Suggested route to Inverness (1 Viewer)

[Ingwe]

We're having our first trip from York to north of the border. We are going to Inverness. We plan to go A1, A66, M6 to Carlisle, but from then on, are not sure of the best route in a motorhome. Can see the A74(M) to Stirling and the A9 etc but is this the best way for a motorhome?

Many thanks

 

[berni109]

If you want to get up there quickly then as u say.
NE Scotland along the Moray firth is a nice area to visit.

 

[Blue Knight]

My choice:

Fort William, then via the A86:
Spean Bridge,
Roybridge,
Laggan (and Ardverikie - Monarch of the Glen Country),
Newtonmore,
Kingussie,

..... then A9 to Inverness.

A fantastic route!

All the best,

Andrew

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TheCaller]

A66, M6 is the quickest route. If you go straight up the A1 it will take longer, but if you have time to stop & admire or explore the scenery, the coastal route through Northumberland is very nice.

Distance is almost identical, but best part of an extra hour's driving time. Not much point in going that way unless you can break the journey to look around.

 

[Ingwe]

Thanks all for the advice/tips. We intend to take at least a couple of days to get there, so will take some time to explore. Hope the weather's going to be ok.

 

[Ingwe]

Both Blue Knight's and The Caller's ideas sound good. Thanks for the suggestions.

Will be looking at the road map tonight.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TheCaller]

My choice:

Fort William, then via the A86:
Spean Bridge,
Roybridge,
Laggan (and Ardverikie - Monarch of the Glen Country),
Newtonmore,
Kingussie,

..... then A9 to Inverness.

A fantastic route!

All the best,

Andrew

I'd agree on the Fort William to Inverness bit, but ...
the M74 is a bit boring, although quite interesting if it's a first trip.
North of Glasgow is hard work & the scenery doesn't really start to compensate until you get somewhere towards Glencoe.

But yes, the last part maybe does make up for it.

 

[Ingwe]

@TheCaller- thanks. If the part to Fort William is dull, is there a scenic way to get to Fort William?
Thanks.

 

[TheCaller]

You could combine the best of the two routes if you have time. A1 through Northumberland. Round Edinburgh, head for Stirling, then Glencoe, Fort William etc.

About 40 miles further & a couple of hours additional driving time over the fastest route, but it would make a good touring route & really make the journey part of the holiday. Spread it over as many days as you can - you could take a week to do that & not get bored with sights to see.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TheCaller]

@TheCaller- thanks. If the part to Fort William is dull, is there a scenic way to get to Fort William?
Thanks.

It's not so much that it's dull (although some of it is), it's just quite hard work. A lot of traffic on a pretty bad road. Not a relaxed drive.

I've never driven the A84/A85 route north of Stirling, but my impression is that it's an easier drive & overall, nicer scenery. But the reason for going that way is to combine the delights of the Northumbian coast with the Fort William - Inverness route, rather than to escape either the M74 or the Glasgow/Loch Lomond A82 section.

 

[Gellyneck]

You could go A66 \ M74 to Glasgow then up Loch Lomond, west coast to Fort William and then along the Great Glen for some Nessie spotting!

 

[Emmit]

I wouldn't start that journey from York.
Just sayin'
I'll get me coat.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Puddleduck]

A66, M6 is the quickest route. If you go straight up the A1 it will take longer, but if you have time to stop & admire or explore the scenery, the coastal route through Northumberland is very nice.

Distance is almost identical, but best part of an extra hour's driving time. Not much point in going that way unless you can break the journey to look around.

If going that route turn off the A1 just north of Morpeth onto the A697. As you join the A697 there is a garden centre on the left hand side with a huge overflow carpark. We usually stop there for a brew and call in at the garden centre as there is a butcher and a greengrocer plus a cafe (not very good) and a restaurant (much better) plus various other concession outlets.

The A697 is a shorter route to Edinburgh than the A1 and is flatter than the A68 (which it joins at Carfraemill), some lovely scenery if you have never been that way. Not as desolate as the A68 with more little villages. The services at Powburn (Northumberland) have LPG. You cross the border at Coldstream Bridge. The fuel station at Coldstream (Dalgleish, Great Wall) has the cheapest fuel in the area at the moment.

Also Quackers Mansion isn't far off the A697 ........

 

[TheCaller]

If going that route turn off the A1 just north of Morpeth onto the A697. <snip> The A697 is a shorter route to Edinburgh than the A1 and is flatter than the A68 (which it joins at Carfraemill), some lovely scenery if you have never been that way. Not as desolate as the A68 with more little villages.

