Bealach na Bà. Aka The Applecross Pass, Scotland. The full unedited drive in my van!

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Highland roads with passing places. Joy and fear in harmony. Always enjoyable. Thank you for a wonderful journey. 👏👏👍😎

[@RichardParker-hc6dn]

What a great road to drive. The landscape was beautiful to look at as well. Thanks, Steve 👋

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

I love scotland and never tire of videos like this. That road is great fun to drive.

[@steve-marsh]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

@@steve-marsh i did indeed, I’m longing to come back to Scotland.

[@mannfan12]

Hi Steve. Good to see you back. Wow the scenery in this is breathtaking. Thanks for posting this. This is something to add to my bucket list. Now off to see your other video....

[@munnjean]

Thanks for posting this Steve, I do enjoy your video clips. Well indeed the Applecross Pass is ( was ) on my to do list when I have my three week holiday in August. I was born on the Island of Bute many years ago, I left Scotland in the mid sixties and made my home in Canada. I live in central B.C. with my lovely wife and our bonnie wee cat. I travel back to Scotland each year to visit family and friends, eat some great Scottish food, drink fine single malt and enjoy the best beer anywhere. I have hired a nice 4 x 4 for my travels and I'm so hoping that I can make the trip but with what we are facing the challenges certainly are there. This video and your North Coast 500 are excellent, very informative indeed, hope to make the same drive all being well, thanks again.

[@steve-marsh]

munnjean ohhh my fingers are crossed for you! I really hope you don’t have to cancel it this year. But what I would do to live in B.C!!! Maybe I need to do a wee Bute video sometime, I’ve never been there! Thanks so much for watching as always :)

[@Thomas-cp6qe]

It's pure poetry in motion !!

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers for watching Thomas!

[@rofromoz1361]

Reminds me of Laxdale Hall. One of the very best British films ever made

[@ZL54JK8]

Thank you so very much for making this available! It brings back happy memories of the "land of my birth!"

[@steve-marsh]

ZL54JK8 I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Many thanks for watching :)

[@lauraautry6992]

I’m lost for words absolutely stunning 😍. The roads are so narrow. Awesome video 🤗

[@cybergal99]

I am sooooo missing my ability to travel to the UK and be with my family right now .. thank you for this!

[@steve-marsh]

Ann McDermott aww thank YOU for watching!!! :)

[@pattymoore8351]

I chickened out on our trip in early June. We were so exhausted from first time drives on back Highland roads. I didnt think my heart could take it😅 But I'd still love to see it someday. Thanks for this.

[@lawriedavidson6351]

Thanks for a brilliant video, Steve. I first did this road in my Minor 1000 many years ago. Nearer to Applecros had to stop for a huge stag standing majestically in the road. So many wonderful holidays in Scotland and the islands since !

[@steve-marsh]

So glad you enjoy your time here in Scotland! Thanks so much for watching :)

[@sharrizink6516]

This was gorgeous! Thanks for sharing it. I took note of the spot where that campervan was parked overlooking the loch. I think I'd like to try that sometime.

[@MilesMiser]

Simply awesome countryside! Those roads are tiny! I wouldn't think that 2 cars could pass each other, but somehow you squeezed by multiple times haha! I've always wanted to visit Scotland and this video just makes me want to do so that much more!

[@lawriedavidson6351]

I love those roads. They usually have a white sign on a post where the passing places are that you can see from a long distance so that you can judge your speed to pass the oncoming vehicle at just the right time.

[@steve-marsh]

I hope you can get over here soon for one of your epic videos!

[@MilesMiser]

@@steve-marsh Thanks Steve! Hopefully things will straighten out soon with the rona virus so I can visit Europe in 21! You are putting up some great videos please keep them coming!

[@scottie2636]

This road seems to be way too narrow for two vehicles to pass each other. Awesome scenery!! What happens if you have a breakdown? Is there cell service,or do you just hope someone comes along that can help?

[@vivellasmum]

Managed to watch to the end though the bends made me feel travel sick! What a road, thanks for taking us down it.

