Worth the walk! Ullapool to Durness, coastal road 10 years ago Save finalising the details for my big trip next week! We hope you've enjoyed your wee trip around Scotland! Planning travel has actually been fun instead of tedious because of this app. It reminded me of the old Keystones Cops show. Single track road doesnt make it the easiest to get to though. Compared to the first day, this day was light on driving and bus time with frequent stops and all the locations were relatively close to Ullapool. James was friendly and forgave me that his style was not mine, but I can easily see that they would make a centerpiece to anyone's collection. Driving on the left or right: Which countries do what, and why? When you're back in the village, find its real heart inside the cosy Applecross Inn, having dinner and a pint with the locals before retiring for the night. An absolute must stop with 3 attractions in one location. Relaxation guaranteed in the remoteness of Sutherland. Of course, they don't provide evening office hours so we could not call until the following morning just a short time before the ferry to Stornoway departed. All of this wrong side of the road caper that discourages a lot of people from other shores is an unfortunate deterrent for many drivers. Unfortunately, in a town as quiet as Thurso there's not a lot going on after dark, but if you're visiting in autumn or winter then Mother Nature may well throw you a party instead. Exactly what I needed to plan a trip. It's all very cozy and natural. Unfortunately, the town itself is depressingly drab, so we'd suggest getting in, getting the obligatory snap and getting back on the road again. Where the walk starts didn't look like much but very quickly you are surrounded by enchanting woodland with many different paths to follow and surprises along the way. Best beach in UK for me! Generally, the best time to take a road trip in Scotland is between April and early October. Remote relaxing and beautiful. Do a google search for pictures. Not cheap, but really good. Just across from Inverness via the Kessock Bridge, it's not actually an island but a peninsula, and with so much to do it's worth veering off the A9 and taking a detour for; among the highlights is Chanonry Point, one of the most reliable places in the UK for dolphin spotting. The ocean water itself is so clear and blue. Good put your feet in the water. We're not joking when we say that this small chocolatier serves the best, most gooey, frothy hot chocolate, and even does scrumptious truffles, chocolate-themed pastries and cakes to go with them. Stewart is a funny guy and explains all the information min on bus to top, Andy the ferry guy is very helpful and friendly . Strathmore is wild and beautiful (and empty) and well worth the hour's investment needed to get to the broch (Dun Dornaigil) and beyond. At the moment for our "rest days", thinking of taking a boat trip, maybe to the Summer Isles, when in Ullapool, to give my other half at least a few hours away from the steering wheel. Plan along with your friends with live syncing and collaborative editing. Afterwards, reward yourself with some lunch and a cuppa in the cafe at the top. Taking around 45 minutes to complete, it's a poignant trail with sensational views over Trigh Allt Chilgeag, although note that it may be challenging for those with mobility issues. Id recommend this to everyone - we will definitely be back! Carpark was free, about 10-15 spaces, can't imagine the place in summer . It takes 2 Hours 49 Minutes to travel from Ullapool to Durness. Thanks! finalising the details for my big trip next week! A little windy when we walked, but lovely. I would love to come back again . A 4 mile walk each way is required to reach the beach so be prepared. I went way back in 2015. Grassy seaside campground for tents & caravans, with a BBQ area & a small grocery store/snack bar. It is a free attraction, including free car parking, and a easy "must do" as you pass. Of the many galleries I have visited in the last few days, many could learn from showing their works in a more flattering light! What an amazing gem of a campsite, with touring caravans, static caravans and plenty of camping pitches, both serviced and unserviced Really warm and friendly welcome and tour of the park, including been shown to my own pitch. Simple hostel near the beach offering a communal kitchen & guest laundry facilities. Plenty of walking to get down, up and around. When you get to Gairloch stop for lunch, as it offers the biggest selection you're going to find for miles, including pub grub at The Shieling Restaurant or steak sandwiches, falafel flatbreads and warming soup at Coast Coffee Company. Just go