Yes, but ....

That means turning off the A1 just as it starts to get interesting & removes the whole point of going that way, which was to enjoy the Northumbrian coastline. Not a bad route for a change though, especially for anyone who has already done the A1 coastal route before (or who isn't a seaside person ).

Also Quackers Mansion isn't far off the A697 ........

A good enough reason for us to go that way next time!

 

[Ingwe]

I wouldn't start that journey from York.
Just sayin'
I'll get me coat.

I have to start from York as that's where our van is! But like to hear the oldies again!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ingwe]

By the way, what is Quacker's Mansion? Have Googled it unsuccessfully.

 

[Puddleduck]

By the way, what is Quacker's Mansion? Have Googled it unsuccessfully.

Where we live ...... our screen name being "Puddleduck" and we ARE quackers. (not the real name of our house btw)

 

[Ingwe]

Ok, so you are quackers. Wtf are quackers??

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Puddleduck]

Ok, so you are quackers. Wtf are quackers??

the noise a duck makes is a quack therefore all ducks are quackers (or even crackers)

 

[Ingwe]

Ok. I guess it's a Northern thing.

We S Africans miss these cultural references!

I remain as ignorant but certainly better informed!

 

[maxi77]

Personally I would take the A1, a reasonable route combining a reasonable rate of progress but real countryside. We often stop at the Morrisons at Berwick. decent price fuel and plenty of room in the car park. There are reasonable detours both in Northumbria and Berwickshire. The Coldstream route is OK and you can visit Cragside. How you get to Inverness depends on how much time you want to take. If time is short then the A9 both ways is the best, but if you have time to spare the lLomondside route is certainly scenic but the northern part of the loch side road is still as bad as when I used to go up it every week 40 years ago. The Great Glen is fabulous, one could go on. Almost all the roads are OK some narrow some much improved. Just don't try to cover too much distance in a day you will miss too much. Just plan a route that gives you the opportunity to see some of the country, and realise you will have to make many more trips.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Ingwe]

@maxi77-many thanks for the helpful advice and suggestions. Can one spend the night at the Berwick Morrisons? We don't want to do too much driving every day.

 

[Baileysbus]

If you do go on the A68 watch your speed. It's rammed full of fixed speed cameras and they work!

 

[irnbru]

Thanks all for the advice/tips. We intend to take at least a couple of days to get there, so will take some time to explore. Hope the weather's going to be ok.

Depends when your coming. The forecast looks grim.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[maxi77]

@maxi77-many thanks for the helpful advice and suggestions. Can one spend the night at the Berwick Morrisons? We don't want to do too much driving every day.

Having only ever stopped for lunch don't know. There are though campsites all along that road.

 

[wiljoy]

We're having our first trip from York to north of the border. We are going to Inverness. We plan to go A1, A66, M6 to Carlisle, but from then on, are not sure of the best route in a motorhome. Can see the A74(M) to Stirling and the A9 etc but is this the best way for a motorhome?

Many thanks

We visited a lovely site in Inverness called Ardtower. Walking distance to town and perched on a hill overlooking Inverness. NO signs and rules to spoil your stay .They DON'T have white posts either. It's a new site and immaculate throughout.

 

[34127]

If you do go on the A68 watch your speed. It's rammed full of fixed speed cameras and they work!

And don't forget to stop at the Fat Cat Gallery in Lauder for coffee and home made apple pie with cream.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Silver-Fox]

Depends when your coming. The forecast looks grim.

Just had a look at the long range forecast, it is as you said a bit grim.
Hopefully things will change, you never know we live in hope

 

[Ingwe]

Thanks all for such helpful advice. As we are going for our first wild meet just south of Inverness so have dates to meet, we have two days to get there. Therefore we will curtail some of the sight seeing aspects for another time. The weather looks a bit iffy too, so we have decided to do the Carlisle route then on to Perth and then A9 to Inverness.
We only have one leisure battery and a solar panel. So we're a bit anxious of whether we will last the planned 3 day meet. May have to run the engine for a while each day to charge up the batteries.
Will post as we go. It's planned for 13 October so will set off on 10th aiming to be there on eve of 12th October.
Thanks again.

 

[irnbru]

May have to run the engine for a while each day to charge up the batteries.

Unless your going to run it for hrs it aint going to charge up much.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}