Might do a little drive from London to Edinburgh in a few weeks time

boggysv

boggysv

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I've never driven into scotland before, just wondering what should I have ready? (3 years in the country and not seeing scotland is unacceptable!)
A friend told me I really have to drive on the A82?

The car is currently at 3800miles, so I suppose a service isnt necessary?
I'll check oil level (tip top so far, never needed to top up), pack a bottle of spare, and check tire pressures. Anything else I need to worry about?

A friend of mine said to treat like like another county, so I suppose I dont need my passport (or even the photocopy)? Are there any special rules/incidents I should be aware of?

Read this website, any addition to the contents there would be much appreciated.
http://www.alltravelscotland.com/Scotland/Car_Rental/Driving_Tips.htm#7

Thanks in advance!



btw, are camera mounts like these legal?
DSC02935-vi.jpg
 
boggysv said:
I've never driven into scotland before, just wondering what should I have ready? (3 years in the country and not seeing scotland is unacceptable!)
A friend told me I really have to drive on the A82?

The car is currently at 3800miles, so I suppose a service isnt necessary?
I'll check oil level (tip top so far, never needed to top up), pack a bottle of spare, and check tire pressures. Anything else I need to worry about?

A friend of mine said to treat like like another county, so I suppose I dont need my passport (or even the photocopy)? Are there any special rules/incidents I should be aware of?

Read this website, any addition to the contents there would be much appreciated.
http://www.alltravelscotland.com/Scotland/Car_Rental/Driving_Tips.htm#7

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Just set the GPS and go mate, it's basically england with worse weather and more sheep!
 
Is this a joke thread?!?!?
Passport??
Special rules??

Err....
 
siu00adg: I dont have a gps :(
Will have many pages of printouts from google maps, or maybe I'll just grab a cheap one off ebay. Not sure I want to buy a new one since I'll be using it for a month max.



bowfer:Nope, not a joke, just wondering if there are any special provisions/requirements for people like me who are in the country under a visa. (i.e. not a uk resident)

Wiki says
Scotland (Gaelic: Alba) is a country[5] that occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain.
Click to expand...


I asked a friend about the term "country" and he said dont worry about passports, just confirming it here.
 
Not in Edinburgh.
They're frighfully posh there, don't you know.
We refer to them as "fur coat and no knickers"
 
Boggy, there's no difference driving to Scotland than driving to Brighton.
You won't need anything special.
Same road rules, same signs, you won't have to change your money to Scottish notes etc.etc.
I'm amazed these sorts of preconceptions still exist, to be honest.:sadlike:

With regard to route, just head straight up the M6 and keep going.
DO NOT GO UP THE EAST COAST ROUTE (M1/A1)
As you get close to Glasgow, you'll start noticing signs for Edinburgh.
That will take you the scenic route.
Personally, I'd actually head into Glasgow and take the motorway that joins the two (M8).

I can do Aberdeen to Manchester in 4.5 hours, easy.
So it shouldn't take you long to do London to Edinburgh.
 
Thanks, I was recommended M6 > A/M74 >M8, is it the same route we are taking about?

Going to bunk at a friend's place for the night, maybe spend an extra day in town. Then will be heading to Fort Willam and Inverness.
 
In terms of laws/rules etc it's the same as down south so no need to worry about that sort of stuff mate! You wont need your passport, it's still the UK!

In terms of the A82, it's one of my favourite roads too although a bit of a trek from edinburgh of you've already driven from London. Well worth it though. I suggest a drive up to perth, then to crieff past loch earn, onto the A82 then through Glencoe if you fancy the A82. Beautiful place if you get the weather! The A82 is also a good drive right up to Inverness, but that's even further from Edinburgh!

Another favourite drive of mine is the road up through Glenshee towards Braemar (i seem to prefer it from north to south though - you could drive it both ways?!) Well worth the drive!

In terms of things you'll need, a road atlas incase you get lost (who need's sat nav?! easier to pre-plan routes on paper i find! Oh ...and a visa card for all the fuel you'll be buying!! :w00t:
 
boggysv said:
Thanks, I was recommended M6 > A/M74 >M8, is it the same route we are taking about?

Going to bunk at a friend's place for the night, maybe spend an extra day in town. Then will be heading to Fort Willam and Inverness.
Click to expand...

