrive. However, haven't been bothered by midges at all for the last 2 or 3 years at the beginning of July in Applecross.
Scottish school hols start generally in the last week of June if you want a quiet time....D1 300Tdi - gone
D2 Td5 ES (Alive remapped...mmm) - sadly gone
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D4 2014 SDV6 HSE - Shiny
25th Jan 2020 7:49 pm
Someone-Gone
Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
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