Scotland 500
Wednesday 29th May
We woke to a glorious and at last, warmer day. The drive back to the Skye Bridge gave us fine views to the Cullin and Red Hills before we were back on the main highway.
At Kyle of Lochalsh we followed a narrow road with passing places to reach the charming and picturesque one street village of Plockton situated on Loch Carron.
We woke to a glorious and at last, warmer day. The drive back to the Skye Bridge gave us fine views to the Cullin and Red Hills before we were back on the main highway.
At Kyle of Lochalsh we followed a narrow road with passing places to reach the charming and picturesque one street village of Plockton situated on Loch Carron.
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An even narrower road took us back to the main, but still not much wider, road that runs along the southern shore of Loch Carron before joining the Scotland 500 designated tourist route. This 500 mile round route is marketed as Scotland’s Route 66!
The Aplecross Peninsula is the location of one of the main highlights of the Scotland 500 route. We approached the Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) through a spectacular glacial U-shaped valley. The narrow, former drovers’ road, zig zagged its way up with switchbacks and a 1:5 gradient to the pass at 2054 feet. The northern descent from the pass was little better in terms of the road’s width – at least there were plenty of, albeit small, passing places.
The Aplecross Peninsula is the location of one of the main highlights of the Scotland 500 route. We approached the Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) through a spectacular glacial U-shaped valley. The narrow, former drovers’ road, zig zagged its way up with switchbacks and a 1:5 gradient to the pass at 2054 feet. The northern descent from the pass was little better in terms of the road’s width – at least there were plenty of, albeit small, passing places.
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After the pass there were stunning views across the Minch to Skye and the Outer Hebrides.
Our overnight halt was beside Upper Loch Torridon outsde the village of Shieldaig.
Our overnight halt was beside Upper Loch Torridon outsde the village of Shieldaig.
Thursday 30th May
It rained most of last night and by the morning everywhere was misty and murky, so different from yesterday. But one thing was definitely better than yesterday and that was the width of the roads!
We continued northwards still following the Scotland 500 route. From last night’s halt the route wound its way up the desolate Glen Torridon to meet the deeply incised Glen Docherty – magnificent scenery.
Loch Ewe was the WW2 Naval base where many of the Arctic Convoys gathered, in readiness for the journey to Russia. All around the Loch are poignant reminders of the activity of those days. The journey to Russia was described by Churchill as “the worst journey in the world” and over 3000 men lost their lives in the Arctic waters between Scotland and the Russian ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk.
Next and last stop of the day was in the small town of Ullapool for fuel, food and wifi. Our night halt was in a layby some twelve miles further on.
It rained most of last night and by the morning everywhere was misty and murky, so different from yesterday. But one thing was definitely better than yesterday and that was the width of the roads!
We continued northwards still following the Scotland 500 route. From last night’s halt the route wound its way up the desolate Glen Torridon to meet the deeply incised Glen Docherty – magnificent scenery.
Loch Ewe was the WW2 Naval base where many of the Arctic Convoys gathered, in readiness for the journey to Russia. All around the Loch are poignant reminders of the activity of those days. The journey to Russia was described by Churchill as “the worst journey in the world” and over 3000 men lost their lives in the Arctic waters between Scotland and the Russian ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk.
Next and last stop of the day was in the small town of Ullapool for fuel, food and wifi. Our night halt was in a layby some twelve miles further on.
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Friday 31st May
The weather has definitely made another turn for the worse. There was torrential rain for most of the night and the forthcoming forecast is not much better. We continued onwards heading towards Orkney.
The main A-road crossing from east to west at this point is single track but there was very little traffic so we made good progress. We had diverted off the Scotland 500 but would pick it up again later, unfortunately the route north and then across the very top of Scotland was deemed unsuitable for motorhomes!
By midmorning we rejoined the 500 heading north along Scotland’s east coast. We had hoped that this side of the highlands the weather might be better but it was not to be. The scenery should have been spectacular but with thick, dense fog we could see nothing.
On our arrival in Scrabster the lunch time boat to Stromness was still in dock but we were too late to board so had to wait and take the evening crossing instead. The café was due to close but they served us burger and chips and we ate a late lunch whilst the staff cleared up around us.
We sat out the afternoon in torrential rain parked at the front of the queue for the ferry. Virtually nil visibility on the crossing to Orkney but I did manage a photo of the Old Man of Hoy.
On arrival in Stromness we drove to the nearest car park and stopped for the night.
The weather has definitely made another turn for the worse. There was torrential rain for most of the night and the forthcoming forecast is not much better. We continued onwards heading towards Orkney.
The main A-road crossing from east to west at this point is single track but there was very little traffic so we made good progress. We had diverted off the Scotland 500 but would pick it up again later, unfortunately the route north and then across the very top of Scotland was deemed unsuitable for motorhomes!
By midmorning we rejoined the 500 heading north along Scotland’s east coast. We had hoped that this side of the highlands the weather might be better but it was not to be. The scenery should have been spectacular but with thick, dense fog we could see nothing.
On our arrival in Scrabster the lunch time boat to Stromness was still in dock but we were too late to board so had to wait and take the evening crossing instead. The café was due to close but they served us burger and chips and we ate a late lunch whilst the staff cleared up around us.
We sat out the afternoon in torrential rain parked at the front of the queue for the ferry. Virtually nil visibility on the crossing to Orkney but I did manage a photo of the Old Man of Hoy.
On arrival in Stromness we drove to the nearest car park and stopped for the night.