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Old 01 December 2000 | 06:59 PM
  #31  
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CharlieWhiskey
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From: so much to see, so little time!
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Is it just a Scottish thing or can us 'Southern' sissies come too?

Chris
I trust it is out of 'Midge Season'
Old 01 December 2000 | 07:28 PM
  #32  
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From: Aberdeen/shire
Talking

Chris,

it isn't just a Scottish thing. This year about 40% of the attendees were from south of the border, and an excellent time they had to. I think we even had a couple of cars which came from as far away as Portsmouth/Southampton, and thought it was well worth the drive.

Out of midgie and tourist season for maximum driving pleasure. Who cares about the weather when the roads are this good
Old 03 December 2000 | 08:11 PM
  #33  
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Cool

Nice pictures, JohnS! Might join you for the tour next year if i still have the car...

For anyone (is there anyone?) who is interested in following my tyre tracks, here's a little review...

<B>Day 1:</B>
<I>Bradford - A65 - M6 - M74 (Glasgow) - A82 - B863 (little diversion around Loch Leven) - A82 - Fort William - A82 - A87 (Kyle of Lochalsh)</I>
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>early start, good run across the Dales, except for a near head-on with a lorry overtaking another lorry on a 100m straight leaving the 30mph zone from Hellifield (I think it was) - what a to$$er!
<LI>flew up the M6/M74
<LI>good run up Loch Lomond, snow on the tops and sunshine - v.nice. Stopped to take piccys here and then on Rannoch Moor. Hardly any traffic, got a wave from one Scooby I flashed, stonking good drive on open, fast roads.
<LI>whizzed round Loch Leven on the B863, another good road. Saw a Police car going the other way who was pushing it without blues 'n twos - obviously just out having fun like me
<LI>Lunch in Fort William
<LI>Then off to the Kyle, another good drive, lovely sunset as I crossed the tops on the way. Only downer was a couple of police cars obviously tidying up after a crash. I think from Saturdays paper that this was a fatal head-on - it was on a blind bend, what sort of loser overtakes there? Esp. as Scottish drivers in Lorries etc are aware enough to pull over and let you past, unlike in England...
<LI>Stayed at the Kyle Hotel, nice and cosy with good food.
</UL>

<B>Day 2 (about 40% single-track!):</B>
<I>A87 - A890 - Applecross - Sheildaig - A896 - A832 - A835 (Ullapool) - A835 - A837 - A894 - A838 - A836 (Thurso)</I>
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>start at 10 after a late breakfast. Almost straight into remote mountain roads with huge views.
<LI>find the little road to Applecross, the sun comes out, and the day reaches a different level! The road snakes up almost the snow line, finishing on a series of hairpins to the top. Fantastic stuff - some of it is down to 5mph, some with clear lines-of-sight and it's 60-80mph on 10ft of tarmac. Once over the top, it's a similar story down to Applecross, being wary of the slippery grit spread over the corners.
<LI>Once off around the headland the fun just continues, with beautiful views across the blue sea to Rona, then around the corner are the hills of Torridon with bright white snow on top, catching the sun. Only saw a couple of cars, but be wary of sheep wandering on the road! Again, mostly single-track but a lot with clear lines of sight so you can just fly.
<LI>Carry on towards Ullapool, eventually on a "proper" road. Still almost completely empty, with a couple of stretches where you can see far enough to really, ahem, push on a bit (Set a bit of a personal best here... )
<LI>Ullapool's nice, pretty white-washed houses, but the weather has gone grey. Have a break, then it's off to the *really* remote roads. Pass a couple of stragglers (including a Skoda Favorit who's not hanging around - even Skoda's go fast up here ), then I'm flying again. More moody, magnificent scenery - the hills just stick up straight from sea-level here. Then it's down to single-track again, and I'm on the coast as night begins to fall. Some nice little sandy bays up here, but it's a bit late to stop now. Lots of rabbits and sheep on the road once it's dark, which makes it a bit of challenge...didn't manage to hit anything though!
<LI>Stay at the Royal Hotel. Decent enough, but not as cosy as the Kyle, and the parking didn't feel too secure either.
</UL>

<B>Day 3:</B>
<I>A836 (John O'Groats + visit Dunnet Head - most northerly point in mainland Britain) - A9 - A938 - A939 - B976 (single-track to Balmoral) - A93 - A9 - M9 - M80 - M73 - M74 - M6 - A65</I>
<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>Visit Dunnet Bay (one of the best surf beaches in Britain, but only 18" waves today) and Dunnet Head in the drizzle (fun little road to the Lighthouse, nearly got caught out on a tight bend here!), then John O'Groats. A bit miserable here, but buy a souvenir for my lass and reverse the car up to the famous signpost for a picture
<LI>Head off down the coast, nice quick road, not busy but not as remote as yesterday. Definitely feel like I'm going home now, and not quite as "hyper" as last two days. Sun comes out a little which helps keep my spirits up. Nice views over the sea, and the waves seem to be picking up a bit which makes for dramatic scenery.
<LI>Seems to take an age to get down to Inverness. The A9 has speed camera signs all over it from about 20 miles north of Inverness, but no cameras I can see. Get my second "scooby-wave" of the weekend.
<LI>Head off down towards the Cairngorms, then nip off down the A938 to take in the Lecht and Glenshee ski areas to see what they are like (Previously my ski weekends have been in Aviemore and Fort William). Yet more superlative roads, and when I get to the Lecht it's open! Absolutely gutted that I didn't bring my gear (and get up earlier) as an hour on the slopes would have been the perfect way to finish the weekend. Looks nice too, none of the wind that had been forecast. Console myself with a spin in a snow covered layby
<LI>Once back on the A9 it's the end of the fun and now a steady cruise home in the dark. Once past Glasgow I hit the rain that's been soaking the rest of the country. Holiday over Just to finish it off, on the A65 I get stuck behind one of those prats who does 45mph everywhere - on the open straights (with dipped beam, so I can't see if it's safe to pass him), then the same 45mph through villages with 30 limits! Donkey!
</UL>

Anyway, top weekend - reminded me why I bought the car, when I was starting to wonder after weeks of commuting and motorway trips

Total: 1278 miles, 25 hrs driving, cost £195 in petrol, around 26mpg (the motorway stretches must have brought the average back up!)


Old 03 December 2000 | 08:26 PM
  #34  
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Wink

WOW

There are hills and stuff up there!!

All i saw was snow, hail, ice and <B>DARK</B> skies.

Must set off in the dark so i drive the north in light next time.
Old 03 December 2000 | 08:36 PM
  #35  
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From: The Rhubarb Triangle
Wink

You bet there are hills! You've gotta see 'em - do your run again on midsummers day. You'll have about 20 hours daylight up there so if you're quick you'll get to see it all

S
Old 03 December 2000 | 08:39 PM
  #36  
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millband
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From: The Rhubarb Triangle
Exclamation

On the other hand, maybe not. Think how deep the dead flies'll be on your windscreen if you do 1200 miles at over 60 in Summer. Yuk.
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