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Scottish Highlands Tour
- Road Trip
- Member
- Posts: 381
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:45 pm
- Location: Lancashire
Scottish Highlands Tour
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.
Heading north
Stopped off in Pitlochry to watch the marching of the pipe bands
On toward the Grampian Mountains
The locals
Moody skies as we push further north
Great roads tho
We turn inland and into the rain as we near our B&B
Dropped off the bags and took the short drive to Thurso for a bite to eat, before bed.
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.
Heading north
Stopped off in Pitlochry to watch the marching of the pipe bands
On toward the Grampian Mountains
The locals
Moody skies as we push further north
Great roads tho
We turn inland and into the rain as we near our B&B
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!
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!
- spokey
- Member
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Re: Scottish Highlands Tour
I am SO jealous.
Cheers,
Spokey
Spokey
Aebous wrote:I wouldn't call it unpleasantlacroupade wrote:Only if it involves something unpleasant to do with your tailpipe....Aebous wrote:Does dating your car count?
- gannet
- Lifer
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- Location: Surrey
Re: Scottish Highlands Tour
as always very nice
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
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
Previous: DS3 DSport, Z4 3.0SE, 206 GTi & XS, Alfa 147 Lusso
Current: MINI JCW... - Modification: Driver Upgraded
Previous: DS3 DSport, Z4 3.0SE, 206 GTi & XS, Alfa 147 Lusso
- Road Trip
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- Location: Lancashire
Re: Scottish Highlands Tour
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.
Our boat arrives
All aboard
Maybe I should have been on this
Ready to set sail for Orkney
Seaman Stains
A Gannet (I think)
After just under an hour we're pulling into the bay at St Margarets Hope
We only had the day here so just did a tour of the island.
St Marys
This picture says it all really
Brough head
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.
Stromness
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.
Our boat arrives
All aboard
Maybe I should have been on this
Ready to set sail for Orkney
Seaman Stains
A Gannet (I think)
After just under an hour we're pulling into the bay at St Margarets Hope
We only had the day here so just did a tour of the island.
St Marys
This picture says it all really
Brough head
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.
Stromness
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!
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!
- Aliv6
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- gers
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Re: Scottish Highlands Tour
love the pics,
- gers
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Re: Scottish Highlands Tour
gannet wrote:as always very nice
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
- Road Trip
- Member
- Posts: 381
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:45 pm
- Location: Lancashire
Re: Scottish Highlands Tour
Sunday cont
Spotted a dolphin in the bay
Back on the ferry returning to the mainland
Isle of Stroma
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.
The silhouettes of the highland cattle like ghosts at the side of the road
After checking in for the night at the Tongue Hotel we settle down to dinner and a well earned glass of wine.
Spotted a dolphin in the bay
Back on the ferry returning to the mainland
Isle of Stroma
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.
The silhouettes of the highland cattle like ghosts at the side of the road
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!
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!
- Rick Hunter
- Lifer
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Re: Scottish Highlands Tour
You really are your Screen Name. Awesome journal, as always!
'07 Imola Red Coupé
- a11y
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Re: Scottish Highlands Tour
Great stuff, looking forward to the next installments
I know a lot of these roads, one of the best things about living up here...
I know a lot of these roads, one of the best things about living up here...
- Road Trip
- Member
- Posts: 381
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:45 pm
- Location: Lancashire
Re: Scottish Highlands Tour
Monday - Tongue to Portree - 240 miles
We awake to a misty morning in Tongue
By the time we've had breakfast and packed the car the skies have cleared and we hit the road
Looking south to Ben Loyal
Looking north as we cross the brige over the Kyle of Tongue
We spot a group of seals sunbathing on the sandbank
Heading west
Loch Eriboll
Our first sight of my favourite beach in the world........ever!
We awake to a misty morning in Tongue
By the time we've had breakfast and packed the car the skies have cleared and we hit the road
Looking south to Ben Loyal
Looking north as we cross the brige over the Kyle of Tongue
We spot a group of seals sunbathing on the sandbank
Heading west
Loch Eriboll
Our first sight of my favourite beach in the world........ever!
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!
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!
- Road Trip
- Member
- Posts: 381
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:45 pm
- Location: Lancashire
Re: Scottish Highlands Tour
Continued
All to ourselves. Not a footprint in sight
Now remember folks. This is my beach. The next time I go I don't want to be tripping over bloody Z4's
Once we drag ourselves away from paradise, we continue west to Balnakeil Bay
Old Cemetery
All to ourselves. Not a footprint in sight
Now remember folks. This is my beach. The next time I go I don't want to be tripping over bloody Z4's
Once we drag ourselves away from paradise, we continue west to Balnakeil Bay
Old Cemetery
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!
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!
- a11y
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Re: Scottish Highlands Tour
Ha, I know that beach, not going to say where though
(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)
(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)
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Re: Scottish Highlands Tour
is this the same beach cause im sure i was there on my Scottish road trip this year