The route
The A9 runs north through Perth and Pitlochry, over the Drumochter Pass into the Cairngorms, then down through Aviemore to Inverness. About 160 miles, three and a half hours.
Average speed cameras
Long stretches of the A9 have average speed cameras rather than fixed ones, so you cannot speed up between them. Limits are mostly 60mph on single carriageway and 70 on dual. It is one of Britain's most heavily enforced roads.
Where to break
Pitlochry sits roughly halfway and makes a sensible lunch stop — a pleasant town with a distillery. House of Bruar is the other common choice, for shopping and food. Both add about forty-five minutes and both beat a motorway services.
Autumn
In mid-October this is one of the finest autumn drives in Scotland. Birch and larch around Pitlochry and Dunkeld turn gold against dark pine. If you travel in October, take this stretch slowly.
Winter
The Drumochter Pass is high and closes or slows in snow. In winter we check conditions each morning; if it closes we reroute via the east coast through Aberdeen — considerably longer but passable.
每日实际车程有几长
多数路段实际车程两至三个钟，中间有停留。十日环岛最长那日大约四个钟，我们会用一顿正经午餐分隔开，而不是高速公路服务区。大约每九十分钟停一次——有些是观景点，有些纯粹因为有人想饮杯咖啡。高地公路要特别留意：地图估两个钟，实际接近三个钟。
为什么路线这么排
地理决定次序，和他对著干只会浪费日数。由爱丁堡出发，合理动线是南下经约克、曼彻斯特，到达剑桥和伦敦，再经湖区北返。全程不走回头路，每日车程控制在四个钟内，而且最后返到爱丁堡——同一个机场离境，不用买单程机票返伦敦。
我们不会做的嘢
我们不会迫你入有佣金的商店或者餐厅。不会在你未问之前加项目再收钱。不会话一间我们没有住过的酒店好。如果你的计划日数不够、或者自驾对你来说其实更抵、又或者小团游更适合你，我们会直接说——就算这样会少做一单。
实际车程要几耐
地图估的时间在高地通常乐观三成。单线道要不停靠哪会车，夏天再加露营车，两个钟的路段实际接近三个钟。我们排行程用真实时间，所以我们的日程纸面上看起来短些——但不会做不完。
停留节奏
我们大约每九十分钟停一次。有些是观景点，有些纯粹因为有人想饮杯咖啡或者去洗手间。高地部分路段四十英里没有任何设施，所以这些停留点是预先规划的，不是即兴。
