Having seen a YouTube vid of a trip along the scenic A82 in the Scottish highlands, I decided to do a quick 1000 mile road trip in 4 days a couple of weeks ago. The intention was to film the entire trip on my dashcam, downloading each days films onto a memory stick and then formatting the SD card in the dash cam ready for the next day. The maximum allowable length of each film is 3 minutes. The first day went exactly according to plan except that, having made a mental note on a piece of paper to remove my car reg from the settings, I forgot. :doh:
Day 1 Home to Crianlarich via M6/M74/M8/A82
I set off earlier than planned and so, having had a decent run in a right mixed bag of weather, arrived at my destination too early to check in, so I whizzed up the road to take a pic at Fort William station. There was actually a Black 5 in the station with hordes of passengers detraining so I took the chance to go to the loo (they charge 20p) and when I emerged it had gone! :smackedface:
By far the best part of the A82 is between Crianlarich and Fort William but I can't decide whether northbound or southbound is best
The day ended at my hotel in Crianlarich and I had over 300 x 3 minute films to transfer plus any still photos so my evening was mapped out for me
Loch Lomond at Firkin Point
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A82 Crianlarich to Fort William
(https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54015578493_1a3af9b2c6_s.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qiaXBt)72.How puny and insignificant are we humans FR (https://flic.kr/p/2qiaXBt) by Mick Hollyoake (https://www.flickr.com/photos/182878845@N04/), on Flickr
Fort William station.
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A rear view on the way back from Fort William to Crianlarich
(https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/54015687219_c5c06c3443_s.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2qibvW4)101.Much better in the sun RE (https://flic.kr/p/2qibvW4) by Mick Hollyoake (https://www.flickr.com/photos/182878845@N04/), on Flickr
Day 2 Crianlarich to Boat of Garten (Strathspey Steam Railway) and thence to Oban.
Disaster!! The dashcam refused to work, kept giving a message about the battery and shut down.
I didn't need to call in at Fort William station on the way out as I'd done it the day before, but soon got caught up in road works/diversion on my way to Boat of Garten, so much so I thought I was going to run out of petrol but found a small service station at Dalwhinnie (yes, of whisky fame). He knew what he was doing as he charged higher than motorway prices for his fuel but had a captive audience as we were all in the same straits.
Rainbow in the mountains
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On arrival at Boat of Garten I found the only person there was manning the shop and selling tickets. The next train was 1½ hours off and I just couldn't hang around. I had places to be!
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A very long and protracted journey from there to Oban mainly due to someone having fun and changing the diversion signs around to fool the tourist Sassenachs. Believe me, it worked.
Overlooking Loch Lochy
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Day 3 Oban to Lochgilphead round the Argyll Coastal route thence to Tarbet then onto Cambuslang
With the dashcam still not working I headed off southwards from Oban and had a thoroughly enjoyable mooch around the coastal roads until ending up at my final overnight stay in Cambuslang, despite the car's satnag not having the foggiest idea where the Premier Inn was
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Day 4 Cambuslang to home
Nothing to say apart from motorway all the way and maybe a speeding ticket yet to arrive :uneasy:
I do collect fridge magnets from my ports of call so................
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The dashcam problem turned out to be just the lead from car ignition to the dashcam holder having become disconnected, maybe on some of the roads/cattle grids I used at one point on Day 1 :doh: :doh: :doh: :doh: :doh:
I've managed to reduce almost 11 hours of film from Day 1 down to 5½ hours but am loath to condense further. Still, I won't inflict it on you :no:
Looks like you had a good trip, Mick.
Quote from: Newportnobby on September 23, 2024, 11:29:30 AMBy far the best part of the A82 is between Crianlarich and Fort William
I would second that - as far as you went ;)
However, to tempt your appetite further, far better is the stretch beyond Fort Bill, turning off at Invergarry onto the A87 to Kyle of Lochalash and beyond to Uig on Skye.
That offers you the Commando Memorial, cracking views of Lochs Lochy, Oich, Garry, Loyne and Cluanie before you drop down into Glen Shiel, past the site of the Battle of Glen Sheil to the coast at the head of Loch Duich, then along the side of the loch to Eilean Donan Castle and, finally, Kyle of Lochalsh.
