Monday 21 April 2014

Dornie to Inverness - hairpins and roller coaster

Food at the Dornie was excellent, even if the rooms were a little dated, everyone well fed on breakfast - cars checked out it today was over the roof of the highlands towards Inverness.

Cars

  • Andrew - Zero
  • Andy - Zero
  • Dan - SSC Stylus
  • Ian - Zero
  • John - 2B
  • Keith - MK
  • Peter - 2B
  • Richard(me) - Zero
  • Rob - SSC Stylus
  • Simon - 2B
  • Stuart - 2B

Schedule:

  • Start: Dornie
  • Finish: Inverness
  • Driving Time: 4 hours
  • Miles: 133

Route

  • The Dornie Hotel - Start
  • Eilean Donan Castle - stop
  • Sky Bridge - waypoint
  • Bealach na Ba viewpoint - waypoint
  • Applecross Inn - lunch
  • Loch Torridon - waypoint
  • Kinlochewe - waypoint
  • Achnasheen - waypoint
  • Premier Inn Inverness - Overnight

Eilean Donan

Before moving off an oportunity to take a closer look at Eileen Donan castle round the corner. Rob did a good job of racing the camera timer & running from the camera back into shot on each picture.

From left to right: Simon, Andrew, Me, Dan, Stuart, Andy, Rob, John, Peter, Ian & Keith:


Skye Bridge

Heading towards the Applecross Inn for lunch, but the Skye bridge was so close that came first - just over and back.

Applecross Inn

We took the high pass past Bealach na Ba viewpoint; roads getting tighter, more precarious as we went - most drivers waving us on whether they were coming down the hill or in front. The hairpins near the top (9 minute 20 seconds in) were like something out of the Italian alps in the Italian Job - I didn't have any Matt Monro to hand but 'on days like these' was going through my head...

To the top..


Sight seeing & breather on top of the world:




..then down the other side..


I prefer driving up - it feels like you have gravity on your side if you need to stop!


Loch Torridon & Loch Shieldaig

The route to Applecross was spectacular, but the route onwards towards Inverness didn't let down either - the road began straight, hugging the coast, then developed into a winding, rolling road - following Rob & Ian it started to feel just like a roller coaster and we were the coaster cars.


Tightening into the roller coaster effect around 5 minutes in


At about 9 minutes in it turns from swooping curves into more windy driving between rock outcrops with a view of the loch opening up around 12 minutes 31 seconds:


The run across to Inverness, uneventful, still amazing views and driving, another long enjoyable day!

No comments :

Post a Comment