[@davidfalconer5111]

What a road to drive on Steve, My Gran had a friend that lived in Applecross that she used to visit a number of times, the problem with this road she burnt out the clutch of the car but managed to get help. The scenery looks magical!!!

[@beverlyzimmermann5868]

Beautiful Steve, thank you🖐🇺🇸

[@TitoSuperTrip]

Cool video 🙌🙌 We drove the NC500 last year.. we fell in love with Scotland and then returned in September 😍😍

[@steve-marsh]

It’s so amazing eh? I could never get bored of that scenery! Cheers for watching, hope you get back there again soon :)

[@Gaspode_]

I'm so glad you posted this. I recorded dashcam footage of this drive on my brief trip to Scotland in 2019, but lost all the SD cards in Glasgow a couple of days later.

[@steve-marsh]

My worst nightmare! I'm always anxious until all the footage from a trip is downloaded!

[@brewsterkits]

Oh wow, that is indeed a very cool road, loved the drive thanks

[@steve-marsh]

Thanks so much!

[@nannymackify]

I know you've been to Ireland a few times Steve, but there are several mountain routes similar to this one: the Conor Pass outside Dingle, the Caha Pass between Cork and Kerry, the mountain route between Killarney and Sneem, the clifftop drive to Keem beach on Achill Island, and the road between Westport and Clifden which winds around Killary Fjord. Beautiful video, thank you for sharing it.

[@steve-marsh]

Hey thanks for sharing this! Noting these down now!

[@danielbettsmanwithautism6421]

The last time I drove was on the Isle of Lewis and Harris last year. Seeing these kind of videos makes me wants to go back to the Highlands for more driving. Fantastic video!

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers Daniel! I can’t wait to get to those islands, never been but hopefully this year 🙏

[@legionnairegonk4425]

You can drive anything on this road so long as it's a van 😁 Scotland got the best of UK landscape for sure.

[@steve-marsh]

Legionnaire Gonk haha true, cheers for watching :)

[@roroger2402]

That was cool Steve. This is another places I'm wanting to get to..Cheers

[@thepomandozzy]

Doing it next week cannot wait, just got to do the 542 mile drive from home first

[@timallsopp8656]

A great vid! I can’t wait to get there with my wife in a week or so time!

[@steve-marsh]

Have a fantastic trip!

[@Baddad36]

We've done it. My wife had her eyes closed most of the way. The only scary bit was meeting an SUV that didn't seem to have a reverse gear with a sheer drop at my side! They'd literally just passed a passing place. No more than 20 metres. I remember I thanked them for being so courteous. The Inn food was excellent though.

[@steve-marsh]

Scary stuff! I was amazed at how fast the locals were flying round the corners, us tourists were taking it nice n slow :)

[@doriskovalcik442]

We have a couple of those hairpin curves on the road up one of our mountains here in Tennessee.

[@steve-marsh]

I'd love to visit!

[@ROKINKO11]

What a road! I would love to drive it on my scooter. Would take me much longer than you, will be stopping in every half a mile. View is spectaculare. Thank you for the ride. It was lovely.

[@steve-marsh]

Thanks so much! Would be awesome on a scooter!!!

[@nittenrab]

My beautiful country, Saor Alba Gu Brath .

[@christhacker9450]

Hoping to do this drive in 2023, if I can convince my wife!

[@sueelphick9060]

Great road Steve bit hairy in Summer i would imagine 😅😅😅😅

[@steve-marsh]

I love this road! Reminds me I need to go back!

[@ecossearthur]

Epic!

[@steve-marsh]

Arthur Sneeden cheers man!

[@franc9111]

I don't know why they call it that in English, it's not at all what it is in Gàidhlig - The Way of the Cows/Cattle - because it used to be a drovers' road. I enjoyed the ride, thanks a lot.

[@sergeveilleux3180]

Hello Steve, great video. We’re going to do this road in september, is the way you did it is from Appelcross toward Fearmore or the other way around. We enjoy all your vids of Scotland. Many thanks from Quebec

[@steve-marsh]

Hey have a fantastic time!

[@jimcrawford5039]

Bloody awesome Steve! Wee Jimmy in Aus.

