Highlands

[jeremyc]

GetCarter said:

Hiya

All open, no snow. No cars (yet). Quite a few pot holes due to the heavy rain - puddles may hide deep holes, ...and kamikaze lambs about to be born.

Thanks. Not sure of all the chariots that will make up the invading squadron, but at a minimum watch out for a very orange Gallardo and a yellow 996 GT3.

Think of it as us bringing citrus fruit to the Scots.

[GetCarter]

jeremyc said:

thumbup: but at a minimum watch out for a very orange Gallardo and a yellow 996 GT3.

Think of it as us bringing citrus fruit to the Scots.

Three more and we'll get our Five a day

[Red Devil]

GetCarter said:

You are, of course right. However. I think if you're visiting the Highlands one has to do Rannoch Moor and Glencoe. BUT: here's the clever bit... do it at 5 a.m. It's the BEST time to drive (April to Sept), No cars, best light.

\/ Very early on Rannoch Moor (taken from the road):



Maybe I'm just weird though, as I don't mind early starts. I do, however, like empty roads.

I agree. The runs I organise all start around dawn but they are local to where I live.

Our annual bash is a 450/475 mile drive (depending on RV location) for me just to get there! I prefer to take on fuel (i.e. breakfast) the next morning and I can't get that before 4am (it's a hour's drive to reach Rannoch Moor).

[Who me ?]

I'm lost. All my life , the aim was to get through Rannoch and Glencoe to Fort William . 413 miles from the Midlands to Fort Bill . I've done it a time that might get SCP worried. Once, but then dad was taken in after a stroke. For someone used to highland single track roads, the road from Crainlarech, through RANOCH Moor ad Glencoe was/ still is a race track. I've done it in a Wolesley 1500 with average speeds of 75 in the pre speed days, with up to 90 in places . That was in an ancient RWD drive car. These days ,we're told that approaching 60 is "not safe". Up North, I constantly pass closed groups of cars driving at 45 MPH.

[GetCarter]

GetCarter said:

Hiya

All open, no snow. No cars (yet). Quite a few pot holes due to the heavy rain - puddles may hide deep holes, ...and kamikaze lambs about to be born.

You know I said no snow.... before sunrise this a.m. on Glen Docherty:



It'll all melt though

ETA... it was worth the tricky drive to see sunrise on the other side:

Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 22 March 11:51

[jeremyc]

GetCarter said:

You know I said no snow.... before sunrise thius am on Glen Docherty:



I'll all melt though

Did I mention it's a two wheel drive Gallardo.

GetCarter said:

ETA... it was worth the tricky drive to see sunrise on the other side:

Beautiful. Though I'm not planning on being up quite that early, so I'll enjoy it vicariously through your fine photos.

[matchmaker]

[quote=Who me ?]I'm lost. All my life , the aim was to get through Rannoch and Glencoe to Fort William . 413 miles from the Midlands to Fort Bill . I've done it a time that might get SCP worried. Once, but then dad was taken in after a stroke. For someone used to highland single track roads, the road from Crainlarech, through RANOCH Moor ad Glencoe was/ still is a race track. I've done it in a Wolesley 1500 with average speeds of 75 in the pre speed days, with up to 90 in places . That was in an ancient RWD drive car. These days ,we're told that approaching 60 is "not safe". Up North, I constantly pass closed groups of cars driving at 45 MPH.
[/quote]

With you there. The speeds I used to attain in a Vitesse 6 on the way up to Lochaline to catch the ferry to Mull for the Tour of Mull would nowadays quality for a prosecution under Section 2!

[limpsfield]

I just got back after my trip - some spectacular scenery and deserted roads. And some weather - a couple of hail storms and snow showers on higher ground had me worried a couple of times, the weather can change very quickly.

I drove from Ullapool all around the north west and to John O Groats on Saturday and would love to do it again. My one tip is if you see a petrol station - fill up! A bit few and far between in the highlands.

[vrsmxtb]

I really must get up there when the mountains are still snow-capped! Stunning.

[Red Devil]

limpsfield said:

I drove from Ullapool all around the north west and to John O Groats on Saturday and would love to do it again. My one tip is if you see a petrol station - fill up! A bit few and far between in the highlands.

Filling up at Ullapool should last for at least 200 miles. Failing that there is always Scourie

A well used photo op on here. - http://goo.gl/dj7Ss3


99.99% certain that's here - http://goo.gl/Snupjt
If so, I'm wondering where the pylon/power lines are. Have they been airbrushed out?


Nice shots. Hopefully the weather will be like that in the second one when I'm up there next month.

[coppice]

Red Devil said:

Filling up at Ullapool should last for at least 200 miles. Failing that there is always Scourie

Nice shots. Hopefully the weather will be like that in the second one when I'm up there next month.

I am up in May - for the thirtieth anniversary of my first visit; wish my Seven would do 200 miles per tank...

[Red Devil]

Ouch! From a 36 or 41 litre tank? So what would one expect from the smaller one if pressing on - 150 miles or less?
I guess a Highland trip in one would require a detailed knowledge of the locations of filling stations and their opening times.
Or carrying a couple of jerry cans...

[GetCarter]

I used to get 8 mpg from my R500s on track. Not that one could burn fuel that fast on the road, but range isn't good. I always had two spare cans in the back (on the road)

[SimonOcean]

GetCarter said:

You know I said no snow.... before sunrise this a.m. on Glen Docherty:



It'll all melt though

ETA... it was worth the tricky drive to see sunrise on the other side:

Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 22 March 11:51

Wooha: great photos! Well worth getting out of bed early for.

[Hooli]

Red Devil said:

Ouch! From a 36 or 41 litre tank? So what would one expect from the smaller one if pressing on - 150 miles or less?
I guess a Highland trip in one would require a detailed knowledge of the locations of filling stations and their opening times.
Or carrying a couple of jerry cans...

I dunno why you all worry so much. I've toured up there on a motorbike with less than 150mile range, no fuel gauge & a dodgy reserve tap. I never run out.

[Who me ?]

Red Devil said:

Ouch! From a 36 or 41 litre tank? So what would one expect from the smaller one if pressing on - 150 miles or less?
I guess a Highland trip in one would require a detailed knowledge of the locations of filling stations and their opening times.
Or carrying a couple of jerry cans...

I used to carry a can ,many years ago when I lived up north. But in those days, I travelled to work early on Monday and few places opened on Sunday, and with few locking caps about, it wasn't wise to keep any more than enough in your tank over the weekend. These days, for those going into unknown territories, perhaps petrolprices.com might be a good address to use. The only problem is that there's no opening times specified.But a lot of the supermarkets are 24hour and the site does give an idea of the types of fuel available.

[sjabrown]

If anyone is travelling through Lochaber there has lately been an increased traffic police presence, mainly due to a new station opening in Fort William with a dedicated traffic unit. Beware.

[GetCarter]

I've posted several vids going up the Bealach, but never one going down. This taken yesterday on the way back from the pub

http://stevecarter.com/random/PubRunsSmall.mov (4mb)

http://stevecarter.com/random/PubRunLarge.mov (84mb)

[OvalOwl]

[gred]

GetCarter said:

I've posted several vids going up the Bealach, but never one going down. This taken yesterday on the way back from the pub

http://stevecarter.com/random/PubRunsSmall.mov (4mb)

http://stevecarter.com/random/PubRunLarge.mov (84mb)

Wow, going up in a month's time - can't wait. Fantastic bit of vid btw.