From there, the bridge takes you across to Skye, which is even better. IMO, than it was getting there :D
Thanks, Chris.
Now I know the dashcam does actually work and have easily fixed the problem, I want to go back next year to film the Coastal Route again, stay in better hotels, and will take your advice and maybe go further.
The hotel in Oban was rubbish and got a good panning from me in their reviews.
Quote from: Newportnobby on September 23, 2024, 12:26:38 PMThanks, Chris.
Now I know the dashcam does actually work and have easily fixed the problem, I want to go back next year to film the Coastal Route again, stay in better hotels, and will take your advice and maybe go further.
The hotel in Oban was rubbish and got a good panning from me in their reviews.
You could also look at coming back via Lochcarron, which is stunning. (Slightly biased as it's where my wife grew up).
I'm glad you had a good trip, Mick. All very familiar to me (lived in Inverness on two occasions and Mrs Poppingham's from there), but from a while ago as we tend to head south on holiday nowadays.
Quote from: Newportnobby on September 23, 2024, 11:29:30 AMWith the dashcam still not working I headed off southwards from Oban and had a thoroughly enjoyable mooch around the coastal roads until ending up at my final overnight stay in Cambuslang [...]
Absolutely fabulous to see Cambuslang as a holiday destination.
With all good wishes.
John
Quote from: Train Waiting on September 23, 2024, 02:09:00 PMAbsolutely fabulous to see Cambuslang as a holiday destination.
:laughabovepost: :smiley-laughing:
Quote from: Foxhound on September 23, 2024, 01:44:12 PMYou could also look at coming back via Lochcarron, which is stunning. (Slightly biased as it's where my wife grew up).
Then continue around the coast and over Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) to Applecross - unbeatable.
Quote from: Newportnobby on September 23, 2024, 02:13:26 PMQuote from: Train Waiting on September 23, 2024, 02:09:00 PMAbsolutely fabulous to see Cambuslang as a holiday destination.
:laughabovepost: :smiley-laughing:
He does go for the exotic :smiley-laughing:
Lovely trip Mick.
Another nice circuit once you're in Fort Bill is down to Mallaig, ferry to Skye, lunch in Sligachan then back over the bridge to Kyle then back to Fort Bill.
I've managed to convince Mrs 35 to have another week in Boat of Garten this week. The fact that 27050 is due out all day on the Strathspey again this Friday is just one of those happy confidences.
Honest. :angel:
Had fun by all accounts. Some happy memories in those photos Mick. Were you with your friend from Dundee by any chance?
Quote from: SD35 on September 23, 2024, 05:09:18 PMLovely trip Mick.
Another nice circuit once you're in Fort Bill is down to Mallaig, ferry to Skye, lunch in Sligachan then back over the bridge to Kyle then back to Fort Bill.
A nice alternative to the Skye Bridge would be to go to Kylerhea and take the MV Glenachulish, the last manually operated steel turntable ferry in the world, across to Glenelg, then up over the Ratagan Pass and back down to rejoin the A87 at Shiel Bridge.
Apart from the mishaps and crappy hotels, great stuff, Mick. :thumbsup:
Nice, very impressive :thumbsup: :greatpicturessign: Go on your bike next year
Quote from: chrism on September 23, 2024, 02:36:44 PMQuote from: Foxhound on September 23, 2024, 01:44:12 PMYou could also look at coming back via Lochcarron, which is stunning. (Slightly biased as it's where my wife grew up).
Then continue around the coast and over Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) to Applecross - unbeatable.
Becky often talks about me driving the Bealach one day, primarily to watch me squirm at the thought, I get vertigo.... :confused1:
To avoid Inverness I used the B851/B862 to Fort Augustus. Over 30 miles of sweaty single track road with passing places. Why sweaty? I just couldn't believe the poor driving by some, and they can't have been all tourists :no: I reckon the locals just bully through with scare tactics, especially when it was school closing time and they had to get their little darlings somewhere else in a hurry :unimpressed:
That was a good hour + of my life I did not enjoy
lovely pictures, what stunning scenery.
Great pictures of my old stomping ground, knew the A82,83,84,85 quite well travelling to / from the Hebridies and Inverness for school.
You'll be passing us soon on the way back, as we too are in Scotland, we're on the way south Thursday.
