Highlands/Islands/North Coast 500:1st-5th September 2016.

[mv6]

I am heading up North at the start of September.Mikey and Paul are up for it! Throwing it out there if anyone else would like to come along.Best roads in the land! I have held off booking the accommodation until I know who else is interested.Any takers???

[pah250]

I'm really looking forward to this. Should be an awesome driving weekend.

[mv6]

1st,Stirling,2nd,Portree,3rd,Ullapool and 4th,Inverness.Shall I make some provisional bookings? Premier Inn for the 1st? Was going to go for pubs in Portree and Ullapool and another Premier Inn in Inverness. As long as we are within walking distance of lager and a medium rare steak we should survive!!!

[mikeyb1987]

Yep, looking forward to this too!

I'm only off work on the Friday/Monday, so it might be late-ish on Thursday when I get up to Stirling (if I can't get away from work early).

[mv6]

I'm working on the Thursday too. Would hope to reach Stirling by 7.30/8ish and have a meal and a couple of beers! Can then hit the road reasonably early on the Friday.

[mv6]

Route sorted! Day 1,205 miles,Day 2,224 miles,Day 3,277 miles,Day 4,168 miles. Can adapt as required if we want to explore enroute! Can cut down Day 3. Now very excited!!! I know the roads and I know how awesome they are. Normally drive them on my own,but look forward to seeing the looks on Mikey and Paul's faces! There are sections that we will want to turn around and drive them again ,just for the hell of it!

[pah250]

mv6 said:

Route sorted! Day 1,205 miles,Day 2,224 miles,Day 3,277 miles,Day 4,168 miles. Can adapt as required if we want to explore enroute! Can cut down Day 3. Now very excited!!! I know the roads and I know how awesome they are. Normally drive them on my own,but look forward to seeing the looks on Mikey and Paul's faces! There are sections that we will want to turn around and drive them again ,just for the hell of it!

Don't be cutting anything from the route on my account!

I'll genuinely need to plan fuel stops along the way. Would you e-mail the route to me so that I can look at fuel options? I might do an Emma and stick a couple of fuel cans in the boot just in case.

I'm happy to book the Prem Inn at Stirling for Thurs 1st Sept if we're all happy to go ahead?

[mikeyb1987]

Could you send me the route too please Roger?

To echo what Paul said, don't cut the route down on my part, happy to drive for miles!

If we confirm everyone is happy with the route, I'll book the Premierinn at Stirling

[mv6]

Ok.Will email route from work tomorrow.What sort of accommodation do you want to go for in Portree and Ullapool? Tracking down 3 singles might be difficult! How much do you want to spend? Had a look earlier and discovered that quite a few places are booked up. Have used The Pier Hotel in Portree and The Arches in Ullapool before. Not sure that we are B&B material!!!

[pah250]

Just over a week to go now. Looking like it's just the three of us.

Hotels are booked (thanks Roger). Should be an awesome long weekend and an epic drive. I estimate I'll be doing close to 1500 miles between leaving home and getting back. Can't wait

[PapaT]

I'm looking forward to doing the NC500 also, towards end of October though, have fun, enjoy the spectacular West Coast and drive safe.

[mv6]

Aye,this time next week the lager in Stirling will almost be within reach!!!Hope the weather is kind to us. Do you want to visit the Talisker Distillery on Skye Paul???

[mikeyb1987]

I don't know about Paul, but I'm very happy to visit many distilleries

I've just ordered some new MPSS for the fronts, so should be all set. Looking forward to it!!

[DRC72]

I would have loved to have come to this but the timing is not right for me, hopefully you will look at doing this next year.

[ARAF]

DRC72 said:

I would have loved to have come to this but the timing is not right for me,

Nor the car now Dale.

[DRC72]

ARAF said:

DRC72 said:

I would have loved to have come to this but the timing is not right for me,

Nor the car now Dale.

That is true Ian, I miss the power at times but that is all.

I have found that regardless of what car you have on here it's all about the good times that you have with good friends.

I have met some good friends on here and hope it will continue now that I do not have a V8.

[pah250]

mikeyb1987 said:

I don't know about Paul, but I'm very happy to visit many distilleries

Sounds good to me. Gotta take in some culture on trips like this

[pah250]

A selection of pics from today:

[mik_ok]

Nice Paul

Weather fingers tightly crossed for you for the rest of the weekend.

[mikeyb1987]

The weather was not bad yesterday- a few roads were damp, but mainly it was dry.

Hope you enjoy your impromptu Lotus run out