slow and appreciate some of the best landscapes you may ever see. Friendly staff and while you wait you can have a look at the great exhibition or amazing views. There's a few rocky cliffs and plenty of bird life. The stretch after the Kylesku Bridge can be a little daunting for first timers and should most definitely not be attempted in anything other than full daylight. The journey to the Stac Pollaidh car park should take about 30 minutes from Ardvreck Castle - when you get there, park up and go through the gate across the road, which will take you upwards into open moorland and onto the main path. Excellent trip. The best thing about it was the Coffee shop which sold the best Hot Chocolate in the world. South England road trip - The best of the UK from London, 2 days in London - Insider's guide to the ultimate short trip, Ireland road trip - A scenic 10 day round trip from Dublin. Before you do call it a day, seek out the Arch Inn restaurant for a thoroughly Scottish dinner of cullen skink, a chunky soup made from haddock, potato and onion. Achmelvich Beach is a beautiful beach on a sunny day and Laurence and I were very surprised at the size and look of the beach, as it looks very out of place in northern Scotland with its light sandy beaches and turquoise waters. Absolutely stunning! Food is delicious, service impeccable and surroundings stunning. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-113782262', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Paris Chocolatiers. Fifporter - great to hear you have become a fan too! These are the ruins of an old castle with a very violent history, well detailed on the signs at the car park. Coming up not long after is the Kylesku Bridge, a vast curved crossing above Loch a' Chirn Bhin that has become an attraction in itself and was even featured in a 2015 IKEA advert. Breakfast bar serving hot rolls which was set us up right for the rest of the day. The location for this site could not be better! Just appalling customer service and online reservation system. Stayed the night in my Motorhome in the larger of the two carparks this bridge has. The next optional stop is Handa Island, one of Scotlands leading opportunities to observe seabirds. Get answers to your questions about Ullapool. Make this your next beach break or stop off at Weavers Cafe, just on the side of the main road, for a tasty lunch and a slice of cake. We went around Christmas so nearly had the place to ourselves, it was very windy and cold but it was sunny and absolutely gorgeous. So beautiful place to stay over night a lot of space for tents and good size car park + toilets. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. I absolutely love this place. After this all that remains is the final stretch to Ullapool, and a well-deserved fish supper. There's parking both sides of the bridge. Here, you could choose to make a quick stop at Corrieshalloch Gorge, a nature reserve with a Victorian suspension bridge and plunging waterfalls, before continuing on around the coast. Definitley worth a visit! Another chamber, beyond the waterfall, is accessible by boat in good weather. Soak up its moon-shaped bay, turquoise waters, spotless white sands and rolling dunes, then wander over to the dilapidated Balnakeil Church, which has a graveyard with some intriguing memorials, some dating back to the 1600s. There is a yard in front with benches where you can relax and listen to the neighboring sheep. Top tip: Do stock up again on those road trip essentials and fill up with fuel while you're in Ullapool, because the next part of the journey is even less well-served. This is the place to go if you want to get far away from the rest of the world and enjoy the quiet and peaceful beauty of rural Scotland. Good showers, toilets, kitchen and communal space with log fire. Re: Ullapool to Durness, coastal road. . Entry is free (though there are some operators offering a tour when the weather/tidal conditions allow). Loved the quirkiness, bang up my street. uk breakdown; european breakdown; motorbike breakdown; report a breakdown; insurance; car insurance; home insurance . Im not knocking coach tours by the way. I would highly recommend this amazing site for the quality, the facilities, and let's not forget, the beach, the views and the fact that it is on the NC500, so it is VERY popular, and you'll certainly need to book in advance, for sure! What a beautiful beach. Good information maps available on walking routes. Alternatively, opt for some old school soul food by heading over to Deli-Ca-Sea, a chippie where everything is made fresh to order, then sit on the sea wall and scoff it all down. Also, if youre in the area try Peets for gorgeous, local