Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Scottish Highlands Tour

Post your Z4 pictures! See sticky post at the top for details of the photo competition.
User avatar
Road Trip
Member
Member
Posts: 381
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:45 pm
Location: Lancashire

Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by Road Trip » Sun Sep 27, 2009 11:10 am

I have some great trips to Scotland over the last few years, but never really had long enough, only visiting for a few days at a time. There were still lots of places I wanted to see, and roads I wanted to drive, so decided to spend a week up there, and show Kathryn some of the sights she missed having not been with me on the roadtrip I did with my mates, in April this year.

We finished work early and set off about 2:30pm on Friday. After 2 hours on the motorway we stop for a brew at the Annandale Water services, before taking one of several excellent cross-country routes towards Edinburgh, and on to our usual hotel in Stirling (mileage, 230)

Saturday - Stirling to Spittal - 310 miles

We awake to a beautiful morninig in Stirling. Wallace Monument peeping out of the mist.
Image

Heading north
Image

Image

Stopped off in Pitlochry to watch the marching of the pipe bands
Image

On toward the Grampian Mountains
Image

Image

Image

Image

The locals
Image

Moody skies as we push further north
Image

Great roads tho
Image

We turn inland and into the rain as we near our B&B
Image

Dropped off the bags and took the short drive to Thurso for a bite to eat, before bed.
10 M3 V8
07 M Roadster, Imola Red, Fully Loaded. SOLD
A Road Trip must contain - a visit to another country, an overnight stay, at least 500 miles.
It's not what you drive, it's where you've driven it that counts!

User avatar
spokey
Member
Member
Posts: 816
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:51 am

Re: Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by spokey » Sun Sep 27, 2009 11:15 am

:thumbsup: I am SO jealous. :cry:
Cheers,
Spokey
Aebous wrote:
lacroupade wrote:
Aebous wrote:Does dating your car count?
Only if it involves something unpleasant to do with your tailpipe.... :rofl:
I wouldn't call it unpleasant :?

User avatar
gannet
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10086
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:45 am
Location: Surrey

Re: Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by gannet » Sun Sep 27, 2009 11:35 am

as always very nice :D

must be great to be fairly close to such driving roads and scenery. takes a couple of days driving just to get to Scotland comfortably from here :(
-- Gannet.
Current: MINI JCW... - Modification: Driver Upgraded :D
Previous: DS3 DSport, Z4 3.0SE, 206 GTi & XS, Alfa 147 Lusso

User avatar
Road Trip
Member
Member
Posts: 381
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:45 pm
Location: Lancashire

Re: Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by Road Trip » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:02 pm

Sunday - Spittal to Tongue (via Orkney) - 178 miles

Left the B&B at 08:15 for the 30min drive to the ferry terminal at Gills Bay. There's not much there, just a portacabin for booking in and a jetting for loading/off-loading the ferry.
Image

Image

Our boat arrives
Image

All aboard
Image

Maybe I should have been on this :D
Image

Ready to set sail for Orkney
Image

Seaman Stains
Image

A Gannet (I think)
Image

After just under an hour we're pulling into the bay at St Margarets Hope
Image

We only had the day here so just did a tour of the island.

St Marys
Image

This picture says it all really :D
Image

Brough head
Image

Image

Ring of Brodgar – One of the finest stone circles in the world. The stone ring was built in a true circle, 104 metres wide and originally contained sixty megaliths; today only twenty-seven of these stones remain. Part of Orkney's World Heritage Site, they have become an iconic part of Orkney's identity.
Image

Stromness
Image
Last edited by Road Trip on Sun Sep 27, 2009 10:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
10 M3 V8
07 M Roadster, Imola Red, Fully Loaded. SOLD
A Road Trip must contain - a visit to another country, an overnight stay, at least 500 miles.
It's not what you drive, it's where you've driven it that counts!

User avatar
Aliv6
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1311
Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 12:16 am
Location: Aberdeen

Re: Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by Aliv6 » Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:12 pm

Very nice mate.
2007 Z4MC & 2004 Mk2 Clio V6

sammyz
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 2870
Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:49 pm
Location: Merseyside

Re: Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by sammyz » Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:47 pm

Superb pics as always Dave :thumbsup:
Yas Marina Blue 35i.

