Planning a trip up north

[CarlukeDave]

Looking at going away for a couple of days at the start of August, rough itinerary is as follows.

Sunday, leave Carluke head to Ullapool, stay the night in Ullapool.

Monday, travel from Ullapool to Portree, stay the night in Portree.

Tuesday, head home.

I'm looking for some rugged west coast landscape shots and mountains. Not sure excatly what's around Ullapool, stayed there once years ago for one night when I was working up that way. Love Skye, this will be my first visit since I've seriously got into photography, can't wait. Got Plockton on the way to Skye as well, then on the way down the road, there's Eilean Donan Castle, Glencoe, Ben Nevis, Glenfinnan.

Can anyone recommend any good spots, especially in the Ullapool area. Also looking for recommended hotels in that area, probably going to stay in the Cuillin House Hotel in Portree, stayed there a couple of times and it's amazing!

Dave

 

[CraigyBoy86]

Hey Dave,

If your staying in Ullapool and then heading down to Skye, I would recommend on the way down, turning off at Braemore Junction onto the A832Dundonnell road which will take you past:

- An Teallach, a very spectacular mountain viewed from just about any angle.
- Gruinard Bay, quite dramatic with sweeping sandy beach
- Through villages of Laide, Aultbea and Poolewe (Inverewe Gardens is there too)
- Past Gairloch, with views over to Skye
- Loch Maree and Kinlochewe, also very dramatic, especially 'Slioch' mountain.
- Carry on to Achnasheen, then turn off onto the A890 through Glen Carron and on to Kyle of Lochalsh and over to Skye.

Near Ullapool itself, there is the 'Summer Isles' just a bit to the north as well as Stac Pollaidh mountain. Have a look at http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/ for more ideas too.

Hope this helps,

Craig.

 

[CarlukeDave]

Excellent Craig, cheers!

I'll be printing out your reply and taking it with me!

 

[Grantsteve]

Hi Dave,

I would try and give yourself some more time if you have it. Plenty to photograph along the route you will take! I've just taken a week to do a similar journey.

If you can be bothered make the drive a bit further north of Ullapool to Lochinver - Clachtoll and Stoer to be precise. Spectacular coast line at Stoer and amazing beaches and sea in Clachtoll.





Plus on the road over you'll get this view looking back towards Suliven



As has been mentioned take the coastal round down from Ullapool towards Skye through Gairloch etc, you'll also drive through Torridon - Amazing (but it was peeing it down when I went so no snaps!)

Finally if you have the time on your way past, nip over the hill(!) into Applecross for a pint and some prawns in the Applecross Inn. The drive over the hill is worth it alone (apologies for the badly blown sky!)



Enjoy it and I hope the weather is kind to you.

 

[CraigyBoy86]

Yep, I would agree if you've got time Lochinver is also worth a visit. Only been there once a while ago, but remember it being very scenic. Hopefully you'll get some good weather too, although stormy weather can make for good atmosphere providing there is no mist/fog so that you can't actually see anything lol.

 

[CarlukeDave]

Thanks guys, those photo's look amazing and are exactly what I'm after!

Unfortunately timewise, I'm not going to be able to extend our trip! we're leaving the wee man at his grans and work commitments and cost limit the trip to 3 days!

Will definitely try to head up to Lochinver though, seen some of the shots on flickr and it looks lovely!

Dave