A Zimbabwean colleague is visiting from the US with family (3 generations in all including toddler and grandmother). The grandmother "wants to see mountains".
Suggestions for what they could do as a day trip from Edinburgh?
Glenshee?
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OT: Scenic mountain driving route
(8 posts)- Started 2 years ago by SRD
- Latest reply from Baldcyclist
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Posted 2 years ago #
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@SRD Glencoe is the most impressive IMO especially when driving south-north.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Glencoe is much more scenic than Glenshee.
I'd take the A82 north from Callander. There are good views over Loch Lubnaig, and then you go over the Glen Ogle pass and have good views to the Crainlairich hills and the Lawers range too. You could go back via Loch Tay and Aberfeldy to the A9 from there, or carry on to Glencoe.Posted 2 years ago # -
Agree with Glencoe vs Glenshee.
Some of the Glencoe laybys and car parks offer some easyish strolling away from the road, but you'd probably need to pick the right ones according to the mobility (or otherwise) of the toddler and grandmother. I'd suggest the layby (actually the original line of the road before it was straightened out a bit) at the west end of Loch Achtriochtan. There's a farm track from there that leads over a bridge over the River Coe from where you might be able access the shore of the loch without too much difficulty. Or just stand on the bridge and watch the river flow past underneath. This location affords good views (depending somewhat on what the weather is doing) of Aonach Dubh to the SE, and the Aonach Eagach on the opposite side of the valley.
Alternatively, there's the car park at the north end of the Lairig Gartain (grid reference NN 212559) - on the left as you head west, past the Altnafeadh/Lagangarbh parking just after a sweeping left & then right S bend. From there it should be possible to follow the path of the Lairig Gartain southwards for about half a kilometre to reach the bank of the River Coupall, although the going will likely be a bit rougher underfoot than the farm track mentioned above. Good views of Buachaille Etive Mor and Buachaille Etive Beag from this location, and the Devil's Staircase to the N.
The hills around Drumochter are quite impressive too, though they don't loom over the road like the Glencoe ones do. Plus, the A9 is much busier road. There are probably just as many places to pull over and admire the scenery along the A9 through Drumochter as there are in Glencoe, but it's noisier and generally less pleasant because of the busy major road.
If they're up for a long day out then Glencoe westbound, whence N over the Ballachulish Bridge to Fort William, continue on the A82 (with glimpses of Ben Nevis on the right as you pass the distillery, if you're lucky) to Spean Bridge where you hang a right on to the A86 past Loch Laggan, with Creag Meagaidh on the left (car park & easy strolling - nice picnic spot but nae loos) and the northern outliers of Ben Alder on the right. Once past Loch Laggan* continue along the A86 until just before Laggan village, where you turn right on to the A889** to join the A9 southbound just south of Dalwhinnie and head back to the lowlands via Drumochter Pass (with the option of stopping off for some over-priced tartan kitsch and/or huntin', shootin' and fishin' gear at House of Bruar, if you really must). Suggested liquid refreshment stops along the way would include the Clachaig Inn in Glencoe, the hotel by the railway station in Blair Atholl (reached by leaving the A9 at the aforementioned House of Bruar), the Moulin Inn above the town in Pitlochry, and the Atholl Arms by the bridge over the Tay in Dunkeld.
* Also famous for being where the [i]Monarch of the Glen TV series was fimed.
** Reckoned by some to be "the UK's most dangerous road", but it's probably just a statistical quirk.[/i]
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thanks all. would never have occurred to me that Glencoe was drivable from Edinburgh (at leats for a day trip). have passed on all your suggestions.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Would never have occurred to me that Glencoe was drivable from Edinburgh (at least for a day trip).
@SRD yes, Mr fimm and I sometimes go skiing there for a day. Aviemore, too.Posted 2 years ago # -
"to Spean Bridge where you hang a right on to the A86"
Worth detouring up to the Commando Memorial first for the views of the Grey Corries.
"Reckoned by some to be "the UK's most dangerous road"
I'm sure there was a thread on that road on here years ago. It's certainly had lots of SLOW signs and cheverons added since then, with a bit of modest resurfacing in places, so who knows where it appears now in the danger ranking.
A bit closer to home would be a loop over the Ben Lawers road from Loch Tay and then down Glen Lyon. That does involve singletrack with passing places and the odd hairpin (but if that was ok then why not chuck in the Kenmore to Amulree (Glen Quaich) road and then the Sma' Glen (and from there might as well head through Glen Eagles which is quite hemmed in)).
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'd normally agree West coast much better, Oban, or Glencoe.
That said we went a wee run up to Glenshee from Arbroath today (at Grannies caravan this week), via back roads through Glen Isla to Gelnshee and over the top to Braemar, Ballater, Aboyne and back via back roads to Stonehaven and Montrose, and it was a lovely day with the roof down. Glenshee has one advantage that it's only a couple hours away giving longer for walking etc.
Before we had a child we used to drive up north often, least once a month, once we did Skye in a day, up via West, Glencoe, Fort William, over the bridge, and up to the Trotternish, over the top road to Idrigil where we had dinner, then back via Inverness, and down the A9. We got back at 2:30am though and it was a shift. Wouldn't contemplate doing that now.
Posted 2 years ago #
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