Isle of Mull

[Beemer-5]

What a glorious place this is. This is fifth time i've been here and it's as good as ever.
(Blimey, they've even got a sports centre now!)
The road to the ferry was amazing fun, yesterday, (Lochaline, not Oban).
The White-tailed Eagles are present, looking like flying barn doors. Massive birds.
The trusty CRV trailered the 'Hyper-Westfield', well, as far as Aviemore and it's been fun, fun, fun ever since.
Jeepers, this thing REALLY goes. 381 bhp and less weight than a Smart Car is always going to help i spose!
We are taking in the IOM, on the way home so there should be plenty more action before we're back!
Have fun and make sure you visit Mull some time.

[marlinmunro]

Agreed, used to go on holiday years ago and camp on Calgary bay (free with immaculate toilets). One night the misses found a cottage in Dervaig for 12K (it was a while ago). Long story short we bought the place, moved up and lived there for 5 years. Its hard because not much money but boy what quality of life. We had another addition to the family born on the Island.

So as you can imagine we have very fond memories of this magical place.

ps the Lochaline road is a blast took a Boxster S up there 2 years ago, what a drive!!!!!!!!!!! Scotland GODS country!

[Dan XJR]

Lovely place and I go there every year and marshal on the rally in October. If you live on the island, the chances are you'll know my friend there as he runs the family builders merchants Hi-Serv.

Once year I'll take the TVR up in the summer and have some fun .

Your place is in Dervaig? Thats where my friends family lives. I've been more than merry a few times in the Belacroy

Edited by Dan XJR on Friday 6th June 09:45

[Ranger 6]

Dan, you should know how to spell Belachroy

Love the place - having been for the last 12 years on the Rally. Have done various jobs round the stages for the event and will be back in October!

Pistonheads - Pedantry Matters

[Dan XJR]

Ranger 6 said:

Dan, you should know how to spell Belachroy

Love the place - having been for the last 12 years on the Rally. Have done various jobs round the stages for the event and will be back in October!

Pistonheads - Pedantry Matters

I didn't think I'd spelt it right but I'm not usually sober when I'm there lol.

Good stuff! We've booked an apartment this year for the rally but we will be based in Tobermory rather than Dervaig. Definately will be there though for the Monday pig roast .

[Ranger 6]

Pig Roast sounds fun - which stage will you be on?

[Dan XJR]

Ranger 6 said:

Pig Roast sounds fun - which stage will you be on?

I have no idea yet, haven't even put my name down yet for this year.

We usually do a couple of stages per day, part of the fun is getting from A to B .

[Ranger 6]

Will be staying in Salen this year having stayed up at Glengorm for many years. One of our crew has bought a place and is doing it up for rental (except rally weekend obviously!).

Will post a link when he's finished it.

One of our crew will be stage commander for Calgary, I think another friend is doing SC on another stage too. I think I'm doing one of the course cars on the Sat pm and a couple of other jobs.

[smiller]

As of tomorrow, we'll be in a cottage near Glen Affric so I'll have to pencil in a trip to Mull by the sounds of it.

[Who me ?]

[quote=Ranger 6]Will be staying in Salen this year having stayed up at Glengorm for many years.quote]

Try the lighthouse road(unless it's been done up ,it was a roller coaster) ,if you ain't yet -only the lighthouse at the end,

[Ranger 6]

Funnily enough we never really explored that end. Always had something to do around Calgary & Ensay because they were our stages and with the setting up, change rounds and breaking down there was a huge amount to do. Imagine having to seal all the gates and junctions on a 12 mile stage...

[Beemer-5]

Back now, Mull and Man (Isles of) were both amazing.

The coast road from Calgary to Salon is kinda scary at speed!

EEK!

[Ranger 6]

Glad you enjoyed it!

That road is used (the other way round - it goes towards Calgary) as the 'long one' a 22 mile stage which is done in the dark... I think the stage record is somewhere close to 30 minutes.

The section from the Hill road round to Calgary used to be 'my' stage. Have a look here at some incidents which happened a couple of years ago on the daylight saturday pm leg.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN2HJZw8gtk 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtFkvmg8GfA 

Here's a good in-car of one of the other stages

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4PzDr_99t4 

[Beemer-5]

I have to wonder how they avoid all the livestock we saw grazing on the roadside and standing in the road often!

[Ranger 6]

The local community are extremely helpful with regard to the rally and shift all the livestock to pens, fields or just away from the roads.

As the event brings in millions for them and there are many locals who either compete or help out it's one of those events where the community spirit is obvious from all the support. The only issues I've ever seen are from tourists visiting the island who don't have a clue that the event is even happening.

[Beemer-5]

That'll be scary for them, in their rented Focus 1.6!

So, whilst these guys are approaching 3 figures, on roads i likely kept below 70 on, the only danger is the roaming deer?

[Ranger 6]

Beemer-5 said:

...the only danger is the roaming deer?

...and their own ability I've seen some accidents where cars have left the road in such a manner that the hole in the bush wasn't obvious and the small ball of scrap that used to be a rally car was found on the rocks below. Others have just been a scuff on the rocks or a wall which has ripped something important off (usually a wheel).

As you've experienced they are stunning roads, but their very nature means it's a true challenge.

[Beemer-5]

Very much so, i got slower and slower on that road from Calgary as the hazzards became obvious.

It was, erm, rather quicker going, on the Isle of Man!
The Westy sorted out supercars like it was shelling peas!

[Dan XJR]

I picked up a dent last year in my dad's car as a sheep ran into the side of the car when I was trying to get between stages.

Was the first time we marshalled at the south of the island last year, hell of a drive down there and I was shattered when we got back to Dervaig.

Edited by Dan XJR on Wednesday 18th June 16:00

[Ranger 6]

I know what you mean - it's bad enough in a course car but driving down, marshalliung then driving back must've been fun. Were you there when the car rolled over the wall?

Not sure whether they're running that stage this year - haven't seen a route yet.