fresh seafood. Small car park. If you're going on a road trip from Durnessto Ullapool, we did the research for you and compiled some great stops along the way withSmoo Cave and Sango Sands Oasis, or the ever-popular Ceannabeinne Beach. Watch out for midges, but that's the same anywhere on the west coast. The effort thats been put into the walk with the info carved into the stones is just amazing. Very photogenic bridge. You can't do everything, so don't be upset if you miss something. And don't expect to get any speed up, until you are on the road to Durness. Instead he would take a few from one lane and then another. Dubbed the "Wee Mad Road" by locals and blessed with views that will make you want to stare out the window but switchbacks so sharp you'll need eyes on the prize, it's a hairy single track route with a number of steep inclines. Free entry. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. We were doing the NC500 and this was the cheapest campsite we stayed at (26) but definitely the best. A fairly short walk but pretty steep with some rocks to navigate over and very big stone steps. Once you come back out head up the steps on the right hand side and follow the path to some spectacular views. Cocoa Mountain doing take out, but most other things closed, as despite it being Easter Holidays it is not the season. You drive from Durness, Lairg IV27, UK and trip ends at Ullapool IV26, UK. You've had almost a week of practice and now it's time for the ultimate Scottish road trip experience: the notorious Bealach na Ba. A definite stop off point if in the area. The drive from Durness to Ullapool down the far-north coast of Scotland is one example of why having your own wheels adds huge value. White sandy beach with Surrounding mountain. Next come gorse-covered hills prefacing the magnificent Torridonian sandstone mountains of Assynt and Coigach, including Suilven's distinctive sugarloaf, ziggurat-like Quinag and pinnacled Stac Pollaidh. Be sure to stock up on sweet treats for the rest of your journey too. Very beautiful and clean beach and not at all busy. Start off by following the A835 south from Ullapool, taking a right turn onto A832 after roughly 12 miles, at the sign towards Dundonnell and Gairloch. Thoroughly recommended on a nice day. Just watch out for animals in the road. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Another spectacular gem on the NC500. Although Fort George has never actually been attacked (you wouldn't win, let's be honest), don't be surprised if you see a soldier or two walking about the place - it's still used as a barracks today. Good footwear recommended as it can be steep/slippery in places. People were out swimming and kayaking during our visit, although the waters were still very cold and many were wearing wetsuits to stay warm. From Thurso, a great spot to watch is the beach at the tiny village of Castletown, about a 10-minute drive away. There were only a few pitches left but luckily one available with electric hook up for a campervan (not that it was a must for us!). Take your time and enjoy the stunning scenery, viewpoints and areas of interest. You will have a succession of wonderful beaches to enjoy along this road, as the Undiscovered Scotland website lists. Great place if your family originated from here as there are many records, 7 & 8 W Argyle St, Ullapool, IV26 2TY, United Kingdom. With such a diverse range of art from international as well as local artists, a visit to An Talla Solais has to be on everyone's 'To Do' list when going to Ullapool. We even got to see a seal. Atmospheric waterfront remains of a stone stronghold dating from circa 1490 CE. I do want to find as many beautiful beaches that I can though, one of the reasons why I wanted to do this trip. Aiming to play the North, east, and westernmost courses on the mainland (amongst others of course), and Durness has the north, so we hope to be up that way. Heading to Ullapool tomorrow (2 nights) and Durness there after (2 nights). Wanderlog makes planning a trip so effortless. Your email will not be provided to third parties. Recommended option Drive 1h 18m Drive from Ullapool to Durness 67.6 miles 17 - 26 Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between Ullapool Durness There is parking by the cemetery. Along the banks of the loch sit the ruins of the much fought over Castle Urquhart, once one of Scotland's largest and grandest castles. So highlighted where the broch is in a photo for others. Before my favourite was tresaith beach with a waterfall on the beach. Breakfast bar serving Hot rolls which was set us up right for the rest of your journey too ends! 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