Quote from: Graham on September 24, 2024, 10:35:32 AMlovely pictures, what stunning scenery.
My ole pics do not do the scenery justice in any way. I think the movies do better as you get the ever changing light
will have a watch of the films once I get back to Aus and have a bit more time.
They're only 3 minutes each, Graham ;)
OK, I wanted to film the vast majority of the trip scenic bits so hit on the ide of using my dashcam (front and rear) to do so. The max length of clip the dashcam will allow is 3 minutes, so you get a 3 minute clip from forward view then 3 minutes of rear looking clip. Repeat ad infinitum. (I did try only the forward looking camera by just disconnecting the rear one. You end up with a smooth(ish) long film with what looks like a blink every 3 minutes).
Having done a test run I found each 3 minute clip to be approx 225Kb so I'd get roughly 4 clips per Mb. If your SD card is not big enough the dashcam starts overwriting what has already been recorded!! :worried: I purchased a Nextbase 128Gb card (other makes are available and cheaper, but Nextbase do state not all work properly and I didn't want to take the risk) which would give me plenty of space for a full day of filming. Rather than download each day's clips to my laptop I purchased a 512Gb USB stick, downloaded the day's clips onto that, formatted the SD card and was ready to start the next day.
In my first day from home to Fort William and return to hotel at Crianlarich I did 354 miles and created 310 x 3 minute film clips. I experienced a lot of bad weather en route but even with windscreen wipers going, the resulting films were/are great to watch again. It was a huge PITA to decide what to keep or delete on my return, although obviously much of the trip up/down the M6 ended up 'on the cutting room floor' :)
So - for the sake of £90 or so for an SD card and USB stick, I have much film of my trip including date and time throughout. The results can be seen in the 2 clips posted in the OP.
The only downside is I forgot to remove my car reg number from the dashcam before starting out :smackedface:
It's maybe something to consider if (a) you own a dashcam and (b) want to retain memories of your trip. Try an experiment.
P.S. It's worth just jotting down time/place at odd times along the route e.g. Having noted what time the 'lumpy bits' started in my trip I knew pretty much everything before could be deleted
Yeah, the changing light on the mountains is spectacular. Wot speed were you doing?
Just caught up with your trip Mick. Some lovely pictures and videos. It is years since I was last in Scotland, (before we came to Ireland and we have been here 25 years :o ), but there is some stunning scenery in those parts. :thumbsup:
Quote from: Bealman on September 25, 2024, 12:07:39 PMYeah, the changing light on the mountains is spectacular. Wot speed were you doing?
I tried to go as slow as possible without getting in the way, so anything between 30 - 60mph
Anything more would have been illegal :angel: but, more to the point, dangerous and make the trip over too soon
Great place, great photos;
Recommend youth hostels (Oban & Inverness) for decent cheap accommodation (double bed with en-suite for <£50), Oban one has lovely views over the bay.
I did a train trip with bike which enabled the Inverness to Kyle of Lochlash (wet and low cloud so poor views) and then Mallaig to Glasgow routes (awesome)
I also have a long story of a 25hour hitch hike from Durness to Durham and back after loss of keys...
Those are brilliant Mick, thanks for sharing!
The weather may not have been great, but the views of the scenery certainly make up for it. I did a couple of similar journeys by car back in my yoof, which remain very memorable, so I'm more than a bit envious :)
I look forward to seeing where you get up to next year ;)
Ross.
Hi Mick, That looks a lovely trip and as someone said it would be good on a motorbike (my motorcycling days are over unfortunately) I always felt on the bike you were travelling in the countryside rather than through it! Thanks for all the pics that bring your tale to life. Best wishes David
Quote from: Newportnobby on September 25, 2024, 11:08:28 AMThey're only 3 minutes each, Graham ;)
Now back in sunny Melbourne as opposed to rainy and flooded Bedford and yes the videos are a good watch.
thanks for sharing.
As much as I love traveling, I would go on a similar trip too. I often travel either with my family or with friends. I read MakeMyTrip reviews (https://makemytrip.pissedconsumer.com/review.html) and I'm thinking of gifting my family a trip somewhere. I haven't decided yet whether it will be an active vacation or a more relaxing one. I hope to make up my mind this week so I can choose the trip.