Day 1. John O'Groats to Bonar Bridge via B871, B873

[knapdog]

As previously reported, Billyfix, knapdog, Libby and the fox doing Jogle in the summer.
Can anyone living in the area inform us of any petrol station concerns we may have for our first day please? After leaving Jog we'll be heading west then turning south at Bettyhill, then B871, then B873, Loch Naver then south to Bonar Bridge, a distance of around 110 miles. We also need to know if we'll be able to fill up in Bonar Bridge for the start of day 2. Hoping this early search will be of help to us. Thanks.

[Newtsalad]

If you open Google maps ( prefer the old version) go to the area in question, type in Petrol station/filling station/fuel etc all the gas stations will be shown. If you click on them, it should show their details, including a phone number.

I suggest you phone them direct, to get their opening hours, etc.

With the best will in the world, if you use third party info, it will bite you in the arse, guaranteed.

This is what I did when I did the 1000 mile trip. I sourced, spoke to, and established their opening times to be absolutely certain. And I only used SHell so I could run on V Power. Which is scarce when you get way North.

You would be surprised how many filling stations had shut down!

[Ventura]

And be aware that some of the small petrol stations on the north coast may not be open on a Sunday.
The one in Tongue (a bit further west from Bettyhill), which is a single pump outside a Spar shop, only opened for an hour on Sunday lunchtime.
Luckily when we got there, running on fumes, we were just within that hour!!

Ten minutes later and we'd have had to stay the night!!






V.

[knapdog]

Thanks gents. There ain't much about on Day 1. Reserve supply needed just in case.

[Newtsalad]

Yep, I barely made Inverness on the way down, I went to a fuel station as marked in the sat nav. A few mile out of the way too, but I was desperate. When I got there, there were trees growing out of the window, and petrol was signed at 80p. It was like something out of Caspar the ghost!

I made Inverness with the needle well below the red, off the gauge.

[BenB]

Dingwall has a Tesco with a filling station.....

[mikey_01]

I live in thurso 20miles from JG. If your heading west there is fuel in JG then Castletown 10 miles from JG, then thurso another 10 miles then reay about 16 miles from thurso, then bettyhill then if your heading down past Lairg they have one too, but you should be fine, also if out west many places don't open op on a Sunday just a heads up

[knapdog]

I live in thurso 20miles from JG. If your heading west there is fuel in JG then Castletown 10 miles from JG, then thurso another 10 miles then reay about 16 miles from thurso, then bettyhill then if your heading down past Lairg they have one too, but you should be fine, also if out west many places don't open op on a Sunday just a heads up

Marvellous Mikey. Very kind of you. I'm beginning to wonder whether we're going to need to take any spare fuel at all.

[Diesel Dave]

If your unwilling to carry a 5 litre container then I'd pack at least 2 litres of spare fuel.

Loaded up and hilly scenery = heavy fuel consumption.

[knapdog]

If your unwilling to carry a 5 litre container then I'd pack at least 2 litres of spare fuel.

Loaded up and hilly scenery = heavy fuel consumption.

Point taken. Thanks Dave