Dogging in Highlands and Argyll: area guide
Highlands and Argyll is Scotland's biggest and emptiest region, with huge distances, single-track roads, ferries and a big daylight swing. This guide covers the lie of the land, safer travel and daylight by month. It does not list private spots.
- The lie of the land
- Getting about safely
- Daylight through the year
- The law and your safety
- Questions about Highlands and Argyll
- Nearby areas
The lie of the land in Highlands and Argyll
This is the largest area in the guide, spread from Argyll in the south-west to Caithness in the far north-east. Inverness is the main city. Fort William, Oban, Ullapool, Thurso, Wick, Dingwall and Portree are the other hubs, with small villages in between. The Outer Hebrides, Skye, Mull and the other islands are all part of it.
The scenery is dramatic. The Cairngorms National Park covers the south-east, and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park reaches into eastern Argyll. Mountains, sea lochs and peat moor fill most of the map, and big settlements are scarce. The north coast has long beaches and cliffs, while Skye and the west are rugged and wet.
Population is thin, so a rural stop can look busy simply because it is the only one for miles. Please keep that in mind when you plan.
Getting about safely
Distances are large and speeds low. The A9 runs from Perth to Inverness and on to Thurso, parts of it dual carriageway. The A82 links Glasgow, Glencoe, Fort William and Inverness. The A83 serves Argyll, and its Rest and Be Thankful section has had landslips and diversions. Always check live road conditions before you leave. Two hundred miles can take most of a day.
Many roads are single track with passing places. Pull in on the left, or stop opposite a passing place on the right, to let others by. Never park in a passing place. Rail is sparse: the West Highland Line runs to Fort William, Mallaig and Oban, the Kyle Line to Kyle of Lochalsh, and the Far North Line to Thurso and Wick. Trains are few and the last one leaves early.
CalMac ferries serve Mull, Skye, Islay, the Outer Hebrides and more, and Ullapool to Stornoway is a major route. Book ahead in summer, and expect cancellations in gales. Midges swarm from late May to September, and are worst at dawn and dusk on still, damp days. In winter, snow and ice can close roads such as the A9 at Drumochter and the A82 through Glencoe. Fuel stations are far apart, signal is patchy and some villages have no lighting at all. Fill up early and tell someone your route.
Daylight in Highlands and Argyll through the year
Typical times for Inverness, in UK local time, around the middle of each month. Use them to plan your journey home as well as your arrival.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Dusk ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:47 | 16:05 | 16:53 |
| February | 07:47 | 17:15 | 17:56 |
| March | 06:33 | 18:19 | 18:58 |
| April | 06:08 | 20:26 | 21:09 |
| May | 04:56 | 21:31 | 22:26 |
| June | 04:18 | 22:16 | 23:28 |
| July | 04:41 | 22:03 | 23:06 |
| August | 05:41 | 20:59 | 21:46 |
| September | 06:46 | 19:36 | 20:16 |
| October | 07:50 | 18:13 | 18:53 |
| November | 08:00 | 16:01 | 16:46 |
| December | 08:52 | 15:30 | 16:22 |
Dusk ends is when civil twilight finishes, usually 30 to 50 minutes after sunset in southern England and longer further north. After that you need lights. Times shift by a few minutes across the area.
The law and your safety
Wherever you are, the basics don't change. Get a clear yes from everyone. Tell someone where you're going. Stay sober. Keep out of sight of anyone who hasn't agreed to see you. Use condoms, and use a new one with each partner.
Questions about Highlands and Argyll
Do you list dogging spots in Highlands and Argyll?
No. This guide covers the area, not private places. We don't name car parks, lay-bys or woods, because other people use them too and visitors can end up in trouble.
Does the Highlands and Argyll guide include the islands?
Yes, in brief. Skye, Mull, Islay and the Western Isles are covered for travel and ferries. Check the CalMac timetable and weather before planning a crossing.
How big is the daylight swing in the Highlands?
It is large. In midsummer it barely gets dark at Inverness, and in December the sun sets before 16:00. The table below shows each month.
What should I do on single-track roads?
Drive slowly, watch for oncoming traffic and pull into a passing place to let others by. Never block one, and give way to larger vehicles.
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