Winter Scotland Roadtrip | An Epic Drive from Loch Ness to the Isle of Skye
Sometimes going the extra mile, or in our case 1,750+ miles across Scotland, really does pay dividends. However, we realise the thought of racing around Scotland in winter might not be for everyone… yet the pull of seeing snowy mountains towering over crystal clear lochs proved too much for us…. and we weren’t disappointed by the epic roadtrip adventure that awaits you the moment you depart the shores of Loch Ness.
But try to spare the time for a coffee before leaving the impressive Loch Ness Shores campsite…. you’ll find it the perfect start to the day. Just imagine sitting gazing out of the motorhome window over breakfast almost able to touch the loch’s glassy waters…. before a quick jaunt around the loch side path before settling in for the almost 200 mile round trip to the furthest tip on the Isle of Skye!!
Isle of Skye
If you’re visiting in 2018 and tempted to join us, then we’d recommend the following route.
Loch Ness to Isle of Skye – head south on the B862 to Fort Augustus, A82 then A87 westwards into Kyle of Lochalsh
On Isle of Skye – head north after the bridge on A87, turn west onto smaller A863, head north until A850 junction, turn east on A850 before rejoining A87 to turn south)
Leaving the snow behind on the icy roads of the B862… the route gets much easier as you head across the impossibly beautiful west end to Loch Ness… With glimmering reflections of Fort Augustus to welcome you…. the drive on the A87 westwards to the Isle of Skye is perhaps the most enjoyable road we’ve driven in Scotland this year (alongside the Spittal at Glenshee)
The route is marked with plenty of places to stop and drink in the Scottish beauty…. with snow capped mountains giving way to majestic lochs that offer the wild red deer plenty of lush grass to feed on after a hard winter in the glens…. It’s ‘picture postcard’ stuff that delighted all of us…. from the kids to parents and especially the girl’s grandparents who were seeing this for the first time.
For those that love history or an iconic photograph, you’ll already have recognised the spectacular setting of Eileen Donan Castle…. one of a number of Scottish castles that jut purposefully out of the loch’s waters… Strikingly similar to Castle Stalker, it’s a similar landscape to that you can find on a trip down the Argyll Tourist Route (full plans here)
The journey (taken at a sedate rate) takes just over 2hrs from Loch Ness and it’s an ideal spot for lunch before heading over the immense bridge that links Skye to the mainland. Offering a view that reminded us of another enjoyable trip to an island archipelego in Bergen, Norway.
It’s hard to pinpoint a favourite part to Skye (our first visit was in 2016) but the area that surround the climbing mecca that is the ‘Cullin’… a perfect place to see nature at its rawest…. easily driveable the route along the A863 and A850 takes you past some of the best scenery that Skye can offer….. rambling hillsides, towering jagged peaks, coastal villages and old Scottish crofts.Again, there are plenty of places to stop and enjoy the fresh air and to walk the dog… but perhaps our favourite spot has become the one below.
Situated just after Luib…. it offers panoramic view points and some easy places to pull off the road to enjoy the scenery in front of you… not to mention the spectacular roadside waterfall and coastal sea life in front of your motorhome (largely due to the sheltered inlet near Luib).
With dusk starting to fall, we grabbed the chance to help Libby with her growing passion for videography… surely it’d be a shame not to see this beautiful part of Scotland from another perspective!!! Before heading back along the same route for the 2hr30mins return journey…. It’s a real belter and one we’d reccomend to anyone (irrespective of the size of their motorhome). It’s easy to drive and you can cover good distances on the A87 if you need to speed up the journey. Now, we just can’t wait to return and see it in the summer months!!!
Looking for more similar routes in Scotland, why not try this useful link…
