CWH
LIFE MEMBER
Follow this link to a a f/b post by Adrian Trendall, who lives at the end of the Gleann Breadail (Glen Brittle) road ie just past the so-called Fairy Pools. The video shows the current state of the road (dire) and explains why there are jams of up to 4 hours on the road EVERY DAY. This "attraction" is best avoided just now.
From Adrian:
Think Before You Go
The road into/out of Glen Brittle is a poorly maintained single track with passing places. I thought I'd post a video of the worst bit from the start of the forestry through to just above the Fairy Pools.
This was taken in good weather and fairly early in the morning yet you can see huge potholes filled with water and the sides of the road have been churned up into a quagmire that wouldn't go amiss on a First World War battlefield.
Living in the glen has become testing with gridlock a daily occurrence, Several times there have been reportedly 400 plus vehicles jammed up on the road and people have had to wait many hours.
Here's a few handy hints;
1. Think about whether it's worth risking trashing your vehicle or having to queue for multiple hours.
2. Don't even think about going if there's been heavy rain since the car swallowing potholes will be under water and the edges of the road won't be visible.
3. Use passing places as intended but look ahead since there's no point in adding to congestion ahead if the next passing place is already full.
4. Please don't drive off the road. Firstly, it trashes what should be a beautiful verge and secondly going off road invariably leads to damaged vehicles and motorhomes getting bogged down and stuck.
At the moment residents are having to plan ahead just to get to the shops, doctor appointments, their jobs, taking children to school. Often the road is so jammed that the postman won't/can't get into the glen. Ditto delivery drivers. If there was to be a medical emergency, a fire, a mountain rescue then emergency services would almost certainly struggle to access the glen.
If you are coming to walk or climb or see Glen Brittle beach or stay at the campsite then I suggest that early is better but there's no guarantee that you won't get trapped in the glen for many hours with no phone signal and minimal facilities.
Watch the video then imagine what the scene is going to be later in the day as hundreds of vehicles try to negotiate this treacherous road. It only takes one vehicle to get bogged down, one vehicle to have a puncture and gridlock will ensue, things rapidly escalating as more vehicles try to force their way into the glen as earlier arrivals try to escape.
The road is in a bad state but local residents manage to negotiate it safely, using passing places properly. If you are not used to using single track roads, if you are not used to driving on the left or if you are not used to driving a large vehicle like a motorhome then best advice would be to steer well clear until the road has been improved.
From Adrian:
Think Before You Go
The road into/out of Glen Brittle is a poorly maintained single track with passing places. I thought I'd post a video of the worst bit from the start of the forestry through to just above the Fairy Pools.
This was taken in good weather and fairly early in the morning yet you can see huge potholes filled with water and the sides of the road have been churned up into a quagmire that wouldn't go amiss on a First World War battlefield.
Living in the glen has become testing with gridlock a daily occurrence, Several times there have been reportedly 400 plus vehicles jammed up on the road and people have had to wait many hours.
Here's a few handy hints;
1. Think about whether it's worth risking trashing your vehicle or having to queue for multiple hours.
2. Don't even think about going if there's been heavy rain since the car swallowing potholes will be under water and the edges of the road won't be visible.
3. Use passing places as intended but look ahead since there's no point in adding to congestion ahead if the next passing place is already full.
4. Please don't drive off the road. Firstly, it trashes what should be a beautiful verge and secondly going off road invariably leads to damaged vehicles and motorhomes getting bogged down and stuck.
At the moment residents are having to plan ahead just to get to the shops, doctor appointments, their jobs, taking children to school. Often the road is so jammed that the postman won't/can't get into the glen. Ditto delivery drivers. If there was to be a medical emergency, a fire, a mountain rescue then emergency services would almost certainly struggle to access the glen.
If you are coming to walk or climb or see Glen Brittle beach or stay at the campsite then I suggest that early is better but there's no guarantee that you won't get trapped in the glen for many hours with no phone signal and minimal facilities.
Watch the video then imagine what the scene is going to be later in the day as hundreds of vehicles try to negotiate this treacherous road. It only takes one vehicle to get bogged down, one vehicle to have a puncture and gridlock will ensue, things rapidly escalating as more vehicles try to force their way into the glen as earlier arrivals try to escape.
The road is in a bad state but local residents manage to negotiate it safely, using passing places properly. If you are not used to using single track roads, if you are not used to driving on the left or if you are not used to driving a large vehicle like a motorhome then best advice would be to steer well clear until the road has been improved.
