anyone tried the road to applecross in the scottish western highlands--probably 10 years since i did it but i do remember it being a bit of a 'frightener'

There's a sign at the start of the road that says something like:

"The road rises to a height of 2053 feet with gradients of 1 in 5 and hairpin bends. NOT ADVISED FOR LEARNER DRIVERS VERY LARGE VEHICLES OR CARAVANS AFTER FIRST MILE."

Read into that what you will.

Take some extra knickers with you!

Did it years ago and it's still etched into my memory..

Starting off was fine but they had just tarred and chipped the surface so it was like riding on gravel then the fog came in throw in the odd sheep the fact I was fully loaded with pillion and luggage... twas scarey stuff....

Stayed the night there as I couldn't face the return journey without a bit of R&R..

The next day there was no fog and I knew what to expect, was blinding, it is a truley memorable road do it you won't be dissapointed

This is a pic of the rd leaving north out of Applecross, Blardy great. Applecross rd itself is best done on a clear day. Doing it in fog with your view restricted to 10ft I would not recommend. Believe it or not this is the same day after 2hrs.


The red sign at the bottom says "Road normally impassable in Wintery conditions"

It's etched into my knee. I fell off coming down one of the hairpins and nearly slipped under the barrier. I went back and did it again to prove I could.

Yeah those rotting wood barriers that have already been hit a few times...would you trust one of those

Have they been upgraded since ?

If you came of the road you'd need a parachute it's that far down

It's still there and it's still as bad. Ok on a dry sunny day, but when the cloud comes down you can see about 20 feet in front of you! I'd post a pic if I knew how to upload it on here!

That a lovely stetch of road,,almost as nice as the devils elbow,an any stretch of the braemar rd,,must get me scanner back from me mate,got shed loads of pics i should upload

As we say in Scotland, "if you don't like the weather, wait 20 minutes".

Yet another Scot... weyhey...
Where r u Stevie??

Aye, right hen!

Er .... actually I'm living doon the line at the mo :p but originally from the Greenock area. I remember some of those Highland roads from my 125 days when we'd take off with a crap tent that had no flysheet and no sewn-in groundsheet, a can of Boots midgie spray (the second thing on the list after the bike) and a vague idea that there were roads beyond Luss that made you go ooooooooohhhh! And that was usually only because you had to dump it in a passing place to avoid hitting the damn sheep that were beyond every bend. Remember the Loch Lomond road before they updgraded it? Yikes!

<nostalgia>Ah.... those were the days. Did I mention the naked dancing with a load of Hamilton Accies supporters at 1am outside some pub up the Crainlarich road somewhere? God, you have never seen so many insect bites and on ALL the personal bits too. Trust us to camp in a wet field. </nostalgia>

Anyway, I chipped in with the weather bit because I spent the most terrifying hour of my life trying to get back home along the back roads above the Clyde valley in fog with about 5 feet visibility. It had been a nice sunny evening and then as soon as the sun went down - boom - pea soup. It took maybe 25 minutes to go from a couple of miles visibility to bugger all. I kid you not, I was on the verge of crying I was so scared. After a while it was like floating in a cloud with no real idea even whether you were going in a straight line - totally disorienting. I've never enjoyed sparking up a ciggie as much as the first one I had after that episode.

oh yeah.... still gives me nightmares...




That was you???

Fun wasnt it. Now its just a tad boring!

Still not too bad once you get north of Tarbet. Had my first shot of a GSXR1100 from Crianlarich down to my Uncles in Alexandria twas great
Done the Applecross run too and the ex wife did not like it at all ... maybe thats why she is now the ex...
The Dukes pass (A821) is another good run from Aberfoyle to kilmahog ( love that name!)
not a bike video but one from a couple of years ago in my MG, the weather was so bad that Loch Achray had flooded over the road.
http://www.alipaul.nildram.co.uk/Videos/Aberfoyle2.wmv