A82 From Loch Lomond to Glencoe.

[Panicracing]

Was up in Scotland the weekend and as a regular visitor to see friends and family as partner from Glasgow we stayed in a lodge near Balloch on the banks of Loch Lomond, Sunday we decided to venture to the Green Welly Cafe for lunch, albeit in my daily driver Volvo XC90 tractor what a stunning drive once clear of Loch Lomond, the A82 was near empty and was a stunning drive up to our lunch stop, we then ventured on and I could have kept going to Glencoe.

I just wish I had been in my GS, will definitely do a few runs up in the better weather and spend a bit of time with an overnight, keep meaning to do the NC500 but for now the A82 is a great bit of road and did not notice any cameras.

As usual with most of Scotalnd I would imagine in the Summer months the roads are full of coaches, cyclists and shed draggers.

Also the food in the Green Welly cafe at Tyndrum was second to none.

 

[Needamaser]

Headed South week past Saturday and went down to Fort William, Glencoe and turned off to Inverary at the Green Welly.
Green Welly is a must stop for bikers and we went in on way back although we went down to collect a bike not ride it.
Blizzard blowing over the top South of the ski centre and vehicle coming towards us flashing lights etc.
Thought it must be an accident as there was standing snow on the road. Nope.
Half a mile further on a camera van sitting in the blizzard with hatch open clocking vehicles.
That road is policed to death now. With the A9 covered with 100 miles of speed cameras folk are turning to the A82 and vans and unmarked cars are out there all year round.
You don't often get them South of the Green Welly but after that heading North they are everywhere. In the summer it is crawling with caravans and motorhomes. The NC500 is rapidly becoming a victim of its own success.

 

[Panicracing]

I did think that about the camera vans, the A83 and A85 look interesting as well.

 

[Needamaser]

There are lots of roads I would be tempted to drive before the A82 if you were thinking of "making progress". Unmarked cars are hardly bothering with the A9 so they are North of Inverness or the roads West and A82 South. Camera vans on the A9 you will never see on the 60 limits but potentially on the dual carriageway sections.
From spring on the NC500 route is covered in fast cars and bikes and Police are pulling in folk doing 130+ on a regular basis.

 

[Panicracing]

They say the NC500 has proved a great success and is bringing in revenue more than expected, I can see why now. One thing I will say is the quality of the road surface is very good and they were actually doing some resurfacing en route, had to be careful of some areas but overall a lot better that the roads down south.

 

[Needamaser]

They say the NC500 has proved a great success and is bringing in revenue more than expected, I can see why now. One thing I will say is the quality of the road surface is very good and they were actually doing some resurfacing en route, had to be careful of some areas but overall a lot better that the roads down south.

There is still a lot of single track sections and some of these are breaking up badly with the amount of traffic on them.
Getting caught behind a motorhome on these bits when they wont pull over to let you pass is not a joke. Last year saw a French motorhome who clearly had no idea how to drive on single track reversed over the top of a motorcyclist who was following him. Wacky races at times!

 

[CJC]

We regularly stay in a lodge just North of Balloch (CH) and frequent these roads.

The narrow twisty bit of the A82 along the loch side is due to be widened and straightened, which will mean years of road works.

I prefer the A83 over the rest and be thankful for a coffee at the Loch Fyne Oyster bar. Then onto Inveraray and my favourite road the A819 one the hills to the A85 to the Seafood capital of Scotland, Oban.

The run back depending on time available is either the A828 and back too Tyndrum through Glen Coe and Rannoch Moor or back up the A85.

The green welly is a compulsory stop however we do not eat there preferring the fish and chips in the real food cafe half a mile South.

We never go up in the Summer.

 

[allandwf]

No no its awful up here, caravans everywhere, eaten alive by midges whenever you stop!

 

[outrun]

Welcome to my part of the world. Round the lochs, up to the green welly, over the Duke's Pass and Loch Fyne for seafood are all part of Sunday runs when you live here! Glad you like it.

 

[fcz360]

a830 from Fort William to Morar and Mallaig is an amazing road, regularly go to Morar to see the folks, only caught once in ten years by the local bobby but knew family lived and let me off. Better than A82 full of cameras.

Google "white sands of Morar" - stunning