User avatar
gers
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1760
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:30 pm
Location: GLASGOW

Re: Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by gers » Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:56 pm

love the pics, :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

User avatar
gers
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1760
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:30 pm
Location: GLASGOW

Re: Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by gers » Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:57 pm

gannet wrote:as always very nice :D

must be great to be fairly close to such driving roads and scenery. takes a couple of days driving just to get to Scotland comfortably from here :(
:? :? :? :poke: :rofl:

User avatar
Road Trip
Member
Member
Posts: 381
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:45 pm
Location: Lancashire

Re: Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by Road Trip » Sun Sep 27, 2009 9:52 pm

Sunday cont

Image

Image

Spotted a dolphin in the bay
Image

Back on the ferry returning to the mainland
Image

Image

Isle of Stroma
Image

Once back on the mainland we fill up with fuel in Thurso, then head west on the lonely road over the most northerly moors on the British mainland. With the low cloud and fading light it's an eerie, but magical place. We feel like we're at the end of the earth.
Image

Image

The silhouettes of the highland cattle like ghosts at the side of the road
Image

Image

After checking in for the night at the Tongue Hotel we settle down to dinner and a well earned glass of wine.
10 M3 V8
07 M Roadster, Imola Red, Fully Loaded. SOLD
A Road Trip must contain - a visit to another country, an overnight stay, at least 500 miles.
It's not what you drive, it's where you've driven it that counts!

User avatar
Rick Hunter
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3535
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:25 am
Location: Jet City
Contact:

Re: Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by Rick Hunter » Sun Sep 27, 2009 10:33 pm

You really are your Screen Name. :thumbsup: Awesome journal, as always!
Image
'07 Imola Red Image Coupé

User avatar
a11y
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4851
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:51 am
Location: Central Scotland
Contact:

Re: Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by a11y » Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:48 am

Great stuff, looking forward to the next installments :thumbsup:

I know a lot of these roads, one of the best things about living up here...
::::: e90 330i M Sport :::::

User avatar
Road Trip
Member
Member
Posts: 381
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:45 pm
Location: Lancashire

Re: Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by Road Trip » Mon Sep 28, 2009 6:51 pm

Monday - Tongue to Portree - 240 miles

We awake to a misty morning in Tongue
Image

By the time we've had breakfast and packed the car the skies have cleared and we hit the road
Image

Looking south to Ben Loyal
Image

Image

Looking north as we cross the brige over the Kyle of Tongue
Image

We spot a group of seals sunbathing on the sandbank
Image

Heading west
Image

Image

Loch Eriboll
Image

Image

Image

Our first sight of my favourite beach in the world........ever!
Image
10 M3 V8
07 M Roadster, Imola Red, Fully Loaded. SOLD
A Road Trip must contain - a visit to another country, an overnight stay, at least 500 miles.
It's not what you drive, it's where you've driven it that counts!

User avatar
Road Trip
Member
Member
Posts: 381
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:45 pm
Location: Lancashire

Re: Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by Road Trip » Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:31 pm

Continued

Image

Image

Image

All to ourselves. Not a footprint in sight :heart:
Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Now remember folks. This is my beach. The next time I go I don't want to be tripping over bloody Z4's :D

Image

Once we drag ourselves away from paradise, we continue west to Balnakeil Bay
Image

Old Cemetery
Image
10 M3 V8
07 M Roadster, Imola Red, Fully Loaded. SOLD
A Road Trip must contain - a visit to another country, an overnight stay, at least 500 miles.
It's not what you drive, it's where you've driven it that counts!

User avatar
a11y
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 4851
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:51 am
Location: Central Scotland
Contact:

Re: Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by a11y » Tue Sep 29, 2009 7:46 pm

Ha, I know that beach, not going to say where though :wink:

(me there on holiday/road trip in July 2007 - and it was fecking freezing!)

(but I also like the beach at Durness actually on Balnakeil Bay even if it is busier, the campsite is right above the beach on the cliffs, just where this photo was taken)
::::: e90 330i M Sport :::::

Zukunft
Newbie
Newbie
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:38 am

Re: Scottish Highlands Tour

Post by Zukunft » Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:56 pm

is this the same beach cause im sure i was there on my Scottish road trip this year

Image

Post Reply