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4x4 in Ireland and Scotland, any good? 4x4 in Ireland and Scotland, any good?
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Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

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Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 28 Jul 2007
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4x4 in Ireland and Scotland, any good?
Hello

Have a spare week coming up at the beginning of October and was looking at driving to Ireland or Scotland from Kent. Can anyone offer some advice or recommend any routes to take and places to see? I want to do it as cheap as possible so will not be staying in any fancy hotels, camping if the weather is okay, otherwise I will stay in B & B's

At the mo I am still quite fexible as to which country to go to, I suppose it all depends on which one is better to visit at that time of year. Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks
Pete
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Old 1 Aug 2007
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Oops!
Sorry, just realised that I should of posted this in the 4x4 section.
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  #3  
Old 1 Aug 2007
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Loads of nice roads that lead to even nicer places in Scotland
The west coast is my favourite, from Fort William upwards. Have a look at Skye, Applecross (this is a must do, if you haven't before), Ullapool, Gairloch and the road to Durness. Plenty of camp sites/wild camping areas, can't guarantee the weather though


Trophymick
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  #4  
Old 1 Aug 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by trophymick View Post
Loads of nice roads that lead to even nicer places in Scotland
The west coast is my favourite, from Fort William upwards. Have a look at Skye, Applecross (this is a must do, if you haven't before), Ullapool, Gairloch and the road to Durness. Plenty of camp sites/wild camping areas, can't guarantee the weather though


Trophymick

It takes a lot to beat the Scottish West coast when the weather is favourable but no one can guarantee that!! I guess Ireland is pretty much the same case though - it all comes out of the Atlantic, usually!

The roads are superb for bikes so I guess you would find them good for 4x4 use; not so sure about off-roading however - whole different law in Scotland and the grouse shooting takes priority over everything else.

I second Applecross and the route in via the "pass of the cattle" - it is getting ever more popular and better known, but by October it will be quieter.
There are enough campsites all along the west coast and, for the wet days, the B&Bs should not be too booked up.

ps Europe is more appropriate than 4x4 IMO.
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  #5  
Old 1 Aug 2007
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Thanks for the tips, at the moment it's looking like Scotland, cant wait.

Peter
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  #6  
Old 2 Aug 2007
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Gotta get my spoke in for Ireland, before you commit to Scotland.. The west coast is particularly well worth a look.. lots of beautiful scenery, quiet(er) roads (than Dublin and that region), great pubs, and friendly people.

Check out Rosaveel in Connemara, west of Galway city, for a lovely drive, and beautiful scenery.

Take a look too at West Cork and Kerry.. The Ring of Kerry should be an interesting drive in a 4x4.

Weather is going to be hit and miss in October.. as with Scotland, the clouds come in off the Atlantic, hit the mountains near the coast, and come down as all sorts of rain.

Lots of B&Bs.. some campsites. In Galway, there are a couple of campsites around Salthill, just at the western edge of the city, within walking distance of the city centre, but really handy for getting out to Connemara.

Colm
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Old 16 Aug 2007
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I'm not sure of the offroading situation, but we always go up to the West Coast of Scotland every October and usually the weather is pretty good.

We always go up to Mull, which is stunning and well worth a visit - if you get up there in early/mid october they have the Tour of Mull car rally when they close the public roads for the rally - a fantanstic atmosphere and if you have time they are looking for marshalls.

We loved it so much the first time up there that we got married up there the next year!!
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