I can see some nice weather in that photo data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Enjoy! The weather here is crap now data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Anybody heard of "Scotsburgring"? Considering a wee detour data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
I was just about to post the following when on checking your latest route you already appear to be going via the back road from Lochinver to Ullapool. Oops. Anyways here it is:-
It looks like you are taking a detour from the A894 around the coast to Lochinver by the B869. If so then be aware that this fine single-track road is probably near the limit of what such a road can cope with and it could take you a very long time. Its a great road sweeping up and down like a roller coaster and crossing little sea inlets with superb mountain views. The area Assynt is however densely populated compared to the wilderness in the rest of the region. There are lots of little hamlets and feeder tracks to the small crofting communities. A lot of homes are holiday lets mainly used by the geriatric set. This means you are likely to encounter farm vehicles and old gits with no appreciation of how to use a single-track road. It can be frustratingly slow progress.
If you are going to go via Lochinver then while the main road down to Ullapool offers outstanding views and photo opportunities, my treasured backroad provides an alternative. Its the other road (C1003) in Lochinver from the southern side of the Harbour, hidden away behind the salty seamen! (see #119) Its a twisty single track alternating between woods, meadows, coastal inlets and occasional jaw-dropping sweeping mountain vistas. One part of the coastal bit is particularly hairy as it twists around a cliff with no passing places and just a dry stone wall between you and oblivion. I usually take a deep breath, tell any passengers to shut their gob for a couple of minutes and pray there is nothing coming the other way. To really appreciate it you have to also do the road from the opposite direction as it gives a very different perspective/views.
The C1003 road ends at another single-track, the C1047 leading out to the coast and the Summer Isles, but you will want to turn left, inland past Stac Pollaidh mountain and rejoin the A835 main road where you will be a short distance from Ullapool.
Some thoughts.
The weather. That part of the NW gets similar rainfall to the Amazon.If its just two days and you have to fix the dates much in advance then there is a good chance you will get to see nothing other than mist and rain. My family calls such days rockpool weather.
Photos.
I know you are pressed for time but if you want the best photo opportunities you will have to get out of and well away from the car. e.g. on the B869 you will pass through a hamlet (about 10 houses) named Clashnessie. Being a good driver you will have yours eyes on the road/sheep/women and completely miss the wonderful cascading waterfall about 1/2 mile further inland. Its a photographers dream, playing with the camera exposure etc to get various effects from the cascading water. Similarly on the C1047 you pass Stac Pollaidh, one the the most accessible mountains in the area, taking only about 2-3 hours walk to get to or near the top and back and you will be rewarded with the most amazing land/waterscape views.
Can you stretch it to 2 nights away?
Somebody mention waterfalls data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
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Let's start with the last question. I can even stretch to 5 days time-wise, my family will be away and I will have some time off work. Unfortunately my limiting factor will be the money. I had some money put to the side for that trip, but sadly due some other circumstances I had to allocate them somewhere else. Without going too much into detail, I probably should cancel the whole thing altogether, because the money I'll spend on that trip can be used for other (most likely more important) things. But because I really want to do it and this will be my first (pseudo-) holiday for 4 years (other than going somewhere for just one day), I'm kind of pushing this idea, even though I shouldn't.
To answer the question - no, I probably can't stretch to any more than 2 days. I could skimp on the accommodation, food and drink. I'm not bothered about that, but the thing I can't skimp on is the fuel. Every extra day I stay there is another tank of fuel, so additional 60-70 quid and I also have to remember that I'm going to have to add one more tank of fuel when I get back home.
Anyway, enough with the pessimism. Let's move on to the good stuff.
To be honest, I'm expecting some problems on any of the single track roads. And while I did not get any bad drivers on my last trip, everybody were nice and either let me go or thank me when I let them go, there is always one that doesn't care. On my first day I will be rushing a little - firstly because I want to do the Durness - Ullapool road before the darkness comes, secondly because I want to check in to my cheapo room before the night comes. On the second day, I won't be rushing at all. Even if I arrive home at 2 am, I don't care. As long as I can do the whole West Highlands bit before the darkness comes, I'll be happy.
B869 - I had to correct the Google maps to select that road. I want to keep as close to the coast as possible and choose as good roads as possible. Read some good things about that road.
WIth the C-roads I am a bit lost. The first one you mentioned ie C1003, isn't this one the one I'm already planning to go? ie it starts here:
http://******/maps/r0ycV
The weather. While I understand that the weather can ruin a lot, there is nothing I can do about it. I'm sure I'll still enjoy the driving bit, even if the photos will be rubbish. The plan is to go there whatever the weather. If it's great - fantastic, if not - too bad. At least I'll get away from here for some time and do what I really love - driving / taking pictures.
As for leaving the car and hiking. Well, I don't have a problem with hiking (I do have some health problems, but painkillers and a bit of adrenaline can fix those), so I will look into your recommendations and if time and weather permits, I might see those water-features for myself data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
One more detour I'll be doing is the Scotsburgring I mentioned about yesterday. It is road around the Loch Leven. Apparently it is well worth the additional half an hour or so
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Thank you for the help and tips, Bernardc data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
That Scotburgring looks awesome!
Might have to do it in December when i'm next up north. Will have to check distances, etc, but should be doable in a day. Done 900 miles in a day before data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Teasing again? Where is the write up and the Alps? data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Yep thats the one. I somehow got the impression from earlier posts that you were sticking to the "main" road. If you scan right on that image you will see the harbour with the large stone building being the cheap hotel. PS You are not picking up all the road designations, i.e. C & U roads as you are probably using that american mapping thingy goggle. Any maps based on OS will show all the road identifiers, eg streetmap.
Ha ha data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
The waterfall photo is from the Cascades du Herisson in the Jura mountains.
I'm not back home until about 11pm on Saturday, as we're going via Luxembourg and Belgium data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
Full write up will probably be on Sunday, as i've photos on 3 cameras, so need to download and sort. And a bunch of videos to go through.
But another taster......Lake Geneva data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7
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