Scotland-A817-Loch Lomond to Garelochead (Glen Fruin Road)

I Drive this road on a near daily basis, and as usual I have began to take it for granted.

Only a small break recently and catching an old episode of top gear where they use it to test Impreza bug eye v Evo 8 made me appreciate it again.

Topgear comments on the road here: Galleries - Time to Burn? - Top Gear

The road is easily accessible, taking the A82 from Glasgow and basically following signs for Loch Lomond.

The road is formerly a MoD road, used simply for carrying construction material across the hill to a large project that was ongoing at the time, hence its affectionatly given name "The Haul Road".

The road was not constructed to highway standards at the time due to it simply being a construction artery not opened to the public, however when the MoD were finished using the road it was passed on to the local council, I believe it is still owned fully by the MoD and as such has to be closed one day a year (usually Xmas or New years day) for them to retain ownership, but the lease is taken up by the council and they maintain the road as part of that.

The benefits of the non standard construction is some steep grades, sharp dipping corners long sweeping adverse camber corners, makes for a great drive if you manage to get the road to yourself.

I have pinched some pics off another forum, they really do not do the road great justice but it gives a taste.

And at the big layby at the end of the road you get a great view of HMNB Clyde

This is the road on a map Streetmap.co.uk- search results

And the afforementioned Topgear vid from this road.

YouTube - Topgear - Evo 8 Vs Subaru Impreza

Edited 13 December, 200916 yr by BigW