Sounds about right.
If you're going up Fort William way, you'll be taking the A82 from Glasgow, past Loch Lomond.
Breathtaking road/scenery, with the added advantage that it's taking you away from Glasgow...:arco:
Just watch your speed, it's often crawling with coppers.

Of course, as suggested above, you could head for Perth and go that way, I never thought of that (familiarity breeds contempt).
You'd miss Loch Lomond though, which would be a shame.
 
Why stop at Inverness? KEEP GOING NORTH!!!! I done a trip to John O'Groats and the A82 is a pretty good road. I'll post up the route I took when I get home. Take a few de-tours as well!
 
lil_coz said:
Why stop at Inverness? KEEP GOING NORTH!!!! I done a trip to John O'Groats and the A82 is a pretty good road. I'll post up the route I took when I get home. Take a few de-tours as well!
Click to expand...


I agree, keep driving north, but rather rather than head to JoG's start heading west from Inverness. Head into Wester Ross - Torridon sort of way and make sure you stop at the Applecross Inn for a bite to eat then head over the Bealach Na Ba!!
 
Funny how living here clouds your judgement, but I've rarely had any desire to go any further north than Aberdeen!
 
Thanks guys, will try to do the detours mentioned here as long as I dont get myself lost.

Officially a bum now, I'll have plenty of time since school is done, work hasnt started, and the pretty lady said buh-bye to me. Might as well drive around and chill. (environmentalist will hate me for that!)
Doubt I'd be doing anything like this once I start a full time job.

So, can anyone confirm the camera mount to be legal or illegal?
 
Can't see why it's illegal.
No different to a satnav (they probably just assume it is a satnav)
Just don't let the coppers see you actually 'operating' it on the move, I say.
 
If your going that far north well at least as far as the Fort (off up there myself Sat to do the Ring Of Steall) then i would also include A86 Spean Bridge - Laggan- A889- Dalwhinnie back onto the A9. This is a twisty lochside hoot of a road to drive. Several trips on this road of late in the S3 and had a ball. The off shoot A889 is just excellent for pushing it without fear of cops.
 
Try and make sure you have enough cash and avoid drawing out Scottish notes from a cashpoint.

Seriously, it may sound daft, but you will be amazed at how many places (mainly pubs TBH) wont accept Scottish notes even here in Newcastle! so heaven knows what its like down that fancy London.

I used to travel to Aberdeen a lot and its ridiculous how simple minded some shop/bar staff are towards McPounds once you are only a mere 1 hr drive South of the border.

Make sure you get a night out with a group of Jocks though, guaranteed a great time, just dont try and go drink for drink. You will lose....:friends:

Have a safe trip.

Paul
 
The scottish note thing is a thing of the past, IMO.
I've been to London, Manchester and Blackburn this year alone, all with Scottish notes.
Even London cab drivers, who used to be the biggest moaners ("what's this pony note then?") don't bat an eyelid.
 
Just thought.
If you're in Edinburgh, you're 10 minutes away from Knockhill.
See if you can have a blast around there, it's a great wee circuit.
 
audi upgrades
Remember there are only 87 scottish cents to the English pound though.
 
boggysv said:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=...986898,-2.614746&spn=2.897496,9.84375&t=p&z=7

Did some fiddling with google maps and came up with this, what do you guys think?
Click to expand...


The first half looks good but the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen isn't particularly interesting - single carriageway with climbing lanes every now and again, loads of traffic and cops and the A90 between Aberdeen and Dundee is just a boring dual carriageway with loads of speed cameras... You would be much better taking your time and heading down the A9 from Inverness then turning off at Carrbridge before heading towards Ballater then through Glenshee to Dundee before heading back to Edinburgh instead. Much more fun and not boring!
 
NoggyDS3 said:
The first half looks good but the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen isn't particularly interesting - single carriageway with climbing lanes every now and again, loads of traffic and cops and the A90 between Aberdeen and Dundee is just a boring dual carriageway with loads of speed cameras...
Click to expand...

Amen to that.
The A96 from Aberdeen to Inverness is just a convoy of lorries you rarely get the chance to overtake safely.
The A90 from Dundee to Aberdeen is also duller than Dundee itself.
If you wanted to incorporate Aberdeen, take the coast road (A92) from Dundee to Stonehaven, which will leave you with about 16 miles of dual carriageway (A90) to Aberdeen.
From Aberdeen, heads towards Braemar (nice drive along Royal Deeside) and take the 'Lecht' ski centre road from Ballater to Grantown on Spey.
The 'Lecht' is one of my favourite roads, car or bike.
Video here ( not me )

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pyjWLXZgA30
 
Watch out for men sporting large wellies walking sheep across the roads and into the hills though.

