Scotland’s Most INCREDIBLE Road | Driving the Applecross Pass | NC500 E15

NC500 E15: Driving the Applecross Pass otherwise known as the Bealach na Bà - one of Scotland's most incredible roads! Also stopped by Beinn Eighe, the Glen Docherty Viewpoint & Loch Carron.
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I'd been looking forward to driving the Applecross Pass since the early days of researching my trip around the North Coast 500. It was one of those iconic places I knew I had to include in my itinerary and although every article I read reported on treacherous conditions, single track lanes, frequent accidents and super-tight hairpin bends it was just one of those places I couldn't skip. And I'm glad I didn't! Anyhow that's not where my day started - it all began at Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve.

Today's road trip on the NC500 takes me from Gairloch to Lochcarron but instead of driving directly between the two I followed a section of the Wester Ross Coastal Trail around the Applecross Penninsula's northern and western coastline. I knew I was in for a good day as soon as I made my first stop at Beinn Eighe Nature Reserve on the banks of the beautiful Loch Maree. The water of the loch was so still it resembled a mill pond, everything was so quiet and calm, so peaceful and relaxing - the scenery was spectacular, I just wish I could have spent the day there!

Instead I hit the road and headed up the Glen Docherty valley to the Glen Docherty Viewpoint, a stunning overlook down the green rolling valley and out towards the waters of Loch Maree - tremendous! I continued on towards Torridon and Shieldaig where the landscape got even better. Now don't get me wrong, the west coast of the NC500 is a terrific place, I can't tell you how much I love the rocky, barren and mountainous landscape but things seemed to multiply near Torridon - the scenery was unreal.

I came across numerous mountain streams, raging rivers, abandoned stone buildings and even a stag out looking for food. It was quite the tourist attraction! The drive around the Applecross Peninsula was mostly on single-lane roads that weaved up and down the hills and along the mountainside, mostly following the coastline.

With all of that precision driving it was good to arrive in Applecross, stretch my legs and enjoy the atmosphere outside the Applecross Inn. Due to the Coronavirus everybody was outside enjoying the warm summer's afternoon and just watching life pass them by. Applecross is one of the places I'd heard of but didn't know too much about so it was great to spend a little bit of time there.

Next up was the Bealach na Bà Road, better known as the Applecross Pass, a seasonal route that crosses the Applecross Peninsula at an altitude of 626 metres (2,054 ft), high enough to require closing in bad weather, although that only usually happens in the winter season. The pass is single tracked all the way across the mountain with passing places to avoid congestion, it's not advisable to drive it with large campervans or to attempt it if you're an inexperienced driver. Although that's great advice the road is definitely one to drive if you're in a car and as long as you're careful and considerate everything should work out just fine. DISCLAIMER: if you have an accident it’s NOT my fault! :o)

There's a place to stop at the top which provides incredible views down the valley and across to the Scottish Islands in the other direction, there's also a few lochs and enjoyable walks to the peak. The party piece though is the road back down heading away from Applecross and towards Loch Kishorn - hairpin bends, steep gradients and wonderful views all around. Driving the Bealach na Bà Road is definitely a highlight of the entire North Coast 500 and the perfect way to bring my journey around the NC500 to a close.

My final stop is the little village of Lochcarron - a community of just over 900 people sitting along the shore of Loch Carron in the Scottish Highlands. What a fantastic day and what an incredible adventure. Inverness here I come!

CHAPTERS:
📖 00:00 Introduction
📖 00:43 Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve
📖 02:41 Glen Docherty & Loch Maree Viewpoint
📖 04:27 Scottish Wildlife & Old Ruins
📖 07:42 Torridon to Applecross Scenic Route
📖 09:06 Applecross (Shore Street)
📖 10:46 Driving the Applecross Pass (Bealach na Ba)
📖 13:48 Lochcarron
📖 15:50 Room Tour at Ord Arms Hotel!

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Видео Scotland’s Most INCREDIBLE Road | Driving the Applecross Pass | NC500 E15 канала Matt Whiting's Europe