Bruce the McLaren in his Spiritual Homeland

[mikey k]

Now the weather is improving in the UK we've set off on our first long run in the 650S
8 days round the Highlands
As is usual for us heading North the previous week the weather was superb and the forecast for this week is pi$$ing down
We didn't get off to a great start with getting stuck at the front of the queue after a lorry fire closed the M74 (never driven the wrong way down a motorway with a police escort before!)
That prompted a route change to avoid M ways.
Off across the Borders from Moffat to Edinburgh (great road BTW) then on up through Glenshee, Braemar, The Lecht and over the A939 to avoid the misery of averaging cameras all the way up the A9
482 miles in a day and I LOVED it

Having looked at the forecast last night it looked like the North Highlands were going to be the sunniest so that was decision made
It was FANTASTIC

228 Miles across the North Highlands
B9176 North for the views
Up Loch’s Shin, Merkland & More on A838
Balnakiel Beach
Smoo Cave where after the 5th attempt over the years we managed to get the tour in side it
Sango Bay beach & the Oasis for lunch (about the only place in Durness)
Tongue with obligatory pics on the causeway
A836 south - my favourite A road
B9176 South

Both the A836 & B9716 are better going North.
I had to use 95RON petrol as finding anything better further north than Inverness takes a LOT of planning
Considering it was Good Friday Bank Holiday the traffic was absolutely minimal

From a common spot

DSC01024 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

My favourite A road

DSC01032 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

It was a VERY busy bank holiday on the roads

IMG_0610 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

A favourite photo spot on Tongue causeway

DSC01078 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

Edited by mikey k on Saturday 26th March 18:44

[mikey k]

MollyGT3 said:

Good to see you are getting it run in ready for the big one next month Mikey!

its going to take all the time from when we get back to then to clean him back up!

[mikey k]

robgt3 said:

Have a fabulous time. Scotland is awesome. Weather down here is truly not good. We are looking forward to your Welsh hoon. Is that Macca of yours run in yet ? My Orange Beetle is champing at the bit (1260 miles)

It feels like it is!
Just cracked 3k miles yesterday
Off round the Grampians and Cairngorms tomorrow and Skye Monday.

[mikey k]

both fair points
I think I'll have to develop some photo shop skills

[mikey k]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

I think Bruce may disagree about his homeland

Lovely roads though, heard about the wagon fire on Friday (?) though, let me know if you want any alternative routes through the borders on the way home

Yep Bruce was a Kiwi but his names is VERY Scottish, hence spiritual homeland

I'm contempleting return this was after I got done for 82 mph on the M74 last time

B743 Strathaven to Muirkirk PH “rally” route
B797 Mennock to Wanlockhead
A702 down to Carronbridge
A708 Moffat to Selkirk past St Marys Loch
A703 & A72/707 to Selkirk

Is that any good?
I know its an "odd" route but seems interesting

[mikey k]

if it was worth while

[mikey k]

I'll try and work that in
Thank you very much

[mikey k]

SELON said:

Looking lovely and dirty - pics are great Mikey and sounds like you've started the season off in style. Definitely sounds like you've picked the best place weather wise as well!!

How're you finding the car in the conditions - better than down here but still look a bit damp?

PS good to see the roof down!

the weather up here is far from perfect
I check the local forecast the night before and head off in the opposite direction to the rain
Didn't work on Saturday as there was rain everywhere so we spent the day at Fort George - really interesting!

DSC01106 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

DSC01111 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

DSC01112 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

The forecast trick works for most of the day, but we did end up in a snow storm at the top of Glenshee yesterday
We picked this route
B9090 to B9007
A938/9
Lin of Dee near Braemar
Lunch @ Braemar in the Bothy
Pitlochry to Dalwhinnie
A86 to Spean Bridge
East of Loch Ness B862 & 851


DSC01132 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

DSC01138 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

As you can see the rest of the Grampians and Cairngorms were great and we loved the A86 Laggan to Spean Bridge with the leaves off the trees and snow on the hills
Also enjoyed B862/851 as an alternative to following the sheep up the west side of Loch Ness

Woke up to this today

DSC01146 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

So decided on
B9176 North for views
A836 from Lairg
B873/871 to Melvich
Dunnet Head
John O Groats
Thirle Door and the Stacks of Duncansby
Castle Sinclair & lighthouse
Old Wick Castle
Grey Cairns of Camster
Golspie fish supper on beach

On our fav A road

DSC01151 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

Roof down, hat & gloves on

IMG_0746 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

IMG_0811 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

Edited by mikey k on Monday 28th March 21:15

[mikey k]

Off over the Bealach na Ba now

Edited by mikey k on Tuesday 29th March 18:19

[mikey k]

Another cracking day today!

W Highlands (355 miles)
Steve Carters best driving road!
A87 past 5 sisters
Beleach Cafe stop
Bealach na Ba over to Applecross
A832/896 Wester Ross coastal road
Torridon Inn for lunch
A832 Glen Docharty
Corrieshalloch Gorge near Ullapool
Achmelvich beaches
Stoer Light house
Ardvreck Castle
A837 Inveran - Ledmore

A few pics!

2 beasts on the Wester Ross coast road
DSC01212 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

A stunning view we happened on to by accident
DSC01208 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

On my way to the dirtiest McLaren ever
DSC01209 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

The Bealach was clear and sunny for a change (for us anyway!)
IMG_0880 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

One more from the Wester Ross coast road
DSC01218 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

Edited by mikey k on Tuesday 29th March 21:02

[mikey k]

We didn't make Skye on the penultimate day due to storm Katie nor the Borders routes on the way home, just not enough time. We did enjoy a drive down Loch Ness with no leaves on the trees and across Glen Coe with clear skies and snow on the mountains on the way back.

2,240 in total at 17.4 mpg

The 650S was fantastic and coped admirably with being driven hard all day for over a week.
The back end doesn't like cold and wet, possibly worn rears (after 4.2k miles)
Though it coped with conditions like this;

IMG_0951 by Mikey K 650S, on Flickr

The McLaren was universally well received and so many people pulled over to wave us by. The roof was down unless it was really tipping down So glad I didn't go for the light weight seats so I could have seat heaters
The weather was OK especially for March, I'd love to repeat this trip in a dryer warmer month, but I know the shed draggers and mosquitoes would ruin it

I'm now really looking forward to Devon, Norway and France later in the year

[mikey k]

mr shoddy said:

Saw you on your way up to Dunnet Head.
We were in the silver Mazda Bongo campervan going in the opposite direction.
We did the NC500 route over 8 days. Its fantastic up there.

Your car looked great with a bit of grime on it!

it got a lot dirtier and needs a pair of rears after 4k miles