Ah, 13 days is proper leisure time. Feeling quite jealous and I live here! 
I meant to say in my earlier post - one of the reasons that I like your planned route is that parts of it will seem like you have the whole landscape to yourself, and that’s really what I like best about the north-west.
That sounds lovely. Do be aware that some of the roads on the NW coast (e.g. near Clachtoll and Torridon) may be un-made or single-track or both.
Accommodation will be more expensive in the holidays and traffic will be greater.
From the north of Skye to Craignure may well take you a whole day. You’ve got two ferries to manage. And the landscape is so beautiful, so why rush anyway? Glenfinnan isn’t far off that route either.
That was our hope! Parts of Iceland were like that. Just loved it.
We won’t need to rush. Would you recommend renting a car with four wheel drive?
It’s probably not necessary - definitely not if you stick to metalled roads - but it won’t hurt, and will certainly help if you run into rain and mud.
And it stood in for Castle Leoch in Outlander. If you’re a fan of the show you can take a tour that will take you to highlights from the show.
Culloden Moor, of course, should be on your list.
Absolutely. And it’s only a short drive from Grantown.
Not in early summer, no. It’d just be a waste of money.
The Scottish Tourist Board really owes Diana Gabaldon a few favours. She really took up the slack after Mel Gibson and JK Rowling.
I don’t think they would be going on any unmetalled roads, except for perhaps the odd half mile farm track leading to a bed and breakfast - which unmetalled roads were you thinking of?
They turned up when I checked randomly on Google Maps. I cannot, of course, now relocate them. All A roads should be metalled.
I did not know the term metalled roads until I googled it! I had pictured something else entirely and was very confused.
All B roads and all ‘unclassified’ roads which are maintained by the council will also be metalled. Basically any road that appear on a road map will be fine to drive on in any car, though they may be narrow and twisty. As I say, you won’t have to drive on an unmetalled track unless you’re trying to get to some remote shooting lodge or something.
Reporting back: we had a fabulous trip! Stayed at B&Bs throughout and they were wonderful. Loved Mull and Skye and really lucked out on the weather there–four days of sunshine. Overall, in spite of being almost entirely in the west, we didn’t see much rain (lots of clouds but sun on most days too) and barely any midges.
I didn’t drive at all but my husband didn’t have any trouble with the mainly single track roads–having a left lane to drive in felt luxurious! There was one very scary road on Mull–single track, along a steep cliff, almost no passing places. Otherwise the roads were fine.
Now I want to make at least three more trips: one on the western islands, one on the north coast, and one in either the northeast of the south.
I’m in love.
Excellent
Did you follow the planned route or just go with flow?
Try Shetland and Orkney too sometime. I just got back and had a great time. Sunny, but chilly even at this time of year.
Shetland has all these little coves with beautiful blue water and white-sand beaches; anyplace else and they’d be crowded with hotels and tourists, but here it’s just empty with puffins and, if you’re lucky, seals. Also the occasional tiny pony. This close to Midsummer, there’s hardly any night.
We went with the planned route. I’m not sure one could go with the flow–places were completely booked up!
Shetland and Orkney appeal as well, Miss Mapp. Glad you enjoyed your trip!