[@steve-marsh]

Cheers Jimmy! Hoping to get back up there soon!

[@MikeandTriciaOotnAboot]

Ok so now I think I am stalking you, we have just done this as well. You got a much better day, we had a real pea souper.

[@steve-marsh]

Oh hard luck! But I think your experience is more the norm for that stretch of road - I've done it a few times and this was probably the best I've ever seen it. If you saw what it was like the night before (see my North Coast 500 vid) I didn't hold out much hope! :)

[@AnneMB955]

Steve, can I ask a car question? Can you recommend a rental car for the NC500? Love this vid and your channel.

[@steve-marsh]

All I can recommend really is go small to suit the roads :)

[@AnneMB955]

Thx so much Steve for your considered response. 👋🏻 🇦🇺

[@janetmackinnon3411]

Ah, homesickness....

[@chrisshields1775]

I drove the pass the other way in 2003. I remember it being called the Pass of the Cattle? Or is that what the gaelic name is. I am from Devon UK so excuse my ignorance of gaelic!

[@steve-marsh]

Chris Shields oh boy it’s not as bad as my ignorance, but hey I like that name! Cheers for watching!

[@chrisshields1775]

@@steve-marsh Thanks Steve

[@Frightningman]

Yes Chris, Pass of the Cattle.

[@StravaiginHippy]

Bealach = pass, na Ba = of the cattle. It is a former drove road.

[@thomaswilson1312]

Who has the right of way, the ascending or the descending vehicle?

[@steve-marsh]

Weirdly I don't remember there being a rule - a free for all! :)

[@jimmcintosh9045]

No right of way, just pull in to nearest passing place when you see a car coming.

[@Erin-uz2gf]

It seems like whoever is nearest the pull-out spot moves over, but it seems like the really polite thing to do, is to let the car going uphill to pass without having to slow down too much! That's how I see it.

[@Frightningman]

Been over a few times, usually towards Applecross though. The last time was in 2017 and it was a right pantomime - lots of drivers who I can only assume were 'doing' the NC500 and had never driven on single track roads before, ignoring passing places, refusing to reverse into one when confronted with oncoming traffic etc.etc... I just dropped back by about 25 - 50 yards and watched the spectacle. We'd toured the Highlands every year for over 30 years and this was the first time I'd seen this behaviour on the pass.

[@steve-marsh]

Would have been funny to watch, but also sad to see so many people attempting what is a tough drive in places with no concept of what they are doing! My experience on that day was so different! Cheers for watching :)

[@Frightningman]

@@steve-marsh The other times that we had been over the 'traffic' was very much like it was in your video, few other vehicles and what there was used the passing places properly, much like they do on the multitude of other single track roads in the Highlands & Islands.

[@jimmcintosh9045]

I've driven on the Outer Hebrides and they are very courteous there regarding passing places but most people were locals going about their business anyway.

[@Frightningman]

@@jimmcintosh9045 Yes Jim, I agree that the majority locals are very courteous throughout the Highlands & Islands, but nowadays the NC500 has become so popular that some people hire motorhomes just to do that trip, but they haven't a clue how to drive one properly.

[@gabilang8407]

Only 2 cars in the hole 17.44 minutes ! Was the reason COVID ?

[@steve-marsh]

...and a very early start! :)

[@nudgenudgewinkwink3212]

Isn't having a driving license great , you can do stuff like this!.

[@steve-marsh]

t s it really is! A great fun wee trip, and going beyond the shops ANYwhere is fun these days! Cheers for watching

[@normanferguson1752]

@@steve-marsh Is it time to get up yet to judy

[@superally8077]

I would not want to do that in winter.

[@steve-marsh]

You're so right! :D

[@StravaiginHippy]

It is NOT 'AKA' the Applecross Pass - it was never called that until the disastrous 'invention' of the aberration that is the NC500. It is the Bealach na Ba - nothing else. If your vehicle can't go round these bends without 'shunting' you should NOT be on the road. The sooner a size restriction is put in place the better.

[@arthurraymond6239]

Brilliant 😎Kool👌