Baaaaaa
 
bowfer said:
The scottish note thing is a thing of the past, IMO.
I've been to London, Manchester and Blackburn this year alone, all with Scottish notes.
Even London cab drivers, who used to be the biggest moaners ("what's this pony note then?") don't bat an eyelid.
Click to expand...

A mate has a place in the centre of Glasgow so we go up there once every two months or so, Sadly i get the same amount of grief using scottish notes in blighty as I do trying to spend a £50

Very annoying really
 
Should be leaving London this saturday morning. Cant wait.
 
Hope you have a nice trip mate, be sure to spend some time in glasgow much more relaxed than edinburgh - less posh and better places to spend an evening out!

I agree if going aberdeen way take the coastal road - you could also have a visit to places like st andrews and montrose/st cyrus on your way which certainly used to be very pretty with nice beaches ,but i havent been in a while
 
lol. St. Andrews is in fife, but still worth the visit I suppose. I agree with taking the costal route though, I drive the Dundee-Aberdeen route all the time and it is quite boring.

Personally though, I would come off at Aberdeen (assuming your going south at this point), and head for Breamar. Brilliant road, then south towards Blairgowrie through Glenshee. Another fine twisty road. From Blairgowrie (wouldn't recommend stopping there tbh, its full of scumbags, I went to school there), then off towards Dunkeld then south to Perth. I would usually just go straight there to Edinburgh, but you can turn off into fife and head for St. Andrews and take the costal road to the Forth Road Bridge (although that is a reasonable detour and will take a good couple hours instead of 40 mins), but WAY better than dual carridgeway, which you will be fed up of by the time you've driven up from London.

Thats should see you a good portion of the in-land east coast(???). It will take a lot longer mind, but your there to see the scenery, and thats where you'll see it. Not pounding mile after mile of A90.

Personally, I think this would be a more scenic route, albeit add a lot of time onto the route...
 
bacardi said:
A mate has a place in the centre of Glasgow so we go up there once every two months or so, Sadly i get the same amount of grief using scottish notes in blighty as I do trying to spend a £50

Very annoying really
Click to expand...

You should try spending Northern Irish Sterling notes over there. They really love those!

I would always make a point when shopping up north to request "English Sterling" notes when being given change as it is accepted everywhere. You can imagine how that goes down in certain shops.

Not sure if it is still the same, but they certainly used to only accept the "local sterling" and English sterling notes in Scotland, Wales and NI. Always a pain in the **** when you'd be travelling from one to the other. The banks would almost treat it as foreign exchange if you went in to change one of the regional notes into the local variety.
 
quick update on trip.

1) girls in colder climates look better = fact (with the exception of certain latin chickas)
2) foodwise...I'm still lost. Cant seem to find anything special? any locals want to recommend?
3) you guys up north have kickass routes. I steered off course to take the A7 to edinburg instead of the M74>M8....while driving, I was thinking : why in the world did I choose to go london instead of scotland for my stint in the uk??
4) With all the b&b available, why would anyone want to stay in a hostel/hotel? It cost me 45 for last night's room, and 30 for tonight. Nice room, awesome scenery, fantastic routes...I know which would I choose compared to a downtown hostel.

That's all. Big loop to inverness tomorrow, cant imagine it being anything but "great".
 
Number 1 is probably right, up to a point - think russian women 40+!! :scared2:

for number 2 - deep fried mars bars are probably on most menus, along with assorted dishes made from sheep innards.

I assume we'll get some photos to back up points one and three?
 
With regard to food, apart from the obvious haggis (which I love), I wouldn't say we have a 'signature dish', as such, but we do have some of the best raw ingredients in the world.
You should be able to sample some fantastic beef and seafood, for example.
I noted Abstract in Inverness has been given a Michelin 'rising star' in their 2008 guide.
http://www.abstractrestaurant.com/welcome.aspx

If you're coming down to Aberdeen, via Braemar, I would personally recommend the Milton of Crathes restaurant, near Banchory (pronounced bank-ree, not ban-cho-ree:no:)
Fantastic food based on superb local ingredients.
Directly across the road from Crathes Castle, where the likes of Van Morrison does outdoor concerts.

http://www.themilton.co.uk/
 
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